The continuing adventures of a family that played Dungeons & Dragons so hard, they cried. The Adventure Zone: The Suffering Game is the sixth installment of the eponymous podcast’s Balance Arc. It follows the trials and tribulations of Taako, Magnus, and Merle as they are tasked with retrieving the sixth Grand Relic – the Animus Bell – from a place called Wonderland.
Wonderland proves to be a true carnival of horrors, and the Suffering Game lives up to its name as two liches control the stakes and force our heroes to sacrifice until there is nothing left for them to give. Secrets are revealed, old memories come back to haunt, and that’s not even taking into account all the physical pain Taako, Magnus, and Merle must endure. Can the campaigners win an unbeatable game? They’ve gone this far, they can’t back down now.
The basic story of the trio going to Wonderland to get the Animus Bell is clear enough, but a first-time reader is going to need some background information in order to understand all of the finer plot points and why certain story beats hit harder than others. Fans of The Adventure Zone podcast, or maybe even just the McElroy Family network of shows might not need a whole lot of context for this series’ overarching plot, but this story is the sixth one in a series of seven and this book would be best kept with its siblings (please enjoy the pun).
Its 278 pages are easy on the eyes and while strict DnD players might not appreciate the modern, plain use of language in this book, it allows the comedy to flow and it has the potential to more easily connect to the average, young reader (as opposed to us folks who are into very niche podcasts). The book is filled with small notes and asides to very briefly explain the myriad of spells, creatures, and settings.
This book has a fun graphic style that incorporates a bright color palette that makes great use of color pops to indicate visual hierarchy, a clean and crisp art style, and a visually easy flow to the panels and pages.
Be warned, buyers: there are many instances of swearing, and a few pages feature a completely nude Magnus Burnsides. I will say that the swearing comes from the organic nature and adult-oriented audience of the original podcast that this story was based on, and the nudity is depicted without a sexual or exploitative gaze. But these are things to be considered when sorting into your collection. Additionally, violence is part of the storyline (there are many hack-and-slash fights) but there is no gore and no blood as the main army of enemies is made up of wooden mannequins. Wounds bleed for the characters who have that particular luxury, but there’s nothing alarming about the depiction of injuries.
I personally loved the Suffering Game. It masterfully blends action, adventure, with a little bit of horror, and the sundae is topped with a sprinkle of comedy and a very light drizzle of romance. It is all at once heartfelt and horrific. The art is expressive, fluid, and very firmly set in styles you might seen in an animated kids’ show. Fans of Gravity Falls, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and goofier DnD players will likely enjoy this offering.
The Adventure Zone vol. 6: The Suffering Game
By Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy
Art by Carey Pietsch
First Second, 2024
ISBN: 9781250861726
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Publisher Age Rating: 18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Character Representation: Gay,
