Comic Review: Modern Fantasy #1

Modern Fantasy #1

Dark Horse Comics

Writer: Rafer Roberts

Artist: Kristen Gudsnuk

The main promise of Modern Fantasy is to appeal to fans of tabletop roleplaying games while also being a reflection of the humdrum routine of office workers, and that promise is well fulfilled by the first issue. Main character Sage of the Riverlands is a 20-something cubicle worker who dreams of greater things even though she lives in a world where the fantastical is commonplace. When a friend of a friend gets caught up with what is presumably a cult, she gets her wish, and then the issue ends. This may sound like a thousand other things, but that doesn’t matter, because the first issue at least leans much more into comedy than drama, and the comedy works on levels both artistic and written.

The visual charm of Modern Fantasy is twofold. The simple, straightforward style lends itself well to absurd facial expressions ranging from shit-eating grins to looks of incredulity to dramatic close-ups which help to endear the characters to the reader. The animated nature of the cast is as central to the comedic timing of the series as the dialogue, which is believable in a casual, “this is how real 20-somethings talk” sort of way, and the two factors together make the characters feel like people the reader might actually know despite the fantasy elements of the setting.

The other major visual charm factor lies in the background, where readers who take their time will find all sorts of fun little easter eggs, such as “Lich of the Week” wall hangings or Mace’s department stores in addition to all sorts of creatures that will be familiar to tabletop players and fantasy fans, regardless of whether their interest in those things is casual or intense. One aspect of these details I especially appreciated is their consistency, as signs and such will reappear if the audience sees the same location twice. The creative team could have come up with new visual gags each time and I certainly wouldn’t have complained, but the consistency is a nice touch.

Like many things that aim to appeal in any capacity to 20-somethings, Modern Fantasy is at once fluffily whimsical and depressingly relatable in that very particular way that the younger adults of today have adopted. Personally, I find this style of humor and storytelling delightful, so I definitely recommend keeping an eye on this one moving forward.