Comic book publisher IDW is releasing a brand new story within the world of Dungeons and Dragons. The five-issue miniseries, A Darkened Wish, will take place in the fan favorite setting of the Forgotten Realms, created by Ed Greenwood in the 60s. It’s written by B. Dave Walters, with art by Tess Fowler.
“When war threatens the Moonshae Isles, legendary heroes return to defeat the forces of an unthinkable foe. Young wizard Helene and her friends grow from raw recruits on the streets of Mintarn into powerful warriors.”
As a Dungeon Master himself, Walters says the story features powerful characters, who would be considered max level within the tabletop roleplaying game.
“I prefer telling stories at the high end of Dungeons & Dragons, because so few people get to experience it due to groups falling apart, or DMs being afraid of taking on these sorts of adventures. So, for this story I wanted to show just how powerful and capable a max level character really is. But, I’ve also learned that it can’t be just rocket tag, so we wanted to show the process of how they became who they are, so that the reader can feel some sense of connection with these demi-gods.”
He says many characters found in the pages of the series are his own creations he’s made over the years. Fans may remember his live-action Dungeons and Dragons character Tuko Pamoja from the Stream of Many Eyes. When asked if fans can expect to see Tuko inside, his response was one word: maybe.
He’s working on the upcoming comics with Kid Lobotomy artist Tess Fowler.
“I have dreamed of making Dungeons & Dragons comics since I was twelve years old, but A Darkened Wish is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”
“Tess brought me in on this project, so none of this would be happening without her.” Says Walters, “One of the first things I asked her is what she really wanted to draw, and I made a point of including every type of character and scene that would give her the opportunity to truly show off what she can do!”
Walters says as a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, he hopes this series pushes other fans to pursue their goals.
“More than anything, I hope this story ignites a sense of wonder in everyone who reads it. We’re a couple of lifelong fans who have gotten a chance to live our dream, and hopefully in the process we’ll inspire a someone to do the same.”
IDW’s Dungeons and Dragons: A Darkened Wish releases in February 2019.
I would like to thank B. Dave Walters for taking the time to talk about the comic.
B. Dave Walters is an inspirational storyteller. He can be found on Vampire the Masquerade: LA by Night on Geek and Sundry. Tess Fowler is an artist for Critical Role and the comic Kid Lobotomy. She did the cover art for Rick and Morty vs Dungeons and Dragons and worked on art for DC and Marvel.