Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins II #2

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins II

by Matthew Mercer, Jody Houser, Olivia Samson (Artist)

What's hiding beneath Gatshadow? The members of Vox Machina track the missing Grog back to his old home in Westruun, where he appears to have been drawn to the local cursed mountain. Of course, he has. Giant spiders, evil skeletons, and something even more nefarious stand in the unlikely heroes' way when they venture under the mountain to find their friend! From award-nominated writer Jody Houser (Orphan Black, Stranger Things) and first series author Olivia Samson, with colorist MSASSYK (Isola, Gotham Academy) and letterer Ariana Maher (James Bond, Xena)!

Genres: Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Dungeons and Dragons, Comic Book

23 pages, ebook

Published August 14, 2019

About the author

Storyteller, Voice Over Guy, Dungeon Master, McCree, Cor, Yusuke, Jack Cooper, MacCready, Levi, Chrom, Leon Kennedy, & keeper of the #CriticalRole...

Reviews

[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the first one, I loved the updated character designs and how they're already changing character-wise. LOVED Percy's introduction, I could not contain my gasp the first time I saw the gun. Easier to read and the hidden, almost Easter Eggs with quotes from the show made my day.

[Katrine Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun back story to the Machina posse.

[Alayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Lots of fun! Watched a few episodes of critical role and, while I tended to get a bit lost in the game, it was still entertaining. The graphic novel is even better. Great art, easy to read and follow. I read this without having read vol 1 or having much knowledge of the characters.

[Liyuno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved percys introduction so much, omg

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast and engaging read. I love having the issues collected into a volume where I can read the whole adventure at once. Can't wait for the next one.

[Kerstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

»Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins 2« basiert auf der US-Webshow »Critical Role«, in der »Dungeons & Dragons« gespielt wird, deren Kenntnis für das Lesen des Comics jedoch nicht vorausgesetzt wird.
Nachdem sich der Heldentrupp im gestern vorgestellten Band 1 gefunden hat, passiert gleich zu Beginn von Band 2 etwas Merkwürdiges: Grog verschwindet mitten in der Nacht! Seine Freunde machen sich selbstverständlich auf die Suche nach ihm …
Schnell finden sie nicht nur Informationen, sondern gleich noch ein weiteres Gruppenmitglied, das sie bei den bevorstehenden Herausforderungen tatkräftig unterstützen kann.
Über die Geschichte möchte ich eigentlich gar nicht so viele Worte verlieren, um nicht zu spoilern, ich kann euch aber verraten, dass die Helden es auch hier mit finsteren Schurken und gefährlichen Monstern zu tun bekommen.
Wie bei Band 1 spreche ich auch hier eine klare Empfehlung für Fans der Webshow »Critical Role« aus, die sich über ein Wiedersehen mit lieb gewonnenen Charakteren freuen werden. Allerdings denke ich, dass auch Leser:innen mit Spaß an fantastischen Abenteuergeschichten, denen man die »Dungeons & Dragons«-Wurzeln anmerkt, ihre Freude an der Geschichte haben werden.
Leider wurde bisher noch kein weiterer Nachfolgeband angekündigt, dafür ging bei »«Critical Role« mit »Exandria Unlimited« ein neues Abenteuer an den Start, das man sich (bei entsprechenden Englischkenntnissen) anschauen könnte und das wie immer sehr unterhaltsam ist.

[Siân]

4.5

[John Collings · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character design and the artwork improved a lot in this installment of Critical Role's retelling of their first season, but the story was not as strong. Where the first one had a lot of political intrigue going on in the city where the adventurers were just forming this group, the second installment seemed to ignore a lot of the world building that was developed in the first installment. That is not to say that the story was still not a lot of fun to read. It definitely had that Dungeons and Dragons theme as the party went out to save one of their friends from a lich that infected him. It has the obvious side quests to get the missing ingredients, and it had a lot of humor along the way. They also introduced a couple of the more iconic characters from the podcast, completing the whole party. The only thing that was missing was the bigger story arc that was getting started in the first installment. I am sure that it will eventually come back to that, but it still seemed more like a bunch of little adventure that were pieced together to create a fun game of Dungeons and Dragons and not the deeper story that it could have been.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vox Machina, are a party of adventurers that are world renowned heroes. All firm friends. All powerful in their own right. All brave in their own ways. But it wasn't always that way. They had to start somewhere. This is where. Based on the D and D campaign of Vox Machina prior to it being broadcast on Critical Role, we learn where our favourite characters met and how a band of misfits became the legendary "Vox Machina". In this volume, after establishing how the party all came together, we learn a little more about our resident Goliath Grog.

Plot: This brings all of our favourite characters from Vox Machina to life and I loved it! It is exactly how I imagined them. The story itself is really compelling and introduces the existing relationships between certain characters, as well as establishing how some of my favourite characters first met. Equally, each character goes through a journey in this where they take a step closer to being the characters I know from Critical Role. I really appreciated the little nods to D and D as well.
In this volume there is a darker tone and the plot is really well woven together - showing us what the party is willing to do to save one of their own. Great for fans of Critical Role, D and D fans, and fantasy fans.
Artwork: The artwork is gorgeous it really fits with Critical Role - I would almost want to describe it as cute but I don't know that it does it justice. Each character has their own style and I would say that the the artwork in general is very traditional in terms of the way characters are constructed.
Rating: 5/5 stars

[Alma Lectora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aquí nos encontramos al grupo de aventureros/mercenarios luchando contra un ser oscuro. En el último momento Grog da el golpe certero. Pero no solo acaba con al criatura, sino que se lleva un hechizo con él. Si el resto del grupo quiere salvarlo tendrá que correr una aventura separando fuerzas para llegar a tiempo. En esta contrareloj conoceremos a los dos últimos integrantes del grupo de Vox Machina que conocemos tan bien por la serie.
Con estos dos primeros tomos, se rellenan las lagunas que quedan en la serie de cómo se conocieron un grupo tan diferente y dispar entre ellos.
Me encanta esta historia porque mezcla muy bien las aventuras, las reglas de juegos de rol, la amistad y el humor.
El final te deja con ganas de leer el tercer tomo y la historia va un poco relaciona con la historia de este segundo tomo
La ilustración del cómic es bastante diferente a la de la serie, pero me encantan los dos porque aquí lo importante son las personalidades de que cada uno de los personajes

[John Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol. 2 continues the story of Vox Machina..

Grog gets possessed by a lich, and the team meet Pike for the first time when they go searching for him. After they kill the lich, they discover that Grog is still in danger, and they must try and find two magical artefacts to try and save him.

While Grog, Vax and Vex search for a nymph's heart, Scanlon, Pike and Keyleth search for a nightmare's skull. In doing so, they break Percy out of jail, and he helps them get the skull. meawhile, Grog has met a nymph, and she rewards him with a heart.

They prepare a magical ritual to stop the lich's return, and manage to kill it, but Grog will always have a tiny part of evil inside him as a result.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very biased because I love Critical Role, but I absolutely love that they're making graphic novels for the pre-stream stories. I love the little in-jokes that are probably still great one-liners to anyone who might be reading this series without having watched the show. I love this adventuring party so, so, so much, and it's so great to see them before they become the legendary Vox Machina! (Before they even become the S.H.I.T.s!) It also really throws light on how much these characters grow over the course of the show. I just looove them so muuuuch!!!

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great second adventure! We got to meet the last two members of Vox Machina, and we got to see the Party really get along and start to cooperate! I really enjoy seeing these as their little one-off adventures, it’s very refreshing!

The writing and art in this version flows a lot better than the previous version, and I can only imagine how much the next versions will improve as well! I love the addition of the fanart at the end as well!

Overall, 4.4 out of 5 stars for me!! A great adventure and a great read!

[Aaron Kapner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous fantasy!!

As a huge fan of Vox Machina and someone who devoured the Amazon Prime series (still waiting for season 3, guys!!!) I was OVERJOYED to find this series on Kindle. Fans of somewhat mature but heartfelt fantasy everywhere will enjoy this. Highly recommended! The writing is just as witty and razor sharp as the series and the art work is so endearing I'll actually find myself swiping back to look at a panel because I loved how someone's facial expression was done.

[Rachael Arsenault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still loving these comics. It's great to see these beloved characters in another medium, and I especially loved finally seeing Pike and Percy. The personalities and dynamics really shined through - the twins in particular I thought were captured perfectly. Also, all the little catch phrases and such making there way in, like "looking pretty rough" and "you can certainly try". Just makes my nerdy little heart happy.

[Kelly Coons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "Vox Machina Origins" volume represents a better starting place for most fans: Both Pike and Percy are introduced, and important Campaign 1 NPCs feature here as well.

That being said, if you are not already a fan of Critical Role (but still want something with a tabletop role-playing game flair), look into other TTRPG-inspired graphic novels that are not tied into a thousands-of-hours-long ongoing story and setting.

[Olivia Weight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must a graphic novel adaption be good? Is it not enough to trample your way through a fantasy world, going off the rails?

Overall, a fantastic second adventure! I didn't know much -- if anything -- about it before reading, but I can't say it hasn't been exceedingly fun. I loved learning a bit more about the characters.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a slow, out-of-nowhere start, but once Percy was introduced things really picked up. The art style feels more refined by volume two, and with Pike on board as well, the story feels lively, familiar, and comfortable. I’ve loved seeing the origins of the team and I can’t wait to read more of their adventures!

[Chezza Leigh Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you can’t love them more!

Super cool to see the characters grow and to see the legend that is Vox Machina come together.
The costume design and artwork is spot on awesome and the story is just as good!

If you’re a critter who hasn’t read these yet, do it!
If you have no idea what I just said, just read these you’ll love them!

[Wampuscat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THIS is more like it! Probably the best so far in both series. Great action, art & storytelling. Some awesome Critter Hat Tips and a terrific foreshadowed ending to make you want the next installment RIGHT NOW!

[Rhys Causon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing this story took place pre stream I am very interested in knowing what happens next, even though I know it’ll all be ok in the end, filling in gaps if the early story of Vox Machina is fun to learn about.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read all of this from start to finish immediately. I feel like the gang's back together again even though this is technically the beginning. I also can't wait to dive a little further into everyone's backgrounds and personalities in print.

[Rikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is stunning, and it is such a wonderful addition to the CR Vox Machina universe. I love the origin stories and seeing the prestream backgrounds of the characters. I can't wait for the collection 3!

[Vic Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* got the charm of the characters but by way of plot and development i don't think a lot happened. maybe that's unavoidable since the "main story" is obviously covered. i did LOVE the intro to percy. that intro was a whole star.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grog rejoins The Party

We learn more about Grog's friend while the party earache for him. After an encounter we learn that she can heal which is great news for the party. I highly recommend this story..

[Alessandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great part 2 of the origins story! Aside from the magnificent art of the drawings, it's nice to see the team come together and get a glimpse of how the myth started :) and the easter eggs here and there are the winks you need to get you all smirky and proud of your watch choices!

[Catherine Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love getting to learn more about this story arc and the characters a bit more. It has a very mysterious ending which intrigues me for the next issue.

[Enci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this was fucking brilliant, best issue so far out of all of them!

I can't wait to read more, after that ending I am here like GIMME THE NEXT ONE DAMN IT

[Joseph McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colors in this issue blew me away

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read pre-stream content.

Fun read, great action. It is also awesome to see the pre-stream Critical Role story fleshed out. Good book, great for the fans.