FANTASTIC TALES OF NOTHING

On Nothing, a decadelong truce binds a tenuous peace between the Human Empire and the Volken Court—but now humans and volken alike are disappearing as the encroaching Darkness spreads across the lands.

Nathan Cadwell, a charismatic gambler, miraculously magics himself out of the clutches of ferocious debt collectors. Waking up in the dangerous Booreal Forest, Nathan narrowly evades an attack by a volken—a magical being with the ability to transform into an animal—thanks to an enigmatic nonbinary Fae that comes to his rescue. Naming his savior Haven, Nathan and his newfound friend escape to a nearby town, where mercenaries kidnap the pair. The mercenaries—a volken and a traitorous half volken/half human—escort Nathan and Haven to the Empire’s capital, where Prince Naoki and his entrusted guard, Ren, enlist the group to uncover the truths behind the Darkness; the goddesses’ child, Lerina; and the mysterious source of Nathan’s magic. Loaded with humor and thrilling magical combat, this spin on the chosen one trope wrings out a lot of fun despite some oddball pacing. A few meta-jokes draw needless attention to the formulaic narrative, but strong characters and intriguing worldbuilding make for a gratifying hero’s journey. Featuring text in in-universe Ancient (actually Esperanto) and Common (English) languages, as well as a racially diverse cast, this webcomic-turned–graphic novel ends on a promise of a sequel.

It may be Nothing, but this adventure’s really something.