DRAGONFORGED

In this series opener, a new champion arrives.

Orin is training to become a great warrior so he can help defend his community from evil monsters. One day, the village is attacked by two dreadfiends, who plan to turn it into a blight zone. The guards engage in battle, but all hope seems lost until Orin manages to destroy the creatures—signaling that he’s the prophesied chosen champion of the goddess Draela. Orin is joined by new arrival Margo, a lorekeeper who wants to help him find the champion’s sword and shield, divine artifacts that he can use to defeat the Fiendlord. Their journey takes them across distant lands, where Orin meets friends and fiends alike as he tries to save the world and find out who he is in the process. Reminiscent of role-playing and adventure games, this tale takes readers on a journey full of knights, spellcasters, and quirky evildoers. The expressive, action-packed panels are lighthearted and humorous, but this is also the story of a boy who’s facing self-doubt and worries about being good enough. Readers see that not every problem has to be immediately solved with violence; whenever possible, Orin tries to find peaceful solutions. The cast includes fantasy races with green and blue skin, as well as humans with a range of skin tones. Brown-skinned Orin wears his hair in locs, and Margo has voluminous yellow hair and light skin.

Funny, adventurous, and emotionally intelligent.