CREATURES & CORRIDORS

In Auman’s graphic novel, a group of RPG-loving high school friends face untold horrors when they’re sucked into a cursed game and must fight their way out.

The story takes place in 1992. The author introduces a group of five teenage friends engaged in the role-playing game Creatures and Corridors by way of some satirical classifications: Brian Daly (class: Game Master; race: Half-Nerd); his sister, Joelle (class: Popular Girl; race: Alternative); Wes Wowra (class: Dumbass; race: Jock); Sofia Reyes (class: Smartass; race: Goth); and Jamal Konyar (class: Heckler; race: Full Nerd). When Brian reads from “the rarest Creatures and Corridors manual ever,” horrifying entities suddenly appear in real life, killing the Daly siblings’ father before the group can flee through a mysterious door. They find themselves in a dungeon; Brian realizes that they’ve been transported into the game and calls out to the one in charge, the Game Master, who reveals that the only way out is to “Solve the riddles. Defeat the guardians. Claim the book.” The friends make their way through various perils, encountering horrifying creatures while simultaneously hashing out typical high school issues like a budding romance and popularity woes. Mutti’s illustrations follow a classic comics style that features muted colors (sometimes Joelle’s red hair is the only color in the panel), copious terrifying details, and imaginative monsters (like the creepy Bone Guardian). Auman’s narrative expertly blends teenage drama with nonstop violent battles and RPG touchstones, such as meeting a nonplayer character. The strong language and plentiful gore indicate that this atmospheric graphic novel is intended for mature audiences. Aside from an unfortunate moment of sexist stereotyping (when Sofia reveals that she only joined the campaign because she was hoping Brian would ask her out), the storyline navigates its twists and turns with aplomb. Complete with a bloody showdown and a cliffhanger that’s likely to shock even the most seasoned RPG fiction readers, the result is a delightfully gory ride.

Richly imagined and illustrated, a splendidly dark ode to RPGs and classic horror tales.