The Witcher: Matters of Conscience

The Witcher (CD Projekt)

by Michał Gałek, Arkadiusz Klimek (Illustrator), Nikodem Cabała (Colorist)

The Witcher: Matters of Conscience is a short comic story set in the CD Projekt video game continuity (between events of the Witcher 2 and the Witcher 3).

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fiction, Short Stories, Ebooks

29 pages, ebook

First published October 13, 2015

Reviews

[Knjigoholičarka]

Compared to some other comics from the CDPR Witcher collection, I actually liked this one. Maybe because I've recently finished "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings" twice, and liked the option of alliance with Iorveth's Scoia'tael and the rebels of Aedirn better than the option of aiding (always brilliant motherfucker) Vernon Roche and his Blue Stripes. So, in order to read this one and understand the full scope of events, you have to be acquainted with the game in some way (play iiiit!).

So, while Northern Kingdoms are under a threat of another Nilfgaardian invasion, and racial conflicts are still emerging (with no clear historical knowledge of who started'em first), rebels of Upper Aedirn in the Pontar Valley decided to make their own kingdom, with blackjack and hookers, as well as liberté, égalité, fraternité for all of the races - no matter whether you are a dwarf, an elf, bloede dh'oine, accused-of-war-crimes-and-escaped-from-the-knife Scoia'tael commander with his once-Nilfgaardian-elvish-troops, or something in between. But, alas, beautiful dream about egalitarian state turns out to be nothing more than that - just a dream. Leaders do what leaders think is the best for their people, but when two visions collide, mightier nations are always ready to scavenge the remains and win new territories amidst the chaotic events. Saskia, charismatic maiden and people's champion with idealistic point of view is gladly prepared to sacrifice herself for her dream, a dream she wanted to share with so much love, honour and passion, in order to win freedom with glory and splendour, or die like a martyr. On the other hand, Barclay, leader of the reducing once-proud dwarvish nation, gambled with diplomacy and decided to allow the mighty Nifgaardian army to have a safe pass through Upper Aedirn and to step aside in the following war, in a form of a puppet state. Both Saskia and Barclay did what they considered best. And they both lost.

I have to repeat once more - this comic will be interesting only to those who have played the second game. But it was a good game to play with shitloads of morally grey choices, so it is compelling to see what do guys from CDPR consider "a canon" for the later story.

p.s. By the way, it's quite unfair from the authors to tease us with the fact that Iorveth left Vergen with the rest of his troops (whyyy? wheeere? is it because he got friendzoned by the big-tiddy dragon lady?) and then give us no data on his whereabouts at all. For fuck's sake, guy was a fan's favourite, and all you gave us was a Gwent card with his character.

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,3 of 5 for a nice game "goodie" comic)
One of few game-related (meant as a bonus to the game) short stories is quite good as all of them. This fills the space between the second and third games and we will meet the famous Saskia here.
The art is very nice, "European", with pencil-sepia styled "memory passages. We also met Yarpen (with the beautiful line "Time makes everythin' harder 'cept your prick.") and his band, who appeared in the recent The Witcher series.
The story is good, rich, text-heavy a bit, but that's the price if you will insert some politics and hard decisions into it.

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Requires too much knowledge of how the second game ends. Throws you into the deep end. And gosh is it wordy.

Also, dwarves are dull in this world.

Also, please let the tv show be good.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geralt, Saskia the shapeshifting dragon and a band of dwarves are hunting a chelonodrake. What a mouthfull! It lives near a silver mine the dwarfes want exploit. A large part of the comic is dedicated to the preparations for assaulting the monster. It's funny as hell, but it's colored in shades of brown. The humor stands out more than the intricacies of the Witcher universe and that's perfectly fine with me. The tragic ending is only hinted at in the words of a poet tasked with chronicling the event.

The kill goes well, but a dwarf hero falls in the struggle. Saskia decides to leave the city to the dwarfs since she doesn't trust herself or rather her dragon side. Geralt remains neutral politically, so he doesn't help when the city Saskia led is punished for not staying in line.

[Iva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Почнемо з того, що я категорично не розумію гравців, що у "вбивці королів" білку-терориста без адекватної мотивації, якого підбурює юнацько-максималістична ненависть, обрали собі за союзника на шляху до відновлення чесного імені Ґеральта. Рівно як і не розумію захоплення Саскією, характер якої чітко витримано і в цьому коміксі: лише деякий час тому присягнувши не приймати драконячу подобу, вона протягом цього ван-шота її порушує, аби догодити "драматичності" подій.

Малюнок досі середній, та сюжет стає ще гіршим: єдине, що тут добре, це пародія на усі фільми із запланованим рейдом. Ну, і це, нарешті, розширює світ ігор, розповідаючи те, що CDPR якогось біса вирізали з заключної частини трилогії. Нарешті, але не на щастя, бо ж комікс робить шлях Йорвета каноном.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matters of Conscience came with the Hearts of Stone expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (and for those registering Witcher 3 on GoG or Steam).

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the artwork but the time jumps were annoying so I didn't read this in one sitting. I liked the part about straddling the fence.

[Caio Amaro · Rating 2 out of 5]

A história lida diretamente com o fim do segundo jogo da série, mas especificamente com a parte política, que acaba sendo a coisa menos interessante em The Witcher. Falta tempero na história.

[Agnol · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just straight up a continuation of the story of the second game, and since it didn’t match up with my canon, it didn’t really resonate with me. I didn’t hate it, but I wasn’t super impressed with it, either.

[Rue Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very text heavy and you will need a solid knowledge of the world to know what is going on but a good read and beautiful art.

[NovaLiS · Rating 4 out of 5]

8

[Calyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retains the atmosphere and vibe of the second game and overall series, gave me some good time reading