The Legend of Drizzt Book IV: The Crystal Shard

Last of four Forgotten Realms graphic novels loaned to me by the GM from my gaming group here in Shanghai. These were purchased at Atomic Comics in Artesia CA.

Title: The Legend of Drizzt
Issue: Book IV: The Crystal Shard
Date: 2007
Publisher: Devils Due Publishing
Writer: R.A. Salvatore, Andrew Dabb
Penciler: Val Semeiks
Inker:Dan Davis, Jeff Austin, John Stanisci, Jeremy Freeman, John Lowe, Marc Deering, Em Stone
Colorist: Blond
Letterer: Brian J. Crowley
Editor: Mark Powers

The fourth volume of the Legend of Drizzt graphic novel series goes back to the prose novel where Drizzt was originally introduced. The barbarian Wulfgar was the lead character of that novel, but here the emphasis has been shifted slightly to focus more on Drizzt, although the story is, so some extent, an ensemble cast.

The lack of female characters (there is one, and she only appears in two minor scenes), was a bit disappointing, particularly after this had not been an issue in other books in the series, but again, this feels like a product of this graphic novel being based on an earlier piece of Salvatore's writing.

As for the story, there's an evil artifact, a weak-willed but power-hungry wizard who uses his newfound power to set himself up with a horde of monsters, and the heroes determined to save Icewind Dale in spite of the struggles of the locals to unite.

This volume tells a complete story. I had forgotten that the Icewind Dale books were more standalone than the Dark Elf Trilogy.

Wulfgar gets a lot of the spotlight, as does the halfling rogue Regis, who ends up having one of the best scenes in the story in a mind-control battle with the villain. Drizzt does all of his usual Drizzt things, but seeing him as a mentor-figure to Wulfgar is a nice turnaroud after all of his times in the student role in the first three graphic novels.

The battle scenes are bloody and intense, and all of the artwork on the action scenes is great.

This novel had a lot of plot, and the graphic novel struggled a bit to give everything the space it deserved, with a scene involving a dragon getting sold a bit short in the crunch for space.

The climactic battle does get the space it needs, and the pacing on that final battle is great.

Rating: 6.5/10