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Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins I
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins #2
Scanlan and Grog loot a shark-man temple in the swamp outside Stilben. Returning to the city, they’re almost killed by assassins and then almost arrested by the Watch! What the hell is going on in Stilben? And what does this pompous sorcerer want?
• Based on the hit show from Geek & Sundry!
• Based on the hit show from Geek & Sundry!
27 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2017
108 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Mercer
68 books955 followersStoryteller, Voice Over Guy, Dungeon Master, McCree, Cor, Yusuke, Jack Cooper, MacCready, Levi, Chrom, Leon Kennedy, & keeper of the #CriticalRole...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 18, 2017
Just as delightful the second time, and since the campaign is now over... nostalgia has finally kicked in.
November 12, 2018
Quick read, lovely art. I like the way they're slowing bringing the party together.
November 22, 2017
If you are a fan of the podcast this a great read for the early year of Vox Machina.
October 22, 2017
Another excellent installment of the Vox Machina origin stories, and it arrived at the perfect time considering that the VM story wrapped up last week. There were so many amazing Grog and Scanlan moments in this issue, and Tiberius was even around for a couple pages, so that was nice. I missed Tibsy.
April 20, 2019
Short but good
The issues do go by very quickly, but it is a fun read. On to the next issue!! I can't imagine having to wait for these to release individually. I'm sort of glad I'm reading them late.
The issues do go by very quickly, but it is a fun read. On to the next issue!! I can't imagine having to wait for these to release individually. I'm sort of glad I'm reading them late.
May 1, 2022
Very good
August 1, 2025
Would have been 4 stars if there weren’t a few pages of slight variations of nearly the same panel while the characters have a back and forth discussion
October 23, 2017
I wasn't quite as in love with this issue as I was with #1, mostly, I think, because this time the dialogue sequences didn't quite hold my attention, and somehow Grog didn't quite sound like Grog to me. But it was still a good continuation and I'm eagerly awaiting the rest of Vox Machina's origin story and its pretty, pretty artwork. <3
November 29, 2017
Why do people come up with ways to take what little I earn from me?... and make me feel so blessed for it???
December 20, 2017
The second comic in the series introduces three more members of the cast, as well as some (perhaps short-lived) NPCs who seem a bit reluctant to be paired up with our soon-to-be members of Vox Machina.
I found this one to be a bit slower going that the first. Apart from the action at the beginning, there is a lot of talking, which I thing could have been streamlined a little. The conversation in the tavern confused me at some points - with all the speech bubbles it was a little confusing to tell who was speaking, and I had to go back to figure out what led to Scanlan's "Now we're getting somewhere." But this is a team of writers who don't have much experience with comics, so I can forgive a little bit of a learning period while they work out storyboarding and how to fit all the plot and character into those little bubbles without overwhelming the reader. I also heard that there are some more experience comic storyboarders being brought on board, so that should also help.
One thing in this comic is that I don't think Grog's character really came through all that much. He had little left to do in the negotiations, and maybe the length of his attention span should have led to him getting up to some other shenanigans entirely (I honestly can't see him paying attention for that long, or if he did, not interjecting with something that showed he had entirely missed the point). That would also have led to some more animation in two pages where there is not very much going on visually. I'm also a sucker for lots of moments in comics outside the main dialogue/characters (like the barman's reaction to that honking great gem). Perhaps in time more might be worked in - even something as simple as a rat sneaking along a beam, an amusing label on a bottle of alcohol, graffiti scratched on a chair leg, or a drunken patron falling over can make a panel more interesting and lively. That was the cleanest tavern I've ever seen! But again, like in the storyboarding, I am hoping that the team will grow in confidence and experience as the comic goes on.
Overall I enjoyed the story, if a little too static in the later parts.
I found this one to be a bit slower going that the first. Apart from the action at the beginning, there is a lot of talking, which I thing could have been streamlined a little. The conversation in the tavern confused me at some points - with all the speech bubbles it was a little confusing to tell who was speaking, and I had to go back to figure out what led to Scanlan's "Now we're getting somewhere." But this is a team of writers who don't have much experience with comics, so I can forgive a little bit of a learning period while they work out storyboarding and how to fit all the plot and character into those little bubbles without overwhelming the reader. I also heard that there are some more experience comic storyboarders being brought on board, so that should also help.
One thing in this comic is that I don't think Grog's character really came through all that much. He had little left to do in the negotiations, and maybe the length of his attention span should have led to him getting up to some other shenanigans entirely (I honestly can't see him paying attention for that long, or if he did, not interjecting with something that showed he had entirely missed the point). That would also have led to some more animation in two pages where there is not very much going on visually. I'm also a sucker for lots of moments in comics outside the main dialogue/characters (like the barman's reaction to that honking great gem). Perhaps in time more might be worked in - even something as simple as a rat sneaking along a beam, an amusing label on a bottle of alcohol, graffiti scratched on a chair leg, or a drunken patron falling over can make a panel more interesting and lively. That was the cleanest tavern I've ever seen! But again, like in the storyboarding, I am hoping that the team will grow in confidence and experience as the comic goes on.
Overall I enjoyed the story, if a little too static in the later parts.
January 28, 2022
This volume was a little hard to follow on the sense that their were a lot of people talking at once and I'm not used to reading comics, and when i read i imagine the persons voice and manarisms in the way they speak so this definetly confused me.
I loved Scanlan, he was funny but god does he talk alot, but he seems like the type that would piss of someone becasue of that and I'm like that so i found him funny.
I loved Scanlan, he was funny but god does he talk alot, but he seems like the type that would piss of someone becasue of that and I'm like that so i found him funny.
December 19, 2017
This issue features a team-up of Grog and Scanlan, before they met the others and formed the team. Since this duo has such a good chemistry during the sessions, it is a treat to see this pass in a comic. The story kinda continues a little bit, though I suppose the team will finally team-up around issue 4 or something, since we see pairs of them in each issue up until now.
March 4, 2021
I feel like this book develops that balance of fun, light-hearted humor with beautiful character moments better than the first, though the first volume was an excellent entry point for understanding the characters. The illustrations are fantastic, and seeing the characters in this medium is a treat.
February 6, 2022
Scanlon and grog.
Good color artwork. Critical role has a hot new anime series on Prime video. This is dealing with how vox machina came together.. Scanlon is a gnome bard, my least favorite dungeon and dragon character. Grog is an axe wielding barbarian. The characters are typical examples of a d@d party.
Good color artwork. Critical role has a hot new anime series on Prime video. This is dealing with how vox machina came together.. Scanlon is a gnome bard, my least favorite dungeon and dragon character. Grog is an axe wielding barbarian. The characters are typical examples of a d@d party.
June 5, 2022
Nice, but not as good as the first volume since this one starts more in medias res than as a true origin story. Still, the duo of Scanlan and Grog are great as comic relief. Interesting to know that they were with another party originally, but how’d they get there?
Revised from 3 to 4 stars because I realized after the fact that these comics are telling the origin story of the party, not really the individual members. Scanlon was great in this one. Awesome dialogue!
Revised from 3 to 4 stars because I realized after the fact that these comics are telling the origin story of the party, not really the individual members. Scanlon was great in this one. Awesome dialogue!
October 19, 2017
Still amazing. Grog and Scanlan are possibly my favourite characters and this captured them perfectly. Hilarious and beautiful. And even though the story of Vox Machina has come to a close, we still get to live their origin story *ensue ugly crying*
October 21, 2017
Very enjoyable
I liked just about everything about this. Art is good, story is very interesting, and the characters are likable. Best new comic book I've picked up this year.
Waiting to see where it's all going.
I liked just about everything about this. Art is good, story is very interesting, and the characters are likable. Best new comic book I've picked up this year.
Waiting to see where it's all going.
October 21, 2017
Great back story
The ongoing origin stories of the characters of Vox Machina. Great to see them characterized so well. Wish could have seen a version of the Seekers or some other Ravenhead Reavers character stories.
The ongoing origin stories of the characters of Vox Machina. Great to see them characterized so well. Wish could have seen a version of the Seekers or some other Ravenhead Reavers character stories.
November 4, 2017
Getting to meet Scanlan and Grog from the beginning of their story was absolutely delightful, and Matt Colville does such a great job with the character dialog throughout the comic. I can't wait until the next issue comes out!
January 7, 2018
Good, yes. Book 2 is almost better than book 1.
Title says it all. But if you'd like a few more words, Matt Colville continues to write an amazing adaptation of the early years of Vox Machina.
Title says it all. But if you'd like a few more words, Matt Colville continues to write an amazing adaptation of the early years of Vox Machina.
January 15, 2018
The first issue was solid, partly because the characters in it were (probably) the easier ones to write. With Scanlan and Grog, it seems like it would be a little harder for them to feel authentic, but Colville does a great job making each member of Vox Machina feel on brand.
July 12, 2018
More Great Characters for the series
More characters introduced, this series is coming together and pulling me in to it. Character development is good and has the right amount of depth.
More characters introduced, this series is coming together and pulling me in to it. Character development is good and has the right amount of depth.
April 12, 2019
The saga continues!
I love that this comic reads like their adventures and you can tell the thought put into it! It's impossible to not read it in the characters voices! Highly recommend!
I love that this comic reads like their adventures and you can tell the thought put into it! It's impossible to not read it in the characters voices! Highly recommend!
October 10, 2019
I LOVE THIS SERIES
I love getting to see the VM crew as they were all meeting and such. Again the artwork is sensational, and the story is brilliant. I cant wait to see what happens next!!!
I love getting to see the VM crew as they were all meeting and such. Again the artwork is sensational, and the story is brilliant. I cant wait to see what happens next!!!
December 21, 2019
I love the continued gag of *characters meeting for the first time* Someone:”You seem like a useful person to know” “...ok bye!”
Also, there was a joke for a few panels where Grog’s head wasn’t in frame bc Scanlan was the focus. Good stuff!
Also, there was a joke for a few panels where Grog’s head wasn’t in frame bc Scanlan was the focus. Good stuff!
February 28, 2020
Having followed Critical Roll for some time (started with the second season) I'm really glad I'm able to take part in learning about the first season without dedicating hundreds of hours to listening to the podcast. This comic was well made and I really enjoy the story so far.
March 24, 2020
Still well done!
It’s still very easy to imagine them playing through this at the table and hearing it in their voices. I love this! If you’re a Critical Role fan this whole series is a must have.
It’s still very easy to imagine them playing through this at the table and hearing it in their voices. I love this! If you’re a Critical Role fan this whole series is a must have.
March 15, 2022
"It's just dat one guy. Not afraid of one guy. Not afraid of a whole bunch of guys." "What are you afraid of?" "Hm? Spiders."
It's lovely to meet the Vox Machina members in small groups and I'm definitely enamoured with the artwork.
It's lovely to meet the Vox Machina members in small groups and I'm definitely enamoured with the artwork.
October 18, 2017
Another fun insight into the backstory of Vox Machina, and really interesting to see the story of their first adventure coming together.
October 18, 2017
Scanlan and Grog meet Tiberius, after looting the shark gods temple. They also run into assasins; something tells me this will all come together...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews