Review: Quests Aside #1

A new series from Vault Comics is out now, this is Quests Aside #1

A skeleton, an apprentice mage, and an exiled princess walk into a bar... for another shift at Quests Aside, the local watering hole run by once legendary, now retired adventurer Barrow.

When the King privately explains that he plans to shut the place down, Barrow must find a way to hold onto his business and the family he's built around it.

It's always sunny in the realms!

Writer: Brian Schirmer
Artist: Elena Gogou
Colorist: Rebecca Nalty
Letterer: Andworld Design
Designer: Tim Daniel
Cover A: Elena Gogou
Cover B: Michael Dialynas

Carefully crafting some good serious storytelling with some excellent comedy, you get the new series from Vault Comics - Quests Aside.

First of all the serious part. This is a good family drama, based around a tavern in a fantasy land. There are giants, the undead, and more, but in this case, the people running it are like a family. They all have their own issues and history - some more mysterious than others - and that is what this story seems to be built around. Adding the tavern aspect to it is a great idea, as in this land this is where everybody goes. The end of the story adds something to the feeling of this tavern, and why it is important, it also puts some in a dilemma as to what to do next.

The comedy aspect is well done. It doesn't take away from the serious aspects of the story - by making light of serious matters for example - but does add to the fun of the story. From the roving band of adventurers getting stopped in their tracks before they go out, to the store room from another dimension. These were all well-done aspects.

I enjoyed the feeling of the art - the cartoon aspects work well here, especially with the more ridiculous characters. The colouring works well in this setting, and I would be interested to see how it may change in different settings.

This was a good beginning, with some kicking off of the storylines, as well as adding some information on the type of characters we are going to meet on the way. Worth checking out.