Kor-Drath: the Reckoning follows the journey of Kor-Drath and Adryana as they seek vengeance for the destruction of Kor-Drath’s tribe.

 

Kor-Drath: the Reckoning is an epic combination of Conan and Game of Thrones, infused with the fantastical elements of Dungeons and Dragons, delivering fans the ultimate blend of these two incredible genres.

Embark on a breathtaking journey through the awe-inspiring world of The Shattered Reach, a captivating realm where you’ll be transported to extraordinary new worlds. Immerse yourself and experience the magic firsthand, as your imagination takes flight.

 

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Kor-Drath: the Reckoning is written by Dennis Turner and illustrated by Andy Smith. Andy has been drawing comics since 1991 for Marvel, DC, Image, Valiant, CrossGen, and more. Andy has created Astonishing Comics that bring you the best art and story of graphic novels that include 1stMAN Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Jungle Lords/ Ultra, and now Kor-Drath: The Reckoning.

Dennis is a comic book collector, and a member of the Association of Online Appraisers, as well as playing Dungeons and Dragons since 1984. He enjoys writing short stories and world-building. Dennis loves TTGs and all role-playing games from Fantasy (D&D/Pathfinder/Earth Dawn/7th Sea), Super-hero (Marvel/DC/M&M, Silver Age Sentinels), Sci-fi (Star Wars/Star Trek/BSG), and Shadow Run.

The art of “Kor-Drath: the Reckoning” was colored by Nanjan Jamberi and lettered by Steve Dutro with cover artwork by Andy Smith.

 

THE BOOK

Kor-Drath: the Reckoning is a compelling tale filled with action, suspense, and a rich blend of fantasy genres for mature audiences. The 73-page book is printed in full color on high-quality paper with a printed spine and a very nice glossy soft cover.

The book includes a credits page, the main story, 1 “quotable quotes” page, 2-page art a day in the life of the creative team showing them playing board games and promoting the next issue of the Kor-Drath, 4 additional pages bonus story and one-page parody ad Kor-Drath & Adryana in “Nectar of the Tribes”. The book was published in 2023 by Astonishing Comics owned by Andy Smith.

 

KOR-DRATH: THE RECKONING

In the ancient land known as “The Shattered Reach”, mighty kingdoms lay across the Reach like bright stars in the night sky. The proudest nation, that of the Dracos, felt entitled to wear the gilded crown and lord over those golden lands.

The Dracos, filled with hubris, thought to enslave the kingdoms of the Reach and crush them all beneath their heels but the sons of man, elf dwarf, and Holfolk would not go quietly into the night.

 

STONES OF THE ELEMENTS

The assembled peoples of the Reach fought with great courage but to no avail. With their resolve on the brink of failure, the Q’melia, the hermit-like arcane camel people of the desert, came to their salvation.

Using the four “Stones of the Elements, unparalleled primordial artifacts of great power, they compelled the sea to rise and swallow the Shattered Reach just at the moment the Dracos had strained to ascend these lands into the heavens.

Victory came with a price as the lands were scared, but alas The Dracos disappeared into the shadows. The races retreated into their ancestral lands and thus was the start of the 4^th age.

 

The fairest of the races, the elves flourished in their forests. The hearty dwarves continued to mint the currency of the lands but rarely left their mines. The diminutive folks cling happily to their field and valleys, but of all the races, they maintained the most interaction with the others traveling all across the land to trade.

Unpredictably, orcs and trolls ascended from the darkness, not as adversaries, but rather as new civilizations. The humped-backed Q’melia returned to the desert, keeping to themselves, engaging only in a limited amount of commerce.

They split the “Stones of the Elements” apart and scattered them so no race could wield such power again. The world flourished. However, the humans were different. They were more versatile and more easily fragmented.

Some sailed to the islands across the glittering seas. Others built cities upon the coasts. Yet others were more savage and gathered 11 nomadic tribes who took to the mountains and hills to live among and tame these unlawful lands.

Each tribe established their Ancestral Mound where they would bury their dead as well draw upon the power of their ancestors in a battle. These barbarian warriors were renowned throughout the entirety of the Shattered Reach for their Berserker rages and battlefield prowess.

Colossal fighting befell the warrior tribes. One of the smallest, yet fiercest of all, was the Red Lion Tribe. Their tales were passed down and became tribal history and those histories became legends.

 

MAIN STORY

Embark on a thrilling journey with star-crossed lovers, Kor-Drath and Adryana, as they seek vengeance for the merciless destruction of Kor-Drath’s tribe.

Kor-Drath is a barbarian raised by the Red Lion tribe, hailing from the hills of Boragon near the mountains of Myrmador. Kor-Drath wields the great axe, Grimmblud, the weapon of the father he never knew. A monster of a man, the feared warrior is ready to crush any man foolish enough to face him.

Adryana is a barbarian sorceress of the Black Eagle Tribe. She wears a tiara emblazoned with a unique green gem that her parents foretell will allow her to fulfill her mysterious destiny. Her knowledge and skill-wielding magic are known throughout the hills of Boragon and far past. The mountains of Myrmador.

The danger they encounter is far more treacherous than they had ever anticipated. Following the ruthless massacre of Kor-Drath’s tribe by the relentless undead, he and Adryana embark on a quest to exact retribution upon those responsible.

Little do they know that they will encounter enemies ranging from undead creatures to ferocious demons, revealing a web of deception and revelation. During this perilous game, the lovers soon realize that they are mere pawns manipulated by far greater forces.

Guided by the cunning undead Necra-Knight and the enigmatic succubus Lilineth, the horde of undead is unleashed upon the Red Lions tribe, leaving a brutal trail of devastation in its wake. Their objective? To secure the ancient Stones of the Elements for their Master. Why? When united the stones will bestow unimaginable power upon its possessor.

As Kor-Drath and Adryana uncover the first stone, their fate hangs in the balance as they navigate a world fraught with peril and uncover the secrets of The Shattered Reach. Where do our heroes go next? Who are these villains and what do they want with the stones? Who is this Master?

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Kor-Drath: The Reckoning is a thrilling graphic novel that seamlessly blends elements of Conan, Game of Thrones, and Dungeons and Dragons. The graphic novel is filled with action, suspense, and a rich blend of fantasy genres, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre.

 

THE STORY

The story is set in the awe-inspiring world of The Shattered Reach, where the characters encounter various enemies, from undead creatures to ferocious demons. As they navigate this perilous world, they uncover a web of deception and revelation, realizing that they are mere pawns manipulated by far greater forces.

The fate of Kor-Drath and Adryana hangs in the balance as they uncover the secrets of The Shattered Reach and face off against their enemies in a battle for survival. With distinctive artwork and a gripping storyline, Kor-Drath: The Reckoning is a must-read for fans of fantasy and graphic novels alike.

 

THE ART

The hand-drawn art style looks like a traditional style of old American comics. It’s different from the current digital style illustrations. You either like it or you don’t. I like most of the lettering which makes the text in a justified format with a combination of sound effects.

However, I had issues with the yellow boxes that were a bit challenging to read. I appreciated the translation of the foreign languages in the story.

 

CONTINUITY

Thus far the Kor-Drath project seems to be a continuing series with “Kor-Drath: The Awakening” as the next issue. In Kor-Drath: The Awakening, War ravages Kor-Drath and Adryana. Will the Black Eagles Tribe succumb to the undead armies?

Discover the enigma that is Vorrdoom the Undying and Embark on an unforgettable journey of honor, revenge, and epic battles in the Shattered Reach.

 

CONTENT RATING

I support maintaining age-appropriate content on the internet which is why I’m glad the adult-oriented art was covered up on the Kickstarter campaign.

However, I’m disappointed with the Kor-Drath website that as of date is showcasing the adult-oriented art that was covered up on other platforms.

Just because any content can be published online doesn’t automatically make it appropriate for everyone to see. Some websites have an 18 + trigger warning page, 18+ confirmation page, or a “Mature” label that can be detected but to be honest, I have not seen many use those features.

 

THE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

The crowdfunding campaign for Kor-Drath was done on Indiegogo and Kickstarter. The campaign offered merchandise and a Kor-Drath Game Module in addition to the book.

The campaign offered 5 cover options including a wraparound cover. I selected the Kor-Drath vol. 1 cover A tier on the Indiegogo campaign that includes a physical copy of the book plus all stretch goals reached and the Kor-Drath T-shirt tier.

 

I received the signed book, T-shirt, and four 7″x 10″ Kor-Drath character cards showcasing the characters on the front and all their stats on the back. The card is SRD compatible so you can use Kor-Drath in your role-playing board games and printed on heavy-stock paper. I also received a 7″x 10″ map of The Shattered Reach, 2 promotional cards, and a “thank you” letter which was much appreciated.

The campaign updates were provided on a timely basis via IndieGoGo and direct emails. The packaging was done well and the items were received with no issues.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Kor-Drath: The Reckoning is a thrilling graphic novel that seamlessly blends elements of Conan, Game of Thrones, and Dungeons and Dragons.

Seamlessly blending these iconic elements, the graphic novel is packed with excitement, mystery, and a rich tapestry of fantasy themes. From swordplay to sorcery, it offers a diverse array of content, complemented by bonus material that ensures a thoroughly engaging reading experience for adults.

Delving into the intricate storylines and meticulously crafted world-building of Kor-Drath, readers enter a realm where adventure knows no bounds.

For those seeking a journey through the realms of fantasy from ancient barbarian times, Kor-Drath: The Reckoning offers an entertaining journey. The story and world-building of Kor-Drath can be found on www.kor-drath.com

Kor-Drath and Adryana will continue their captivating saga of passion, conflict, and resilience in Kor-Drath: The Awakening.

Interested in more titles? Check more GRAPHIC NOVELS from the “EYES ON” series wherein I documented my experience with supporting crowdfunded entertainment and shared my notes on the products I received.

 

My notes are all set. Let me know what you think.

See you on the next page!