In partnership with Devolver Digital and Massive Monster, Oni Press proudly presents Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse—the hugely anticipated first graphic novel exploration into the sprawling cosmology of the millions-selling, multiple BAFTA Award–nominated video game phenomenon that has Polygon begging players to "smash that worship button"!
In a land pervaded by cruelty and evil, the most innocent among us—young Lamb—was selected to become a noble sacrifice. . . . Their death would be the magical rite that would forever seal the darkest of the Old Gods out of our realm and usher in a new age of bounty.
So Lamb died . . . but then they made a deal of their own.
At the crossroads of eternity, Lamb was met by the imprisoned deity known as the One Who Waits, who revealed the falsehoods and distortions of the false prophets who rule the world and the Old Faith. And so, Lamb was given a choice: Enter oblivion as intended . . .or return to the land of living with unholy powers and deliver a new cult unto the Earth.
The Four Bishops of the Old Faith must fall. The disbelievers must be destroyed. And, as Lamb assembles their flock, a new master shall reign over all of creation. Praise be to the Cult of the Lamb!
From acclaimed writer Alex Paknadel (All Against All, Red Goblin) and Eisner Award–nominated artist Troy Little (Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas) comes a deviously delightful, heretic-smashing excursion into the borderlands of the worldwide video game hit that IGN calls "adorably demonic."
This was SO good! I'm not sure, but I think it would be pretty enjoyable for people who haven't played the game. As someone who finally picked up the game earlier this year and fell into a DEEP spiral of obsession over it, I adored this. It was neat to see some of the inner workings of the lamb's mind and the minds of their followers! I'm really excited that there will be future issues and I can't wait to read them!
The first 4 issues of the cult of the lamb comic are bound together in this graphic novel volume. Based on the game of the same name, the story follows lamb, his execution, his resurrection and his vengeance. I have not played the game that this is based on but I believe you can read it independently of that and not miss anything important. I do however want to play the game now that I have read this.
The art style is dark and well done albeit a little clunky at times with how things are arranged on page. This did not affect my reading too badly though.
I enjoyed the friendship between Nana and the lamb and how Nana's arc plays out. Interested to see how Ratau and Clauneck will be in future volumes.
I will definitely be picking up future volumes, I cannot wait!
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing an ARC copy for review. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t played the game but the story is interesting and the colors and art quite vibrant. A violent take on religions, cults, violence in the name of devotion, and other human fallacies thinly veiled by cute woodland creatures. The art is a bit hard to discern in some panels and there are some heavy themes that might turn some readers away, but this is a series I’d like to continue.
Having never played the game I was interested in seeing how this worked. The art work is dark and inviting. Sometimes there is too much going on in the page and the txt feels like an afterthought. I really enjoyed the story but felt it tried to crame a lot into one volume. And the story itself was overwhelmed by the art Not having read many graphic novels I did feel there was something missing the story didn't flow enough for me. It felt like it needed more editing before publication. Depending on it's target market this might appeal more to younger adults although the dark themes could do with a warning. Hope the next volume has learnt from this. I did enjoy it so it 3.5 rounded up to 4. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author
Firstly I have to state that I was a huge fan out the game. Following on from that comes this wonderful publication. This comic/graphic novel gels perfectly with the game in terms of both plot and appearance. It also duplicates the humour uses throughout the game. All in all this was a fun and quick read which I would highly recommend
2.5 stars. I love Cult of the Lamb, in particular the art style, and this was honestly kind of a bummer. The balance of cute and gory art is great, the character designs and the story fit right in and added an interesting amount of lore to what already existed in the game, and it was a quick and easy read, but unfortunately, I can't shake the feeling that it's not actually finished.
This feels sloppy and as if it was put together by people with little to no comic/graphic novel experience—a lot of the pages/panels are visually overwhelming; these pages will feature great art, but there’s so much of it and it all overlaps in ways that muddy the image/make it hard to read rather than making things exciting and dynamic. There were inconsistencies in plot/characters/art across the pages, the writing was weak and needed a bit less cringe dialogue, and I just can’t see myself spending money on this. I sort of think I would be upset if I had, and even as a huge fan of the game, I don’t feel that this gives me much reason to continue with further installments.
TLDR: This feels like when EA released The Sims 4 with half the features missing and you couldn't even have a pool. Disappointing, but not terrible; probably still going to be worth it for some fans of the game!
A sincere thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
If you want to read this book you should definitely have in mind that it's originally a game and not a graphic novel. Therefore the lamb has they/them pronouns, (since the player could be both female and male), choices are individually in game but chosen in a certain way for this graphic novel and of course it might just feels like being in a game while reading, though I think it was good implemented. The graphic novel isn't that different from the original game, appearances stayed the same and most part of the story line. But we will get moments that didn't happen in the game, making the graphic novels unique in its own ways.
I personally really liked the drawing style and how the little lamb could look innocent and scared, but at the same time mighty and fearless. That's also the personality for the lamb. For the beginning it was scared, but when it got its own cult and power it learned to fear nothing, but in the end we get a heart touching moment (which didn't happen in the game), which made me really sad, but also made me able to see how vulnerable the lamb still can be. Even though we never got a real name or any pronouns (that indicates gender) for our protagonist, the lamb still feels real by having its own personality. While you have the freedom to make your own decisions in the game, the graphic novel makes them themselves, but in a satisfying and justified way. The lamb might appear evil, but it still has a pure heart and the typical hero personality, trying to save everyone who it can. That makes the graphic novel a lot enjoyable, as the lamb gets its own personality and sometimes even small moments that didn't appear in the game.
I can't say a lot to the graphic novel yet as I didn't read a lot so far, the pacing is great regarding the length of each volume, but I wished the volumes might be a big longer. Nevertheless, the four volumes I was able to read in just an hour were really great and I'm looking forward to be reading more of it.
Recommended to anyone who likes action based storylines and video games. More specifically; Anyone who likes Animal Crossing should have at least tried to read this one. Even though Animal Crossing is expecting less from the player, the animal aspects and designing/managing your town (in this case cult) is the same.
Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced reader copy of Cult of the Lambs Vol. 1 by Alex Paknadel and Troy Little.
Started the book: 04. October 2024 Finished the book: 04. October 2024 Wrote the review: 04. October 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Omi, for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. The combination aesthetic of cute + scary has me in a tight chokehold. What a great tribute to the video game! I appreciate how this work refreshes the original narrative from the game, while giving the cult leader Lamb more voice, more personality.
From the first page, the use of color as well as the narrative’s high drama caught my attention. I wished the story didn’t skip through the foundation of Nana’s devotion to Lamb as well as Lamb gaining more devoted cult members. The narrative felt rushed in some places where I am sure it was hard to fill in the gaps created in the storyline through gameplay time.
I recommend this graphic novel for upper middle grade and young adult audiences as there are complex topics involving devotion, sacrifice, and manipulation of power. However, any fan of the video game will appreciate the art and the character development. The creators’ strive to captivate readers as the videogame sucked in players was successful.
I have yet to play this game, but when I saw this on NetGalley, I just had to request. It definitely offers more backstory to the world it's set in and now I have to play it asap. It was quite an easy read since the pages weren't filled with just text ++ I absolutely loved the artwork. It was very colourful and detailed and I liked the way the characters were drawn.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
In which the sacrificial lamb becomes the almighty shepherd... of a cult. I'm not sure if this was intended to be a direct graphic novelisation of the video game or if it's purely supplementary, but I had a lot of fun with it! I think the concept is great and the art style is true to the source material (an initial draw for me when it came to the game, so it was neat to see that borne out). I could definitely see myself continuing with the next installments.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
i really liked this! i love the game, and it was really fascinating to read a story-arc for the characters you get when you start the game. obviously you make your own choices as you play, so having a set storyline was pretty fascinating. can’t wait for the next book/next chapters!
Firstly I'd like to thank NetGalley and Oni Press for giving me an ARC to review. All opinions are my own 💖 This was such a nice introduction into the world of Cult of the Lamb! Got surprisingly attached to the characters which I didn't expect to happen. Did it push me to buy the game as well? Yes, it definitely did! 😄
I love COTL as a video game, so I was really excited to see the good people at Devolver turning it into a comic series. To me, the graphic novel is a good memento for fans of the game but not a great standalone book. The art is gorgeous, but the writing feels clunky and dense. Several times, I found myself having to reread panels due to wordiness, awkward phrasing, or unintuitive text placement. Still, they managed to fit a good little story arc into the first four issues! I enjoyed it over all. Praise the Lamb
The Cult of the Lamb graphic novel follows Lamb on his quest for vengeance after being murdered by the bishops. Through out the graphic novel he sets out to find followers for his cult and to save darkwood from the evils of the bishops.
The art in this graphic novel is absolutely stunning. The cuteness of Lamb and the other followers mixed with the gore from the fight scenes makes for a unique and unforgettable experience.
As a disclaimer I haven't played Cult of the Lamb, but I think I may have to now after reading this graphic novel. I definitely recommend this graphic novel for fans of the game.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
cult of the lamb has become already one of my top video games, and the artist behind it has become one of my favorite artists. the mix of horror and gore and cutesy adorableness is just genius. if you haven't played the game, this will be a nice intro to that world. if you have played the game, this will shed some light on some events and dig deeper into the forming of the cult. i really can't wait for more volumes!!
Cult of the Lamb Vol. 1: The First Verse was a great introduction to the character of Lamb and his backstory.
Based on the award-winning videogame, Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse delves into the origins of Lamb's character detailing how Lamb became the leader of their own cult. After being sacrificed to seal the Old Gods out of our realm, Lamb makes a deal of his own with the imprisoned deity known as the One Who Waits. Returned to Earth with powers of his own, Lamb sets out to create a new cult and take down the Four Bishops of the Old Faith.
I have played and enjoyed Cult of the Lamb so I was excited to learn there was a graphic novel based on the game. The worldbuilding in this book expands a bit upon what we learn in the game which fleshes out the story nicely. I liked getting to see familiar characters such as Lamb and Ratau as well as meeting new ones like Nana who is Lamb's first follower. The plot was well done and I liked how affected Lamb was by everything that happens. The art style is nice and consistent with the look of the game which I appreciated. There is a fair bit of gore so if that's not your thing then you may want to skip this one.
Overall Cult of the Lamb Vol. 1: The First Verse was a fun read and I hope there will be future comics set in this universe.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Cult of the Lamb is a graphic novel adaptation of the popular indie game by the same name, and it delivers on the charm that fans of the game will love. The graphic novel does a good job of exploring the lore of the game while keeping the whimsical yet dark tone that made the original so unique.
One of the things I loved most about this adaptation was how it balances the adorable with the creepy. The artwork uses bold bright colors that bring it to life, and at the same time, it doesn’t shy away from the darker, more gory elements of the story, making for a perfect blend of cute and creepy.
Ultimately, this graphic novel made me want to jump right back into the game and explore more of Cult of the Lamb's quirky, eerie universe. Whether you're a fan of the game or new to the world, this is a fun read that serves as a great companion to the game and may make you want to pick it up too!
I've never played or even watched a let's play of the "Cult of the Lamb" game but I was intrigued by it each time I was passing by it in the stores. The design of a cute lamb, that usually represents innocence and weakness mixed with a cult setting . That's intriguing.
I feel like the story is a satire of what religions/cult are. You fight and worship something that you think better than anything even though they do the same atrocities as others "unworthy" cult. Everyone in this universe believe in a kind of gods. They talked about the fact that this bad cult is concentrated in a territory and is just expending but I don't understand why our characters don't just leave the area. The last few pages implicitly tells us why but maybe it is because I never been a good follower but why would you leave in a area where you can get killed if you know that you can go elsewhere. I guess that's the strength of faith
Every character in this book sucks. Everyone in this universe know what cult are like. Some of them were even picked as sacrifice but they still joined a random cult because it claimed to be the good guys . Rare are the cult that claims being in the wrong.
Lamb is not a likeable character. His anger and desire of vengeance in the beginning make sense but his guru persona don't. I understand that he act like any other man of god, lying to get follower, promising a better way of life and outcome in life but I don't know/understand what he is doing. Obviously, he can't lie about a god being real or not because he saw and met them (maybe in the end we learn that it was an hallucination🤷♀️) but he don't act like he worship any gods ? Even the one that gave him power.
Nana was cute but too naive for me to like her. She is the archetype of the cult member. She think that given herself completely will make her worthy of whatever will happen to her and that's not a mentality that I like .
The dog like character? I don't know his name but he is extremely sus . I'm 100% sure that he is not a follower. He is just greedy of the power Lamb was granted . He took the role of the leader when Lamb is away but he makes the most random decision and some of them look to deliberately to hurt the follower as if he wanted them to feel safer with him rather than with the "god choses"
It is not the best graphic to pick up if English is not your first language. There were moment when I did not understood anything for a long time.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
When I saw this one on NetGalley I had to request it right then and there. I love The Cult of The Lamb, it is an amazing game, and it is the one I am constantly pushing at everyone. It is brilliant and it is nice, and since it is farming + roguelike it could appeal to a lot of different people. And the graphic is the cutest thing ever, it is the perfect balance between cute as heck and creepy as hell, and I am in love! (And by the way, they have recently added the co-op option and it is *chef’s kiss*. )But it’s not only that! You are a cute little lamb with a killer strike and your mission is to form a cult! It is bonkers! It is cute! It is the best! So… obviously, how could I resist the graphic novel??
And the graphic novel is just so cute! If you are familiar with the game the story of this volume would not surprise you, because it is basically the beginning of the game. Sure, there are some new things in there, and there is more character development (especially for Ratau) and we meet some followers with their own stories, backgrounds, and personalities. It is expanded and you get some in-depth that is not present in the game (for obvious reasons), but basically, as far as plotlines go, you already know what is happening. If you are not familiar with the game, you get to discover how and why a cute little lamb is now the head of a cult who worships him, and why he is going around slaying the creatures of the different realms around them.
The art is the same as in the game, but better! I hope this makes sense. The illustrator did an amazing job here, and you get to see more colors and more details, and every page is a work of art. It is just so beautiful! And, again, it is the perfect blend between creepy and cute. It is pure bliss!
My only complaint is that at the beginning we get some witty vibes, it is funny (there is a conversation between the lamb and an acolyte that is pure gold) but these vibes do not keep up for the whole book. They are just at the beginning, and then they disappear. But I am a sucker for humor and I think that here it would have done wonders. But still, I had fun reading it and it is a feast for the eyes. So yeah, I am happy to have read it, and I am recommending it to you because it is just too cute/creepy to pass! You need it in your life!
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Well this was a cute and badass surprise! I've never actually played the game even though I really want to (arachnophobia + spider boss doesn't mess well xD) so I did actually go into this mostly blind, and I really enjoyed it! It does have that "video game" feel to it, but not in a bad way at all.
Characters felt suprisingly developed, I loved Nana a lot, and even Lamb themselves I was rooting for. For a character that's meant to be a blank slate for players to make who they want, Lamb really does make for a compelling main character!
The plot was suprisingly fun as well, it did feel a little light on the action specifically, but it was actually quite emotional and I absolutely need to know what happens next!! I really do think this is a good comic for both those that like a cartoony darker story and those that are fans of the game. There's certainly something for everyone here!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
As a disclaimer, I have not played the game, I am viewing this from the perspective of a reader. While I know of the game and am familiar with it enough to have some background context, I cannot compare the different medias to each other.
Cult of the Lamb is a solid introduction to the world of sacrifices, evil gods, and devil deals. A chibi art style is twisted by intense gore, cartoonish violence, and dark subject matter. This is a story of a creature who rises up against those who mistreated them and encourages others to do the same, but can we really call them heroes?
I think this is serviceable as a graphic novel, but unless you are a fan of the game, I don't see it having enough meat to really interest or hold attention. Perhaps in subsequent volumes, more story and plot will be explored, but it felt very much like coverage of the first hour of gameplay or a cutscene at the beginning of a game. I'm not sure how much of the story is covered by the game, but the motivations and major points of world building and the magic system are competently explained.
I don't find Lamb to be a likeable character. I think the only character that really interested me was Nana, but out of an already small cast of protagonists she struggles to stand on her own without being completely tied to Lamb in every way.
I don't think I will pick up volume 2, but this first volume serves as a good introduction to the world and characters, even if it is a little dull.
Naive, young lamb has a taste for vengeance. Having recently been murdered, he strikes a deal with an old god. The deal is easy: create a cult and slay the gods who oppose them. But powers come at a cost, and our lamb soon realises that nobody can be trusted.
I’ve never played the game, but I’m a horror fan, and this comic absolutely hits the spot. It blends graphic violence with a cute art style, which is a very fresh take on the genre. Plus, for such a short first volume, this book feels much, much longer. We get a good chunk of lore and world building, but the writers don’t reveal enough to kill the suspense. When can I get volume 2?
Thank you to NetGalley for granting me access to the ARC. All my opinions are my own.
Thank you, Oni press and NetGalley, for the arc! Here is an honest review!
This has me soooo ready to play the game! 🎮 I've heard many great things about Cult of the Lamb, and it has always intrigued me. This volume offers the backstory that I don't know if we get in the game. I think starting with this story and getting hints of what is to come plus the complex character building will make the gameplay must cooler for me.
Artstyle is amazing, the story is very cool! Highly recommend!
This took me by surprise for a comic based on a fairly silly video game. The story actually had me hooked and went in a direction I wasn't expecting. The art style is just as cute and fun as the game. I don't know where it goes from here because fighting Leshy was as far as I got into the game because I suck at resource management. So I'm excited for the next volume!
This adaptation does a good job translating the game to a graphic novel format, especially for people who haven't played the game and/or don't plan to. The story is relatively easy to follow but the character of Lamb is confusing at first at least to me. It feels different from what is established in the game, but it was likely done for story purposes.
I do recommend picking this up if you were a fan of the game, or are somewhat interested but can't get into the playstyle!
I haven't played the game (didn't realize it was a game when I first picked this up) but I enjoyed this a lot! Interesting concept on religion and cults with super cute (and super violent) characters :)
So much fun! Love the artwork (just like I love the artwork in the game). The story is solid too though the narration can be a bit heavy handed at points. It makes me want to play the game again, and this is about how far I got into the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!