Comic Brew: Forgotten Runes|Wizard’s Cult

Posted on January 3, 2024 by belleburr in Comics and Comic News, Gaming // 1 Comment

Archmagus Crowley has gotten himself into a bit of a mess in Forgotten Runes: Wizard’s Cult.

Writer: Joe Rechtman
Illustrator: Reilly Brown
Colorist: Jim Charalampidis
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Chief Creative: Elf J Trul
Chief Operations: Bearsnake
Operations: Nalgene
Editor: Calum Collins
Designer: Donna Askem
Published by: Titan Comics
@forgottenrunes

Going into Forgotten Runes: Wizard’s Cult, I honestly did not know what to expect. I’ve never played the games, so I really had no point of reference beyond it reminding me of Dungeons and Dragons. Well, this first chapter was an absolute delight.

Written by Joe Rechtman with colors by Jim Charalampidis and letters by Taylor Esposito we’re rapidly introduced to the hot mess that is Archmagus Crowley of Atlantis and his familiar Jasper, keeper of the only brain cell that Crowley can claim, as they await a ship coming into port.

While the ship is ordinary, however, its passengers and cargo are far from it and Crowley’s reasons for keeping watch are less than savory.

That’s all I’ll tell you about the plot because anything else would be a spoiler; and so far, the story is intriguing and amusing enough that it deserves to be read. Instead, let’s talk about the characters and artwork. Artist Reilly Brown does a fantastic job of creating this world and making it feel real and immersive – starting with the detailed map of the world we’re entering and continuing with the distinctive looks and clothing of the species represented. From the moment we meet Crowley we know what he’s about before he opens his mouth, and that’s 100% Brown’s art.

As for the characters, Rechtman gives each and every one, including background characters (something I personally always pay attention to), enough marked and interesting dialogue and interactions that I immediately wanted to know more about them. The writing is sharp and witty with folx’ reactions to the shenanigans that Crowley either causes or gets pulled into, cracking me up. Special shout out to the one patron who instantly noped out when Crowley’s mess gets a little too close to comfort for them. The way I cackled scared my dogs so badly that I had to retrieve treats to get back in their good graces.