Dungeon Monstres ? Vol. 4: Night of the Ladykiller

New York: NBM Publishing. New. 2011. First Edition Thus. First Printing; Paperback. 1561636088 . Color Illustrations; 6 1/2 x 9; 96 pages; Soft cover has black spine with white lettering. Graphic novel is a NEW book. Illustrated with full color drawings. Originally published in France. The first story, "Night of the Ladykiller", was drawn by Jean-Emmanuel Vermot-Desroches in a style that roughly mimics Trondheim's pleasantly sketchy style. This story takes place in the "Early Years" timeline, following the sorcerers Horus and Alcibades during their time in school. This is a mystery story jam-packed with intrigue, sex, violence, and magic, featuring a surprise twist that leads to a clever resolution to the plot problem introduced early in the story. The central mystery of the story—is the dour Horus really responsible for getting so many young women pregnant? —is one that the reader is led to believe is a frame-up until we actually see Horus in action, and then those expectations get turned around again. Trondheim & Sfar have a way of getting their characters into binds that are seemingly impossible to escape before a quick bit of lateral thinking saves the day. The second story, "Ruckus At The Brewers", is sillier and more cartoony in every sense. It involves a bumbling dungeon monster named Grogro who is given a specific mission (get beer) and stumbles into and out of a series of ever-escalating and ridiculous perils. Artist Yoann contributes a painted approach that gives the whole thing a touch of Jim Woodring in terms of its candy colors, bizarre creatures, and detailed style. It's a treat to look at and fits well with the story, which is far more of a trifle than the standard Dungeon tale. One of the delights of reading a Dungeon story is the way Trondheim & Sfar take their time in exploring their world: filling in back stories, adding more context to the complex cultural forces at play and simply following people around to see what they might do. .