Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl Vol. 1
From Vault Comics
From the smash webcomic, Dungeon Crawler Carl Vol. 1 is out this week from Vault Comics.
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Getting stuck on a sadistic alien game show with her cat. Join Carl and Princess Donut as they try to survive the end of the world — or just get to the next level of a trap-filled fantasy dungeon.
Join as Carl fights his way through the dungeon in heart-speckled underwear. And of course, the grizzly scenes are only balanced with the incredibly fluffy, wide-eyed stare of its main character, Princess Donut.
A ton of heart and effort was poured in creating a series with a script and style that would both appeal to WEBTOON readers and also lovers of DCC, all while consulting author Matt Dinniman the entire way about character designs, story, - EVERYTHING!
We couldn’t resist taking the apocalyptic awesomeness of the DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL WEBTOON and adapting it into the FIRST EVER graphic novel series!
Created by: Matt Dinniman
Written by: Matt Dinniman & Tevagah
Art by: Kuzomari, Laurel Pursuit Studios
Letters by: Ali Zaghlul, Laurel Pursuit Studios
Reformatted by: Makma
Cover Art: Laurel Pursuit
Direct Market Exclusive Cover by: Yoshi Yoshitani
I had heard a huge amount of praise surrounding Volume 1 of Dungeon Crawler Carl Vol. 1 and it sounded exactly like the sort of thing I would enjoy. I had actually already begun reading the prose version beforehand, so I went into this graphic adaptation with some familiarity of the world and characters. Thankfully, reading this first volume didn’t spoil anything major for me, which made the experience even more enjoyable because I could simply settle into the story and appreciate how it had been adapted into comic form.
Right from the start, this is an incredibly entertaining read. The volume does an excellent job of setting up the bizarre and dangerous world Carl suddenly finds himself trapped in, while also giving us a strong understanding of who he is as a character and what motivates him to keep pushing forward. There’s a real sense of momentum throughout the story, and even though this is only the opening part of a much larger adventure, it never feels slow or overloaded with exposition.
Alongside Carl, we are introduced to the wonderfully memorable Princess Donut, who immediately steals scenes whenever she appears. The comic also plants the seeds for a number of other characters and encounters that clearly feel important moving forward, giving the impression that this world is much bigger than what we have seen so far. It does a great job of teasing future relationships, rivalries and surprises without overwhelming the reader.
What impressed me most was how cleverly the comic handles the dungeon-crawling mechanics. It works both as a guide for the reader and for Carl himself as he learns how the system operates. Watching him gain experience points, pick up loot and stumble through increasingly messy and chaotic situations makes the whole thing feel fun and unpredictable. The humour lands particularly well because the comic fully embraces the absurdity of the concept without ever undermining the stakes.
The relationship between Carl and Princess Donut is easily one of the highlights. Princess Donut genuinely behaves like a cat at times, with all the arrogance, stubbornness and dramatic reactions you would expect, but there are also quieter moments where a softer and more emotional side comes through. Their back-and-forth creates a lot of the charm of the book and gives the story a surprisingly warm heart beneath all the violence and chaos.
The artwork throughout the volume is excellent and perfectly suited to the tone of the story. The action scenes against goblins and other threats are energetic and easy to follow, while the visual presentation of loot boxes, stats and RPG-style mechanics adds another layer of enjoyment. These little details really help immerse you in the game-like world and make the comic feel distinct from a more traditional fantasy adventure.
Overall, this feels like a fantastic concept for a comic adaptation. It captures the humour, action and weirdness of the story while making full use of the visual format. Volume 1 does exactly what you want an opening volume to do — it hooks you immediately, introduces memorable characters and leaves you wanting more. I’m already looking forward to continuing the series and seeing where Carl and Princess Donut’s journey goes next.
