Dungeon Parade Volume 1: A Dungeon Too Many

French humor artist Manu Larcenet illustrates a fine new adventure in the popular fantasy-comedy Dungeon series: this revolving around a vegetarian dragon and a self-centered duck who must defend the castle - however reluctantly. Here Herbert acquires a magical lamp with one wish left - and the Keeper of the castle sends Herbert and Marvin to a dying sage to decide what wish would be best. A fun, lively story evolves.

If you've never read Dungeon before you're seriously missing out one one of the most clever and humorous series around. Created, written, and drawn by legendary French Cartoonists Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim. The series was originally published in France and has been translated and released in the United States by NBM publishing. The series is a parody of fantasy fiction heavily influenced by the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The setting is the Dungeon of the title and is a place that caters to adventurers looking for a good time...and treasure, though most rarely survive to make it out. Running the operation is a chicken in a top hat, Hyacinthe de Cavallere (aka the Dungeon Master). The DM is bossy and greedy (hence the reason most adventurers don't make it out with their spoils) but in generally a pretty good guy. He understands business and knows that sometime you've got to let warriors make it out with a few treasures because, after all, if you kill them all, then you're getting rid of all your customers! Helping the Dungeon Master run things are Herbert the Duck and Marvin the Dragon. Herbert's a bit lazy, feigning death to get out of work. Marvin is a vegetarian red dragon who is Herbert's protector and a pleasant chap. In Dungeon Parade, Volume 1, A Dungeon too Many, a lizard man arrives to apply for a job as an intern at the Dungeon. He's given the nickel tour and sent on his way...only to open up a rival dungeon, right across the...uhhh...street, for lack of a better word. Customers are streaming from all over the lands to visit Lilsnaught's new dungeon and seem to be having one heck of a great time. Dungeon Masters sends Marvin and Herbert over to investigate and they never return...Seems Lilsnaught has decided to pay them more to come and work for him! But Lilsnaught's dungeon is actually more of a theme park with rides and cotton candy...and he's making money hand over fist! The Dungeon Master is losing all of his business and is in danger of having to shut down! This series is a true delight. Whether you're a Dungeons & Dragons fan or not, you can't help but be amused by the clever cartooning and the wittiness of the script. You'll never look at hordes of monsters the same way again. Great Fun! REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON