Broken Frontier

Drizzt attempts to survive the dangers of his subterranean world as this adaptation of the Dark Elf Trilogy continues.

Horrified by the depravities of his culture, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden has entered self-exile and fled into the wilds of the Underdark. With only the panther, Guenhwyvar, as his companion, Drizzt has been hardened by the harsh and solitary conditions and slowly becomes little more than a feral hunter. Yet deep within him, there remains a part that longs for civilization. With that in mind, he throws himself on the mercy of the svirfnebli, the "deep gnomes" that have long been his people’s enemies. Meanwhile, House Do’Urden continues to scheme against its wayward son, bringing back a face from the past to do their sinister bidding.

While not quite at the same artistic level as, say, Dark Horse’s Conan, Devil’s Due’s The Legend of Drizzt is a fine addition to the increasingly growing ranks of fantasy comics. Drizzt has greatly impressed me with its engrossing story, lovely artwork, and high production values. Andrew Dabb’s adaptation is rich with action, drama, and intrigue and is accessible to those (like myself) with no prior exposure to the work of R.A. Salvatore. Exile begins the next leg of Drizzt’s journey and introduces us to further denizens of the Underdark. Drizzt’s continuing search for identity remains a key theme of the story, giving us ample reason to care about this conflicted hero. Who is he really? The remorseless hunter? The capricious and back-stabbing drow his people wanted to make him? Or simply a man looking to find his own way? Despite the otherworldly setting, it is easy to relate to Drizzt’s tragic origins and his desire to define himself.

Tim Seeley’s polished artwork also continues to impress. Elegant and detailed, Seeley’s art contains a hint of cartoonist stylization, bridging the conventions of fantasy and traditional comic art. Seeley helps to populate this particular Forgotten Realm with visually intriguing characters—the foppish and smirking mercenary Jarlaxle, blank-eyed and boisterous gnome children, an aborted fetus creature known as the Handmaiden of Lolth, and of course, enough coldly beautiful slinky drow women to fill a supernatural bondage video. In creating an underground world, colorist Blond is mostly given the task of working in grays, blues, and purples. Nonetheless, he finds many opportunities for splashes of bright eye-catching color to offset the subdued hues.

It’s a good time to be a fan of high fantasy comics. Whether that’s the work of Hollywood box office or a certain sullen-eyed barbarian, I for one am very much enjoying it.