THE KOBOLD’S CLAIM, from Paul Axel on Kickstarter, recounts a case of mistaken intentions when a classic fellowship of heroes happens upon a Kobold just minding his own business.
The Details
- Written by: Paul Axel
- Art by: Minerva Fox
- Colors by: Linda Scott Campbell
- Letters by: Justin Birch
- Cover art by: Minerva Fox
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $5.00 (digital pdf)
- Release date: February 2023 (estimated)
Is It Good?
THE KOBOLD’S CLAIM is a fast-paced, surprisingly entertaining take on classic D&D-style adventures with an ironic twist. Set in a typical fantasy kingdom, Paul Axel’s tale about an innocent Kobold who meets the wrong kind of heroes is filled with smart action, wit, and charm.
Axel’s script focuses on a lizard-like Kobold who pans for crystallized dragon’s blood on the plot of land he legally purchased. When a fellowship of heroes stumbles upon the camp, they falsely assume the Kobold killed and ate the human owner. Mayhem ensues.
Axel’s story works and works well because it does two things right. First, the ironic twist of turning the heroes into villains is introduced quickly and effectively. A less-experienced writer would dwell on the misunderstanding too long, which would drag the pacing to a crawl. Instead, Axel gets right to the point of the misunderstanding and sets the Kobold on a path to resolve the situation without wasting a single panel.
Second, the “fun and games” portion of the script, wherein the Kobold resolves his pesky problem, is tight, energetic, clever, and fun. The way the Kobold handles himself elevates the character through his competence and smarts to establish him as a force to be reckoned with. Axel sets it up such that you have no doubt the Kobold can handle himself, but you wind up rooting for him anyway because he deserves to win.
How’s the art? It’s fine, or at least good enough to tell the story. Fox and Campbell deliver serviceable, digital art. Some of the contours get lost in the mix, and a few backgrounds look like pattern fills, which is to be expected from basic digital art, but the quality is, again, good enough to tell the story.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a peaceful Spiring Day near a stream in the mountains of Fandor. A Kobold pans for a valuable resource, crystallized dragon’s blood, in the stream on the plot of land he purchased. He hopes to have the mining operation all set by the time his cousins arrive to help.
One day, the Kobold peacefully pans for more when a fellowship of adventurers steps forth from the nearby trees. The adventurers begin shouting insults and threats as they assume the camp belongs to a human, and the Kobold killed the owner to steal its claim. The Kobold tries to explain the situation, but the adventurers won’t listen to reason.
The adventurers lunge to attack, sending the Kobold into the woods in retreat… for now. We conclude the issue with taunts, traps, and a demonstration of power.
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Final Thoughts
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THE KOBOLD’S CLAIM is a smart, sharp, entertaining adventure fantasy with an ironic twist. The plot is well-structured, fast-paced, and energetic, and the art team gets the job done.
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