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Donjon Parade #1-2
Dungeon: Parade - Vol. 1: A Dungeon Too Many
The Parade branch of this great saga happens between the 1st and 2nd volumes of Zenith and presents light humorous stories of the adventures of Marvin the vegetarian dragon warrior and Herbert the Timorous. In this volume, the ultimate horror: Dungeon has competition! Special lower price! Great entry point to this vast fantasy spoof world.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
52 people want to read
About the author
Joann Sfar
489 books509 followersJoann Sfar (born August 28, 1971 in Nice) is a French comics artist, comic book creator, and film director.
Sfar is considered one of the most important artists of the new wave of Franco-Belgian comics. Many of his comics were published by L'Association which was founded in 1990 by Jean-Christophe Menu and six other artists. He also worked together with many of the new movement's main artists, e.g. David B. and Lewis Trondheim. The Donjon series which he created with Trondheim has a cult following in many countries.
Some of his comics are inspired by his Jewish heritage as the son of Jewish parents (an Ashkenazi mother and a Sephardic father). He himself says that there is Ashkenazi humor in his Professeur Bell series (loosely based on Joseph Bell), whereas Le chat du rabbin is clearly inspired by his Sephardic side. Les olives noires is a series about a Jewish child in Israel at the time of Jesus. Like Le chat du rabbin, the series contains a lot of historical and theological information.
His main influences are Fred and André Franquin as well as Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine, Will Eisner, Hugo Pratt and John Buscema.
From 2009 to 2010, Sfar wrote and directed 'Serge Gainsbourgh: Une Vie Heroique', a biopic of the notorious French songwriter, of whom Sfar is a self-confessed fanatic. The film, which draws substantially on Sfar's abilities as a comic book artist through its extensive use of fantasy artwork, animation and puppetry, was released in 2010 to general critical acclaim.
Sfar is considered one of the most important artists of the new wave of Franco-Belgian comics. Many of his comics were published by L'Association which was founded in 1990 by Jean-Christophe Menu and six other artists. He also worked together with many of the new movement's main artists, e.g. David B. and Lewis Trondheim. The Donjon series which he created with Trondheim has a cult following in many countries.
Some of his comics are inspired by his Jewish heritage as the son of Jewish parents (an Ashkenazi mother and a Sephardic father). He himself says that there is Ashkenazi humor in his Professeur Bell series (loosely based on Joseph Bell), whereas Le chat du rabbin is clearly inspired by his Sephardic side. Les olives noires is a series about a Jewish child in Israel at the time of Jesus. Like Le chat du rabbin, the series contains a lot of historical and theological information.
His main influences are Fred and André Franquin as well as Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine, Will Eisner, Hugo Pratt and John Buscema.
From 2009 to 2010, Sfar wrote and directed 'Serge Gainsbourgh: Une Vie Heroique', a biopic of the notorious French songwriter, of whom Sfar is a self-confessed fanatic. The film, which draws substantially on Sfar's abilities as a comic book artist through its extensive use of fantasy artwork, animation and puppetry, was released in 2010 to general critical acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 19, 2017
Dungeon culture crossed with modern office sentiment is not my thing. This library edition is held together with tape and the sticky remains of a half-eaten orange. I assumed anything this thrashed must be worth reading. Don't judge a book by its cover abuse, I guess. Reading slump continues (sigh).
February 26, 2012
The Dungeon Keeper receives a visit from a management graduate who is interested in the business of running a dungeon. After giving him a few pointers, the Keeper is a bit miffed to find that he has competition - the guy has set up his own facility Right.Next.Door. Rude much? The new guy steals both customers and former employees, but his dungeon is more amusement park than serious dungeon. The Keeper and most of his staff are able to ride out the economic crisis until a horde descends upon and lays waste to the neighboring atrocity.
Wanting to capitalize on some new clientele, the Keeper has Herbert giving tours to some important visitors. While they are touring, they are attacked by a magic lamp-wielding creature. Herbert claims the lamp, which is subsequently brought before the Keeper, so he can decide how to use its last wish. Together, they enter into a quest to seek the advice of a wise, old ostrich - and much insanity ensues.
Silly, but enjoyable. The ostrich ghetto was a bit bizarre.
Wanting to capitalize on some new clientele, the Keeper has Herbert giving tours to some important visitors. While they are touring, they are attacked by a magic lamp-wielding creature. Herbert claims the lamp, which is subsequently brought before the Keeper, so he can decide how to use its last wish. Together, they enter into a quest to seek the advice of a wise, old ostrich - and much insanity ensues.
Silly, but enjoyable. The ostrich ghetto was a bit bizarre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2022
(3,7 of 5 for some fantasy fun)
Two more Dungeon stories one with an amusement park version of the dungeon and the second with "Alladin's lamp". Both themes make a fine base for some comedy, but after all that dungeon stuff it just feels all the same over and over.
Two more Dungeon stories one with an amusement park version of the dungeon and the second with "Alladin's lamp". Both themes make a fine base for some comedy, but after all that dungeon stuff it just feels all the same over and over.
March 29, 2018
Parade has two short stories, much more tongue-in-cheek, set during the "classic" Dungeon era. A Dungeon-themed theme park springs up next to the Dungeon, stealing away business. Herbert takes their offer of more money and leaves Dungeon. Shenanigans ensue. The second tale has the cast finding a genie and seeking out an old wise man, who lives in a town under control of a despotic ruler, to figure out how to best use their final wish. More good stuff, including Herbert trying to convince the genie that wishing for more wishes is a valid wish!
July 24, 2020
Second printing
January 24, 2008
When I first read this volume without reading Zenith and actually, you really can just pick up stuff as you go on and don't need Zenith to understand the relationship between Marvin and Herbert and their basic natures. Otherwise, on a first reading the book comes off as being rather juvenile in humor despite the large amounts of decapitations and gore. But on re-readings I found I really enjoyed the first tale about the rival dungeon that is a themepark and the second tale I admire for its crafting but not so much its very familiar premise, the genie's lamp and three wishes.
November 8, 2008
This book was a great find! D&D enthusiasts would especially appreciate it. The humor is great (and silly), and the illustrations are perfect (and comically gory). I've read one other volume--The Barbarian Princess--and it was also good. I'm hoping to get my hands on the other volumes soon.
Read
February 19, 2010This book gave me a deja vu--I felt like I had encountered the characters before, especially Herbert, and was reconnecting with old friends. maybe I picked up the book before? fun cast, I think Parade and Zenith are the strongest of the series, although I haven't read one or two
May 10, 2010
Seemed like it was done in a bit of a hurry, and without a whole lot of thought, but still funny stuff.
September 11, 2010
Terribly silly fun.
February 13, 2011
Dungeon: Parade was enjoyable. There are some funny moments and the art is really good. It's got a lot of personality and I want to read more of the series.
November 4, 2013
A great series from my favorite pair of European comic artists. Some gory violence (although comical) so not for young kids.
August 4, 2011
These books are adorable, what more can I say?
June 25, 2012
Couple short tales of how Herbert and Marvin deal with a rival dungeon and magic lamps.
March 25, 2014
This book made me laugh. It has funny ironic characters, one that I enjoyed reading about is Marvin, the vegetarian dragon warrior.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews