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D'ORC Volume 1: The Book of Certain Doom
The perfect mix of Bone, The Dark Crystal, Discworld, and Monty Python, D'ORC is destined to be a new fan-favorite for years to come.
D’orc, the half dwarf/ half orc is fated to end the world because of some inconvenient doomsday prophecy from the Book of Certain Doom.
Armed with nothing but a magical yet ambitiously violent shield and a chicken with its head cut off, D’orc is caught dead center into Sunderaine’s never-ending war between the Light and Dark. Elves vs. Orcs. Wizards vs. Common Sense. Dragons vs. Literally Everyone.
Can he survive being hunted, blamed, and beaten by every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Witch, Timelord, Ice Giant, three headed Dog, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures?
Join fan-favorite artist BRETT BEAN (I HATE FAIRYLAND, DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL THE CROCODILE), colorist JEAN-FRANÇOIS BEAULIEU (I HATE FAIRYLAND), and letterer NATE PIEKOS (MINOR THREATS) for a hilarious high-fantasy romp perfect for fans of CONAN, LORD OF THE RINGS, and of course, GERT's deadpan humor.
Collects issues #1-5.
D’orc, the half dwarf/ half orc is fated to end the world because of some inconvenient doomsday prophecy from the Book of Certain Doom.
Armed with nothing but a magical yet ambitiously violent shield and a chicken with its head cut off, D’orc is caught dead center into Sunderaine’s never-ending war between the Light and Dark. Elves vs. Orcs. Wizards vs. Common Sense. Dragons vs. Literally Everyone.
Can he survive being hunted, blamed, and beaten by every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Witch, Timelord, Ice Giant, three headed Dog, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures?
Join fan-favorite artist BRETT BEAN (I HATE FAIRYLAND, DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL THE CROCODILE), colorist JEAN-FRANÇOIS BEAULIEU (I HATE FAIRYLAND), and letterer NATE PIEKOS (MINOR THREATS) for a hilarious high-fantasy romp perfect for fans of CONAN, LORD OF THE RINGS, and of course, GERT's deadpan humor.
Collects issues #1-5.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 17, 2026
Absolute chaos in the best way possible! Brett Bean has cooked up a masterclass in high-fantasy satire that hits, anchored by a half-dwarf, half-orc you can’t help but root for and an aggressively violent, talking eyeball shield that steals every panel it’s in (also a chicken with his head cut off) The artwork is vivid, bursting with wild energy, and the deadpan humor lands every single time amidst all the blood, dragons, and headless poultry. If you like your fantasy funny, clever, and delightfully unhinged, do yourself a favor and read this.
August 25, 2026
This was such a good graphic novel! I love Brett Bean's artwork and the story. Half orc half dwarf on an adventure with a ghost chicken and eyeball shield haha. Lots of fighting, blood, and banter. I laughed quite a bit reading this!
Read
June 8, 2026I first encountered Brett Bean as the replacement artist on I Hate Fairyland's comeback, and it makes sense that this solo outing would be something similar enough to convince fans of that to take a punt. Cartoonish ultraviolence, an apparently indestructible protagonist with small comedy sidekick/s: the main differences are that where Gert brings mayhem deliberately, D'orc is a more well-intentioned soul who does so inadvertently; and that instead of fairytale tropes, the backdrop here is a high fantasy world, genre staples played for laughs, given a twist (the giant three-headed dog is a Chihuahua), or spiced with occasional silly new insertions (trauma llamas). I suppose if you squint, you could maybe spot a little Saga too; the world is torn by a forever war between Light and Dark, who in practice are as bad as each other, and D'orc, as the child of a dwarf and an orc, threatens the whole binary on which both depend. I could nitpick regarding little details of the set-up (I never quite bought the killer talking shield as a clever paradox, rather than a swerve to avoid another talking sword), but what it really comes down to is that Bean's cartooning doesn't quite get my funny bone like Skottie Young's ostensibly similar stuff does. Humour being subjective, I know plenty of people feel differently, and I imagine they'll go for this accordingly.
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for an advance copy of this graphic novel that tells about a young person of mixed heritage, his psychotic companion, and a chicken who are trying their best to not live up to what the world has told him he will be, all while fighting his worst natures and just trying to be left alone.
I loved fantasy books from an early age, but I found that I could only read so many before I would have to step away. Many fantasy books are high on themselves, with big plots, big ideas, and a heaviness that can make reading them sometimes draining. I am not sure when I noticed that some authors were also feeling this, and were starting to add a touch of levity to fantasy. I remember Phil Foglio in Dragon, his cartoon strips making fun of both fantasy and role playing. The Myth-Adventures stories which I really enjoyed, even Xanth which I kind of liked, until I felt a little icky while reading them. Terry Prachett came much later to my attention, and I found this mix of humour and fantasy something I quite enjoyed. The balance was always a delicate one. Humour is fine, but at the expense of story and character, well that is also a bit of a slog. Something this comic handles perfectly. Characters that seem real, even if they are fantastical with low jokes, high fantasy and more. D'ORC Volume 1: The Book of Certain Doom is written and illustrated by Brett Bean and tells of a young character who is thought to be the end of the world in physical form, a character pursued by enemies both good and bad, with only a shield and a chicken as companions.
Sunderaine has not known peace for over a thousand years. Light battles dark in a constant battle for supremacy. People are caught in the middle of great battles, dwarves fighting ocs, mercenaries fighting creatures from the depths, a status quo of violence. There is a prophecy, one born of dwarf and orc, a creature that will end the battle, by ending all of life in Sunderaine. This creature is D'orc. D'orc, however has no interest in battle, ending the world, and or hurting people. Though people still die when he comes around. D'orc companions include a magical shield, with a love of violence and killing, and a chicken who D'orc killed accidently, a chicken D'orc plans to heal. If he could only stop these people from trying to kill him. Light and Dark have agreed on only one thing. D'orc must die, no matter how many people get hurt along the way. D'orc must hide, disguise, outsmart and even outfight his enemies, all while trying to keep his better instincts at the forefront, for the world won't like it if D'orc gets angry.
A very fun graphic novel. A good mix of bathroom humor, with a lot of satire about fantasy stories, comics, and life in general. Humor can be tough to sell. One can have a lot of jokes, but without the human factor much of this can seem like a skit that is easily forgotten. Bean has crafted a very strong story, one with good characters and lot a heart. D'orc does not shy away from his mistakes. D'orc remembers them, learns from what he has done wrong, and even tries to make right. Sometimes this works, sometimes this doesn't. The story is well written with good pacing and moves well, leaving the reader wanting more when it ends. The art is really good. Especially the fighting, which one wouldn't expect in a funny comic. The blows hurt, the deaths matter in the art, and reflect in the story. Bean has a nice use of color, and makes the story really stand out.
I enjoyed this comic, more than I thought I would. D'orc is an interesting character, and I would like to know more, about his past, the future, even his companions. I look forward to more adventures in this series.
I loved fantasy books from an early age, but I found that I could only read so many before I would have to step away. Many fantasy books are high on themselves, with big plots, big ideas, and a heaviness that can make reading them sometimes draining. I am not sure when I noticed that some authors were also feeling this, and were starting to add a touch of levity to fantasy. I remember Phil Foglio in Dragon, his cartoon strips making fun of both fantasy and role playing. The Myth-Adventures stories which I really enjoyed, even Xanth which I kind of liked, until I felt a little icky while reading them. Terry Prachett came much later to my attention, and I found this mix of humour and fantasy something I quite enjoyed. The balance was always a delicate one. Humour is fine, but at the expense of story and character, well that is also a bit of a slog. Something this comic handles perfectly. Characters that seem real, even if they are fantastical with low jokes, high fantasy and more. D'ORC Volume 1: The Book of Certain Doom is written and illustrated by Brett Bean and tells of a young character who is thought to be the end of the world in physical form, a character pursued by enemies both good and bad, with only a shield and a chicken as companions.
Sunderaine has not known peace for over a thousand years. Light battles dark in a constant battle for supremacy. People are caught in the middle of great battles, dwarves fighting ocs, mercenaries fighting creatures from the depths, a status quo of violence. There is a prophecy, one born of dwarf and orc, a creature that will end the battle, by ending all of life in Sunderaine. This creature is D'orc. D'orc, however has no interest in battle, ending the world, and or hurting people. Though people still die when he comes around. D'orc companions include a magical shield, with a love of violence and killing, and a chicken who D'orc killed accidently, a chicken D'orc plans to heal. If he could only stop these people from trying to kill him. Light and Dark have agreed on only one thing. D'orc must die, no matter how many people get hurt along the way. D'orc must hide, disguise, outsmart and even outfight his enemies, all while trying to keep his better instincts at the forefront, for the world won't like it if D'orc gets angry.
A very fun graphic novel. A good mix of bathroom humor, with a lot of satire about fantasy stories, comics, and life in general. Humor can be tough to sell. One can have a lot of jokes, but without the human factor much of this can seem like a skit that is easily forgotten. Bean has crafted a very strong story, one with good characters and lot a heart. D'orc does not shy away from his mistakes. D'orc remembers them, learns from what he has done wrong, and even tries to make right. Sometimes this works, sometimes this doesn't. The story is well written with good pacing and moves well, leaving the reader wanting more when it ends. The art is really good. Especially the fighting, which one wouldn't expect in a funny comic. The blows hurt, the deaths matter in the art, and reflect in the story. Bean has a nice use of color, and makes the story really stand out.
I enjoyed this comic, more than I thought I would. D'orc is an interesting character, and I would like to know more, about his past, the future, even his companions. I look forward to more adventures in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The fantasy genre is not one I tend to steer towards when reading new stories, but with the hype around
D'Orc
and Brett Bean at the helm, I had to give it a shot. Bean crafts a fast-paced, campy romp in the fantasy world that can be over-the-top in moments but was a lot of fun.
D'Orc, the half dwarf/ half orc is fated to end the world because of some inconvenient doomsday prophecy from the Book of Certain Doom.
Armed with nothing but a magical yet ambitiously violent shield and a chicken with its head cut off, D’orc is caught dead center into Sunderaine’s never-ending war between the Light and Dark. Elves vs. Orcs. Wizards vs. Common Sense. Dragons vs. Literally Everyone.
Can he survive being hunted, blamed, and beaten by every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Witch, Timelord, Ice Giant, three headed Dog, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures?
As a fan of I Hate Fairyland , D'Orc was an easy read as it has the feeling of the book created by Skottie Young and later illustrated by Bean, but in a world filled with orcs, goblins, elves, wizards, and more. As someone who isn't a huge fantasy reader, this campy and over-the-top style story made it easier to follow along and care for the story at hand. Not to mention it's more humorous than most fantasy stories I have read.
This style of artwork, which again reminds me of I Hate Fairyland, is something I enjoy in a story such as this. Something that adds a bit of animation and exaggeration to the story, giving the comic a lighter feeling when dealing with a battle of light and dark. The artwork is playful and over-the-top which made each and every page something of a spectacle. Not to mention the wonderful colors by Jean-François Beaulieu and letters by Nate Piekos.
What made D'Orc even more special than a simple funny fantasy story with excellent artwork was how Bean actually weaves in themes of identity and finding one's self in a world where you don't belong to any specific group. Half dwarf, half orc, D'Orc doesn't fully belong to the dark or light, the orcs or the dwarves, but finds themself in limbo. This thought-provoking element added to the silly romp, giving the story a bit more meaning along the way.
Not only is D'Orc a campy, humorous, and fun fantasy story, but also takes the genre and almost makes fun of itself in a lighthearted way. Those who are regular readers of the genre will see obvious tropes and storylines that make the genre what it is, but Bean has fun while doing it and gives us something fresh and exciting.
Although I am a fan of Brett Bean, D'Orc honestly surprised me in the right ways with a chaotic, funny, fantasy adventure with heart, even tackling a sense of identity. D'Orc is an entertaining fantasy romp that embraces the genre while gleefully poking a bit of fun at them. Bean delivers on a wonderfully told, amazing illustrated, and thoughtful adventure.
D'Orc Vol. 1: The Book of Certain Doom hits local comic shops on July 29, 2026 and bookstores everywhere on August 18 from Image Comics.
D'Orc, the half dwarf/ half orc is fated to end the world because of some inconvenient doomsday prophecy from the Book of Certain Doom.
Armed with nothing but a magical yet ambitiously violent shield and a chicken with its head cut off, D’orc is caught dead center into Sunderaine’s never-ending war between the Light and Dark. Elves vs. Orcs. Wizards vs. Common Sense. Dragons vs. Literally Everyone.
Can he survive being hunted, blamed, and beaten by every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Witch, Timelord, Ice Giant, three headed Dog, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures?
As a fan of I Hate Fairyland , D'Orc was an easy read as it has the feeling of the book created by Skottie Young and later illustrated by Bean, but in a world filled with orcs, goblins, elves, wizards, and more. As someone who isn't a huge fantasy reader, this campy and over-the-top style story made it easier to follow along and care for the story at hand. Not to mention it's more humorous than most fantasy stories I have read.
This style of artwork, which again reminds me of I Hate Fairyland, is something I enjoy in a story such as this. Something that adds a bit of animation and exaggeration to the story, giving the comic a lighter feeling when dealing with a battle of light and dark. The artwork is playful and over-the-top which made each and every page something of a spectacle. Not to mention the wonderful colors by Jean-François Beaulieu and letters by Nate Piekos.
What made D'Orc even more special than a simple funny fantasy story with excellent artwork was how Bean actually weaves in themes of identity and finding one's self in a world where you don't belong to any specific group. Half dwarf, half orc, D'Orc doesn't fully belong to the dark or light, the orcs or the dwarves, but finds themself in limbo. This thought-provoking element added to the silly romp, giving the story a bit more meaning along the way.
Not only is D'Orc a campy, humorous, and fun fantasy story, but also takes the genre and almost makes fun of itself in a lighthearted way. Those who are regular readers of the genre will see obvious tropes and storylines that make the genre what it is, but Bean has fun while doing it and gives us something fresh and exciting.
Although I am a fan of Brett Bean, D'Orc honestly surprised me in the right ways with a chaotic, funny, fantasy adventure with heart, even tackling a sense of identity. D'Orc is an entertaining fantasy romp that embraces the genre while gleefully poking a bit of fun at them. Bean delivers on a wonderfully told, amazing illustrated, and thoughtful adventure.
D'Orc Vol. 1: The Book of Certain Doom hits local comic shops on July 29, 2026 and bookstores everywhere on August 18 from Image Comics.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
D'Orc is a wildly chaotic, tongue-in-cheek fantasy adventure that combines over-the-top humour, excessive gore, and vibrant artwork into an entertaining, fast-paced read. The premise alone is enough to grab your attention: a half-dwarf, half-orc protagonist cursed with a world-ending prophecy, hunted by seemingly everyone, and trying desperately to avoid the fate others have assigned to him.
The standout element for me was easily the artwork. The vivid colours, exaggerated expressions, and energetic panel layouts perfectly complement the story's absurd sense of humour. There are clear Saturday-morning-cartoon-meets-fantasy-comic vibes throughout, and the visual style does a lot to sell both the comedy and the action. Some scenes genuinely made me laugh out loud, and the book never takes itself too seriously.
The supporting cast is equally memorable. D'Orc's sentient shield nearly steals the entire book, constantly pushing for violence while its owner attempts to chart a different course. Their dynamic is hilarious and gives the story much of its personality. There's also a chicken whose purpose remains somewhat mysterious, but somehow it works perfectly within the comic's delightfully ridiculous world.
Beneath the humour and bloodshed, the series appears to be setting up some interesting themes about destiny, free will, and the blurred lines between good and evil. I appreciated that the conflict between Light and Dark isn't presented as completely straightforward, suggesting more nuance than the opening chapters initially imply.
That said, this collection suffers somewhat from being an introduction. With multiple issues collected together, there's a significant amount of world-building, prophecy-setting, and faction-explaining before the larger story can really get going. At times it feels crowded with information, and I wished the narrative had a little more room to breathe. I also felt the repeated inclusion of the same map before each section was unnecessary and became somewhat repetitive.
Overall, D'Orc is a fun, campy, gorgeously illustrated fantasy comic packed with humour, action, and plenty of blood and guts. While the story is still laying much of its groundwork, there's enough charm and promise here to make me interested in seeing where the series goes next.
D'Orc is a wildly chaotic, tongue-in-cheek fantasy adventure that combines over-the-top humour, excessive gore, and vibrant artwork into an entertaining, fast-paced read. The premise alone is enough to grab your attention: a half-dwarf, half-orc protagonist cursed with a world-ending prophecy, hunted by seemingly everyone, and trying desperately to avoid the fate others have assigned to him.
The standout element for me was easily the artwork. The vivid colours, exaggerated expressions, and energetic panel layouts perfectly complement the story's absurd sense of humour. There are clear Saturday-morning-cartoon-meets-fantasy-comic vibes throughout, and the visual style does a lot to sell both the comedy and the action. Some scenes genuinely made me laugh out loud, and the book never takes itself too seriously.
The supporting cast is equally memorable. D'Orc's sentient shield nearly steals the entire book, constantly pushing for violence while its owner attempts to chart a different course. Their dynamic is hilarious and gives the story much of its personality. There's also a chicken whose purpose remains somewhat mysterious, but somehow it works perfectly within the comic's delightfully ridiculous world.
Beneath the humour and bloodshed, the series appears to be setting up some interesting themes about destiny, free will, and the blurred lines between good and evil. I appreciated that the conflict between Light and Dark isn't presented as completely straightforward, suggesting more nuance than the opening chapters initially imply.
That said, this collection suffers somewhat from being an introduction. With multiple issues collected together, there's a significant amount of world-building, prophecy-setting, and faction-explaining before the larger story can really get going. At times it feels crowded with information, and I wished the narrative had a little more room to breathe. I also felt the repeated inclusion of the same map before each section was unnecessary and became somewhat repetitive.
Overall, D'Orc is a fun, campy, gorgeously illustrated fantasy comic packed with humour, action, and plenty of blood and guts. While the story is still laying much of its groundwork, there's enough charm and promise here to make me interested in seeing where the series goes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Brett Bean’s D’ORC Volume 1: The Book of Certain Doom was a delightful surprise and an absolute blast to read. This omnibus edition collects the first five volumes of the story and delivers a wildly entertaining fantasy adventure packed with humor, heart, and plenty of chaos.
The story follows D’ORC, a half-dwarf, half-orc orphan who finds himself at the center of an ominous prophecy that claims he will one day bring about the end of the world. Armed with a powerful and rather bloodthirsty magical shield, he sets out to uncover the truth about his origins while trying to stay alive in a world where countless enemies seem determined to kill him first. Alongside his loyal ghost chicken companion and a magical shield, D’ORC is swept into an increasingly dangerous journey filled with monsters, magic, and more than a few absurd situations.
As a longtime Dungeons & Dragons fan, this story felt right up my alley. D’ORC is an easy protagonist to root for. He never quite fits in anywhere, genuinely wants to do the right thing, and often finds himself forced into fights simply to survive. Beneath his impressive and often violent abilities is a character with a good heart who is still trying to understand who he is and what he is capable of becoming.
One of the biggest strengths of the book is its cast of companions. They are funny, ridiculous, and surprisingly wise at times. Their interactions add a lot of charm to the story and help balance the constant danger surrounding them. While there is no shortage of action, I especially appreciated the quieter moments between battles. These scenes gave the characters real emotional depth as they reflected on personal struggles, the difficulties of surviving in an unforgiving world, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward.
The artwork also deserves special mention. It took me a little time to settle into the style, but I quickly grew to love it. The comic has a distinctive visual identity and color palette that perfectly complements its tone. The action sequences are dynamic and exciting, and I particularly loved the designs of D’ORC and his two companions. The illustrations bring a tremendous amount of energy and personality to every page.
The only reason this isn’t quite a five-star read for me is the level of gore. There are a lot of fight scenes, and while the action is certainly impressive, the bloodiness occasionally felt excessive and unnecessary for the story being told.
That said, the story itself is fantastic. It’s imaginative, full of clever twists, and consistently entertaining. The humor lands far more often than not, and the blend of epic fantasy adventure with absurd comedy works remarkably well. I’ll definitely continue with the series as soon as more volumes become available.
I would especially recommend D’ORC to fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl. Both series excel at throwing lovable characters into impossible situations while balancing outrageous humor, violence, and genuine heart.
My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows D’ORC, a half-dwarf, half-orc orphan who finds himself at the center of an ominous prophecy that claims he will one day bring about the end of the world. Armed with a powerful and rather bloodthirsty magical shield, he sets out to uncover the truth about his origins while trying to stay alive in a world where countless enemies seem determined to kill him first. Alongside his loyal ghost chicken companion and a magical shield, D’ORC is swept into an increasingly dangerous journey filled with monsters, magic, and more than a few absurd situations.
As a longtime Dungeons & Dragons fan, this story felt right up my alley. D’ORC is an easy protagonist to root for. He never quite fits in anywhere, genuinely wants to do the right thing, and often finds himself forced into fights simply to survive. Beneath his impressive and often violent abilities is a character with a good heart who is still trying to understand who he is and what he is capable of becoming.
One of the biggest strengths of the book is its cast of companions. They are funny, ridiculous, and surprisingly wise at times. Their interactions add a lot of charm to the story and help balance the constant danger surrounding them. While there is no shortage of action, I especially appreciated the quieter moments between battles. These scenes gave the characters real emotional depth as they reflected on personal struggles, the difficulties of surviving in an unforgiving world, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward.
The artwork also deserves special mention. It took me a little time to settle into the style, but I quickly grew to love it. The comic has a distinctive visual identity and color palette that perfectly complements its tone. The action sequences are dynamic and exciting, and I particularly loved the designs of D’ORC and his two companions. The illustrations bring a tremendous amount of energy and personality to every page.
The only reason this isn’t quite a five-star read for me is the level of gore. There are a lot of fight scenes, and while the action is certainly impressive, the bloodiness occasionally felt excessive and unnecessary for the story being told.
That said, the story itself is fantastic. It’s imaginative, full of clever twists, and consistently entertaining. The humor lands far more often than not, and the blend of epic fantasy adventure with absurd comedy works remarkably well. I’ll definitely continue with the series as soon as more volumes become available.
I would especially recommend D’ORC to fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl. Both series excel at throwing lovable characters into impossible situations while balancing outrageous humor, violence, and genuine heart.
My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a blast.
D’Orc takes a familiar fantasy setup—a prophesied hero caught between warring forces of Light and Dark—and gleefully turns it into a chaotic, funny, surprisingly heartfelt adventure. The title character, a half-dwarf, half-orc orphan burdened with a world-ending prophecy, is instantly likable, while his sentient shield steals more than a few scenes with its violent enthusiasm and constant wisecracks.
Brett Bean’s cartoon-infused artwork is packed with energy, expressive characters, visual gags, and over-the-top action. The world feels like a fantasy playground where anything can happen, and the humor lands far more often than it misses. Beneath the jokes, there’s also a clever satire of endless war and rigid good-versus-evil storytelling that gives the book more substance than its goofy premise initially suggests.
What impressed me most is how well this reads as a collected edition. The pacing feels tailor-made for the trade format. Story threads flow naturally from chapter to chapter, the world-building never bogs things down, and the cliffhangers keep the pages turning. Reading the entire first arc in one sitting made the humor, character development, and escalating stakes land even better than they did for me in the month-to-month.
If you’re a fan of fantasy comedy, I Hate Fairyland, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Babs, or stories that lovingly poke fun at genre tropes while still delivering adventure and heart, D’Orc is an easy recommendation.
A really fun read that knows exactly what it wants to be and reads exceptionally well as a trade. Looking forward to Volume 2.
This was a blast.
D’Orc takes a familiar fantasy setup—a prophesied hero caught between warring forces of Light and Dark—and gleefully turns it into a chaotic, funny, surprisingly heartfelt adventure. The title character, a half-dwarf, half-orc orphan burdened with a world-ending prophecy, is instantly likable, while his sentient shield steals more than a few scenes with its violent enthusiasm and constant wisecracks.
Brett Bean’s cartoon-infused artwork is packed with energy, expressive characters, visual gags, and over-the-top action. The world feels like a fantasy playground where anything can happen, and the humor lands far more often than it misses. Beneath the jokes, there’s also a clever satire of endless war and rigid good-versus-evil storytelling that gives the book more substance than its goofy premise initially suggests.
What impressed me most is how well this reads as a collected edition. The pacing feels tailor-made for the trade format. Story threads flow naturally from chapter to chapter, the world-building never bogs things down, and the cliffhangers keep the pages turning. Reading the entire first arc in one sitting made the humor, character development, and escalating stakes land even better than they did for me in the month-to-month.
If you’re a fan of fantasy comedy, I Hate Fairyland, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Babs, or stories that lovingly poke fun at genre tropes while still delivering adventure and heart, D’Orc is an easy recommendation.
A really fun read that knows exactly what it wants to be and reads exceptionally well as a trade. Looking forward to Volume 2.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
D'ORC Volume 1: The Book of Certain Doom is the most fun I've had reading an ongoing fantasy comic since Jim Zub and Edwin Huang's hilarious, rip-roaring Skullkickers. Brett Bean has crafted something special here. D'ORC is a chaotic high-fantasy romp that earns every comparison to Bone, Discworld, and Groo the Wanderer.
D'Orc, half dwarf, half orc, and all trouble, is destined to end the world according to an extremely inconvenient (to him) doomsday prophecy. Armed with a magically sentient and gleefully homicidal shield and accompanied by a headless chicken (and its detached ghost head), he stumbles through the endless war between Light and Dark, wanted by virtually everyone and belonging to neither side. It sounds absurd because it is, and it works.
Bean's art is loose and cartoony. The style is doing exactly what the story needs. The exaggerated character designs and kinetic action sequences give every page a sense of barely-contained energy. Fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl will find a lot to love here, and I think this has serious potential as an animated series with the right studio behind it.
My main hope now is that Bean sticks the landing. The first arc has built something genuinely fun, with room for a satisfying resolution and plenty of story left to tell. I'm in for the long haul.
Story: 🛡️🛡️🛡️🛡️
Art: 🐔🐔🐔
Overall: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and Image Comics in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
D'Orc, half dwarf, half orc, and all trouble, is destined to end the world according to an extremely inconvenient (to him) doomsday prophecy. Armed with a magically sentient and gleefully homicidal shield and accompanied by a headless chicken (and its detached ghost head), he stumbles through the endless war between Light and Dark, wanted by virtually everyone and belonging to neither side. It sounds absurd because it is, and it works.
Bean's art is loose and cartoony. The style is doing exactly what the story needs. The exaggerated character designs and kinetic action sequences give every page a sense of barely-contained energy. Fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl will find a lot to love here, and I think this has serious potential as an animated series with the right studio behind it.
My main hope now is that Bean sticks the landing. The first arc has built something genuinely fun, with room for a satisfying resolution and plenty of story left to tell. I'm in for the long haul.
Story: 🛡️🛡️🛡️🛡️
Art: 🐔🐔🐔
Overall: ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and Image Comics in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"I choose a side! No, you choose chicken!" 🤣😂
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 Stars)
I absolutely loved D'orc Vol. 1.This was such a fun read and had me laughing throughout more than once. T
here were so many moments where I just sat there seeing my best friend either in the talking shield or the main character in funny moments—"my best friend is a funny guy." 😂
The humour was definitely my favourite part; also, the humour plus the art style kind of reminded me of another one of my favourite graphic novel collections called I Hate Fairyland.Honestly,
"I choose a side! No, you choose chicken!" 🤣😂 is one of those lines that is going to stay in my head and be what I look back on and laugh at.
I really enjoyed the characters and the ridiculous situations they found themselves in. The backstory is about a half-Orc and half-Dwarf who is in a prophecy, and he has to try and survive.
This graphic novel doesn't take itself too seriously, which is exactly why I liked it so much.The artwork also suited the story really well and helped make some of the funny moments even funnier.
I don't really have anything bad to say about this one. I had a great time reading it, it made me laugh more than once, and I would definitely continue with the series.
I plan to add it to my bookshelf so I can reread it whenever I want.I'm really glad I requested this from NetGalley because this was such a surprise for me.
I highly suggest it! ☺️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 Stars)
I absolutely loved D'orc Vol. 1.This was such a fun read and had me laughing throughout more than once. T
here were so many moments where I just sat there seeing my best friend either in the talking shield or the main character in funny moments—"my best friend is a funny guy." 😂
The humour was definitely my favourite part; also, the humour plus the art style kind of reminded me of another one of my favourite graphic novel collections called I Hate Fairyland.Honestly,
"I choose a side! No, you choose chicken!" 🤣😂 is one of those lines that is going to stay in my head and be what I look back on and laugh at.
I really enjoyed the characters and the ridiculous situations they found themselves in. The backstory is about a half-Orc and half-Dwarf who is in a prophecy, and he has to try and survive.
This graphic novel doesn't take itself too seriously, which is exactly why I liked it so much.The artwork also suited the story really well and helped make some of the funny moments even funnier.
I don't really have anything bad to say about this one. I had a great time reading it, it made me laugh more than once, and I would definitely continue with the series.
I plan to add it to my bookshelf so I can reread it whenever I want.I'm really glad I requested this from NetGalley because this was such a surprise for me.
I highly suggest it! ☺️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley & Image Comics for the free, pre-publication copy (ARC or Digital Review Copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Welcome to the land of The Scar, home to our beloved main character D’orc! A cross between a Dwarf & an Orc! I knew I was in for a good time when on the first page a group of goblins are sitting around a campfire cooking a meal singing “Our farts smell sweet, eating unicorn meat”. I mean, the audacity, I would NEVER! What a hilarious setting to start out the fun story of D’orc! I’ve been following the artist/author Brett Bean on Instagram for some time, so I was THRILLED to be able to read an advance copy of this comic...and I have now pre-ordered a copy because I MUST have a permanent copy in my collection!
While this comic appears to be a cute kind of comic, make no mistake D’orc unleashes his fury in many ways, and it does get bloody while he is running around on adventures like a chicken with his head cut off (IYKYK)! While medieval mayhem abounds, D’orc does manage to do a lot of good while trying to find his way to a peaceful life! There is a lot of comic relief with his sidekicks, I don’t want to give too much away, but they are great!
The detailed artwork, witty writing and excellent banter between characters make this a VERY enjoyable read, I highly recommend taking a journey with D’orc!
Welcome to the land of The Scar, home to our beloved main character D’orc! A cross between a Dwarf & an Orc! I knew I was in for a good time when on the first page a group of goblins are sitting around a campfire cooking a meal singing “Our farts smell sweet, eating unicorn meat”. I mean, the audacity, I would NEVER! What a hilarious setting to start out the fun story of D’orc! I’ve been following the artist/author Brett Bean on Instagram for some time, so I was THRILLED to be able to read an advance copy of this comic...and I have now pre-ordered a copy because I MUST have a permanent copy in my collection!
While this comic appears to be a cute kind of comic, make no mistake D’orc unleashes his fury in many ways, and it does get bloody while he is running around on adventures like a chicken with his head cut off (IYKYK)! While medieval mayhem abounds, D’orc does manage to do a lot of good while trying to find his way to a peaceful life! There is a lot of comic relief with his sidekicks, I don’t want to give too much away, but they are great!
The detailed artwork, witty writing and excellent banter between characters make this a VERY enjoyable read, I highly recommend taking a journey with D’orc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quick Blurb: What if the prophesied "destroyer of worlds" was in fact a half dwarf, half orc (D'orc!) wielding an enchanted, sentient, murderous shield who sets off with his headless ghost chicken bestie?
This was a delightfully campy, vibrantly gory, tongue-in-cheek absurd comedic adventure. I loved it. There were a couple scenes I cackled at and then had to immediately read out loud to my husband just to share in the humor. This was fast paced, almost break-neck speed, with not a single panel used superfluously. It's a true gem by not only being full color (gasp!) but also in a vivid color palette that gives me early 90's video games and comic book vibrancy nostalgia. If you're not a fan of gore or violence, this isn't going to be for you. When I say everything in here is over the top, I also mean the blood & guts.
I ended up reading this in a single sitting, and will absolutely be keeping my eye out for volume 2.
Some notes: I know this is 5 separate volumes that have been put together for this anthology, but I don't think we needed the map at the beginning of each of the five stories. The individual covers being included work well as chapter covers but if we wanted to save space (and money) when it comes to printing, I'm sure a singular map at the beginning of the book would work just fine and the duplicates could be removed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the eArc in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
This was a delightfully campy, vibrantly gory, tongue-in-cheek absurd comedic adventure. I loved it. There were a couple scenes I cackled at and then had to immediately read out loud to my husband just to share in the humor. This was fast paced, almost break-neck speed, with not a single panel used superfluously. It's a true gem by not only being full color (gasp!) but also in a vivid color palette that gives me early 90's video games and comic book vibrancy nostalgia. If you're not a fan of gore or violence, this isn't going to be for you. When I say everything in here is over the top, I also mean the blood & guts.
I ended up reading this in a single sitting, and will absolutely be keeping my eye out for volume 2.
Some notes: I know this is 5 separate volumes that have been put together for this anthology, but I don't think we needed the map at the beginning of each of the five stories. The individual covers being included work well as chapter covers but if we wanted to save space (and money) when it comes to printing, I'm sure a singular map at the beginning of the book would work just fine and the duplicates could be removed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the eArc in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not for me.
It's a satire on a certain type of D&D, where, regardless of "alignment" with good or evil (here, light or dark), both sides just want to destroy the other side with ruthless violence. Maybe also a satire on contemporary US politics? Is it that deep?
The title character, being half (light) dwarf, half (dark) orc, doesn't automatically belong to either side, and there's no moral difference between them that would enable him to choose one over the other to support. So he's just trying to help everyone, and be a decent person. His violence-oriented magic talking shield thinks this is quixotic. The two sides both want to destroy him, because of a prophecy that a figure like him will destroy the world "as we know it" (pretty obvious what that means - end the stupid, pointless battles - but they don't see it that way). An undead chicken that he accidentally mostly killed, consisting of a headless body and the ghost of a head, doesn't have anything so coherent as an opinion, but hangs out with him anyway.
There's nothing wrong with the premise, but the working out of it involves frequent gory battles and lots of death and dismemberment, and I'm just not into it. I can see why the Dungeon Crawler Carl author was asked to blurb it; it's not my thing in exactly the way that DCC isn't.
Plenty of people will love it, though.
It's a satire on a certain type of D&D, where, regardless of "alignment" with good or evil (here, light or dark), both sides just want to destroy the other side with ruthless violence. Maybe also a satire on contemporary US politics? Is it that deep?
The title character, being half (light) dwarf, half (dark) orc, doesn't automatically belong to either side, and there's no moral difference between them that would enable him to choose one over the other to support. So he's just trying to help everyone, and be a decent person. His violence-oriented magic talking shield thinks this is quixotic. The two sides both want to destroy him, because of a prophecy that a figure like him will destroy the world "as we know it" (pretty obvious what that means - end the stupid, pointless battles - but they don't see it that way). An undead chicken that he accidentally mostly killed, consisting of a headless body and the ghost of a head, doesn't have anything so coherent as an opinion, but hangs out with him anyway.
There's nothing wrong with the premise, but the working out of it involves frequent gory battles and lots of death and dismemberment, and I'm just not into it. I can see why the Dungeon Crawler Carl author was asked to blurb it; it's not my thing in exactly the way that DCC isn't.
Plenty of people will love it, though.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
D'ORC has a humor similar to what I have found in the I Hate Fairyland comics, though the story is uniquely Brett Bean's own. I enjoyed the idea of the prophecy causing everyone to believe D'orc is the one meant to bring upon the end of the world and seeing what their blame causes.
The sentient/possessed shield and the ghost of the head of a chicken were clever ideas for companions who brought a lot of humorous scenes. I like how the shield is a play on the talking sword trope and how it is blood thirsty. The ghost chicken head was an interesting take on the animal sidekick. Some of it's scenes were so funny.
There are many powerful messages throughout this volume such as don't blindly judge someone you don't know just because you are told to. It was interesting to see how Brett Bean used these messages in this oftentimes absurd and funny fantasy story.
I have loved Brett Bean's artwork for years in the I Hate Fairyland series and I was looking forward to what he would bring in his own adventure. His illustrations are great as always. I loved the map. D'orc's story is a fun one that I look forward to getting more of it in future volumes.
*Thank you to Image Comics, NetGalley, and Brett Bean for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
The sentient/possessed shield and the ghost of the head of a chicken were clever ideas for companions who brought a lot of humorous scenes. I like how the shield is a play on the talking sword trope and how it is blood thirsty. The ghost chicken head was an interesting take on the animal sidekick. Some of it's scenes were so funny.
There are many powerful messages throughout this volume such as don't blindly judge someone you don't know just because you are told to. It was interesting to see how Brett Bean used these messages in this oftentimes absurd and funny fantasy story.
I have loved Brett Bean's artwork for years in the I Hate Fairyland series and I was looking forward to what he would bring in his own adventure. His illustrations are great as always. I loved the map. D'orc's story is a fun one that I look forward to getting more of it in future volumes.
*Thank you to Image Comics, NetGalley, and Brett Bean for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
D’orc, the half dwarf/ half orc is fated to end the world. Armed with nothing but a magical yet ambitiously violent shield and a chicken with its head cut off, D’orc is caught dead center into a never-ending war between the Light and Dark.
Can he survive being hunted, blamed, and beaten by every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Witch, Timelord, Ice Giant, three headed Dog, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures?
This was really nostalgic for me as I don’t think I’ve picked up a comic since the 90’s, in which I had a massive Beano collection, but the art really hooked me in. While these are a lot more darker and gorier than what I’m used to, the story and scenes were absolutely fantastic. The only downfall was that the humour felt a little immature and was jarring with the art. I would definitely continue with these for a fun break from massive tomes, but I hope that they evolve just a little to match with the themes.
Thank you to Image Comics for the opportunity to read the ARC via NetGalley
Can he survive being hunted, blamed, and beaten by every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Witch, Timelord, Ice Giant, three headed Dog, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures?
This was really nostalgic for me as I don’t think I’ve picked up a comic since the 90’s, in which I had a massive Beano collection, but the art really hooked me in. While these are a lot more darker and gorier than what I’m used to, the story and scenes were absolutely fantastic. The only downfall was that the humour felt a little immature and was jarring with the art. I would definitely continue with these for a fun break from massive tomes, but I hope that they evolve just a little to match with the themes.
Thank you to Image Comics for the opportunity to read the ARC via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hi, Cousin Barry!
D’ORC is an absolute powerhouse! Brett Bean, of I Hate Fairyland and Dungeon Crawler Carl fame, spins a tale about a prophecy foretold that will bring about the destruction of this fantastical world. Rapid world-building (including a full map), intriguing plot (see aforementioned prophecy), and action-packed hilarious adventures. Bean’s art is just as fun to look at as it is detailed. There’s always something happening and not a single inch of his panels feels wasted. The story progresses incredibly and keeps itself from feeling stagnant. Brett Bean’s art and Jean-Francois Beaulieu’s coloring work together like a pair of hobbits, that is to say, perfectly. Nate Piekos’s lettering is also of worthy note. The entire piece comes together wonderfully and leaves one wanting more. If Saga, DCC, LotR, and Bone fell into a blender, the result would be named D’ORC.
D’ORC is an absolute powerhouse! Brett Bean, of I Hate Fairyland and Dungeon Crawler Carl fame, spins a tale about a prophecy foretold that will bring about the destruction of this fantastical world. Rapid world-building (including a full map), intriguing plot (see aforementioned prophecy), and action-packed hilarious adventures. Bean’s art is just as fun to look at as it is detailed. There’s always something happening and not a single inch of his panels feels wasted. The story progresses incredibly and keeps itself from feeling stagnant. Brett Bean’s art and Jean-Francois Beaulieu’s coloring work together like a pair of hobbits, that is to say, perfectly. Nate Piekos’s lettering is also of worthy note. The entire piece comes together wonderfully and leaves one wanting more. If Saga, DCC, LotR, and Bone fell into a blender, the result would be named D’ORC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I initially thought that this was just the first "comic" of D'ORC, until I realized it's actually the first five collected issues of said comic. I love the art style of this one! It reminded me a lot of Jeff Smith's BONE series. Being in full color also adds an appeal with the fantasy setting and the vivid character designs. D'ORC being a half-breed of both an orc and a dwarf means that they don't really fit in anywhere in their setting, and so is constantly involved in some kind of misunderstanding adventure. It ends on a cliffhanger, as D'ORC and their companions find what they were seeking but what happens next? I'm definitely going to have to keep an eye out for the next issue of this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This first volume consists of issues 1-5.
I wasn't aware that this is one of the hyped ongoings right now, the first issue even got 6 printings. So the reason why this one is just 3 stars is not because I'm disappointed. The humor is not just for me. This is also my first Brett Bean so I don't have any opinions on his writing or art aside from this one.
D'Orc, Chicken and the shield as the main characters were not just that entertaining. I feel there needs some more variety on the behaviours/characterization. BUT by issue 5 things start to be interesting so I might read the next issues
I wasn't aware that this is one of the hyped ongoings right now, the first issue even got 6 printings. So the reason why this one is just 3 stars is not because I'm disappointed. The humor is not just for me. This is also my first Brett Bean so I don't have any opinions on his writing or art aside from this one.
D'Orc, Chicken and the shield as the main characters were not just that entertaining. I feel there needs some more variety on the behaviours/characterization. BUT by issue 5 things start to be interesting so I might read the next issues
Review of advance copy
This graphic novel is stinkin' adorable.
It's got brilliant humour, and if you're a fan of the work of Skottie Young this is a natural pickup.
He's half dwarf, half orc, and persecuted by both races, because of that whole, 'destined to destroy the world' prophecy. Bad luck!
There's so much humour and heart in this thing, it's impossible not to smile. The adventures are fantastic and the characters and creatures he encounters along the way make for a very fun (if a little bloody) time.
Loving this series, and highly recommend for fans of sassy fantasy with fun characters and unique twists and turns.
It's got brilliant humour, and if you're a fan of the work of Skottie Young this is a natural pickup.
He's half dwarf, half orc, and persecuted by both races, because of that whole, 'destined to destroy the world' prophecy. Bad luck!
There's so much humour and heart in this thing, it's impossible not to smile. The adventures are fantastic and the characters and creatures he encounters along the way make for a very fun (if a little bloody) time.
Loving this series, and highly recommend for fans of sassy fantasy with fun characters and unique twists and turns.
Review of advance copy
If you like the silly humor, excessive gore, and ridiculousness of I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young, you'll enjoy this book as well (the fact that the 2 series have a number of crossover covers is telling). Whereas I Hate Fairyland is a little more mean-spirited, they largely retain the same ideas and style. Personally, I found it to be tedious and a bit grating, but I'm pretty confident I'm just not the target audience.
Review of advance copy
Comics are a great medium which can be for anyone. D'orc balances on the scale for children and for adults. It is funny, bloody, witty and at the same time cartoony. It has a Bone feeling, with it's artstyle, which is a good thing, the action is messy and creative, and in general it feels very fun. The story is simpler, but it does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, as the setting is clearly just a generic idea providing a fantasy sandbox to play in. Looking forward to more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is basically the high fantasy version of I Hate Fairyland but where Gert craves violence, D'Orc falls into it. He's half dwarf, half orc. He's also the prophesied one who will destroy this fantasy world where the light and the dark have been at war for a thousand years. D'Orc doesn't want any part of it. He along with his magic talking shield and ghost of a chicken head just want to be left alone and that's where the fun comes in.
August 25, 2026
Cute but also maybe too cute? I'm not sure if Brett Bean is going for it or not but a comic like this is standing on the shoulders of Jeff Smith's Bone. The humor and character development read like it's for a younger audience (and I don't mean teen, this feels like writing for the 8-12 crowd) but then its blood and gore seem to be chasing Invincible. So I'm not sure who the audience is but I'm not a huge fantasy guy already so this might be where I leave you, D'orc.
Review of advance copy
I’ve been reading this on-and-off as single issues but I’ve really enjoyed this story a lot so far. It’s so funny, it reminds me of The Amazing World of Gumball but in a fantasy kingdom, and the art by Brett Bean is phenomenal. I’m excited to see how this turns out, and I’m hoping for this run to keep coming for a long time.
August 23, 2026
I kind of found it more grating/annoying than funny. The setting feels too superficial to be clever or silly and it felt like it floundered the silly-serious line.
Two sides, the only apparent difference being color scheme, fight until a doomsday chosen one that just wants to be left alone shows up.
Two sides, the only apparent difference being color scheme, fight until a doomsday chosen one that just wants to be left alone shows up.
June 24, 2026
For sale on: august 25 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️
This graphic novel was so much fun. The graphics were so good and the story progress in a very interesting way. I love the side characters. They had me laughing through the whole thing. I can't wait for volume 2 to come out!
4.5/5 ⭐️
This graphic novel was so much fun. The graphics were so good and the story progress in a very interesting way. I love the side characters. They had me laughing through the whole thing. I can't wait for volume 2 to come out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐ - I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was as good as I thought it would be! I loved the main characters and the art style is perfect. I can’t wait for volume 2!!
This was as good as I thought it would be! I loved the main characters and the art style is perfect. I can’t wait for volume 2!!
Review of advance copy
This book is so funny and I think the art work is very nice as well. Definitely a good series to start getting into since it’s only on issue 6 right now. The story is actually superior and I can tell that this is going to be a fantastic series. 100% recommend
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Part Bone and part I Hate Fairyland, this adventure throws you in the thick of action, with stellar art and a decent enough plot to get you coming back for more. Some chapters are better than others but the overall experience is fun!
August 25, 2026
Kinda lands middle of the road for me. Didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it. The art’s great and I love the character design. Pacing is a bit choppy and all over the place, though. I’ll continue reading if the next volume falls in my lap, but not something I will seek out
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