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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 00:49:02
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Sirius is going to love this. :)
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0503/19/devilsduejune.htm
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 03:54:55
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Sweet mother of Selūne! Why oh why do we have to give him yet more air-time?!? 
Oh, and I want someone to explain this to me:
quote:
Deep beneath the Earth's surface lies the Underdark
Beneath the Earth's surface? That's news to me, and to a lot of geologists, I'm sure! 
As for it being the Holy Grail... I'd far rather see the old AD&D and FR titles revived. If I get this comic, it will only be for completeness of my collection. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Melfius
Senior Scribe
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 04:12:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Sweet mother of Selūne! Why oh why do we have to give him yet more air-time?!?
I fully agree. One of the main drawbacks of WotC is their need to hold back authors to make room for RAS. I'm not saying he isn't good, far from it. I think he is an excellent author. But WotC is to tight-fisted with the purse-strings. So many excellent characters have been shown the spotlight, then the door after one trilogy. Yet they keep pumping out more Drizzt books, all in the name of money.
Yes, Drizzt books sell, and sell well. But so would other books if given a chance. It just really bugs me that I can get so interested in a character only to have him/her disappear into the past when their trilogy is done.
Now, I admit there are some exceptions. Arilyn and Danilo got a few books. So has Elminster. But not the one-per-year deal that Drizzt is getting.
Or am I wrong? |
Melfius, Pixie-Priest of Puck - Head Chef, The Faerie Kitchen, Candlekeep Inn
"What's in his pockets, besides me?"
Read a tale of my earlier days! - Happiness Comes in Small Packages |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 05:01:06
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No, I fully agree. Overall, I have enjoyed the Drizzt books, though his whining grates on me. But there's a lot of other authors out there that should get a shot, too.
As I've said more than once before: even Drizzt was a brand-new character once. We should see more new characters and more of existing ones, and less Drizzt. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 05:49:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Sweet mother of Selūne! Why oh why do we have to give him yet more air-time?!?
Air-Time? Is the plans for a Drizzt television series on again? 
quote:
Beneath the Earth's surface? That's news to me, and to a lot of geologists, I'm sure!
Yeah, why isn't ELF dealing with all the dangers the Underdark is posing to my environment?
quote:
As for it being the Holy Grail... I'd far rather see the old AD&D and FR titles revived. If I get this comic, it will only be for completeness of my collection.
I'm too far removed from my days of reading comics to know if this statement is just minor hyperbole or major hyperbole. I do know that the art previews found at the link didn't impress me that much. Regardless of how I feel about the character, I always enjoy seeing good fantasy art. To me, Todd Lockwood's covers were much better than the art shown here in these two previews. |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 05:54:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Melfius
Yes, Drizzt books sell, and sell well. But so would other books if given a chance.
Do we know that? I don't know of any site that keeps figures on book sales.  However, I do know the last Drizzt book made the NY Times list for best sellers. In fact, it came in at Number Two if I recall on its' debut week. I know of no other recent FR novel that has come that close to selling well. The only ones that might have are the WOTSQ series, but then again, look who's name is on the front of the cover.
quote:
It just really bugs me that I can get so interested in a character only to have him/her disappear into the past when their trilogy is done.
Which ones are you referring to?
quote:
Now, I admit there are some exceptions. Arilyn and Danilo got a few books. So has Elminster. But not the one-per-year deal that Drizzt is getting.
When other characters begin to sell like Drizzt and his band of reknown (DAHBOR), they will then get the same treatment. Until then, I can't blame WOTC for wanting to milk every last copper out of fans who will buy Drizzt underoos if they were marketed. |
Edited by - SiriusBlack on 27 Mar 2005 06:03:03 |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 06:02:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
No, I fully agree. Overall, I have enjoyed the Drizzt books, though his whining grates on me. But there's a lot of other authors out there that should get a shot, too.
When it comes to future characters that might have a chance at Drizzt like success, the only current one that comes to mind is Erevis Cale. Just by my own gauge on reactions on various message boards, many readers seem to like this character.
However, and this is again just a personal opinion, I don't think Cale is going to even come close to the Drizzt level of success or fan demand. This belief is no slight to Paul Kemp. I feel in Cale he has written so far a fascinating, three-dimensional character for adult readers.
Yet, the key word there for me is adult readers. Cale is a dark figure with a dark past. To me, he's much more appealing to adults that like characters with such complexity. But, in doing so, Cale has some disadvantages compared to a certain popular character. He's not a member of a cool race that every player wishes to play. He's not wielding cool scimitars that every person wishes to buy replicas of. Cale might be popular, but unless he starts appealing to a more general audience, I don't see him ever coming close to Drizzt's popularity.
And again, this is all just one scribe's opinion. No disrespect to any reader, author, etc. |
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Mareka
Learned Scribe
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 11:10:35
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quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
When other characters begin to sell like Drizzt and his band of reknown (DAHBOR), they will then get the same treatment. Until then, I can't blame WOTC for wanting to milk every last copper out of fans who will buy Drizzt underoos if they were marketed.
Sshhh. Don't give them any ideas. |
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Chosen of Bane
Senior Scribe
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 15:31:32
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quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
However, and this is again just a personal opinion, I don't think Cale is going to even come close to the Drizzt level of success or fan demand. This belief is no slight to Paul Kemp. I feel in Cale he has written so far a fascinating, three-dimensional character for adult readers.
Yet, the key word there for me is adult readers.
I couldn't agree more with this statement.
I don't think the Drizzt novels and the rest of the realms novels have the same target audience. Drizzt tends to attract a younger crowd and non-realms fans, other realms novels have trouble getting the same audience. And I agree, Cale's "darkside" will prevent him from acheiving the level of widespread success as Drizzt.
However, I don't have the same problem with the continuous stream of Drizzt novels that other scribes seem to. I read them. They're not my favorite realms novels but I enjoy them. I guess I am lucky in that I have never really run into a fan-boy. Nobody has ever tried to play a Drow in my games so I don't have to deal with that side of Drizzt mania.
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2005 : 18:51:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Mareka
Sshhh. Don't give them any ideas.
What? You mean your kids don't have their Drizzt underoos yet?  |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 19:30:45
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For those FR fans interested in this comic, I see this vendor has provided some details on pricing.
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 05:04:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Melfius
Now, I admit there are some exceptions. Arilyn and Danilo got a few books. So has Elminster. But not the one-per-year deal that Drizzt is getting.
Just when I thought I'd get through a day without cursing Wizards you had to bring up Arilyn and Danilo. :) |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 23:30:40
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The good thing that I would bring up is that if the sales are good for this one then it will open the door for original Forgotten Realms material, as I beleive they mentioned in the article discussing the comic's release.
So if seeing Drizzt a few more times is the price to pay for a new author getting a shot at a new FR title, hey, let them try their hands. Besides, it might be interesting just to see the artists take on some characters that we have become very familiar with:
Jarlaxle, all the Baenre children, Zaknafein, and all the D&D staple creatures that showed up in the series.
Remember the ending of Life of Brian:
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2005 : 05:19:13
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Besides, it might be interesting just to see the artists take on some characters that we have become very familiar with:
Yes, I'm curious to see the art. Not sure I'll pay for an issue to see the art. But, I'll gladly look at any promotional images if they want to convince me I should purchase the comic. 
quote:
Remember the ending of Life of Brian:
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
Good point. Remember the bright light at the end of the tunnel usually is a train.
SB |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2005 : 17:02:42
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
The good thing that I would bring up is that if the sales are good for this one then it will open the door for original Forgotten Realms material, as I beleive they mentioned in the article discussing the comic's release.
That's a very valid point. Every line has a flagship, and Drizzt just happens to be the most popular character in the Realms. If Drizzt can open the door for more Realms material, then we all win. |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2005 : 17:21:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
That's a very valid point. Every line has a flagship, and Drizzt just happens to be the most popular character in the Realms. If Drizzt can open the door for more Realms material, then we all win.
Yes, it's like a chain what you just described. Someone that likes the Drizzt books sees R.A. Salvatore's name on the cover of the WOTSQ series. So, this Drizzt fan picks up one or more novels from that series. She/He likes one of the novels in the WOTSQ series so they decide to see what else this author has written in the Realms. And thus we have a new convert to FR fiction beyond Drizzt.
Paul Kemp even talks in a recent blog entry about his desire to see some of the fans from the WOTSQ give his Cale novels a chance.
So, perhaps the Drizzt comic will have the same effect as I outlined above. And thus, we have the final proof, if a butterfly flaps its wings in China, someone will soon purchase an FR novel. |
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khorne
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1073 Posts |
Posted - 27 May 2005 : 18:08:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Sirius is going to love this. :)
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0503/19/devilsduejune.htm
By the avatars of Kaela Mensha Khaine............................YES!!!! WOHOHOHOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
If I were a ranger, I would pick NDA for my favorite enemy |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 May 2005 : 23:40:01
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quote:
Originally posted by khorne
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
Sirius is going to love this. :)
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0503/19/devilsduejune.htm
By the avatars of Kaela Mensha Khaine............................YES!!!! WOHOHOHOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've always hated the name Kaela Mensha Khaine... It sounds cool, but breaking up the syllables the way the did bugs me. Until I saw the name written down (I had a roomie who was an eldar junkie), I thought it was Kaelamen Shakhaine, which looks a lot cooler.
Now, to stay on topic... I'd temporarily managed to block the existence of this comic out of my brain. I was happier that way. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2005 : 03:12:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always hated the name Kaela Mensha Khaine... It sounds cool, but breaking up the syllables the way the did bugs me. Until I saw the name written down (I had a roomie who was an eldar junkie), I thought it was Kaelamen Shakhaine, which looks a lot cooler.
Hehe... I had similar thoughts, but I was looking at it more like "Kaelamensha Khaine".
quote:
Now, to stay on topic... I'd temporarily managed to block the existence of this comic out of my brain. I was happier that way.
Do you personally know any Drizzt fans who are excited about this comic Wooly?
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2005 : 03:33:36
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I've always hated the name Kaela Mensha Khaine... It sounds cool, but breaking up the syllables the way the did bugs me. Until I saw the name written down (I had a roomie who was an eldar junkie), I thought it was Kaelamen Shakhaine, which looks a lot cooler.
Hehe... I had similar thoughts, but I was looking at it more like "Kaelamensha Khaine".
quote:
Now, to stay on topic... I'd temporarily managed to block the existence of this comic out of my brain. I was happier that way.
Do you personally know any Drizzt fans who are excited about this comic Wooly?
Nope, not at all. Most people I know who have read the Drizzt books are either like me (No! Drizzt has enough air-time already!), or aren't fans enough to want to read the comic, too.
Speaking of Drizzt fans... When I was in B&N today, I heard a couple guys talking about Drizzt. So I chatted with them. It turns out that both of them were originally fans, but got tired of seeing him over and over, and the whining... Such a familiar tale that was! |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2005 : 03:45:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Speaking of Drizzt fans... When I was in B&N today, I heard a couple guys talking about Drizzt. So I chatted with them. It turns out that both of them were originally fans, but got tired of seeing him over and over, and the whining... Such a familiar tale that was!
I'll be curious to see if my library gets the comic. They have a decent sized graphic novel section. Thus, I suppose it's possible. And while they don't have a plethora of Salvatore novels, the library does have his last Drizzt trilogy in hardback. |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 02:36:56
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Do you personally know any Drizzt fans who are excited about this comic Wooly?
I know I'm not looking forward to it. Even if it's a good comic and does well, it opens the doors to disaster. I know how the comic industry works. I know particularly well how LICENSED comic book titles gets handles.
Now matter how good Forgotten Realms comics are today, in 1-2 years, if they're still publishing, they're going to have some of the worst artists on the book (to make the comic a better cash cow) and ever worse authors writing storylines on it. See, Wizards of the Coast gets there royalities no matter what. But it's Devil Due's that has to pay the artist, it's Devil Due's that have to give the artist his cut. Well all is said and done, once they've got a stable fanbase, they'll immidately start to cut corners and WOTC won't care since at any time, just like every licensed comic, they can disavow it.
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"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 03:04:14
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| Devil's Due has been doing pretty well with its other licensed comics . . . G.I. Joe and Transformers springing to mind. I will likely pick these up, though I am hoping for a springboard to a new original FR series (I would love it if we actually saw the crew of the Realmsmaster again . . . ) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 03:51:55
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quote:
Originally posted by SirUrza
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Do you personally know any Drizzt fans who are excited about this comic Wooly?
I know I'm not looking forward to it. Even if it's a good comic and does well, it opens the doors to disaster. I know how the comic industry works. I know particularly well how LICENSED comic book titles gets handles.
Now matter how good Forgotten Realms comics are today, in 1-2 years, if they're still publishing, they're going to have some of the worst artists on the book (to make the comic a better cash cow) and ever worse authors writing storylines on it. See, Wizards of the Coast gets there royalities no matter what. But it's Devil Due's that has to pay the artist, it's Devil Due's that have to give the artist his cut. Well all is said and done, once they've got a stable fanbase, they'll immidately start to cut corners and WOTC won't care since at any time, just like every licensed comic, they can disavow it.
Gods, I hate to ride to WotC's defense on this...
But a collaboration can succeed. Back in the days of 2E and TSR, there were four collaborative titles done by DC and TSR. The first was Dragonlance; it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It suffered from the same symptoms the Dragginglance series was dealing with at the time: they didn't seem sure of what characters to focus on, or what area or era to write about. Most of the tales were set in or near what was then the present, but at least one was decades into the future. Some were on Ansalon, but some were on Taladas, and at least one was in sunken Istar...
Spelljammer, despite a weak beginning, was also a decent title. It started to get interesting right before the end; unfortunately, the DC/TSR deal ended before they could explore the intriguing route the title was headed in.
In the Realms, there were two titles: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and Forgotten Realms. AD&D was the longer-running of these two titles. It was set mostly in and around Waterdeep, and while there was the occasional problem with lore, it was on the whole a very good and enjoyable comic. The best issue was the one where lawyers had invaded Waterdeep... 
Forgotten Realms started later, and included a character first intro'ed in AD&D. It ranged much further afield; some of the stories were set in Halruaa, Shadowdale, and in various places on the Sword Coast. It, too, was a very good and enjoyable comic.
I can't speak for the inclusion of the first two comics into their respective settings... But I can say that for the most part, the artwork was consistently good for all four titles. There were some weak issues (and gods, that one annual was horrible), but other than those few issues, I couldn't complain about the artwork.
The writing was occasionally a bit weak, too, but never got bad. I've read Realms novels that were worse... Most of the stories were enjoyable, and some were very good.
As for disavowing the comics... Characters from both titles set in the Realms have appeared multiple times in various sources. There were write-ups of them in Dragon. There were some short stories; at least one was in Dragon, while a couple others appeared in some of "Realms of ... " anthologies. A character first introduced in the Forgotten Realms comic was a major character in two novels. Some of the characters appeared in various 2E sources, including boxed sets and a Planescape product. Events from the both titles were mentioned on the website, and references to things in the comics have appeared in 3E books, as well.
So the FR titles, at least, were far from disavowed. |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 06:08:21
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Everytime I think of this Drizzt project... I feel like I'm being pecked to death by those strange Earth creatures... errr... web feet, go "quack"...?
I think they're called fishes. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2005 : 15:10:21
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Ah yes, of course, silly me. I really must spend more time watching certain DVDs.. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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sl smith
Acolyte
5 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2005 : 11:17:12
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In case anyone was interested, here's a five-page preview of the first part of the comic book adaptation of Homeland.
Here's an interview with Andrew Dabb and Tim Seeley (writer/adaptor and artist, respectively), together with a couple of different preview pages of the comic's interior art.
Here's an interview with Andrew Dabb, with a couple of different preview pages, too.
Here's yet another interview with the comic's creators. |
Edited by - sl smith on 29 Jun 2005 23:04:50 |
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Shadovar
Senior Scribe
785 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2005 : 11:32:28
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Indeed very interesting websites, well for the first time, we could see Drizzt in image rather than being described in words. I would certainly be looking forward to getting the first copy.
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We have fostered trust, recruited loyalty, and gathered the faithful. We have trained thousands. Our legions can cover the land, fill the sky and travel through the darkness. We can hunt any and all that would deny our heritage. Now is our time, now is the time of the Dark Reign(Rain) of the Empire of Shadows.
- High Prince Telemont Tanthul, Lord Shadow
In a speech given to the citizens of Shade Enclave
At the celebration of the Shinantra Battle victory when he revealed that he was THE Lord Shadow of legend. |
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Drizzt Comic.
