THE LIONHARTS

In this series opener, an adventuring family goes on a perilous journey that leads to multiple revelations.

In the town of Smudge, the Lionharts run a for-hire family questing business. Mom’s parents, sword-wielding Grammy and wizard Baba, are retired, so Mom and Dad do the heavy lifting. Determined, sensitive Alder desperately wants to join them, but Mom insists he work the counter, do paperwork, and keep an eye on his sneaky little brother, Flynt. An odd, fancily dressed woman hires the Lionharts to retrieve her treasure, but when Mom and Dad don’t return after a few days, Alder and Flynt set off to find them. Grammy and Baba thankfully follow soon after, as the boys underestimated the potential dangers. The quartet journeys on, encountering a kind troll, mushroom-shaped bogmen, dueling ogres, Baba’s elf ex-girlfriend, and a fearsome, trouble-making dragon from Grammy’s past. In this story, family comes first and readers witness healthy relationships and many encouraging moments of good (grand)parenting. The art is formatted in traditional comic panels that change dynamically to fit the story beats and temporal shifts. The vibrant color palette enhances the line art, which has a fantastic sense of movement. The family is multiracial: Grammy has brown skin and Afro-textured hair, and Baba and Dad present white. Readers will finish the book excited for more action that only stops for sweet moments of family bonding.

Engagingly told and beautifully illustrated; sure to appeal to fans of tabletop role-playing games.