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Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons #1
Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons
You've got to--belch!--roll for initiative, Morty!
Two pop-culture juggernauts are teaming up and neither multiverse is prepared for what comes next!
When Morty sees a cute girl at school playing Dungeons & Dragons, he asks Rick to show him the ropes, only to discover that his grandfather is a veteran gamer. Next thing he knows, the entire family has been pulled into a campaign that escalates from virtual D&D simulations to alternate universes governed by the rules of the game. And as it turns out, Rick isn't the only one who knows his way around a d20.
#1 New York Times-bestselling fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), acclaimed comics writer Jim Zub (Dungeons & Dragons: Evil at Baldur's Gate, Skullkickers), and Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little (Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) bring you the comics crossover of the year! It's an irreverent, unexpected adventure sure to please fans of both franchises.
Collects the complete four issue miniseries.
Two pop-culture juggernauts are teaming up and neither multiverse is prepared for what comes next!
When Morty sees a cute girl at school playing Dungeons & Dragons, he asks Rick to show him the ropes, only to discover that his grandfather is a veteran gamer. Next thing he knows, the entire family has been pulled into a campaign that escalates from virtual D&D simulations to alternate universes governed by the rules of the game. And as it turns out, Rick isn't the only one who knows his way around a d20.
#1 New York Times-bestselling fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), acclaimed comics writer Jim Zub (Dungeons & Dragons: Evil at Baldur's Gate, Skullkickers), and Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little (Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) bring you the comics crossover of the year! It's an irreverent, unexpected adventure sure to please fans of both franchises.
Collects the complete four issue miniseries.
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2019
160 people are currently reading
2127 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Rothfuss
79 books242k followersIt all began when Pat Rothfuss was born to a marvelous set of parents. Throughout his formative years they encouraged him to do his best, gave him good advice, and were no doubt appropriately dismayed when he failed to live up to his full potential.
In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all his friends despite the fact that he had never so much as kissed a girl. He also role-played and wrote terrible stories about elves. He was pretty much a geek.
Most of Pat's adult life has been spent in the University Wisconsin Stevens Point. In 1991 he started college in order to pursue a career in chemical engineering, then he considered clinical psychology. In 1993 he quit pretending he knew what he wanted to do with his life, changed his major to "undecided," and proceeded to study whatever amused him. He also began writing a book....
For the next seven years Pat studied anthropology, philosophy, eastern religions, history, alchemy, parapsychology, literature, and writing. He studied six different martial arts, practiced improv comedy, learned how to pick locks, and became a skilled lover of women. He also began writing a satirical advice column which he continues to this day: The College Survivial Guide. Through all of this he continued to work on his novel.
In 2000 Pat went to grad school for English literature. Grad school sucked and Pat hated it. However, Pat learned that he loved to teach. He left in 2002 with his masters degree, shaking the dust from his feet and vowing never to return. During this period of time his novel was rejected by roughly every agent in the known universe.
Now Pat teaches half-time at his old school as an assistant-sub-lecturer. He is underpaid but generally left alone to do as he sees fit with his classes. He is advisor for the college feminists, the fencing club, and, oddly enough, a sorority. He still roll-plays occasionally, but now he does it in an extremely sophisticated, debonair way.
Through a series of lucky breaks, he has wound up with the best agent and editor imaginable, and the first book of his trilogy has been published under the title "The Name of the Wind."
Though it has only been out since April 2007, it has already been sold in 26 foreign countries and won several awards.
Pat has been described as "a rough, earthy iconoclast with a pipeline to the divine in everyone's subconscious." But honestly, that person was pretty drunk at the time, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt.
In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all his friends despite the fact that he had never so much as kissed a girl. He also role-played and wrote terrible stories about elves. He was pretty much a geek.
Most of Pat's adult life has been spent in the University Wisconsin Stevens Point. In 1991 he started college in order to pursue a career in chemical engineering, then he considered clinical psychology. In 1993 he quit pretending he knew what he wanted to do with his life, changed his major to "undecided," and proceeded to study whatever amused him. He also began writing a book....
For the next seven years Pat studied anthropology, philosophy, eastern religions, history, alchemy, parapsychology, literature, and writing. He studied six different martial arts, practiced improv comedy, learned how to pick locks, and became a skilled lover of women. He also began writing a satirical advice column which he continues to this day: The College Survivial Guide. Through all of this he continued to work on his novel.
In 2000 Pat went to grad school for English literature. Grad school sucked and Pat hated it. However, Pat learned that he loved to teach. He left in 2002 with his masters degree, shaking the dust from his feet and vowing never to return. During this period of time his novel was rejected by roughly every agent in the known universe.
Now Pat teaches half-time at his old school as an assistant-sub-lecturer. He is underpaid but generally left alone to do as he sees fit with his classes. He is advisor for the college feminists, the fencing club, and, oddly enough, a sorority. He still roll-plays occasionally, but now he does it in an extremely sophisticated, debonair way.
Through a series of lucky breaks, he has wound up with the best agent and editor imaginable, and the first book of his trilogy has been published under the title "The Name of the Wind."
Though it has only been out since April 2007, it has already been sold in 26 foreign countries and won several awards.
Pat has been described as "a rough, earthy iconoclast with a pipeline to the divine in everyone's subconscious." But honestly, that person was pretty drunk at the time, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
July 1, 2019
There are a couple of different avenues by which one might enter this story: 1) as a Rick and Morty fan; 2) as a D&D fan/player; 3) as a fan of both; or 4) via drunken Amazon roulette (note: I do not recommend this approach, as it’s far more likely that you will end up with a throw pillow featuring a weird picture of Leonardo DiCaprio in period dress that you will only want to sleep on if you are a time-displaced teenager from 1997 than this book).
I came in via #2. I was aware of Rick and Morty, of course, and have heard nothing but wonderful things, but have never actually watched it (which, admittedly, put me at a slight disadvantage at the outset of the story). I do, however, know me some D&D and am a fan of both Rothfuss and Zub (seemingly one of the nicest guys in comics), so I gave it a spin.
Over the first half of the book, all I could think was, “Geez…if you don’t know anything about D&D, particularly differences between editions, this is going to be like reading a pellucid explication of gender and the limits of language in The Left Hand of Darkness* written in Russian.” Even I, pretty well versed in D&D nuance, felt like things bogged down a bit here and there, and thought we might even be headed for *gasp* two-star territory.
Over the second half, however, while the in-jokes continued, the focus turned much more to the characters, and there were both humorous and heartbreaking moments The characters’ growth over a relatively short period of time didn’t feel forced in the slightest, and in the midst of gross-out humor, inside-baseball shoptalk, and flouting the conventions of typical fantasy fare, Rothfuss and Zub (with quality art from Troy Little) manage to tell an affecting and touching tale that’s both exciting and thought-provoking. Who’da thunk, under the conditions.
So, stick with it—it’s a rewarding read when all is said and done.
*No, I didn’t pull that out at random; that was actually my undergraduate capstone thesis, though it was written in incoherent English instead of Russian. This is why I work in marketing and business development instead of being a literary theorist.
I came in via #2. I was aware of Rick and Morty, of course, and have heard nothing but wonderful things, but have never actually watched it (which, admittedly, put me at a slight disadvantage at the outset of the story). I do, however, know me some D&D and am a fan of both Rothfuss and Zub (seemingly one of the nicest guys in comics), so I gave it a spin.
Over the first half of the book, all I could think was, “Geez…if you don’t know anything about D&D, particularly differences between editions, this is going to be like reading a pellucid explication of gender and the limits of language in The Left Hand of Darkness* written in Russian.” Even I, pretty well versed in D&D nuance, felt like things bogged down a bit here and there, and thought we might even be headed for *gasp* two-star territory.
Over the second half, however, while the in-jokes continued, the focus turned much more to the characters, and there were both humorous and heartbreaking moments The characters’ growth over a relatively short period of time didn’t feel forced in the slightest, and in the midst of gross-out humor, inside-baseball shoptalk, and flouting the conventions of typical fantasy fare, Rothfuss and Zub (with quality art from Troy Little) manage to tell an affecting and touching tale that’s both exciting and thought-provoking. Who’da thunk, under the conditions.
So, stick with it—it’s a rewarding read when all is said and done.
*No, I didn’t pull that out at random; that was actually my undergraduate capstone thesis, though it was written in incoherent English instead of Russian. This is why I work in marketing and business development instead of being a literary theorist.
February 9, 2020
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★ I did not know that this existed until I had a conversation with my friend Andrew and he mentioned it. I have yet to read anything by Patrick Rothfuss so I was excited for this as I love Rick and Morty. I also need to mention that D&D is not really a thing where I live and never was. I know it is important for many people but my knowledge of it is just through shows and books, I never played it.
★ The drawing was good and I really felt that I was watching an episode of the show but at the same time I realized that it works better as a show. There was a lot of dialogue bubbles and I prefer lighter things when I am reading comics. I think the idea was good and I would like to see it on TV one day!
★ The authors could capture the characters of Rick and Morty and the whole family! Rick is cooler and I think they were not fair to him in this comic as he is usually the smartest person in the room (or galaxy in his case!).
★ I still enjoyed this and I can recommend it for fans of D&D in the first place, especially if they like Rick and Morty!
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This was recommended by the funniest person I have met this year
★ I did not know that this existed until I had a conversation with my friend Andrew and he mentioned it. I have yet to read anything by Patrick Rothfuss so I was excited for this as I love Rick and Morty. I also need to mention that D&D is not really a thing where I live and never was. I know it is important for many people but my knowledge of it is just through shows and books, I never played it.
★ The drawing was good and I really felt that I was watching an episode of the show but at the same time I realized that it works better as a show. There was a lot of dialogue bubbles and I prefer lighter things when I am reading comics. I think the idea was good and I would like to see it on TV one day!
★ The authors could capture the characters of Rick and Morty and the whole family! Rick is cooler and I think they were not fair to him in this comic as he is usually the smartest person in the room (or galaxy in his case!).
★ I still enjoyed this and I can recommend it for fans of D&D in the first place, especially if they like Rick and Morty!
You can get more books from Book Depository
This was recommended by the funniest person I have met this year
September 27, 2021
Dungeons & Dragons è stato una delle mie passioni per quasi vent'anni, non ci gioco più da tempo ormai ma mi piace sempre ritornare a Krynn, nei Forgotten Realms, o tra le nebbie di Ravenloft, leggendo qualche fumetto o romanzo ispirato al gioco di ruolo fantasy per eccellenza.
Rick e Morty, serie tv animata per adulti sboccata, irriverente e nichilista, l'ho scoperta invece solo dopo averne letto per caso una recensione qualche mese fa, averne comprato ad un prezzo stracciato le prime tre stagioni in DVD, ed averle viste tutte nel giro di una settimana, ridendo a crepapelle ed innamorandomene perdutamente.
Quando ieri mi è caduto l'occhio su questo volume ed il suo seguito, durante un salto in libreria, ero titubante: di solito gli adattamenti a fumetti tratti da serie tv sono davvero terribili e non avevo mai letto nulla di Patrick Rothfuss, ma la serie di D&D della IDW scritta da Jim Zub, qui co-autore, non era niente male... e poi, per Illmater, ho comprato magliette e perfino mascherine di Rick e Morty, alla fine l'acquisto è scattato quasi inesorabile.
Sorpresa! La lettura si è rivelata nettamente superiore al previsto, con i due autori che hanno saputo mettere su carta, insieme ai bei disegni di Troy Little, il meglio dei due mondi, centrando perfettamente il carattere dei personaggi di Rick e Morty, questa miniserie potrebbe essere benissimo una coda di quattro episodi alla stagione due (e mentre leggevo sentivo davvero le voci italiane di Rick, Morty, Beth, Summer e Jerry nella mia testa, per non parlare della sigla alla fine di ogni capitolo), e quella che alla fine è l'essenza di Dungeons & Dragons: prendersi una pausa da tutto e divertirsi facendo finta di essere qualcun altro per un po'.
Il tutto raccontando una splendida avventura, sboccata, esilarante e commovente, con mille ed una citazione, attraverso tutte e cinque le edizioni del Primo GDR inventato da Gary Gygax e Dave Arneson, in una graphic novel che non dovrebbe mancare nella biblioteca di ogni appassionato.
Peccato che l'edizione italiana cartonata della Panini non sia proprio economica, e che il traduttore non abbia mai giocato o almeno letto un manuale italiano di D&D in vita sua: non siamo ai livelli dei Folletti (Goblin) e Pulciorsi (Bugbear) dei vecchi romanzi di Drizzt pubblicati in Italia anni fa dall'Armenia editore, ma gli adattamenti letterali di Gufiorsi (Owlbear), Bestie da Spostamento (Displacer Beast) e Missile Magico (Magic Missile) al posto dei classici e ormai consolidati Orsogufo, Pantera Distorcente e Dardo Incantato, mi hanno fatto davvero accapponare la pelle.
Fortunatamente i pregi sono stati comunque di gran lunga superiori ai difetti, la lettura è stata più che piacevole, la galleria finale con cover alternative e schede dei personaggi una vera ciliegina sulla torta, e posso ritenermi decisamente soddisfatto dell'acquisto.
E, se non mi becco una freccia in un ginocchio prima, mi toccherà decisamente leggere prima o poi anche qualche romanzo scritto da Rothfuss.
Peccato davvero per le traduzioni, cinque stelle mancate per un soffio.
July 26, 2019
Yes, this is what Patrick Rothfuss has been spending time on instead of writing the third book of the Kingkiller Chronicles. This is your standard Rick and Morty comic book, this one having the family playing Dungeons and Dragons. This is almost something of a primer, like Zub and Rothfuss were trying to introduce Rick & Morty fans to the joys of D&D.
April 26, 2019
I had high expectations and they were totally met on every level. This was a blast overall. Fun, extremely well-done, well-illustrated, and with the kind of heart-twisting I expect from Rothfuss.
I'm familiar enough with DnD that I got a lot of the references (some still went right by me), but my friend who isn't yet far down the nerd road borrowed this as soon as I was done, wolfed it down, and still thought it was great. So that's really saying something.
I hope they do more of these!
I'm familiar enough with DnD that I got a lot of the references (some still went right by me), but my friend who isn't yet far down the nerd road borrowed this as soon as I was done, wolfed it down, and still thought it was great. So that's really saying something.
I hope they do more of these!
January 15, 2024
This was so much fun!
My friend Sean had a great approach to his review, citing how different fans might approach this work - a RandM fan or one of D&D or both or neither.
This crossover event is a big tent under which a variety of fans can have a good time. I have a lengthy AD&D history, going back to 1e days but not much since. I've watched dozens of Rick and Morty episodes in the past few years so I fit into the "both" category and must say that I liked it a lot.
Writers Patrick Rothfuss and -
- Hey! This was fun and all but aren't you supposed to be working on something else?
Jim Zub lay down a smoking hot groove of WUBBA LUBBA DUB DUB for illustrator Troy Little to riff on. The gang are clearly D&D aficionados and so their blending of the two stories was hilarious.
The characterization is spot on, particularly Jerry but I thought Rick's writing was a little weak.
All in all, a tasty bit of absurdity.
My friend Sean had a great approach to his review, citing how different fans might approach this work - a RandM fan or one of D&D or both or neither.
This crossover event is a big tent under which a variety of fans can have a good time. I have a lengthy AD&D history, going back to 1e days but not much since. I've watched dozens of Rick and Morty episodes in the past few years so I fit into the "both" category and must say that I liked it a lot.
Writers Patrick Rothfuss and -
- Hey! This was fun and all but aren't you supposed to be working on something else?
Jim Zub lay down a smoking hot groove of WUBBA LUBBA DUB DUB for illustrator Troy Little to riff on. The gang are clearly D&D aficionados and so their blending of the two stories was hilarious.
The characterization is spot on, particularly Jerry but I thought Rick's writing was a little weak.
All in all, a tasty bit of absurdity.
March 12, 2019
This is an odd one. The very first half is typically crass and Rick & Morty-ish, but the second feels like Patrick Rothfuss took over complete control and penned a heartfelt love letter to the transformative power of D&D. Characters learn and grow—even Rick—which feels rather off-brand. If you got "all the feels" from Critical Role and The Adventure Zone's later arcs, you'll probably dig it.
July 21, 2019
First up, I know my daughter would be pissed to find out Patrick Rothfuss took the time to write this instead of the next brick in his "Wind in the Willows" series, or whatever it is called. Especially since this is nothing special. And actually, it was pretty bad until Jerry, of all people, shows up to save the day in the final chapters.
People who have actually played Dungeons and Dragons will probably get more out of this, as most of the cameos and references went over my head.
People who have actually played Dungeons and Dragons will probably get more out of this, as most of the cameos and references went over my head.
May 26, 2019
THIS. WAS. SO. FUN.
This was one of my first graphic novels, I've read the first two compendiums of The Walking Dead but it's probably been 8 or 9 years since then. I happened to see this while browsing through Barnes & Noble and absolutely had to have it! Not only do I love Rick and Morty but I also love Patrick Rothfuss! (even though weirdly I haven't read his books yet? haha I think it's because I also follow him on Twitter and he's hilarious). Anyways, I saw the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition that has an introduction from Rothfuss plus a full sized removable poster! And the cover is a shiny pretty gold and like, I just couldn't say no.
In terms of Rick and Morty all of the character arcs were entirely on point and I loved it so much. Rick was drunk and crazy as ever, plus there was a considerable amount of time he spent brooding and moping around and it was just too funny. Morty was his laughable self and always found himself getting into some kind of trouble because of Rick. This story paired up with Dungeons and Dragons was AMAZING. I can't speak to how well D&D was portrayed because I've never played it, but I thought it was a good story! I know some of the basics and it seemed pretty on par with what I'm familiar with.
The artwork in this graphic novel was NEXT LEVEL. Seriously I was so impressed. It took me forever to finish this because I was so stuck on every panel looking at the beautiful artwork. It also helped that there was a full size pull out poster that I plan on hanging up in new library when I move in June. And throughout the novel there was full page artwork by several different artists was nothing short of STUNNING. I want them all in giant posters!
I 100% plan on getting the rest of the Rick and Morty graphic novels and hope to expand into others as well! I've heard Saga is good, I might look into those too!
This was one of my first graphic novels, I've read the first two compendiums of The Walking Dead but it's probably been 8 or 9 years since then. I happened to see this while browsing through Barnes & Noble and absolutely had to have it! Not only do I love Rick and Morty but I also love Patrick Rothfuss! (even though weirdly I haven't read his books yet? haha I think it's because I also follow him on Twitter and he's hilarious). Anyways, I saw the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition that has an introduction from Rothfuss plus a full sized removable poster! And the cover is a shiny pretty gold and like, I just couldn't say no.
In terms of Rick and Morty all of the character arcs were entirely on point and I loved it so much. Rick was drunk and crazy as ever, plus there was a considerable amount of time he spent brooding and moping around and it was just too funny. Morty was his laughable self and always found himself getting into some kind of trouble because of Rick. This story paired up with Dungeons and Dragons was AMAZING. I can't speak to how well D&D was portrayed because I've never played it, but I thought it was a good story! I know some of the basics and it seemed pretty on par with what I'm familiar with.
The artwork in this graphic novel was NEXT LEVEL. Seriously I was so impressed. It took me forever to finish this because I was so stuck on every panel looking at the beautiful artwork. It also helped that there was a full size pull out poster that I plan on hanging up in new library when I move in June. And throughout the novel there was full page artwork by several different artists was nothing short of STUNNING. I want them all in giant posters!
I 100% plan on getting the rest of the Rick and Morty graphic novels and hope to expand into others as well! I've heard Saga is good, I might look into those too!
May 19, 2019
This was a fun idea, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more if I knew anything about D&D beyond The Adventure Zone. It seemed to be structured more for people who knew a lot of the background of the game and the differences between the different versions, although there were still some funny parts for the rest of us too. If you're not super into D&D you could probably skip this, but it's still a decent read.
Some highlights:
Well honestly this is more of a lowlight, but if I had to see it then so do you ;)
Go Summer!
One thing I did enjoy about this was that it dragged Rick sooo much. I mean, I love him but he's also the worst sooo
Some highlights:
Well honestly this is more of a lowlight, but if I had to see it then so do you ;)
Go Summer!
One thing I did enjoy about this was that it dragged Rick sooo much. I mean, I love him but he's also the worst sooo
February 8, 2019
This was fun. A short one, I believe Rothfuss and Zub would have more to say on this topic, but better short than dull. Well, Morty needs to learn D & D to pursue some love interest, so grandpa Rick comes in help... Of course in his own egoistic and haughty way, dragging the whole family along to the adventure beyond imagination. And that's fun. And intense. Maybe too much intense, like trying hard to put every idea, joke, twist and action on the paper. Anyway, the end is nice and it's relaxing reading packed with references, jokes and fun all the way.
February 23, 2024
7'5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Patrick Rothfuss, escritor de "El nombre del viento", guioniza junto a Jim Zub las aventuras de Rick & Morty en el universo de Dragones y mazmorras.
Gracias al dibujo de Troy Little y color de Leonardo Ito es como ver un episodio de televisión.
Un imprescindible para fans de la serie y el juego de rol. Con una edición en tapa dura que trae un buen extra de portadas alternativas y las fichas de los personajes con su rol y atributos de Dungeons & dragons.
Patrick Rothfuss, escritor de "El nombre del viento", guioniza junto a Jim Zub las aventuras de Rick & Morty en el universo de Dragones y mazmorras.
Gracias al dibujo de Troy Little y color de Leonardo Ito es como ver un episodio de televisión.
Un imprescindible para fans de la serie y el juego de rol. Con una edición en tapa dura que trae un buen extra de portadas alternativas y las fichas de los personajes con su rol y atributos de Dungeons & dragons.
November 9, 2020
:)))))
June 16, 2019
This was underwhelming. A couple of giggles in places, but mostly getting through this (very short) comic felt like a chore. The story is incoherent and doesn’t seem to have a point. There is no plot to speak of.
November 11, 2020
Tantos chistes del mundillo que da miedo.
Es genial como historia de rick y morty porque los personajes conservan toda la esencia, es genial como historia de DyD y es puto oro como parodia. De verdad, 10.000/10
Es genial como historia de rick y morty porque los personajes conservan toda la esencia, es genial como historia de DyD y es puto oro como parodia. De verdad, 10.000/10
June 11, 2021
This mostly felt like a series of "Dungeons and Dragons is a thing, and referencing things about it equals funny" kind of stuff. I don't have much D&D experience, but I know a Gelatinous Cube when I see one.
The real problem, though, is that fictional D&D campaigns are fiction on top of fiction, and that rarely works.
In a D&D game, there's narrative, there are parameters, and the dungeon master sets everything up, right? Then there are dice rolls that determine certain things, so there's an element of luck, an element of skill, and an element of narrative.
In a fictional D&D game, that is, a D&D game played by fictional characters, there are dice rolls of a sort, but they don't matter because the numbers that come up will be whatever the storyteller needs them to be for the sake of the narrative. In fact, in this comic, Rick "cheats" by re-rolling a lousy stat. This would be unethical D&D play, for sure, and it kills the fun, BUT in a fictional game where the outcome is determined by the storyteller, there is no ethical question because the storyteller decided what Rick's first roll would be. His first roll was set before he even picked up the dice. In real life, when you re-roll, you're taking the randomness out of the random element. In fictional narrative, there's no such thing as a random element, so a re-roll is no more or less random than a single roll, and is no more or less random than 10,000 re-rolls. The storyteller could just decide that no matter what was rolled, no matter how many times, it'd be a 2.
It's the same problem I have with the fictional poker games that James Bond movies love so much. There is absolutely no randomness or chance to a fictional poker game. When you remove that, what's the point? All I'm seeing is what the writer of the movie wanted to happen.
Now, you're probably saying, "Pete, every written narrative works like this." And you're right, they all work like this. But usually, part of the work of writing is to obscure yourself as the writer. If someone is reading your book and thinking, "A person wrote this, and here are the techniques they used, and here's how they're laying in this story element for later..." then you probably haven't created a very enjoyable book.
Creating fictions within fictions, especially fictions that rely on randomness and chance, brings the writer to the forefront. It's harder to think of what's happening as real and to be invested in it.
I say this "rarely" works because sometimes, it does. Usually, when it does, it's because the story does one of a couple things:
1. You are invested enough in the characters that you have a strongly desired outcome. You want to see them succeed or fail or what have you. This comic doesn't work that way because Rick and Morty doesn't really work that way, but also because the characters are fundamentally changed for this story. Jerry is competent! I'm not invested in alternate universe Jerry, though.
2. The game or story within the story is a big, clear metaphor for something else that you care about. So you don't really care about the game, you care about the larger issue, and the outcome of the game says something about the larger issue. Again, Rocky isn't really about him winning the fight or going the distance. It's about the idea that someone can live an unremarkable life but have their moment of success. You want him to succeed, but not because you care about Rocky being the champ, because you care about the idea that someone who considers himself a loser might not be a total loser. We've all experienced that in one way or another, so it's good to see someone else work through it.
R&M&D&D just didn't deliver on this.
Plus, Rick was basically sidelined for the entirety. The focus character is Jerry. A Jerry-centric story is like a Kenneth-centric episode of 30 Rock. Who wants that?
The real problem, though, is that fictional D&D campaigns are fiction on top of fiction, and that rarely works.
In a D&D game, there's narrative, there are parameters, and the dungeon master sets everything up, right? Then there are dice rolls that determine certain things, so there's an element of luck, an element of skill, and an element of narrative.
In a fictional D&D game, that is, a D&D game played by fictional characters, there are dice rolls of a sort, but they don't matter because the numbers that come up will be whatever the storyteller needs them to be for the sake of the narrative. In fact, in this comic, Rick "cheats" by re-rolling a lousy stat. This would be unethical D&D play, for sure, and it kills the fun, BUT in a fictional game where the outcome is determined by the storyteller, there is no ethical question because the storyteller decided what Rick's first roll would be. His first roll was set before he even picked up the dice. In real life, when you re-roll, you're taking the randomness out of the random element. In fictional narrative, there's no such thing as a random element, so a re-roll is no more or less random than a single roll, and is no more or less random than 10,000 re-rolls. The storyteller could just decide that no matter what was rolled, no matter how many times, it'd be a 2.
It's the same problem I have with the fictional poker games that James Bond movies love so much. There is absolutely no randomness or chance to a fictional poker game. When you remove that, what's the point? All I'm seeing is what the writer of the movie wanted to happen.
Now, you're probably saying, "Pete, every written narrative works like this." And you're right, they all work like this. But usually, part of the work of writing is to obscure yourself as the writer. If someone is reading your book and thinking, "A person wrote this, and here are the techniques they used, and here's how they're laying in this story element for later..." then you probably haven't created a very enjoyable book.
Creating fictions within fictions, especially fictions that rely on randomness and chance, brings the writer to the forefront. It's harder to think of what's happening as real and to be invested in it.
I say this "rarely" works because sometimes, it does. Usually, when it does, it's because the story does one of a couple things:
1. You are invested enough in the characters that you have a strongly desired outcome. You want to see them succeed or fail or what have you. This comic doesn't work that way because Rick and Morty doesn't really work that way, but also because the characters are fundamentally changed for this story. Jerry is competent! I'm not invested in alternate universe Jerry, though.
2. The game or story within the story is a big, clear metaphor for something else that you care about. So you don't really care about the game, you care about the larger issue, and the outcome of the game says something about the larger issue. Again, Rocky isn't really about him winning the fight or going the distance. It's about the idea that someone can live an unremarkable life but have their moment of success. You want him to succeed, but not because you care about Rocky being the champ, because you care about the idea that someone who considers himself a loser might not be a total loser. We've all experienced that in one way or another, so it's good to see someone else work through it.
R&M&D&D just didn't deliver on this.
Plus, Rick was basically sidelined for the entirety. The focus character is Jerry. A Jerry-centric story is like a Kenneth-centric episode of 30 Rock. Who wants that?
March 13, 2019
Warning: If you haven't ever played D&D or any other RPG game you probably won't enjoy this as you should, even if you're a Rick and Morty fan.
The tropes of Rick and Morty are still there - Morty needs to learn how to play D&D to amaze a girl he's into and Grandpa Rick just happens to be a hardcore D&D player. To show him the ropes Rick will take Morty and the rest of the family to a dimension which is like a world of D&D. Somehow Rick gets screwed by the Gamemaster and ends up as lame gnome bard or something while rest of the family are kickass heroes, especially Jerry as a wise and charismatic Conjurer. And another crazy adventure can begin!
This is a huge love letter/homage/whatever to D&D. Bunch of tropes, clichés and jokes but it works really well and the story is entertaining. Art is in line with the show's design and I really liked the vast collection of alternative covers especially those designed as character sheets and those drawn by Tess Fowler.
The tropes of Rick and Morty are still there - Morty needs to learn how to play D&D to amaze a girl he's into and Grandpa Rick just happens to be a hardcore D&D player. To show him the ropes Rick will take Morty and the rest of the family to a dimension which is like a world of D&D. Somehow Rick gets screwed by the Gamemaster and ends up as lame gnome bard or something while rest of the family are kickass heroes, especially Jerry as a wise and charismatic Conjurer. And another crazy adventure can begin!
This is a huge love letter/homage/whatever to D&D. Bunch of tropes, clichés and jokes but it works really well and the story is entertaining. Art is in line with the show's design and I really liked the vast collection of alternative covers especially those designed as character sheets and those drawn by Tess Fowler.
January 6, 2020
Maintains the accuracy of Dungeons and Dragons and keeps it funny as you would expect from Rick and Morty.
Very worth the read if you enjoy the show or play the game.
Very worth the read if you enjoy the show or play the game.
March 5, 2021
Enjoyed this a lot. The author really knew their D&D, good story and use of D&D versions differences. Recommended for Rick and Morty fans and/or D&D fans.
May 24, 2019
Fun little excursion that got better as it went along. Nice references to The Adventure Zone and many other gaming groups. Rothfuss did a good job capturing the voices of the characters. It was easy to hear them talk and the dialogue made sense for everyone.
Art was decent. Some pages weren’t so hot. A surprising amount of misspellings.
Overall, a worthy read.
3.5 / 5
Art was decent. Some pages weren’t so hot. A surprising amount of misspellings.
Overall, a worthy read.
3.5 / 5
November 16, 2020
LOOOOOOOOOOL
Con el resto de cómics de Rick y Morty, si bien me habían parecido entretenidos, no sentía que hubiesen sabido captar la esencia de la serie, los diálogos de la serie de televisión me parecía que estaban a años luz. Sin embargo, con este, lo he FLIPADO. Qué risas, que locura, y qué frikismo.
Demasiado para el body. Wubba lubba dub dub.
Con el resto de cómics de Rick y Morty, si bien me habían parecido entretenidos, no sentía que hubiesen sabido captar la esencia de la serie, los diálogos de la serie de televisión me parecía que estaban a años luz. Sin embargo, con este, lo he FLIPADO. Qué risas, que locura, y qué frikismo.
Demasiado para el body. Wubba lubba dub dub.
March 17, 2025
9/10
Jakiś jełop postanowił sobie losowo złapać esencje postaci z ricka i morty'ego jak i całego dnd i forgotten realms i zrobił to wspaniale. To list miłosny do wszystkich kochających paper rpgi i ja to szanuje
Jakiś jełop postanowił sobie losowo złapać esencje postaci z ricka i morty'ego jak i całego dnd i forgotten realms i zrobił to wspaniale. To list miłosny do wszystkich kochających paper rpgi i ja to szanuje
February 7, 2019
loved it.
March 12, 2019
Enough side twaddle. Back to your main series please sir.
November 4, 2020
B-R-U-T-A-L
Como la peli de Futurama, pero de Rick y Morty con la salvedad de que esto sí que se basa en D&D de verdad.
Más de una de las situaciones se me han dao jugando y hay chistes hechos para los que saben jugar, aunque no haga falta saber para pillarlos. Si te juegas a D&D y te gusta Rick y Morty es lectura obligada.
Gran detalle que aparezcan las fichas de los personajes para que puedas jugarlos si quieres 👌🏾
Como la peli de Futurama, pero de Rick y Morty con la salvedad de que esto sí que se basa en D&D de verdad.
Más de una de las situaciones se me han dao jugando y hay chistes hechos para los que saben jugar, aunque no haga falta saber para pillarlos. Si te juegas a D&D y te gusta Rick y Morty es lectura obligada.
Gran detalle que aparezcan las fichas de los personajes para que puedas jugarlos si quieres 👌🏾
September 1, 2021
2,5/5. I was expecting way more out of this one! Not a huge Rick and Morty fan, but I like the D&D universe enough and when I saw that it was written by Pat Rothfuss himself then I thought it was worth a shot. Well... not that much. It was okay, but not really good. The adventure, the humor, the style, there isn't anything that I find really great about it.
September 25, 2021
- Patrick Rothfuss
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Rick & Morty
What more can you ask for? And on top: this was really really good and did never felt like a cashgrab to popularize one of those franchises (because both are already well famous).
What I liked most is that they introduce the whole game, mechanics, classes, terms and easter eggs in a lovely and thrilling way! Perfect for Newbies and also for Veterans.
Great Artworks too and as a bonus you get player sheets already filled out from the characters rick, morty and the whole Family Play in this comic.
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Rick & Morty
What more can you ask for? And on top: this was really really good and did never felt like a cashgrab to popularize one of those franchises (because both are already well famous).
What I liked most is that they introduce the whole game, mechanics, classes, terms and easter eggs in a lovely and thrilling way! Perfect for Newbies and also for Veterans.
Great Artworks too and as a bonus you get player sheets already filled out from the characters rick, morty and the whole Family Play in this comic.
April 16, 2022
Pensaba que no me iba a gustar porque la serie de Rick y Morty no me gusta demasiado... Pero nada de lo que escriba Patrick Rothfuss puede ser malo 😂 agradezco muchísimo que haya quitado los típicos chistes de eructos/ pedos etc de la serie
June 23, 2020
I haven't played D&D in aaaaaages so I really really enjoyed this!
August 1, 2019
That´s a little meta even for us, isn´t it?
Smál jsem co stránku. No, spíše co okénko, co hlášku, co (meta)narážku, co vizuální gag. Přesto jsem, ne snad vyloženě zklamán, ale rozčarován. Pokud spojíte Ricka a Mortyho, licenci D&D a autora Rothfussova formátu, tak bych přeci jen čekal něco více než "pouhou" řachandu plnou nápadů. Největší zádrhel je, že nejde o čtyř sešitový příběh, ale o čtyři samostatné příběhy (teoreticky volně propojené, ale fungují každý sám o sobě). A že se sice neopakuje "ten samý průběh/vtip dokola", ovšem zároveň nejsou ty příběhy od sebe zase až tak rozlišitelné (nad rámec, co sešit to další člen Smithovic famílie).
Každopádně, naštěstí, nejde o komiks toho druhu, kdy se pouze parazituje na slavných značkách, ale o dílo, které samo o sobě obstojí; a to dokonce i když vám ani jeden ze tří výše zmíněných taháků nic neříká. Pozitivní je, že se dokonce najde prostor i pro charaktery, emoce a vývoj, což by jeden u "merchandisingu" nečekal. Navíc první a třetí sešit by snesly převedení do plnohodnotné epizody seriálu; a nikterak by se kvalitou neztratily.
Smál jsem co stránku. No, spíše co okénko, co hlášku, co (meta)narážku, co vizuální gag. Přesto jsem, ne snad vyloženě zklamán, ale rozčarován. Pokud spojíte Ricka a Mortyho, licenci D&D a autora Rothfussova formátu, tak bych přeci jen čekal něco více než "pouhou" řachandu plnou nápadů. Největší zádrhel je, že nejde o čtyř sešitový příběh, ale o čtyři samostatné příběhy (teoreticky volně propojené, ale fungují každý sám o sobě). A že se sice neopakuje "ten samý průběh/vtip dokola", ovšem zároveň nejsou ty příběhy od sebe zase až tak rozlišitelné (nad rámec, co sešit to další člen Smithovic famílie).
Každopádně, naštěstí, nejde o komiks toho druhu, kdy se pouze parazituje na slavných značkách, ale o dílo, které samo o sobě obstojí; a to dokonce i když vám ani jeden ze tří výše zmíněných taháků nic neříká. Pozitivní je, že se dokonce najde prostor i pro charaktery, emoce a vývoj, což by jeden u "merchandisingu" nečekal. Navíc první a třetí sešit by snesly převedení do plnohodnotné epizody seriálu; a nikterak by se kvalitou neztratily.
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