Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency #1
Written by Chris Ryall
Pencils by Tony Akins
Inks by John Livesay
Colors by Leonard O’Grady
Letters by Robbie Robbins and Shawn Lee
Covers by Tony Akins and Paul Mounts (Regular), Rob Guillory (Subscription), Robert Hack and Stephen Downer (Retailer Incentive)
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 20, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Everything is connected. That’s the long and short of how the title character in Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency #1 sees the world in general and how he works through his mysteries in particular. If you haven’t read any Douglas Adams then immediately following this review, go do so. The man was not only amazing but he should have been sainted for the wonderful work he did in science fiction literature. I applaud anyone who revives or adapts his work for the newer generations. But we are here to talk about this individual issue, folks, so let’s do just that!

As it turns out, the concept of fundamental interconnectedness means that time, space, and reality can all be thrown to the wolves. If the entire makeup of everything is connected to everything else then it’s as if the universe is playing a game akin to the Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon! In this comic, we see the eponymous Dirk Gently seeking those very same connections! Relying on his wits and wisdom, and a good deal of luck and fate, he somehow manages to find the thread that links it all together.

Doomsday.1, Vol.1
Written by John Byrne
Illustrated by John Byrne
Colored by Leonard O’Grady
Cover by John Byrne
IDW Publishing
Release Date: November 13, 2013
Cover Price: $17.99

The first collected edition of John Byrne’s Doomsday.1 is out. Included within are the first four issues of the Armageddon series. Does the book hold up in the vast array of post-apocalyptic stories? Find out below!

Discovering that an unusually deadly solar flare on the sun’s surface will erupt and destroy the majority of life on Earth, the crew members of an international space station are forced to watch from above as devastation begins. Able to abandon their ship in time before the flare obliterates them as well, the surviving astronauts must learn to adapt to a ruined planet. As they seek refuge and other survivors, the group encounters various obstacles along the way — especially from other human beings.

The Legend Of Drizzt
Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Tales
Written by R.A. Salvatore and Geno Salvatore
Art by Agustin Padilla
Colors by Leonard O’Grady
Letters by Chris Mowry and John Barber
Cover by Gonzalo Flores
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Cover Price: $19.99

I love graphic novels. Don’t get me wrong, I was brought up on monthly comics. It’s just that as I’ve gotten older I have a deeper appreciation for contained stories. Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Tales: The Legend Of Drizzt is a prime example. Having missed the first issue, I was originally a wee bit behind. Thanks to this wonderful book, that is no longer the case!

Written by R.A. Salvatore and son Geno Salvatore, this story takes place during the Neverwinter Saga of books. But the tale itself is all inclusive and doesn’t tie directly in with those novels, so you can enjoy one without having read the other. The really interesting thing about this particular one is that it centers around a lesser-known character from the books, Thibbledorf Pwent. As leader of the Gutbuster Brigade of Battleragers, Pwent was always at the forefront of any battle, charging ahead with no regard to his own mortality. This time around, though, things are quite different. No spoilers from me, but everyone thought he had died defending his king. Lost for so long, Pwent’s plight is a dark and lonely one that is fully explained here.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend Of Drizzt: Neverwinter Tales #3
Written by R.A. Salvatore and Geno Salvatore
Art by Agustin Padilla
Colors by Leonard O’Grady
Letters by Chris Mowry
Covers by Gonzalo Flores, Tim Seeley, Leonard O’Grady, Eric Deschamps
IDW Publishing
Release Date: November 9, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

It seems that R.A. Salvatore is everywhere these days. And I love it! He and his son, Geno Salvatore, are writing all-new adventures for Drizzt in The Legend Of Drizzt: Neverwinter Tales #3. I’m always a sucker for new dark elf adventures. I miss his old allies but, as with all stories, things change. As always he has Guenhwyvar with him, plus his unique unicorn steed. Dahlia, his dark-hearted elven companion, accompanies him as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the first two issues, so I’m playing catch up with this one…luckily, it wasn’t difficult.