Dark Horse Comics will be collecting both ongoing Critical Role titles in two upcoming graphic novels. Soon, Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Series III and Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria — The Bright Queen will be accessible as trade paperbacks.
The fantasy epic of Vox Machina Origins is currently available as an ongoing series, deepening the world of Critical Role, based on the roleplaying game. The title is written by Jody Houser (Orphan Black, Stranger Things) with art by Olivia Samson, colors by MSASSYK (Gotham Academy), Diana Sousa (Isola), letters by Ariana Maher (Xena), and covers by Minttu Hynninen. Similarly, Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria — The Bright Queen expands upon the game from Master Matthew Mercer, with a story by Eisner Award-winning Darcy van Poelgeest (Little Bird), and art by CoupleofKooks.
On May 4, 2022, Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Series III will be released as a trade paperback, with Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria — The Bright Queen releasing shortly after on June 15. Both collected series are currently available for pre-order at $19.99. The 4-part miniseries The Bright Queen tells the story of Leylas Kryn as she has lived many lives trying to bring together the Luxon. After a piece of the Luxon shows up, she has Quana leave to find it, causing major ramifications in the Dynasty. Meanwhile, Vox Machina follows a week amping up to the Winter’s Crest Festival which involves an underground fighting ring, meant to bestow characters with much-needed money. Unfortunately when they acquire the funds, an attack causes the town to become frozen, leading to the reveal of a mysterious new villain.
As the animated Amazon Prime series The Legend of Vox Machina has released, the new trade paperback collections are coming at the ideal time for fans to become even more familiar with the Critical Role universe. The world is expanding in storytelling across many mediums, making the journey even more interactive with fans. Beginning as roleplaying game, Critical Role now has some of the biggest mediums covered, from TV to comics, and podcasts to books.
With the two trade paperback collections approaching in 2022, new comers will have even easier access to the Critical Role universe that is being expanded. The company’s innovative world-building is setting a new standard for creators, and might reshape how such stories are told in the future. Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria — The Bright Queen and Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Series III will be available in 2022.