| Title | : | The Guild: Knights of Good (The Guild Collection, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1595829008 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781595829009 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 142 |
| Publication | : | First published July 4, 2012 |
Featuring a huge variety of comics’ best artists as well as many of the talents key to the web series, and leading directly to the moment Zaboo unexpectedly appears at a startled Codex’s front door in episode 1, this collection comprises a true “Season 0” of The Guild!
Collects the one-shots The Guild: Vork, The Guild: Tink, The Guild: Bladezz, The Guild: Clara, and The Guild: Zaboo.
• Written by Felicia Day, with the series director, producer, and actors!
• Featuring art by Darick Robertson, Becky Cloonan, Kristian Donaldson, and more!
• Leads directly into The Guild, Season 1!
The Guild: Knights of Good (The Guild Collection, #2) Reviews
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THIS IS OUT TODAY!!! If you enjoy The Guild please pick it up! Contains all the core Guild one-shots, a bunch of extra art, and the cover matches the first trade. WIN ALL AROUND :D
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The first chapter/issue with Vork's backstory and the story behind Bladezz's infamous sausage photo were engaging but the rest was so-so. I felt like all of the other characters were basically re-hashing what happens on the show rather than giving the reader any huge surprises. On the plus side, there are some more panels showing the characters in-game, which is more than we were ever given on screen.
If you're going to read any of the Guild comic books, I recommend reading
The Guild (the first one) and skipping this. Unless you're a major fan of the show and you have to read every little piece of literature that is out there on it, by all means, borrow this from the nearest library. -
I became a massive fan of Felicia Day's YouTube sensation serial The Guild through lucky chance, and I've always thought that six seasons weren't enough to tell more of the shenanigans and misadventures of the Knights of Good both in RPG and RL. So I was so pleased that a comic book spin-off was published and I was not disappointed with what I got.
The story was a prelude to the actual show where Felicia Day's astonishingly socially awkward redhead heroine Cyd Sherman was an aspiring violinist who works alongside her boyfriend in an orchestra. She's easy to like but not a very admirable young woman. Oblivious to her boyfriend's sloppy and negligent behavioral patterns, Cyd retreated to a make-believe world by acquiring a multi-player game that she decided to try once but ended up getting addicted to. There she was Codex, a priestess, who was in more ways an improvement of Cyd, as all wish-fulfillment characters ought to be. She began to encounter other players (who will later become the collected Knights of Good).
What was really enjoyable about these issues was how Day contrasted the rich, colorful tapestries of Codex' adventures with Cyd's humdrum life. As Codex, she felt in control; she was confident, empowered and desired by men. As Cyd, she was indecisive and gullible, often so passive that her boyfriend's mistreatment and betrayal became no surprise to the readers. Nevertheless, Cyd is as wonderfully creative as her fantasy counterpart, even if she doesn't believe it herself, and it was only through Codex that she was able to explore the canvass. Her alliances with fellow players like Clara, Zaboo and Vork were reflective of her hopes and dreams of camaraderie and variety. Her encounters with Bladez and Tinkabella provide a more nuanced experience with roleplaying games where such antagonistic players are more insecure than they let on.
If one is familiar with the actual YT series, it's really easy to enjoy reading this comic book because it serves as the perfect goofy origin stories for our unlikely heroes. Cyd as the point of reference for the readers is sympathetic to the boot; her road to inner strength and confidence through the enchanting Codex is quite touching--even if the price was her gradual gaming addiction.
I just like how the panels alternate between the actual RPG and real life. It highlighted the bittersweet quality of such multi-player games where anyone, regardless of personal background, can bond and develop a friendship, but it's a delicate process since such relationships may seem only possible in fantasy. Of course, the Knights of Good will one day meet, but for now Cyd takes comfort with the safety of anonymity.
But just like in games, all relationships must level-up sooner or later, and though Cyd may have more at stake when she does meet with these people in real life, she will ultimately be better off knowing them beyond their avatars.
RECOMMENDED: 10/10
* Whether you start with the show or this comic book first, it doesn't matter. You will relate and root for these outcasts because they are simply too adorkable to pass up on. -
The Chicago Public Library recently entered a partnership with online content provider Hoopla, which among other things means I suddenly have access to thousands of old comic books I've never read before, including most of the back catalog of Top Shelf, Dark Horse and Boom! Studios. This was the first thing I decided to read through Hoopla, because I'm already a big fan not only of the web series this was based off of, but also Day's memoir You're Never Weird On The Internet (Almost). This prequel series, though, turned out to be a big disappointment; containing none of the sharp humor that is a hallmark of the web series, it feels literally like one of those cheap comics adaptations of a famous movie done by people who aren't associated with the original in any way, who are writing it before seeing the actual movie and have only a series of hastily written character descriptions off which to base their own story. Featuring way too broadly devised new characters (Codex's boyfriend here might as well be twirling a pencil mustache while wearing a top hat and tying her down to some railroad tracks), and introducing existing characters with all the subtlety of Liam Neeson yelling, "Obi-Wan Kenobi, meet Anakin Skywalker!!!," the whole thing feels like a cheap ripoff of the funny and smart original, not a project written by the same exact person. A big letdown, although I'll continue to consume Day's newest projects in the future, simply because I'm such a big fan of the original web series that first garnered her so much attention.
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Background: The Guild Volume 2 showcases the lives of the Knights of Good before season 1 of the show. It includes the one-shots of Vork, Tink, Bladezz, Clara, and Zaboo as we are lead up to the Season one start with Zaboo meeting Codex. We learn about their family members, home lives, and how/why some of them play the game.
Review: Loved, Loved, Loved this. I was super excited to get a chance to read Volume two as a collection of the one-shots. I love The Guild and have watched all the episodes, but had not read the comics or graphic novels yet. The way we learn about the characters in the show is super funny and it is the same here on a page. Vork is just as ridiculous, but now we see where he gets if from; Tink lies about everything; Bladezz is his same annoying mouthy self, and Clara and Zaboo are as eccentric as ever. I think everything about this collection is wonderful. I also liked the variations of the characters, the illustrators did them justice in comic form.
If you like comics, gaming, nerd things, or just like to laugh at the expense of some nerdy individuals, you should read this. -
The Guild was a delightful series comprised of short episodes that appeared on the internet for six seasons. It featured a young woman and her on-line gaming companions and their occasionally dysfunctional adventures both in reality and as members of their gaming group, the Guild. It was brilliantly written and I recommend it highly. Dark Horse published a series of comics written by Felicia Day (the creator, star, and writer of the show), which featured the Guild members before the show started; the first volume starred Codex (the main character that Day portrayed herself), and this one has stories introducing the other five guild members, some of which are co-written by other members of the team. The writing is quite good, and all of their biographies are entertaining. A wide variety of artists are included, most of them pretty good. I particularly enjoyed the little game-in-the-story bits in the Zaboo section, the story of Clara's background, and Bladez' family. It's a fun and entertaining book, almost as good as the show.
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Set before the first season of The Guild, Knights of Good gives real-world background information on all of the main characters. (Except Cyd, whose background had been detailed in the previous collection,
The Guild.) The quality here is a bit more variable. Compare Clara's story, which gives no new information or insight about the character and could be set at virtually any time, to Zaboo's, which is a direct tie-in to the first episode of The Guild and gives some insight into Zaboo's thought process at the time. That's not to say that Clara's story is bad, because it is a fun, if slightly shallow read. Obviously, fans of The Guild are going to want to read it, and they will get enough out of it to make it worth the read. -
Fun, but not as fun as the other Guild comics I've read. Codex is my fave, and she was AWOL for a bunch of this. It's basically one shots for everyone but her, and some of them are better than others. Seriously, though: fun. I should really rewatch The Guild at some point. It's on Netflix, right?
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Originally posted on my blog
here.
Felicia Day is my new favorite person. Seriously guys, her stuff is awesome. But more on that later.
This compilation is of a couple of The Guild books and was pretty good. I had already gotten hooked on the online video series, however, so when I was reading it in my head it was in the actual voice of the characters and I think that it helped tremendously in making it come to life more. You just have to love how cooky each of their characters is, it's great!
Had I already not been a fan, I'm not sure how much I would have appreciated this. That being said, it was really great having a chance to get the back story of all of the characters (I still need to know Codex! Guess that's in volume one) and it was a great lead up to the start of the series. So great, in fact, that I have started watching it all over again, this time with my sister to laugh along with me!
It was nice having each of the characters done in a different style of art. This helped make it more interesting but also to make the characters even more unique.
Merged review:
Originally posted on my blog
here.
Felicia Day is my new favorite person. Seriously guys, her stuff is awesome. But more on that later.
This compilation is of a couple of The Guild books and was pretty good. I had already gotten hooked on the online video series, however, so when I was reading it in my head it was in the actual voice of the characters and I think that it helped tremendously in making it come to life more. You just have to love how cooky each of their characters is, it's great!
Had I already not been a fan, I'm not sure how much I would have appreciated this. That being said, it was really great having a chance to get the back story of all of the characters (I still need to know Codex! Guess that's in volume one) and it was a great lead up to the start of the series. So great, in fact, that I have started watching it all over again, this time with my sister to laugh along with me!
It was nice having each of the characters done in a different style of art. This helped make it more interesting but also to make the characters even more unique.
Merged review:
Originally posted on my blog
here.
Felicia Day is my new favorite person. Seriously guys, her stuff is awesome. But more on that later.
This compilation is of a couple of The Guild books and was pretty good. I had already gotten hooked on the online video series, however, so when I was reading it in my head it was in the actual voice of the characters and I think that it helped tremendously in making it come to life more. You just have to love how cooky each of their characters is, it's great!
Had I already not been a fan, I'm not sure how much I would have appreciated this. That being said, it was really great having a chance to get the back story of all of the characters (I still need to know Codex! Guess that's in volume one) and it was a great lead up to the start of the series. So great, in fact, that I have started watching it all over again, this time with my sister to laugh along with me!
It was nice having each of the characters done in a different style of art. This helped make it more interesting but also to make the characters even more unique.
Merged review:
Originally posted on my blog
here.
Felicia Day is my new favorite person. Seriously guys, her stuff is awesome. But more on that later.
This compilation is of a couple of The Guild books and was pretty good. I had already gotten hooked on the online video series, however, so when I was reading it in my head it was in the actual voice of the characters and I think that it helped tremendously in making it come to life more. You just have to love how cooky each of their characters is, it's great!
Had I already not been a fan, I'm not sure how much I would have appreciated this. That being said, it was really great having a chance to get the back story of all of the characters (I still need to know Codex! Guess that's in volume one) and it was a great lead up to the start of the series. So great, in fact, that I have started watching it all over again, this time with my sister to laugh along with me!
It was nice having each of the characters done in a different style of art. This helped make it more interesting but also to make the characters even more unique.
Merged review:
Originally posted on my blog
here.
Felicia Day is my new favorite person. Seriously guys, her stuff is awesome. But more on that later.
This compilation is of a couple of The Guild books and was pretty good. I had already gotten hooked on the online video series, however, so when I was reading it in my head it was in the actual voice of the characters and I think that it helped tremendously in making it come to life more. You just have to love how cooky each of their characters is, it's great!
Had I already not been a fan, I'm not sure how much I would have appreciated this. That being said, it was really great having a chance to get the back story of all of the characters (I still need to know Codex! Guess that's in volume one) and it was a great lead up to the start of the series. So great, in fact, that I have started watching it all over again, this time with my sister to laugh along with me!
It was nice having each of the characters done in a different style of art. This helped make it more interesting but also to make the characters even more unique. -
Perfect for fans of the web series!!
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We learn about the Guild members personal lives and man do they vary.
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I absolutely love the Guild I wish they made the show again
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Loved it! Wish there were loads more! So fun and it makes me want to watch the series again!
Read during Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon - July. -
4.5/5 stars!
Guild fans! You can't miss this volume of backstories of our heroes that before now, was only alluded to in episodes of the series or not revealed at all. While it doesn't further the current season storylines as we know them, it does give us important (and fun!) information on Tink, Bladezz, Vork, Clara, and Zaboo - all leading up to the pilot episode in season 1.
Any sci-fi/fantasy fan can tell you one thing when you're building your characters within your world/story: backstory is important. While this volume didn't blow me away as much as the first, it's still a wonderful look into the lives of the other members of the Guild, and how they got to where they are. Day does a wonderful job with this collection of one-shots that are totally within I think my favorite out of these one-shots has to be a tie between Tink, Clara, and Vork - we see how Tink always lies (but the truth of how she lives at the end), how Vork became such a control freak, and Clara...oh Clara. No words for how hilarious (and oh-so-fitting) her story was. It was a genuine pleasure to see how these characters came to be, and how they continue to evolve through the seasons of the show. It also has a lot of little things that, when watching them, didn't always entirely make sense at the time make a ton more sense now.
I think a rewatch of all five seasons so far is in order.
The only thing that I wish had been in this TPB? Fawkes' backstory. Then it REALLY would have been a party. Hence the not quite five stars. But still, this is a really awesome installment in the "Guild" saga, and a definite must-read for fans. If anything, for those just getting into the series, I'd recommend reading this book first, as it kind of lays everything out really neatly and nicely, making it smooth sailing for the viewer from there.
Needless to say, I'm really happy with what I got here, and I can't wait for the next TPB. "The Guild: Knights of Good" is out now from Dark Horse in North America, so be sure to check it out when you can! Seriously, you can't miss these origin stories of these awesome characters. Highly recommended!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com) -
Clara is my favorite character from The Guild. She's a married gamer with little kids who has a serious addiction to her RPG and spends little if any time taking care of her family. Somehow or perhaps in spite of this, she comes across so funny and Clara'ish, that I can't help wanting to see more of her.
Just like the comics for Vork and Codex, the story dives into Clara's everyday life. In particular her husband, Mr. Wiggly's impatience and growing frustration with her inability to keep a deadline or indeed do anything at all but play the game. He wants her to unpack the boxes in their bedroom and to keep her from putting it off for another month or two, he takes away her computer and leaves her, alone, with the kids! For Clara, this is a big no no and takes away from her 'me time.'
The artwork expresses her shock and horror at the situation and it is only reluctantly that she decides to sit down and try to sort out the humongous mess in their bedroom. She brings the kids with her and what follows is the kind of half-assed work that Clara excells at. Instead of putting things away, she picks up old pictures as she flashes back to her high school days, especially the prom that she and Wiggly went to and the bizarro events that happened there (which is mentioned in Season 2, episode 10 of The Guild). The expression on comic Clara's face is priceless, but it's Mr. Wiggly's performance in the comic that I found surprising but basically in keeping with the series.
He was Clara's juvie blind date. Never heard of a juvie blind date? Huh, me either, anyways, this story is short, self contained and surprisingly sweet. There's a tiny twist at the end and I laughed out loud after reading it.
I can't wait to read the Dark Horse treatment of Zaboo next! -
A very cute little addition to The Guild story line but not quite as good as the first graphic novel. Each segment gives a little glimpse into the lives of a different character's life outside the game. Zaboo's story was my favourite for having the stalker mini-game though Tink's succession of lies was pretty wonderful, too. Vork's story was the least entertaining, in my opinion. His grandfather was great but the story didn't click with me the way the others did. Clara's story was given a little extra interest with the back story on her husband. And Bladezz's modeling career is always funny to see. But Zaboo's stalker game was still the best bit.
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loved the second installment of the guild comic, we got to learn a little bit more back story for vork, tink, bladezz, zaboo and clara and some game play too which made me smile- didn't want the comic too end - just like the web series!
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Ugh. That was horrible. Though inconsistently horrible. Some of it was much worse - Clara in particular. No wait I think Zaboo was worse. Not going to read the sequel. And not funny.
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If you like "The Guild", you'll like this book. If you haven't watched "The Guild," you may still like this book. And you should watch "The Guild."
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Good but not as good as the first volume
It was an enjoyable read. As the main focus of The Guild is Codex, I was surprised there wasn’t much of her included In this volume.
The Vork and Clara stories were the best of what was included. Getting their back stories, I think helped to connect with the characters better. It also allowed you to see that their real lives were so different that maybe the game offered them something they couldn’t have had otherwise. The scene with Vork seeing his Grandfathers chair empty was especially poignant.
Tink and Bladezz weren’t bad, but I don’t think you get any more depth into those characters as you do from the Vork and Clara back stories. Tink, of course would be one of the hardest to give much of a back story, since it took the web series a while before you got to know much about her as well. Bladezz introduction to modeling was humorous and tied in well with the entire series concept.
I did not care for the Zaboo storyline at all. Turning the entire story into a group of mini-games detracted from his story for me. Zaboo does live in a fantasy world, and possibly even interacts with his world that way, at least initially. I would have liked a more realistic approach of seeing his life though, and how he finally got the courage and strength to finally, one day, break from his mother’s smothering attention. Much of that was done in the web series, but the beginning steps could have been included here.
I have seen they have since created a Fawkes story, after this volume was completed. I will have to look for it. I would like it if maybe they would continue The Guild stories, but from the point of time after the web series completed. Find out more of what each character went on to do. Their growth and set backs and if their Guild still retains connections IRL to this day? -
This was a lot of fun to read. I didn't really care for Bladezz's story, but it at least answered his "Finn Smoulders" persona. And while Clara is such a bad mother (and person, really) her story was cute and I enjoyed reading about her antics. My favorite story had to be Zaboo's, because the season finale of the first season is my all time favorite scene. To see his story carried out in similar fashion was perfect, and his battles with his mother echos the show without it feeling like a repeat. Echo'd. ;)
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I really enjoyed reading the back stories of the members of The Knights of Good. This graphic novel had just the right amount of humor and serious stories. I've been watching The Guild since its first episode and I've really always wanted to know more about the characters and just like the first edition of these comics - I got exactly what I hoped for! I'm happy all the backstory was presented in this way rather than an episode because the show left me wondering and wanting to pick up the comics. Well done, and I loved the various art styles and sketches included.
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This is just like the first Volume and serves as a prequel to the web series, however instead on focusing on Syd, this volume focuses on all the other characters, all with their own story, their own personal lives.
I enjoyed it, the only reason that I gave it 4 instead of 5 is that I did lose interest in the middle and struggled to find the motivation to finish it, but one I did pick it up, I couldn’t put it down again.
A must have for all fans of The Guild. -
A fun read!
I've seen every episode of the webseries this is based off of, so knew a lot of the background already. Even still, there was something new about each of them. My favorite part was studying the background details, though. -
Backstories to each member of the Guild, leading up to episode one of the show.
Personal favorite was Clara, both because her backstory was exactly what you expected - and because her husband's was a funny surprise. -
A collection of short glimpses into the backstory/3D lives of Bladezz and Dena, Vork, Zaboo and Clara. Cute, but I just figured out that I read the second collection of individual stories first. Headsmack.
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I think I preferred the illustration style of volume
1, but still a good read. -
Fun stories and graphics!
The stories were fun and drawings were well done. This is the second Guild book I have read. I will definitely read the next one. -
A fun look at the backstories of various characters. Not much else to say here.
