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The Council of Frogs
Sent out by his "father" - a kindly old swamp lich - one tiny frog must leave the safety of his home in order to deliver a message of grave importance to a warlock in order to save the entire Council of Frogs.
Aided by many unconventional friends along the way, this little frog discovers the dangers of the world beyond his beloved swamp grove.
But the world is a big, harsh place, and he may need more than his dandelion hat and a tiny sword to make it back home before it's too late.
Aided by many unconventional friends along the way, this little frog discovers the dangers of the world beyond his beloved swamp grove.
But the world is a big, harsh place, and he may need more than his dandelion hat and a tiny sword to make it back home before it's too late.
146 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2023
8 people are currently reading
807 people want to read
About the author
Matt Emmons
27 books29 followersMatt Emmons is a cartoonist currently living in Philadelphia. Born in the Greater Boston Area and raised on a healthy diet of 80's monster movies and fantasy novels, he now dedicates his time to drawing monsters, machines, and animals for his own books.
His work is available directly from his own website:
www.secondatbestpress.com
His work is available directly from his own website:
www.secondatbestpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 16, 2023
Came for the frog adventure, stayed for the gorgeous artwork and beautiful storytelling. It’s not a very long story, but the characters are memorable even after spending such a brief time with them. I hope we see more of them someday!
March 3, 2024
Beautiful story with soft, lovable art. The art brings an incredibly unique feeling to this sweet story of a frog and his unconventional family. Overall really loved this book, my only complaint is I wish it was longer so I could enjoy it more.
March 23, 2025
I grew up spending hours in my local library consuming as many graphic novels as I could because I’d usually get through them in one session and would always come back to look at my favorite artwork in the stories I got hooked on.
Council of Frogs brought me back to those days in a very fun way, the style is adorable and engaging at the same time. The story it tells is familiar in themes yet unconventional in its heroes. I had a great time reading it and look forward to going through its pages again someday!
Council of Frogs brought me back to those days in a very fun way, the style is adorable and engaging at the same time. The story it tells is familiar in themes yet unconventional in its heroes. I had a great time reading it and look forward to going through its pages again someday!
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January 25, 2026A beautiful story and a most endearing tiny frog hero, so many stunning panels - heartwarming and exciting. A reminder to help each other when and where we can so that the overwhelming horrors don’t win.
January 9, 2025
I would die for Frog.
January 25, 2026
The art is SOOOO charming. I love the way the frogs are illustrated. I want to put them in my pockets. I want to kiss them on their little heads
Outside of the lovely art, though, there's really nothing in the book that's unique. The plot is very simplistic and tropey, and none of the characters are particularly distinct. You've definitely read this story done better somewhere else. It's pretty cozy for what it is tho. My favorite bits were the parts where the frog was alone. There was no dialogue, so you'd have to look at the art and take it all in alongside him
Outside of the lovely art, though, there's really nothing in the book that's unique. The plot is very simplistic and tropey, and none of the characters are particularly distinct. You've definitely read this story done better somewhere else. It's pretty cozy for what it is tho. My favorite bits were the parts where the frog was alone. There was no dialogue, so you'd have to look at the art and take it all in alongside him
January 15, 2026
An absolutely charming blend of cosy and dark fantasy, with a little scifi twist. A battlemage dies in combat, and in his undying wake gives life to a family of sentient frogs. Years later, as his power starts to wane, he sends one of his children off to find a warlock to take over his magical duties. This is where the story starts, and we follow this little amphibian on his globetrotting quest. A lot of it is silent, as our protagonist isn't gifted with speech, but he still got a couple of tears out of me. I particularly like the world he's building. It's dark and grimy, but full of tenderness and humor, and gorgeous artwork to boot. Matt Emmons is steadily becoming a favorite of mine
May 29, 2025
There’s something about graphic novels that allow adults to feel young again and allow youth to glimpse into a more mature world they have yet to enter. With illustrations that are food for the imagination, and only necessary dialogue, The Council Of Frogs was such a rewarding read visually and mentally. My favorite line, besides when the tea kettle blasted off unexpectedly, was: “You have reminded me that inaction is not the same as peace.”
You could really tell this book was a work of passion by the author.
You could really tell this book was a work of passion by the author.
August 29, 2023
Loved this beautiful book. A frog goes on an adventure to try and save his family meeting a friend on the way. Simple story, amazing execution.
February 11, 2024
A magical tale beautifully, viscerally illustrated. Great depth for a small glade of characters, who must contend with broader world and mundane horrors.
March 23, 2024
Cute, short, and sweet. A lot of expression in just a few little guys.
June 15, 2025
what a beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel. without ever saying a word, the little frog shows heart and strength and the whole story is just wonderful.
June 4, 2024
soooo sweet. the art is amazing- love love love the softness of the pencil outlines, and the amount of emotion conveyed in a tiny frog's face is bonkers
December 6, 2025
This is such a beautiful book.
I finished this book a week ago and I keep going back and leafing through it again. I feel like the author has a really amazing story telling ability. Like, the main character doesn't speak, it's got a lot of 'silent' panels, but the way that it's drawn it's like the silence adds to the story, sets the mood. I can see it in my head playing like a movie, with only small sounds like the wind in the plants or their footsteps on the ground or maybe the chirp of insects. IDK, I just feel like the way it's illustrated, the timing of the panels, etc, it's truly magical. I want to buy a million copies and give it out to everyone I know. Not to mention how beautiful the storyline itself is. There's such a sadness and a sense of hope at the same time. It's so real and impactful. I'm so glad I bought this book.
I finished this book a week ago and I keep going back and leafing through it again. I feel like the author has a really amazing story telling ability. Like, the main character doesn't speak, it's got a lot of 'silent' panels, but the way that it's drawn it's like the silence adds to the story, sets the mood. I can see it in my head playing like a movie, with only small sounds like the wind in the plants or their footsteps on the ground or maybe the chirp of insects. IDK, I just feel like the way it's illustrated, the timing of the panels, etc, it's truly magical. I want to buy a million copies and give it out to everyone I know. Not to mention how beautiful the storyline itself is. There's such a sadness and a sense of hope at the same time. It's so real and impactful. I'm so glad I bought this book.
June 7, 2025
Picked this up on a whim and wanted to like it more than I did. Loved the main frog character, but thought the monkey guy was a little hard to look at. Simple enough story, wouldn’t necessarily revisit or recommend.
September 16, 2025
Unfortunately kind of a letdown. Very charming world-building and the art is beautiful; however, the characters were just so flat and every conflict was resolved so easily without feeling earned at all.
November 29, 2025
Beautiful art and an unexpected story.
I would have liked a little more backstory to this world, as it seems like there’s a lot there, but I still enjoyed the journey this story took us on.
I would have liked a little more backstory to this world, as it seems like there’s a lot there, but I still enjoyed the journey this story took us on.
September 23, 2025
Opening thoughts: I stumbled upon this graphic novel at GenCon while I was admiring some of the author's risograph prints. He pitched it to me as "A frog goes on a journey to deliver a message to a warlock". And well, I was hooked. I don't read a ton of graphic novels, but I definitely plan on picking up more from this author.
Worldbuilding: The wider setting of this graphic novel is hinted at throughout that really makes the story feel like it's set in a fully realized world. It's a sort of dystopian feeling fantasy world where magic is ridiculed but there are still those who are trying to keep it's traditions alive.
Emotions: Our little frog hero has no dialogue, but the vast array of emotions Emmons is able to display on his tiny frog face is astounding. I found myself laughing, crying, and cheering on the frog and his allies each step of the way.
Intrigue: I absolutely love stories told from the perspective of a small creature, and Council of Frogs uses this framing device excellently. The little frog has no magic of his own, and only a small sword to defend himself, but he persists throughout and even when it seems like the world is against him and all hope is lost, he pushes through. The premise for this graphic novel is also just so fun to me, a fallen battle mage turning into a litch but instead of becoming evil he uses his magic to protect a family of frogs.
Relationships: This is a shorter story so there isn't a ton of time to expand upon relationships, but the way in which each character forms a bond with the frog is wonderfully done. As mentioned above, there is a litch caring for the frog and his family, and that is such a sweet and soft relationship for a character that has every right to be vengeful and angry.
Descriptions: The art in this graphic novel is beautiful. The pencil linework gives everything a very soft, cozy feel. The character design was one of my favorite things about it from the frogs and their litch father, to Gholkin (one of the frogs newfound allies), to the witch in the woods, to the warlock, every character is so unique with such cool designs.
Engagement: I had to force myself to slow down while reading this one. I easily could have finished it in one sitting, but I really wanted to savor it. Each chapter ends in a cliffhanger that pulls you into the next chapter with ease.
Final thoughts: I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up. Emmonds is an expert storyteller and a fantastic artist. The Council of Frogs feels very reminiscent to Mouse Guard with a fun twist on the setting and magic prevalent in the world.
Worldbuilding: The wider setting of this graphic novel is hinted at throughout that really makes the story feel like it's set in a fully realized world. It's a sort of dystopian feeling fantasy world where magic is ridiculed but there are still those who are trying to keep it's traditions alive.
Emotions: Our little frog hero has no dialogue, but the vast array of emotions Emmons is able to display on his tiny frog face is astounding. I found myself laughing, crying, and cheering on the frog and his allies each step of the way.
Intrigue: I absolutely love stories told from the perspective of a small creature, and Council of Frogs uses this framing device excellently. The little frog has no magic of his own, and only a small sword to defend himself, but he persists throughout and even when it seems like the world is against him and all hope is lost, he pushes through. The premise for this graphic novel is also just so fun to me, a fallen battle mage turning into a litch but instead of becoming evil he uses his magic to protect a family of frogs.
Relationships: This is a shorter story so there isn't a ton of time to expand upon relationships, but the way in which each character forms a bond with the frog is wonderfully done. As mentioned above, there is a litch caring for the frog and his family, and that is such a sweet and soft relationship for a character that has every right to be vengeful and angry.
Descriptions: The art in this graphic novel is beautiful. The pencil linework gives everything a very soft, cozy feel. The character design was one of my favorite things about it from the frogs and their litch father, to Gholkin (one of the frogs newfound allies), to the witch in the woods, to the warlock, every character is so unique with such cool designs.
Engagement: I had to force myself to slow down while reading this one. I easily could have finished it in one sitting, but I really wanted to savor it. Each chapter ends in a cliffhanger that pulls you into the next chapter with ease.
Final thoughts: I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up. Emmonds is an expert storyteller and a fantastic artist. The Council of Frogs feels very reminiscent to Mouse Guard with a fun twist on the setting and magic prevalent in the world.
July 29, 2023
Full review at https://www.spidercentsreviews.com/po...
Kickstarter has been a revelation for me. It is home to SO many incredible writers and artists, and my latest one to arrive was created by someone who does both. Matt Emmons has created what might be my favorite graphic novel of the year, The Council of Frogs. It is a simple story, with a lone frog making a journey to deliver a message on behalf of the corpse that gave him higher thinking. So maybe not that simple. But it will simply steal your heart, as you follow the journey of the world's cutest protagonist. Matt's passion for 80s fantasy stories is clear, as the entire journey feels like a mix of dark fantasy with the coming to age questline. I feel Return to Oz, Labyrinth, Willow, The Neverending Story, and more in Emmons' work. As great as this story is, the art might even be better. Emmons draws captivating characters that really just look like they were magically teleported from the real world to this fantasy one. From birds to frogs, Matt really captures nature in it's wildest forms. The swamp, the deserts, all of it shows how Emmons has nearly perfected the environment in his stories. His characters are fantastic as well, the Frog, the Battlemage, Gholkin, every character is well fleshed out, looks incredible, and adds to the story in an emotionally resonant way. Give me a sequel about the Hawk vs The Frog. Heck give me a trilogy about it. This story is cute, chaotic, adventurous, and an excellent fantasy story Matt Emmons should be so proud of. I don't want to give much more of it away, so I will do a shameless plug here and tell you that if you want to support small business, and to read a fun graphic novel while you do so, The Council of Frogs is it. Here is the link, go buy a copy for someone you know who loves frogs. Hop to it!
Kickstarter has been a revelation for me. It is home to SO many incredible writers and artists, and my latest one to arrive was created by someone who does both. Matt Emmons has created what might be my favorite graphic novel of the year, The Council of Frogs. It is a simple story, with a lone frog making a journey to deliver a message on behalf of the corpse that gave him higher thinking. So maybe not that simple. But it will simply steal your heart, as you follow the journey of the world's cutest protagonist. Matt's passion for 80s fantasy stories is clear, as the entire journey feels like a mix of dark fantasy with the coming to age questline. I feel Return to Oz, Labyrinth, Willow, The Neverending Story, and more in Emmons' work. As great as this story is, the art might even be better. Emmons draws captivating characters that really just look like they were magically teleported from the real world to this fantasy one. From birds to frogs, Matt really captures nature in it's wildest forms. The swamp, the deserts, all of it shows how Emmons has nearly perfected the environment in his stories. His characters are fantastic as well, the Frog, the Battlemage, Gholkin, every character is well fleshed out, looks incredible, and adds to the story in an emotionally resonant way. Give me a sequel about the Hawk vs The Frog. Heck give me a trilogy about it. This story is cute, chaotic, adventurous, and an excellent fantasy story Matt Emmons should be so proud of. I don't want to give much more of it away, so I will do a shameless plug here and tell you that if you want to support small business, and to read a fun graphic novel while you do so, The Council of Frogs is it. Here is the link, go buy a copy for someone you know who loves frogs. Hop to it!
November 6, 2025
It is an overwhelming experience going into an event like Small Press Expo and making choices about how to spend your money. It's equally difficult when I look at graphic novels as both an artistic expression AND a storytelling medium, and when I rate things on Goodreads, the story has to be as good as the artwork. There were many enticing graphic novels that had low scores here on Goodreads, and that scared me away, particularly since it takes me far less time to read most graphic novels than, you know, novels that only have words in them.
But I'm happy to say that I definitely made the right choice with The Council of Frogs. This feels both timely and timeless. I loved how it hinted at a modern civilization mixed with medieval imagery. It's also a great, straightforward hero's journey, and yet there are a handful of fun and challenging surprises along the way. And it wraps up in one volume.
Sometimes, a simple concept wonderfully executed is all I need. I was very happy with how this turned out and am happy to recommend it to others.
But I'm happy to say that I definitely made the right choice with The Council of Frogs. This feels both timely and timeless. I loved how it hinted at a modern civilization mixed with medieval imagery. It's also a great, straightforward hero's journey, and yet there are a handful of fun and challenging surprises along the way. And it wraps up in one volume.
Sometimes, a simple concept wonderfully executed is all I need. I was very happy with how this turned out and am happy to recommend it to others.
September 30, 2024
Quite hoppy with this one! I know you've been dying to read a book about a lich raising a loving family of sentient frogs from the pond his corpse landed in. No? But surely you've wanted to see a sweet young frog with a lil sword and dandelion hat witness death for the first time? No?? The cute frog also kills for the first time and learns the remorse of ending another's life to defend its own. It's actually a really cute book. I haven't even mentioned the really cool character design yet. Listen just read it, it'll only take an hour or two and you'll be happier for it.
Jokes aside, I am tickled by the fact that this book is like if a Frog in the Fall(And Later On) was a grim dark fantasy. But kept the same premise of "little frog goes on big coming of age quest and meets strange friends and sceneries along the way"
Jokes aside, I am tickled by the fact that this book is like if a Frog in the Fall(And Later On) was a grim dark fantasy. But kept the same premise of "little frog goes on big coming of age quest and meets strange friends and sceneries along the way"
October 10, 2025
With style that echoes both classic children’s books and 80’s comics, this charming frog adventure is an easy read that leaves the reader both fulfilled but curious for more. The characters are very memorable, but readers are left with a yearning to know more about their backstories and what they’re to do next! It works as a standalone or something that would grow into multiple stories connected by the same characters and world. My hat is off to you Matt Emmons. I hope to see more of the fire warlock, Gholkin, and the Council of Frogs one day!
August 14, 2023
A wonderful story about kindness and family. The Council of Frogs sees a cast of characters mostly treating one another with kindness and the sharp bursts of violence punctuate the cruelty of men for no reason other than a fear of the other. Emmons' art is beautiful and brings soul to every panel, a liveliness in our little frog protagonist who communicates clearly without words. Sit back and wish that Emmons had given us more of our froggy friend.
September 6, 2023
I picked this book up randomly at the Toronto Fan Expo, based purely on the cover art. What an unexpectedly EPIC adventure it ended up being! This story has an amazing amount of depth, despite having very little dialog at moments. The non-verbal froggy protagonist conveys so much emotion, as he goes on his journey to find the wizard and save his home... all while never speaking a word.
I definitely recommend giving it a read!
I definitely recommend giving it a read!
August 18, 2024
A charming and elegantly simple adventure book about a small frog sent on a big task to save his family. The artwork is expressive and immersive. Much of the book is told without dialogue and occasionally I found the sequential storytelling a little difficult to follow, but overall it was very engaging. The various characters our little frog meets are colorful and engaging. I enjoyed my time in this world.
January 13, 2024
Stunningly gorgeous artwork. Perfect pacing of dialogue. The panels flow easily and without confusion. You get just enough world building to understand what's at play, while also being in the dark enough to know anything could happen next. Finished this wanting a lot more, while also being satisfied with what I did get. Like how one would eat their favorite meal.
January 16, 2024
4.5
The art is gorgeous and the story is so sweet but also so sad sometimes the looks on the frog’s face are soo 🥺
From the sneak peaks I saw I thought I wouldn’t like the beast character but I fell in love with him. I want more of this story!!!
OH and the frog never speaks his but you can just TELL his intents and feelings he’s soo expressive
The art is gorgeous and the story is so sweet but also so sad sometimes the looks on the frog’s face are soo 🥺
From the sneak peaks I saw I thought I wouldn’t like the beast character but I fell in love with him. I want more of this story!!!
OH and the frog never speaks his but you can just TELL his intents and feelings he’s soo expressive
January 17, 2026
(4.75 stars) What an amazing story!!! I’ve had my eye on this graphic novel for a while, and I was able to snag a signed copy of it on a recent trip to Philly (yay!). The story was so entertaining and heartfelt, and the art is absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to read and see more of Matt’s work!
December 13, 2023
A sentient frog is sent on a mission to find the warlock who can save his fellow frogs from an upcoming catastrophe. Charmingly illustrated, with a slight story in which our adorable protagonist is mostly buffeted about.
September 16, 2024
This is a world contained tightly in a 146 page graphic novel. Just so much heart and mystery and kindness, don’t get me started on the expressions of the main frog who is entirely mute. I want more but I’m okay with the brief yet beautiful foray into this sad but hopeful world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews