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DIE has been described by some as dark fantasy Jumanji.
Accurate, but also sells this series short.
The blurb:
In 1991, 6 teens play an RPG
They vanish without a trace
5 of them are found 2 years later, and can't explain what happened
In 2018, now adults, they will play again...
Accurate, but also sells this series short.
The blurb:
In 1991, 6 teens play an RPG
They vanish without a trace
5 of them are found 2 years later, and can't explain what happened
In 2018, now adults, they will play again...
This is the image "trailer" for the comic. https://twitter.com/kierongillen/status/1039186283120222208
Sounds like a simple enough concept, right?
What makes this series unique, I hear you ask?
Well, let me explain the ways in which this series has quickly become one of my all time favourites
What makes this series unique, I hear you ask?
Well, let me explain the ways in which this series has quickly become one of my all time favourites
1) This series is a love-letter to RPGs such as Dungeons & Dragons, but also to board games and tabletop role-playing games as a whole.
It is a love letter to not only playing games, but creating them, and how the games shape us.
It is a love letter to not only playing games, but creating them, and how the games shape us.
2) It's written by Kieron Gillen, legendary comic book writer
You may know him from his previous works, such as the ode to Brit Pop "Phonogram", or the beautiful and deep tale of gods and popstars "The Wicked + The Divine"
(he's also worked on Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra, and more)
You may know him from his previous works, such as the ode to Brit Pop "Phonogram", or the beautiful and deep tale of gods and popstars "The Wicked + The Divine"
(he's also worked on Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra, and more)
3) DIE is illustrated by the incredible Stephanie Hans, a regular collaborator of Marvel, DC, Valiant, Dark Horse, and many more comics publishers.
Her art is a true feast for the eyes!
Here is her variant cover for Jane Foster Valkyrie Issue #3
Her art is a true feast for the eyes!
Here is her variant cover for Jane Foster Valkyrie Issue #3
4) It's not just RPGs that DIE wears its heart of its sleeves for. Fantasy, literature, stories and their creators, they are all not only reference in this world but are integral to it.
5) In a story about playing out fantasies, DIE deals with grief, trauma, regret, atonement....
In a world of magic and stories, this is an exploration of the flawed and the profoundly human
In a world of magic and stories, this is an exploration of the flawed and the profoundly human
6) Representation.
Ash in the real world is cis male. In the game, they present as female
Angela is a disabled queer woman
Matt and Isabelle are POC
Not only this, but serious and complex subjects are treated with respect
Ash in the real world is cis male. In the game, they present as female
Angela is a disabled queer woman
Matt and Isabelle are POC
Not only this, but serious and complex subjects are treated with respect
7) This story is set within a TTRPG wholly unique to the story, with its own system and rules. Fans of RPGs and tabletop games will get a kick out of this, and all the little references
8) Even better, the team behind the comic are creating a real life RPG game to tie in to the comic!
It's currently in open beta, and you can check it out here
http://diecomic.com/rpg/
It's currently in open beta, and you can check it out here
http://diecomic.com/rpg/
9) Gillen is a consistently great writer.
DIE contains some truly great dialogue and incredible narration.
On top of that, this comic presents some truly unique and fascinating ideas, and it will leave you thinking on concepts long after you've read an issue.
DIE contains some truly great dialogue and incredible narration.
On top of that, this comic presents some truly unique and fascinating ideas, and it will leave you thinking on concepts long after you've read an issue.
10) It's still ongoing!
Issue #14 comes out in October, and the story is all beginning to culminate. I never know what to expect when reading each new issue, and there is always some new twist or detail which catches me off guard!
Issue #14 comes out in October, and the story is all beginning to culminate. I never know what to expect when reading each new issue, and there is always some new twist or detail which catches me off guard!
I hope that is enough to convince you to give this comic a read, even if you aren't traditionally a reader of comics or graphic novels
Truly, DIE is one-of-a-kind and I can't wait to see what happens next
Truly, DIE is one-of-a-kind and I can't wait to see what happens next
