I have a special spot for dwarves in fantasy RPGs these days, largely because I wrongly ignored them through most of my teen years. AD&D had a million supplements on elves, and I loved the idea of playing nigh-immortal magical beings. Dwarves, gnomes, and halflings got largely overlooked in those days (the Player’s Handbook Reference Series, which had a book for every race and class in the game, even shortchanged the latter two by shoving them together in The Complete Book of Gnomes and Halfligns rather than giving them a chance to really shine).

In my later years, I’ve come to appreciate foul-tempered, beer-loving, hairy people–and not just because I have become one. In the Fell’s Five comics, Khal became one of my favorite characters thanks to the juxtaposition of his stoic warrior nature and the gentle poet within. So if the comic had to get canceled before its time, I’m glad it went out on a note that highlighted these qualities.

Without further ado, let’s check in on Khal’s love life with the final storyline of this series, “Down.”

Since we spent the first half of this volume of Dungeons & Dragons in the past, I thought it made sense to break the summary into two parts. We’re now back in the present, with our heroes trapped in the Feywild.

I’m not pumped about the word “Feywild,” which originated in 4th edition D&D along with its counterpart, the Shadowfell. However, I guess they’re catchier than the previously-used “Realm of Faerie” and “Plane of Shadow.” More importantly to Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro, they are trademarkable terms that the company can monetize.

In game terms, the Feywild and Shadowfell were meant to be more accessible than they used to be, allowing for lower-level adventurers to travel the planes without requiring high-level magic or bespoke magical gates. Almost every setting decision in 4th edition D&D was to create a world (and multiverse) full of perils where adventurers would find fights anywhere they went. So far, Fell’s Five are carrying that spirit with them well.

To me, the most disappointing thing about D&D comics is that they don’t last. The stories tend to be fun, the worldbuilding is nice, and the cast of characters is usually great. But licensing issues or low sales often lead to the cancellation of a series within a couple of years.

This is the case with the 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons comic, which is an especially big shame because the second arc spends time introducing our heroes’ backstories. Write John Rogers really created a story that had room to grow, but situations beyond his control prevented the seeds he planted from fully bearing fruit.

Still, it’s a fun ride while it lasts. With that said, let’s jump into the middle arc of this series, “First Encounters.”