D’Orc
Writer/Artist: Brett Bean
Published: 2026 by Image Comics
Simply put, D’Orc is what a summer graphic novel should be all about.
Creator Brett Bean has crafted a thoroughly entertaining hero in D’Orc, who is trying to avoid a preordained future that foretells he will bring about the end of the world.
It sounds incredibly serious, but Bean laces the story with a ton of humor, including giving D’Orc a bloodthirsty, possessed shield complete with a bulbous eye and a flippant mouth. Then there’s the ghostly chicken head and its animated body, helping to create an adventuring party that’s simply too unusual not to be funny.
As a writer, Bean tosses jokes around with ease. My wife can confirm that I laughed out loud on more than a few occasions.
Artistically, while many pages are awash in blood and gore, Bean renders everything with a cartoon flair that softens the violence without diminishing its impact.
This isn’t a “great” graphic novel in the same vein as classics like Maus or Essex County, but darn it, it was so much fun to read. It captures the perfect summer vibe and is an absolute blast from beginning to end.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
D’Orc
Writer/Artist: Brett Bean
Published: 2026 by Image Comics
Simply put, D’Orc is what a summer graphic novel should be all about.
Creator Brett Bean has crafted a thoroughly entertaining hero in D’Orc, who is trying to avoid a preordained future that foretells he will bring about the end of the world.
It sounds incredibly serious, but Bean laces the story with a ton of humor, including giving D’Orc a bloodthirsty, possessed shield complete with a bulbous eye and a flippant mouth. Then there’s the ghostly chicken head and its animated body, helping to create an adventuring party that’s simply too unusual not to be funny.
As a writer, Bean tosses jokes around with ease. My wife can confirm that I laughed out loud on more than a few occasions.
Artistically, while many pages are awash in blood and gore, Bean renders everything with a cartoon flair that softens the violence without diminishing its impact.
This isn’t a “great” graphic novel in the same vein as classics like Maus or Essex County, but darn it, it was so much fun to read. It captures the perfect summer vibe and is an absolute blast from beginning to end.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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