FLGS: Battle Games, Adventure Games and Fantasy Art: Part 2

After collecting a bit of information from and about Kingdom of Adventure, we’re confident we’ve a few suggestions that can help to grow the business without jeopardising the existing customer base. They’re offered informally and presented as ‘zero cost’ options, so it’s up to the owner, or any other FLGS owner, to make [...]

FLGS: Battle Games, Adventure Games and Fantasy Art Part 1

An interesting email arrived from Favourite Local Game Store (FLGS) Kingdom of Adventure, which is based in the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy. The store’s owner runs a successful ‘comics, RPGs and wargames’ model that’s ideally suited to delivering a loyal customer base.

A quick look at the website, (and related [...]

Spies, Saboteurs and Secret Agents

Spies, saboteurs and secret agents slot straight into most game formats and settings with ease. They do so by drawing play away from direct confrontation and by asking players to try out new challenges.

Whether taking the part of spies, or simply up against some spies, players of tabletop and videogame [...]

Graphic Novels To Die For: Part 4

Between us we get through several graphic novels a month. Some of them probably merit a post but don’t make the cut. That’s mainly because sticking to ‘the best of the best’ helps to showcase the entertainment (and skills) delivered by good graphic novels. Another reason is to avoid disappointing fans of graphic [...]

Graphic Novel: Not Dead Yet

Just a quick mention for the Wolverine standalone Not Dead Yet. None of us would usually try or buy a Wolverine ‘standalone’ collection packaged as a graphic novel. But a Warren Ellis storyline is always worth a glance and Leinil Francis Yu’s artwork drags you in. The action sequences work particularly well.

Graphic Novels To Die For: Part 3

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Craig Thompson’s semi-autobiographical story about first love and growing up in a deeply religious community demonstrates a full range of graphic and storytelling skills. The brushed images are ‘to die for’ and consistently strong across hundreds of pages. The pace and content of the script is skilfully paced [...]

Graphic Novels To Die For: Part 2

300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

The 300 is based more on the Hollywood movie of the same name than exact historical details of the battle at Thermopylae. Nevertheless, it presents a dramatic account of how Leonidas and his Spartans stood against King Xerxes’ massive Persian army. Miller’s composition and execution [...]

Graphic Novels To Die For: Part 1

Charley’s War by Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun

Charley’s War had a dramatic effect on publishers produced battle comics in the UK between the 1950s and the 1980s. The comic’s setting in World War 1 was an indication of what Mills and Colquhoun had in mind, as they turned away from the [...]