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Dungeons & Dragons #5
Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides
A new D&D adventure begins as the odyssey following the Baldur's Gate heroes continues in this graphic novel by the writer of the A Young Adventurer's Guide series!
Minsc and his friends are caught in the middle of devil-tainted corruption that has taken hold of Baldur's Gate. Unravelling the secret of its source will take our heroes to unexpected places and threaten the sanctity of their very souls. Even if they survive this perilous journey, there will be hell to pay!
Minsc and his friends are caught in the middle of devil-tainted corruption that has taken hold of Baldur's Gate. Unravelling the secret of its source will take our heroes to unexpected places and threaten the sanctity of their very souls. Even if they survive this perilous journey, there will be hell to pay!
120 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2021
60 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Jim Zub
947 books321 followersJim Zub is a writer, artist and art instructor based in Toronto, Canada. Over the past fifteen years he’s worked for a diverse array of publishing, movie and video game clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Capcom, Hasbro, Bandai-Namco and Mattel.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
He juggles his time between being a freelance comic writer and Program Coordinator for Seneca College‘s award-winning Animation program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 28, 2021
After a few years, Jim Zub and Max Dunbar return to their heroes of Baldur's Gate. This series is just so much damn fun. It's full of high stakes adventure and Minsc as the hilariously dumb, berserker, comedy relief. This time Zub and Dunbar have brought plenty of demons with them too along for the ride and Dunbar nails it. He has to draw all these incredibly detailed scenes of Hell that are jaw-dropping. If you at all like traditional fantasy comics do yourself a favor and snag a copy.
February 19, 2021
Have you ever seen video of a vintage Eddie Van Halen guitar solo? I mean when he was at the absolute peak of his powers. He’s intensely focused and exerting maximum effort, but also strutting around and beaming that impish, boyish grin, simultaneously pushing himself to the max and enjoying himself beyond measure.
There’s where Zub and Dunbar are on this book right now—they are killing it and clearly having an absolute blast along the way. It seems like it should be easy to translate the frenetic mix of action and humor every D&D session brings to the graphic novel format, and yet it’s much harder than it seems—lean too much into the action and you lose the loosey-goosey vibe that makes the game so appealing; go too hard for the humor and ridiculousness and you lose all semblance of dramatic tension. There have been a bevy of talented creators who have struggled to walk that tightrope over the years.
Thankfully, Zub and Dunbar are master tightrope walkers, gleefully pirouetting their way across the highwire with reckless abandon and, one can only assume, whilst wearing matching tutus. With each new series, our Baldur’s Gate heroes acquire new layers and get more appealing, and there are some jaw-dropping plot twists here that set up intriguing future storylines.
Zub cruelly makes Dunbar draw about leventy-billion demons and devils in a few glorious double-page spreads, but Dunbar clearly fought off finger fatigue and delivered in delicious detail. Every inch of his art is gorgeous, and if I could step into this book and hang out in a tavern or the Candlekeep library, well, I’d be a happy lad.
Thank you, gentlemen, for the Eruption (hey-oh!) of so much swashbuckling good fun. Please keep the adventures coming.
There’s where Zub and Dunbar are on this book right now—they are killing it and clearly having an absolute blast along the way. It seems like it should be easy to translate the frenetic mix of action and humor every D&D session brings to the graphic novel format, and yet it’s much harder than it seems—lean too much into the action and you lose the loosey-goosey vibe that makes the game so appealing; go too hard for the humor and ridiculousness and you lose all semblance of dramatic tension. There have been a bevy of talented creators who have struggled to walk that tightrope over the years.
Thankfully, Zub and Dunbar are master tightrope walkers, gleefully pirouetting their way across the highwire with reckless abandon and, one can only assume, whilst wearing matching tutus. With each new series, our Baldur’s Gate heroes acquire new layers and get more appealing, and there are some jaw-dropping plot twists here that set up intriguing future storylines.
Zub cruelly makes Dunbar draw about leventy-billion demons and devils in a few glorious double-page spreads, but Dunbar clearly fought off finger fatigue and delivered in delicious detail. Every inch of his art is gorgeous, and if I could step into this book and hang out in a tavern or the Candlekeep library, well, I’d be a happy lad.
Thank you, gentlemen, for the Eruption (hey-oh!) of so much swashbuckling good fun. Please keep the adventures coming.
June 22, 2023
Fun! And infernally gorgeous art, can't help but feel this kind of over-the-top High Fantasy tale might work in a film along the lines of Honor Among Thieves.
Max Dunbar is our era's Hieronymous Bosch.
Max Dunbar is our era's Hieronymous Bosch.
June 10, 2021
Okay, that's just fun. Classic D&D adventure for levels 6-9: a ranger (with pet miniature giant space hamster), sorcerer (who experiences uncontrolled wild magic surges), cleric (boring), and two snarky rogues stumble into the middle of a demonic civil war. Together they heroically and with great heroism fight to save the material plane from literally going to hell.
Zub has a blast with this. Demons bellow things like "SCREAM ALL YOU LIKE IT SHALL NOT SAVE YOU!". Heroes bellow "Evil, meet my sword...Sword, meet EVIL!!" and similar. There's a lot of bellowing, and a lot of simple-minded heroic determination in the face of simple-minded evil plotting. It's basically a parody of D&D tropes aimed at young teenagers, but it's a good time nevertheless.
Zub has a blast with this. Demons bellow things like "SCREAM ALL YOU LIKE IT SHALL NOT SAVE YOU!". Heroes bellow "Evil, meet my sword...Sword, meet EVIL!!" and similar. There's a lot of bellowing, and a lot of simple-minded heroic determination in the face of simple-minded evil plotting. It's basically a parody of D&D tropes aimed at young teenagers, but it's a good time nevertheless.
November 11, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It really felt like a true D&D campaign. The adventure was thrilling and the characters were amazing. The ones that stood out the most was the big ox, Minsc and his tiny sidekick, Boo. Little did I know that I started this series at book 5. It was an adventure on its own but I definitely will go back to read books 1-4.
June 19, 2023
I liked this one better than the last (it's a rollercoaster ride, me with this series of graphic novels). I liked the artwork better, too, but the story was a real solid string of adventures that I think worked well.
July 6, 2023
Yes, it's fine. Like any good D&D campaign the stakes have escalated and now we're apparently saving a city from absorption into the planar Blood War. It's one huge battle and feels frenetic but I guess that is what happens when you smash together comic books into one volume.
My son the hamster enthusiast requires that I mention Minsc and Boo. Their role as comic relief continues to be refined.
My son the hamster enthusiast requires that I mention Minsc and Boo. Their role as comic relief continues to be refined.
May 12, 2022
It's all fun and games until your soul is lost.
Helmed Horror or not, bring evil to Baldur's Gate at your own peril. With father and daughter running from a flaming soldier and horse our local heroes know it is time to sping into action but with a chaotic surge of wild magic Minsc and his friends are plunged into a mystery they have to solve and much infernal butt kicking to come as a deal made long ago threatens a city and all who live within its boarders.
I have a few complaints about the book but considering the whole thing is a series of something like 4 comics the outcome came out pretty good. Of those complaints I am curious about the amnesia inflicted upon Minsc in the story (and how it seems to have very little effect on his abilities or motivations) and how Zariel goes ballistic and leaves after a young woman reminds her of the past after events prevent evil from winning the day (completely.) Maybe she is sensitive to having succumbed to becoming a devil and tries not to remember who she once was but now she is a full fledged devil lord so who knows what that over the top reaction was all about. Of all the moments however seeing Boo casually dive upon and bite an imp in disguise was fantastic as infernal servants trying to retrieve the mysterious box the heroes are trying to figure out.
Also if you look at the end of the book you'll find character sheets for the heroes of the story at level seven. Although there are some missing things such as spells and certain things don't seem to match up to what the sheet says it is possible to play the characters in a real game so long as you make sure what you see in the book matches up with the rules of the actual game. :)
Helmed Horror or not, bring evil to Baldur's Gate at your own peril. With father and daughter running from a flaming soldier and horse our local heroes know it is time to sping into action but with a chaotic surge of wild magic Minsc and his friends are plunged into a mystery they have to solve and much infernal butt kicking to come as a deal made long ago threatens a city and all who live within its boarders.
I have a few complaints about the book but considering the whole thing is a series of something like 4 comics the outcome came out pretty good. Of those complaints I am curious about the amnesia inflicted upon Minsc in the story (and how it seems to have very little effect on his abilities or motivations) and how Zariel goes ballistic and leaves after a young woman reminds her of the past after events prevent evil from winning the day (completely.) Maybe she is sensitive to having succumbed to becoming a devil and tries not to remember who she once was but now she is a full fledged devil lord so who knows what that over the top reaction was all about. Of all the moments however seeing Boo casually dive upon and bite an imp in disguise was fantastic as infernal servants trying to retrieve the mysterious box the heroes are trying to figure out.
Also if you look at the end of the book you'll find character sheets for the heroes of the story at level seven. Although there are some missing things such as spells and certain things don't seem to match up to what the sheet says it is possible to play the characters in a real game so long as you make sure what you see in the book matches up with the rules of the actual game. :)
March 21, 2022
A loose adaptation of the DESCENT INTO AVERNUS module starring Misc, Boo, and the oddball crew of heroes from Baldur's Gate. It is a massively condensed version of the module but actually manages to take a lot of the elements I liked from it. It also has a genuinely shocking twist when one of the heroes is asked whether they would be willing to damn themselves to save tens of thousands.
The only part I didn't much care for was Minsc losing his memories in the River Styx. I want MORE tie-ins to the classic Baldur's Gate era and that's unlikely to happen if Minsc is amnesiac of people like Irenicus, Dynaheir, Imoen, and the Bhaalspawn.
As usual, this is a fun and entertaining comic and I'll always read Jim Zub's work.
The only part I didn't much care for was Minsc losing his memories in the River Styx. I want MORE tie-ins to the classic Baldur's Gate era and that's unlikely to happen if Minsc is amnesiac of people like Irenicus, Dynaheir, Imoen, and the Bhaalspawn.
As usual, this is a fun and entertaining comic and I'll always read Jim Zub's work.
June 6, 2021
Art is good, story is even better. Really enjoyed the character sheets at the end.
January 14, 2022
After the last graphic novel starring the Heroes of Baldur's Gate left me a little underwhelmed (lots of fun individual tales of the gang, but no over-arching narrative), I'm pleased with this excellent return to form.
Based on the campaign Descent into Avernus, one of my favourites for flavour if not coherence, this dips into 'Helturel' with appearances by Haruman, Zariel, and Kreeg, if briefly. It's chaotic and daft, and adrenaline driven, and very DnD which is really the main reason anyone would be reading it. The characters are familiar and fun (even with stats in the back), though Minsc steals the show for me every time.
What pushes this past four star fun is Max Dunbar's art. Such excellent style, and such great use of angles and perspective. The detail is beautiful, aided by the colourist significantly. Max's rendition of fiends is total quality: the Chain Devils are my favourite, but Bone Devils, glabrezu, and Balors are here, as well as a rather enticing succubus! Yet it's the double-page spreads that really catch the eye, of the Blood War in full swing. Worth the purchase for the art, definitely.
Based on the campaign Descent into Avernus, one of my favourites for flavour if not coherence, this dips into 'Helturel' with appearances by Haruman, Zariel, and Kreeg, if briefly. It's chaotic and daft, and adrenaline driven, and very DnD which is really the main reason anyone would be reading it. The characters are familiar and fun (even with stats in the back), though Minsc steals the show for me every time.
What pushes this past four star fun is Max Dunbar's art. Such excellent style, and such great use of angles and perspective. The detail is beautiful, aided by the colourist significantly. Max's rendition of fiends is total quality: the Chain Devils are my favourite, but Bone Devils, glabrezu, and Balors are here, as well as a rather enticing succubus! Yet it's the double-page spreads that really catch the eye, of the Blood War in full swing. Worth the purchase for the art, definitely.
December 31, 2023
What is there not to like about Minsc, ranger of Rasheman, and his faithful companion, Boo, a miniature Giant Space Hamster? I love reading about their adventures so ably crafted by the incredible talent of Jim Zub. This book is fantastically illustrated by Max Dunbar and takes us on an adventure to the depths of hell itself. (Spoiler alert: It is not a nice place).
The ranger and his rodent are teamed up with Nerys, Krydle, Shandie Freefoot, and Delina Hallier to assist Aubree Lucent in a quest to rescue her father, Alistair, a Palidan who was tasked with recovering a stolen infernal box with , ohhh, nefarious secrets hidden inside. Her father was attacked by a powerful demon knight and whisked away to the netherworld. Now our band of adventurers decide to aid her as evil machinations are afoot. (Which include winching an entire city down into the depths with the biggest set of chains you have every seen!) Of course there are other interested parties with agendas of their own meaning there are more than one set of dangers afoot. What can a tiny hamster do to assist when the stakes are so high? You will be surprised!
This is a rollicking story with absolutely marvelous artwork that rewards a careful perusal of each panel. Zub's dialogue, as always, keeps the reader informed while the story whizzes along heaping dire circumstance one atop another until the fate of our adventurers hangs in the balance. All in, just what you want in a Dungeons and Dragons story. .
The ranger and his rodent are teamed up with Nerys, Krydle, Shandie Freefoot, and Delina Hallier to assist Aubree Lucent in a quest to rescue her father, Alistair, a Palidan who was tasked with recovering a stolen infernal box with , ohhh, nefarious secrets hidden inside. Her father was attacked by a powerful demon knight and whisked away to the netherworld. Now our band of adventurers decide to aid her as evil machinations are afoot. (Which include winching an entire city down into the depths with the biggest set of chains you have every seen!) Of course there are other interested parties with agendas of their own meaning there are more than one set of dangers afoot. What can a tiny hamster do to assist when the stakes are so high? You will be surprised!
This is a rollicking story with absolutely marvelous artwork that rewards a careful perusal of each panel. Zub's dialogue, as always, keeps the reader informed while the story whizzes along heaping dire circumstance one atop another until the fate of our adventurers hangs in the balance. All in, just what you want in a Dungeons and Dragons story. .
May 9, 2024
Infernal Tides is a by-the-numbers fantasy adventure that only vaguely uses the Dungeons and Dragons setting. We're introduced to a band of adventurers who must deliver a young paladin to a famed library where the paladin can learn what's the deal with her scary magic box. As with any D&D campaign, the characters all fit within a rigid character class - it's fine (it's boring).
The scary magic box is revealed to be related to a war between devils and demons in Hell (or something like that). The plot goes from "quest" to "convoluted battle scene" in a hot second, making Infernal Tides pretty hard to follow. Perhaps that was also due to my waning interest in the cardboard adventurers.
Definitely not as fun or engaging as the recent film. But if you like generic fantasy stuff, Infernal Tides will likely satisfy.
(Seeing now that this volume is actually fifth in a series - could explain why I never gelled with any of the poorly-introduced characters. Maybe they shoulda said something on the printed book? Like, "volume 5"?)
The scary magic box is revealed to be related to a war between devils and demons in Hell (or something like that). The plot goes from "quest" to "convoluted battle scene" in a hot second, making Infernal Tides pretty hard to follow. Perhaps that was also due to my waning interest in the cardboard adventurers.
Definitely not as fun or engaging as the recent film. But if you like generic fantasy stuff, Infernal Tides will likely satisfy.
(Seeing now that this volume is actually fifth in a series - could explain why I never gelled with any of the poorly-introduced characters. Maybe they shoulda said something on the printed book? Like, "volume 5"?)
March 14, 2021
In Ecclesiastes 1:18, it says "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." I spent 20 years reading history, politics, philosophy, education, economics, cultural studies, literary studies, theology, and every other Big Serious Book you can imagine. Learned a lot. Know what the main thing i learned was? It does not make me happy. Knowing how fucked up the world has been, is now, and ever shall be (world without end, amen) does nothing to make the world better, and tends to make me unhappy and hopeless. So...nothing changes, and I am miserable.
Know what makes me really happy? Fun comic books about a party of adventurers going into Avernus to rescue a city being pulled down into Hell by giant chains.
The world can go pound sand. I gave at the office.
Know what makes me really happy? Fun comic books about a party of adventurers going into Avernus to rescue a city being pulled down into Hell by giant chains.
The world can go pound sand. I gave at the office.
July 30, 2023
The party gets descented into Avernus in the middle of a civil war between devils and demons! I think Zub and Dunbar do what they can with only a single volume to tackle this story. The characters change in rather meaningful ways, building off of what's come before and providing a new dynamic for what stories can possible come afterward. And on its own it builds up a new character, throws the reader into a brand new place that has its own history and conflict, and ties everything up in a way that doesn't feel like a total ass-pull (unlike, say, the Strahd story). Is the big climax entirely earned? I'm not sure, but in isolation it works and shows some of my favourite parts of Zub's writing. There's some fun comedic moments and a wider sense of investment in the greater lore of this massive fantasy world that I really enjoy.
July 19, 2023
The vibe just didn’t grab me. The art is excellent, and some of the characters are written better than ever. After reading along with this group for so many volumes and seeing what they were capable of, their survival of this adventure was a stretch too far. A small group of level 6 characters taking on the legions of hell. In hell.
The stakes were high, but it was so over the top and out of their league that I couldn’t get into it. Their plot armour was very thick.
The thematic/stylistic elements lifted right out of the Max Max and Hellraiser franchises were a bit awkward to read through too.
The stakes were high, but it was so over the top and out of their league that I couldn’t get into it. Their plot armour was very thick.
The thematic/stylistic elements lifted right out of the Max Max and Hellraiser franchises were a bit awkward to read through too.
November 27, 2023
I may have given this a higher score, but it just ends. With no additional material to speak of (this was last published in 2021), I doubt this will get any kind of conclusion. In a way, it's kind of like how real world D&D sometimes ends: schedules change, people move away, DMs get burnt out, etc. I guess that makes for a fitting ending of sorts, but certainly not a satisfying one.
EDIT: interestingly, Pathfinder has a series written by some of the same folks (notably: Jim Zub). I wonder if it's any better? Surely it can beat the "good enough" standard set by this series?
EDIT: interestingly, Pathfinder has a series written by some of the same folks (notably: Jim Zub). I wonder if it's any better? Surely it can beat the "good enough" standard set by this series?
March 14, 2024
In short, this comic made me want to play a campaign taking place in Avernus. The art is gorgeous and the story is engaging and fast-paced. I especially loved the characters.
Great comic overall where you get to watch Minsc and Boo be the national treasures they are.
Great comic overall where you get to watch Minsc and Boo be the national treasures they are.
May 31, 2022
Good till the end
I was enjoying the graphic novel till the end when the contract was destroyed and Aubree convinced Zariel stop, return all back to normal and spare them all, just by telling her that she was everything to her, her angel. If I had cookies i’d toss them in the name of Torm
I was enjoying the graphic novel till the end when the contract was destroyed and Aubree convinced Zariel stop, return all back to normal and spare them all, just by telling her that she was everything to her, her angel. If I had cookies i’d toss them in the name of Torm
June 13, 2022
Well written as always
Jim Zub is a great author. Love all his D&D and Conan comics.
A very fast read due to all the action. A few twists that leave you wanting more. D&D lore is packed in this book as well.
Jim Zub is a great author. Love all his D&D and Conan comics.
A very fast read due to all the action. A few twists that leave you wanting more. D&D lore is packed in this book as well.
December 31, 2020
Read the individual issues but posting the review on this one. Significant departure from the less epic stories to a hugely epic adventure that spans the Realms and the outer planes. Fun, fun read.
April 3, 2021
Max Dunbar's artwork is gorgous, but Jim Zub's story was weak and thin as ever.
April 5, 2021
Well, glad I started with volume 5 of the series and still was able to enjoy it! Time to backtrack. Fun, tongue-in-cheek D&D adventuring, although the hamster got old rather quickly.
May 23, 2021
I read the epub trade of this book. This is a place holder for that as that is not on Goodreads.
October 16, 2021
More fun from the Baldur’s Gate crew. This time Minsc and Boo get mixed up in the demon/devil wars.
January 18, 2022
I feel like i was missing something reading it, i don't think it's bad it just felt incomplete
February 2, 2022
Solid story and amazing art!
February 4, 2022
High stakes fantasy
High fantasy, high stakes. My tastes run to more of the traditional characters and adventures, but this was a fun romp through Hell and back.
High fantasy, high stakes. My tastes run to more of the traditional characters and adventures, but this was a fun romp through Hell and back.
February 9, 2022
Infernal fun
If you're fan the series or just a casual fan of sword and fantasy you'll likely enjoy this. The art and story are good in my opinion.
If you're fan the series or just a casual fan of sword and fantasy you'll likely enjoy this. The art and story are good in my opinion.
January 3, 2023
This was a solid D&D comic, although you don't have to fully understand D&D to read this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews