Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • The Comicmobile (Conclusion)

      Karyn Pinter
      January 14, 2002
      It's BobRo the Answer Man!
    Recent
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

      Daniel Gehen
      October 27, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • What Looks Good for 12/23/15: DC and Marvel

      Karyn Pinter
      December 21, 2015
      Big Two, What Looks Good
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • TANK GIRL FOREVER: VOLUME 2 Has Released - What's the Plot?

      Karyn Pinter
      February 25, 2020
      News, Press Release, Titan Comics
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 3.5

      Red Spike #2

      Karyn Pinter
      June 14, 2011
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Interview: Walter Simonson: Ringing in 'Ragnarok'

      Karyn Pinter
      August 27, 2014
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • A Contract With God

      Karyn Pinter
      December 6, 2012
      Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • New Comics Publisher BAD IDEA Announced

      Karyn Pinter
      February 6, 2020
      Indie, News, Press Release
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • 5.0

      Review: "Snowden" by Ted Rall

      Karyn Pinter
      November 17, 2015
      Books, Indie, Reviews, Small Press
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: If I win Powerball, I will buy Amazing Fantasy 15
  • DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Reviews

ADVANCE REVIEW: Dragon Age: The Silent Grove #1-2 (of 6)

Karyn Pinter
March 6, 2012
Reviews
ADVANCE REVIEW: Dragon Age: The Silent Grove #1-2 (of 6)
3.5Overall Score
Reader Rating: (0 Votes)

ADVANCE REVIEW! Dragon Age: The Silent Grove #2 will go on sale Wednesday, March 7, 2012. You can buy the series exclusively at the Dark Horse Digital Store.

As if the best selling games weren’t enough, Dragon Age is now back in comic form. Yes, rejoice fellow Dragon Age nerds. Varric the silver tongued dwarf and Isabela the pirate slut captain are back and near to their loveable and wise cracking selves. Alistair’s back too, but he seems to have left his fun, wise ass persona behind in Ferelden, because now he’s all broody and secretive. It seems to be a pretty big secret too — he hasn’t let Varric or Isabela in on it, but it involves the Antivan Crows and a very important figure from Alistair’s past.

Very rarely do I do a combo review of two issues, but since I didn’t get around to the first issue, just reviewing #2 seemed pointless — that, and Issue #1 by itself was sort of blah. It wouldn’t have been fair to give a shitty review to a comic that I have honestly been waiting for and should really like. So now, with the release of the second issue, the story has picked up a little and it warrants a little better grade.

Written by lead writer of the Dragon Age games, David Gaider, in conjunction with Alexander Freed, Dragon Age: The Silent Grove takes place after the events of Dragon Age II, and is presumably a canon story — well, as canon as it can be since it follows the built in BioWare Dragon Age story and so far has made no mention of the hero of Ferelden or Hawke. Starting in the first issue, Alistair arrives in Antiva in search of the mysterious band of murderers, The Crows. In tow he’s got Varric and Isabela, and where those two are trouble is usually found. True to Dragon Age standards, random violence ensues and it’s fun, but lacks substance. And so the story goes for the rest of the first issue, it has fun moments and witty banter, but there’s substance. Actually, that’s about the same for Dragon Age II — without the superb dialogue between characters it wouldn’t have stood up as well as it did.

The second issue picks up the pace with the trio arriving at Velabanchel, the house of graves, the prison built by the Crows, where Alistair has a face off with a Qunari. It delivers better characterization and a good twist at the end, which is damn lucky because if it didn’t it’d be hard to justify reading a third just-okay issue. Obviously the comic is going to be a whole ton different from the video game. Even with David Gaider the lead writer, so many people work on a video game to make it that final draft that we all play and certainly not everyone involved in the plotting process of the game came to the comic, but it could have been a whole fucking lot worse. Not that this was the worst thing I ever read — lord knows I’ve read some real crap — but this just wasn’t as fun as it should have been compared to the amazing games is spun from. Though you can’t write off a comic completely from just two issues, unless it really is serious crap. Dragon Age: The Silent Grove just might have the chops, I can see this turning into something exciting and worthy of a month’s wait.

Yeah — the story is so-so, at least for now. I really do think things are going to pick up with Issue 3. My biggest “problem” with the comic is that it’s digital only. I’m not holding that again the issues, it has nothing to do with my rating, but it would have been nice to get this in the shop at a full 22 pages. The comic as it is is only 14 pages long and that might factor into the shortcomings of the story. It’s hard to tell a grand story in half the pages. If Issues 1 and 2 have be combined then there would be no question that this would have rated higher, but they’re not, so it didn’t. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve some love. Anyone who is a fan of the games will probably dig the comic — it’s got Varric and Bianca and Isabela, complete with her boobs. Alistair needs to get his head out of his butt and be fun again, but who’s to say that won’t happen in a few issues?


Karyn Pinter has been writing for Comics Bulletin since 2008. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and was one of those kids who was raised by TV, babysat by the likes of James Bond, Mary Poppins and Darth Vader. In college she spent her days critically analyzing Dorothy’s need to befriend a lion, scarecrow and man of tin and writing papers on how truth, justice and the American way ultimately lead to Superman’s death.

Karyn gladly accepts bribes in the form of carnitas burritos and/or Catwoman paraphernalia.

 

Alexander FreedChad HardinDark HorseDavid GaiderDragon Age: The Silent GroveKaryn PinterMichael AtiyehMichael Heisler

Share On:
Tweet
WLG #398: Avengers Assemble and More!
ADVANCE TAG-TEAM REVIEW: Supurbia #1 (of 4)

About The Author

Karyn Pinter
Karyn Pinter

Karyn Pinter is a writer for Comics Bulletin

Related Posts

  • 3.0

    Alien: The Original Script #1 – This One’s For The Fans

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    August 7, 2020
  • Dark Horse Presents: THE ART OF ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA

    Ashley Hurst
    May 30, 2020

Latest Reviews

  • 4.5

    DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    January 22, 2021
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

    Daniel Gehen
    December 14, 2020
  • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

    Daniel Gehen
    December 3, 2020
  • 4.5

    TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    October 29, 2020
  • 4.5

    Micro Review: Commanders in Crisis #1

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    October 12, 2020
  • 3.0

    Review: GHOST WRITER Fights the Spectre of Unevenness

    Daniel Gehen
    September 3, 2020
  • 3.5

    Review: Strange Skies Over East Berlin

    Yavi Mohan
    August 11, 2020
  • DRAWING BLOOD: A Hyper-Stylized, Fictional Autobiography

    Ben Bishop, Brittany Peer, David Avallone, Drawing Blood, Kevin Eastman, Tomi Varga
    August 9, 2020
  • 3.0

    Alien: The Original Script #1 – This One’s For The Fans

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    August 7, 2020
  • Singles Going Steady: Why? Lettering!

    Daniel Gehen
    July 28, 2020
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders