written and lettered

by colin bell
art and colouring
by neil slorance
additional colours by david b. cooper
colour assists by david b. cooper,
lisa murphy, and holley mckend

created by slorance & Bell

o r i gi nalLy p ubl i sh ed as dun geo n fun boOks one to four.
dun geo n f un c o p y r i gh t © c o l i n belL and neil s lorance.
a lL ri g h ts reser v ed. n o par t o f t h i s p ubl i c at i o n m ay be reproduced or trans mitTed,
i n a n y f o rm o r by an y m ean s (ex c ep t f o r sh ort excerpts for review purpos es )
w i t h o u t t h e ex p r esS wr i tTen p er m i sS i o n o f t h e authors . alL na mes , characters , events
a n d l o c a l es i n t h i s p ubl i c at i o n ar e en t i r ely f ictional. any res embl ance to actual
p e rs o n s ( l i v i n g o r dead) , ev en ts o r p l ac es, without s atiric intent, is coincidental.

pu bl i s h e d by d og oO der comics
.
DGC008
ONE
“THIS IS
the STORY
OF A GIRL
AND HER
SWORD.”
this is the story of a girl and her sword.

{AHEM}

what ho,
bridge
trolL!
 I am a knight,
of considerable a Champion
Clout! an alLy of justice!
indeEd, when A f--
there’s danger
about! jefF.

beg
pardon?

my
name isn’t
“bridge trolL,”
it’s jefF.

bridge trolLing
is what I do, not
who I am. my work
doesn’t define me
as a person.

tap
tap

...also I’m
on a break.
my colLeague
here wilL
asSist you.

hulLo!

I seE.
what
ho...

I am a knight,
of considerable
...NevilLe. Clout! an alLy
inD--
Whoa
there
sir!

I heard
you the
first time.
 please most
sir, right kind.
this way.

he went egads! sir. I’m

through it what obliged
again! chicanery to ask:
is this?
do you have
any metalLic
items on your
person?

sir, we’re going

to have to ask
that you remove
welL, my them.
armour.
for reasons
and my of bridge
sword. security,
sir.

whoOps!
please
be careful
NO!
with this.
(I stole it
from an angry
witch.)

oh, hey.

so is is the sword.
th
historicalLy, For the people of deEpmoat, though some were more
falLing objects were nothing new. welcome than the rest.

MUD

but, over time, they learned to ignore

them and focus on what matTered.

MUD
and soOn they were simply a part of life.

MUD
as welL as the other.

moO

MUD

(by which I mean DEAth.)

anyway. or betTer yet,
you know, nice to
I think this why don’t stand outside
seE you finalLy you bite me, your stupid doOr
is the girl.
th
might be some making friends, grimload?
is
hm. of my best fun! and do nothing.
work yet.
again.
like you
do every
day.
you
jerk.

hey!

I’m guarding guarding nothing

going mudDy deEpmoat is a from what?! hapPens!
to calL stickarms. very important from the crushing you stand at that
you... joB! my mum boredom of doOr and no-one
says so! living here? goes in or
comes out!
if something
ever does
hapPen in
deEpmoat, I’lL
be sure to let
you know!

AH!
 you know how I
hey, said I’d telL you if
grimload? something hapPened
in DeEpmoat?

OoOH
you stupid
bridge trolLs,
always throwing
your junk down
here! I swear
...as soOn
as I can
figure out
how to get
up there!
 Bronan,
LoOkit! Those
bronan! stupid bridge
trolLs threw more
junk down here!
I neEd to go telL
them what
for!
out of
my way,
people!

I knew you
diD YOU FiLE wouldn’t. Bronan.
A COMPlaint
like I told
you to last
sSh. so I filed you’re
thank
you. I stilL
one on your welcome! neEd to
time? behalf. seE him.
welL, no,
but--

...it’s okay,
Bronan. I knew in this
this day would boOk.
come.
of
for it prophecies.
I’m sorRy, was
Fun, BUT You writTen. that I
know the wrote.
rule:
No one seEs
MistER ElLiseye
unlesS he
sumMons Halt.
them.
“NO ONE
SEeS ELliSEYE
UNLESs HE
SUMmONS
THEM.”
 yes!
I’ve beEn
I’m in loOking forward
your boOk? to today for
today? some time. for
today
is...

skr
it
skr ch
itc
h

I’m not loOking

...The Day the No, wait – to lead anyone to
Girl Who FelL I didn’t falL freEdom, just to
From The Sky Led from the sky. telL those stupid
DeEpmoat To The sword bridge trolLs ofF for
FreEdom! did. throwing their junk
down here!
And you know
you’re the only one
who can read that
boOk, stop waving
it about like that.
Come on.

yes,
yes...

of
ThankfulLy, of of...
there is another
prophecy…Of…
...THE DAY
skr THE GiRL TOoK
it
skr ch THE SWORD THAT FELl
itc
h
FROM THE SKY AND
TOLD OFf THE STUPiD
BRiDGE TROLlS!

alright!
now you’re
talking!

Shaman,
I’m not so
sure--
...that
wait, bronan is
bronan! another prophecised
prophecy! skr
it
skr ch
to make me a
Today is also itc
h sandwich!
the day…
 I thought nope.
I was prophecised
to make you definitely
a sandwich today.
yesterday?

the mudlifters-- I know you’re mad

your parents-- about the things that
atTaboy. were already very falL into our lives, but
{sigh} now, listen old when you... what hapPened to them...
Fun-- came along. was just life.
so as it
is writTen,
so shalL it
be.

goOd. because because that’s

I was concerned not the way.
I you’re just loOking you’re destined
know. for something for greatnesS,
to hit. kid.
no.

right.

now
hey! let’s go I’ve no idea
do this. how they’re
I’ve going to take
seEn it when you try
it. and open that
doOr.
 I’m going So either you
through let me past, or…
that doOr, welL, you get to do
Grimload! your job for once
in your life and …writTen…
actualLy guard {nom}
oh the doOr. has beEn
no. foreseEn…
elLiseye, {om om}
no no no back me
no no no. up!

mun
munch
ch

I hear them, sometimes

don’t you I can scarce in the dungeon. in my
speak to remember last time scratching at sleEp.
the lad we had one of them and there the walLs.
are some ...I fear
like that! blimMin’ monsters it may have
round here! right rotTers driven me--
in that there
he does a dungeon!
smashing job for mud’s
keEping us the sake lad!
safe! worst! speak up or
shut up!
the
worstest!

...and as
for you.
horace
and primrose
mudlifter would be
distraught to know
they’d raised such a No, she says
troublemaker. she’s going to
is that is she going telL the bridge
the human to liberate trolLs to stop
I... girl? us from the throwing things
tyranNy of the down here.
What’s she evil QueEn?
WHY don’t saying?
you bite me,
grimMamMy?
Oh. that’s
nice toO
I supPose.

would that your humble narRator could say that

this was setTled in a straightforward manNer!
 alas, it ended in a debate.
YEeSH.
always, always, debates
with these guys.

there were charts... and emotive pleas...

typical mud harvest TROLL CAREER PROGRESSION

...and then when no one was loOking,

fun went and opened the doOr anyway.

I know, right?
 hulLo!

yelLo!
what were
we ever boy, do I
oh, afraid of? feEl stupid
uh... hi! for being
he’s not worRied.
helLo! so bad! it’s just a
big smiley hey
head! there!

whaAaAa
 and
I’m cecil!
hulLo!

cecil why do
you always you are
have to do completely
this to us. undermining
us cecil.

HEY!
 a human!
what’s a you eat
WHY don’t human doing it, cecil!
you whoa! down here? ALSO, DO
YOU KisS your
fun! jam it up mother with
LANGUAGE! that mouth?
falLs ofF?

guUuys,
you know I’m
alLergic to
humans!

(apologies for any

ofFence caused)

I say we vote! aye! what you used

alL in favour of say you, motion VETO! your veto
cecil eating the wurstest? aye! carRied! last weEk!
human? what say
you, wurstest?

oh for
crying out
loud...

...I’lL
do it.
FUN!

I always
knew it
would end
this way!
CHOMP!
elLiseye!

...I think
yum yu-- his beard got
tangled in my
uvula.
meanwhile...

what a
racket!
what
is going
on down perhaps
there? I shalL
investigate
at a later
date!

but
for now, there
st are princesSes
du st
du trapPed in
castles to be
saved!
presumably
lovely
princesSes!

right
then. I am a
knight of
consider-
able--
...oh
pasSport. come
on.

he was
stronger
than he
loOked
 just
you nice people before you got
shouldn’t like him don’t he cared here, he told me
have done just falL out about me. he was worRied
that. of the sky. not I was loOking
down here. for something
elLiseye to hit.
was a nice
man. I said I
wasn’t.

when
someone cares
about you like that,
you’lL say anything
not to let them
down.

Wurstest,
prepare to
meEt your
worstest
nightmare!
worst
nightmare!
I meant
worst!
 you may
have bested haha!
what? me sir knight,
How? but heEd my
warning--
whatever CURSES!
wait... you say, foul
witch!
that
sword is
cursed!

smek

I’m
what are glad you I am a
you? asked! knight of
cons--

HEY!

shoO.

shoO.

we Kind
of want to
seE how this
plays out!

my
money’s on
the {kafF}
fairy
knight!

why have
you stopPed
trying to
eat her?
 haha!
choke on
me, you
brute!

stay come
stilL! back! noOope!
shan’t!

that’s hah!
I like your
spirit! we’re not
it’s what you get so difFerent,
down!
quickly,
...it’s for eating you and I...
kilL it!
dead. it loOks
like... he
my friend.
choked.
 you
kilLed my
other
head! no.

no. Let’s
try this
again.
sword!

hitfaceswordpleasenow!

UP! UP! swish! down! down!

LEFT! RiGHT! RiGHT!

LEFT!

BE!
GRRAAAAAA
A!
SLICE
 AieEeEeEe!
Owow
owow
owow! let’s get
out of
here!

would
you--
sSsSsS
sSsSsSsS wait--
sSsS!
I think I
might be
alLergic to this
swords! way!

one
I’m of them
not so seEmed… nice.
sure...
right
where
we want execute
them! the beast
just young
great. lady.

but
which?

yes! that wait... ...why

was me-- wait... don’t you
cecil. bite me,
just do it wurstest?
please he does already!
kilL my make a
other compelLing
head! case!
 I... ha! and
I can’t! clearly you?
I am ...maybe
...because cecil!
I’m alLergic just a
to humans! lick.

drip
drip

theE?

lick
I’M
THETHil!

CHOP!
clasSic
cecil

sorRy about I’m not sure

your bros. if you understand, she sure could!
but they were very
mean to you--
welp...
can
you cut
the other wheEeEe!
one ofF as
welL?!

dust
dust
 ...guesS we
betTer go telL
those trolLs to
stop wrecking
deEpmoat.
you
can come out
now, everyone!
thanks for
the help!

do you mean THOSE actualLy, blahblahblahblahblahblahblahbla

TWO FELlOWS ON I was on my destructionblahblahblahblahblah
THE BRiDGE? way to save a saving a
blahblahblahwantonvandalismblah
princesS-- princesS
NO NEeD, don’tcomebackblahblahblahblah
sounds
I bested THEM blahblahblahblahblahblahblahbla
great.
SHORTLY BEFORE YOU! EXileblahblahblahblahblahblahBl
MY OWN UNTiMELY blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah
DEMiSE. let’s do
blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah
that.
blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah
pieceblahblahblahblahblahblahbla
ofmyblahblahblahblahblahblahbla
mindblahblahblahblahblahblah
blahblahblahblahneverblahblah
blahblabBlahblahbcomeblah
oh.
ahblahblahblahblahback
blahblahblahblahblahblah
blahblahblahblaheverblah
blahblahblahblahblahbla
blablahblahblahetcetcetc
blahblahblahblahblahbl

so.
but I’m I think I
taking just got
this! exiled.

and into the dungeon they went.

goOd what I
ridDance! misS?
meanwhile again...
anything
interesting?
Your {sigh}
majesty! MAinly very welL,
deploring how give them
I bring this you rule the land here.
quarter’s royal with an iron fist,
complaint letTers ma’am.
from the filthy
trolLs! {ptoO}
filthy trolLs,
how I hate
them! {SPit}
{spit}

have they alL

signed their
“dear queEn, complaints?
I wish to complain
about the volume “YOURS
of items that your Sincerely, bronan
bridge trolLs are the headlesS on yes, your
throwing into behalf of fun majesty!
the moat…” mudlifter.”
YADdA
YADdA so we
YADdA... know their
...something names.
difFerent,
I supPose.

nod

so
have them
kilLed.
 wow!

wow!

gerard,
insufFerable seE to it that
foOls. the complaints I don’t
procesS is know why my
made…lesS predecesSor
transparent. instalLed it.
these idiots
are lining up
to sign their
own death
warRants.

after
alL...
“...it’s hardly the first ...alL I’m GAaH! that’s
thing we’ve thrown saying is that it! I’m not
in the moat...” for someone putTing up with
raised by trolLs, your babBle
thou fights like anymore!
a maiden.

ah,
but it seEms
our destinies are
interwined! I am
cursed to folLow
whosoever bears
my sword!

so you’re
saying that
as long
as I’ve got
this sword,
we’re stuck
together?

what
are--

yes,
it would
apPear
so!

wait!
 no, you I don’t know if you
“hey listen!” noticed, but I’m a
hey! bit sore from being
exiled from my
home!
listen!
WE NEeD so I’m sorRy
TO SAVE THE if rescuing your
PRiNCESs! princesS isn’t top
of my agenda,
fairy knight!

do not calL me clearly we’re

“fairy knight!” it is both dealing with
but two facets of my a lot just now.
apPearance WEDGED --oh
so that’s I’m sorRy. let’s
TOGETHER iN A MOCKERY how that start over.
OF A moniker! works.
fun
mudlifter.

it is not
my name, and
it certainly
does not
define me!

I am a knight a pleasure
of considerable to meEt you, dear
clout! an alLy sir or madame!
indeEd when there’s sir barnabus
danger about! let our journeys games is ‘kay.
be noble! and from this who I am!
a champion day on hence, let our
of justice, a foe quests be but righteous,
of alL wrongs, an let adventure
excelLent draughtsman comMence!
and composer of ...did you
songs! just say “butT
righteous”?

but how do
you propose
“adventure
comMence”
when...
sha
shakkey
ey
 ...the
floOr is
TWO
“I AM
a knight of
considerable
clout!”
meanwhile, in the hilLs
above the castle... being a
dungeon
planNer is
hard work!

we never seE
you any more! they
work you toO hard
in that castle...

humblebrog...
I’m not hapPy
with how they
treat you.

in fact I was
so angry I
wrote a letTer
to the queEn!

hildy...

get the
kids.

...
an emisSary ...madame
madame uh... of the q-queEn hel?
Hel! is always m-most
welcome in our how can
to what do h-humble I be of
we owe the home... service?
honour?
skrr
rrit
ch

hel was coming for

fun mudlifter...
...even if she didn’t
know it yet.

so...

the
floOr is
lava.

okay. maybe
this is a
sign.

don’t be
barbaric, child!
shalL the creature
I just hit is clearly
...and then I was asleEp!
even if we get going to him with my
past that there’s mention sword like we
this felLow to that. did the last
contend with. monster?
so?

so,
I can fly over,
z sneak close, and
find a weak spot
z z z to jam our
z sword in!
research!
that is a
manNer more
befitTing of
a knight!

NO I don’t think I
? can seE anything
observe!

sme
k

...my
sword.
 goOd going,
grimload.

BRonan!
where have
you beEn?
whereisit
whereisit there was
whereisit a monster!
I got
a bit eaten
for a
while!

loOking for
something?

I was in the
toilets dealing
with a monster
of my own!

...oh
that is just
grosS.
 Don’t just my
stand there, boOk!
help me!
my boOk of
prophecy!
what
are we it’s got
loOking my lotTery
for? numbers
in it!

...try
moving a
chopPed-ofF
monster
but I head.
thought you
could predict anyway,
the future? your litTle
human friend
toOk your
boOk.

fun?!

that’s her.
YES!
She said--

And I predict
NO LOTtERY
WiNS FOR ME
if I don’t find you think
my numbers! you’ve got
problems,
elLiseye?

“and I’m ...just

taking this stupid realLy
boOk toO, you rude.
stinking moat and then
goOns!” we exiled
her.

oh.
fly
fly he was
{woOft!} perhaps
straight up
spewing lava me can be
in there! of service!
maybe we
fly should loOk
for another
way round?

or a
run map?
run n
ru

...welcomes,
strangers! how about
you welcome
my sword,
you sneaky-upPy
dungeon
fiend!?
 (our hold the steEl, young any dungeon worth its salt has a dungeon master!
sword) fun -- I feEl we have
found an alLy!
DUNGEON
more
like:
“Dungeon”
MASTER
“traineE”
’dʌndʒən ˈmɑːstə(r)
st dungeon masters are oath-bound to maintain the
op
order of a dungeon and provide
information to inhabitants and
visitors alike!
these
robes... so, we can ask him anything
and he has to telL us! like,
goOd how do we get round this
sir, you are lava beast, for instance?
a dungeon
master, are
you not? gosh LET’S FiND OUT!

compassion sword
HAW! (Grade 3) fencing
ME AM
Wishing me
was Dungeon
fire ladder
master! marshall climbing
me more
of dungeon... marksmanship orienteering
“apPrentice”,
is right? (Level 3)
a few
more badges some kind of 100m
me am neEding skull badge (?) breaststroke
before me can
level up!
astronomer speaks fluent
(amateur) spider

and
frank I am a this is
baxter. knight of games.
consid-- is there a
map that can
show us another
way around this...
lava monster?
fun
mudlifter.

shake
y
shake

yes! bEGin, you am standing

your quest in a gloOmy
does! corRidor!
 record is difFicult
disguise keEping. because frank
so what badge. canNot count woah, what
badges do you more than hapPened to
neEd to become eight. this guy?
a dungeon map
master? is this
way, come.
come.

No sword or I’m not have some

shield. I don’t know sure he even respect,
how this adventurer deserves to Games...
thought he might be calLed an
survive in here! adventurer!

hi

a horde of wild it’s pronounced

skelLertons “skeletons.” Let’s
has apPeared! not be toO rash,
Frank! These guys
haven’t done
anything.

do you
run away?
Yes or no?
yes,
right?

bash! run
away!
silence! 8
damage!
bewaaare
 8
damage! Pow!
8
damage!

8
damage!

...these
skelLingtons
is he haven’t reacted
alLowed to welL to having their
do that? heads punched
ofF.

fun... run
away!
again, it’s
pronounced
“skeletons” but
I take your
point.

a band
of ogres
apPear!
quickly!
my dungeon
sense is
tingling!

{hufF}
what
was--

nope...
 “this is a robBery. please wow!
...just hand over alL weaponary and a stick-
me. no one wilL be hurt.” you-up!
best
we be giving
our swords to
ogre now.

{ahem}

hey, careful!
I thought you
I’lL said no one
give him my would get
sword, alL hurt!
right!

no, you right then.

said-- got what I be
came for, seEing
I guesS. you.

{gasp}
do you
charming! think the
hey games-- curse has
didn’t you telL me beEn lif--
you were cursed “to
folLow whosoever
bears that
sword?”
 huh? Oh,
games! sorRys.
he got Hang on--
games! ...

and my you don’t

sword! what seEm very
are we going concerned
to do? though.

...oh noes! he said he but the futures I thought

wait-- could predict he predicted for I might be able
everyone always to loOk for a you
what the future. no might as
one believed sounded so nice. sign of what
welL have
am you he could. so when he... to do in it.
doing? got eaten, But no. it.
I toOk this.
this boOk use the blank
belonged to pages for your
my friend. record keEping
badge.

...your fun...
friend sure am this nicest
loving drawing thing anyone
sandwiches. ever doing for
frank.

...so
frank am
feEling bad
about doing
this.

I think
something just

!
hapPened to my

P
boOk!

WHO M
 meanwhile...

But your
majesty...
if you could
just loOk at
these...

gerard,
I’m going
for a lie
down! {sigh}
for once in
your miserable
existence could
you just make
a decision on
your own?

...don’t come
crying to me if who is it?
telL them coming!
you don’t like the
new curtains. guUuUHhh we’re not
interested!

coming!

coming! coming!

50 minutes later are you

helLo? do I loOk empowered to
like royalty to make a decision
you, peasant? to change things
howdy! round here?
are you the
owner of this
fine-loOkin’
castle?

mighty sorRy
sir, and I mean
no disrespect.
lemMe put it to
you this way:
cut to: ...I mean, like what?
it’s a very it-- company
convincing it has dragon for show
pitch, herb. perks! getTing to me.
but-- hey! who work?
wouldn’t have
reservations?
but listen, they
pay you welL
here?

that’s
what they gerRy my
lay on for man, I’ve beEn that’s
you? that old doing this job my ride.
wheEzer? for threE
months...

heh. ...point being,

sorRy if you agreE to
‘bout that,
dragons am my proposal the
I right money you stand
to make is

what was welL, she

that? what does says...
it say?

your
majesty!
a note from
young misS
HEL!
“...‘one down.’”

a+
entrance
such
awesome drama

{hup} spring

pad
dof
pad
pad

hey!

k
sme
WHUD ah! B

{hup}

FLAP
FLAP
FLAP

h--
hey!

...
 don’t
do this. be
reasonable.

AYAYAYAyayayayayayayaya

{sigh}
the sorRy.
sword is
cursed. we
get it. I could
do this alL
day!

hk!

curses, ogre, princesSes? not even in

unhand me! dungeonham.
no
princesSes (despite the
down sherifF’s best
here. efForts.)

I am on a noble I’m sorRy

quest to save to say it,
princesSes, and but--
your tomfoOlery
is jeopardising
their lives!
“...your princesSes are
in another castle!”

yi!

ms-
flkms;m
mls;fms;-
flms;fms;m
f;smf;lm-
f;lf;d

*translated from spider

 m
f slkm md
rnk- lskm- ad;m-
bx- jmf d;m;lm
tr! d;am-

ml;fs;- ,; m;lv
msoi
flms;l
fms;l ls,; jne-
oirn

blac yeah
mma;dd yeah
lmda yeah

msk
ml fkm
sfm

...
teb
bus
 pat t
pa

ms
flkm
flsk
mf t
here
ther
e

uh...wise great and this guy’S

ochodextro say TOo BiG TO move,
“pasS my trial, fun right? that’s why
has.” freE to leave you’re bringing it
now. foOd? welL,yes
but--

right.

yes. is
...so I kind probably
of neEd you to fair
get me out of here, enough.
but we’lL neEd to
talk about this whole
“trying to feEd me to
monsters” thing.

H
EY!
that’s for
trying to
eat me!
let’s
go!

here! welL.
here is this is
map! a sign.
 is map!
Like you ask!
enjoy!
a map would
fold up and fit in
my pocket! a map I ...plan
could take with me! efFicient journey,
what am I meant to yes? is trick
do with this? question?

--oh
this is hang on a
ridiculous. minute. what
gnNnNaAa! I’m so does that
angry I say?
could sp--

stom
stom p
p
 creeee
ho-hum. eek

I believe you
have something
that belongs
{ahem} to me.

you mean your are we

sword? you’re friends?
holding it. of
course! are--
I mean are we--
my friend,
pal. Give him
back. are we not
friends? even.

(our absolutely
sword) not!

he’s my
friend now!
Walk away!
 but... the just... riiiiiight.
but... ogre is walk
right, away.
fun.

k!
win

my my
name is not friends are
hurR! “fairy Knight.”
can’t have outside in
it’s barnabus the dungeon, aw
beEn that goOd games. man!
friends. where are waiting for
they now, litTle me.

SLAM
fairy knight? dear
felLow, even
for an ogre
you are quite
the dolt.

pretTy
smart,
games!
...I’m so
lonely.

totalLy
knight-like!
quality didn’t
adventuring we come we
alL round. this way did!
earlier?

...but now
I’ve figured out
how to get past
this bit!
 so, games, you.
you’lL distract know.
the monster coO-eE! and how is
while Frank gets frank getTing
us over to the you over?
other side. how.

how wilL mister

I distract lavalava!
it?

you ah
know yes!
how.

this way!
this way!
Notscared tzo!
notscared
wawawawa
ip
thw

{hup}
caution
where team!
did the
rope come
from?

you don’t so here’s

want to the thing I
know. figured.
your
lava monster
isn’t trying to
atTack us...
 ...your lava this alL
monster is sick. seEms like t
because you’ve realLy basic (it was his guy)
got him next stufF.
doOr to an ice who
monster. planNed
your ice this dungeon,
monster doesn’t anyway?
loOk toO goOd,
either.
 ...so thanks
alL that best not dungeon fun!
lava was to think what trolLs move
actualLy-- about it. hapPens johanNabilt to
now? new dungeon.
monsters
feEl betTer.

already me
be seEing
improvement in
boOmbastyx.

I take back.
you am toO harsh
for being dungeon
master.
you would so would
be making am you if you didn’t who say
goOd dungeon try and feEd anything about
master, fun. everyone to mums anyway
your mum. what are you
talking about?
 critical
hit! no!

hey! aw
man!
{hnf} we must I realLy think
be getTing you should
somewhere say your
if people are fun... goOdbyes... we’re saying
trying to stop I’m afraid goOdbye,
us! our dungeon alright!
master has beEn
gravely light...
injured. fading...
no you’re
not, don’t
be silLy.
your
face is a
shield.
critical you
hit...me stole it
done for! from that
skeleton.

eEp!

goOdbye
to this
manipulative

we’ve ran his

gauntlet long
enough!

and you’ve
outlived your
usefulnesS! ms-
d;llms;
mfms;m-
f;mf;ms-
f;mf;m also
I’m taking
this!

come GAMES, lets. I think she might

back! LET’S GET OUT who was have beEn the
OF HERE. that mystery sherifF of
Frank archer? dungeonham!
can stilL be
useful!

! También
hablo
español!

whoever
she was, she
betTer prepare
herself...
 because
we’re about
to level
up.
THREE
“MY
DUNGEON
SENSE IS
TINGLING!”
oh, but then:
huh?

where...

eEp!

welL, that
sounds
ominous. you’re not
wrong.
now. any
idea why there’s
a forest inside this
dungeon?

great question!
 when the inhabitants of ...and a wilLingnesS
the third level of the to make the best out of
dungeon first arRived, it a bad situation.
was in circumstances that
were lesS than ideal.

but they had two

things that went in their
favour: a wise leader...

and so they
redecorated.

and rebuilt... and they reclaimed a

life that was not so far
removed from how they
used to live.

it wouldn’t
last.
 they weren’t
alone. beg
pardon for welL you
saying so sir, know me,
not yet. but that sounds glopP...
seE ominous. ...I’m a
anything, but there’s nae-sayer.
sir? time.

sheriff

...that wasn’t
a request,
glopP. let’s go.
gidDy-up.
that
sounds even
ominous..er.

aye,
sir!

agreEd. let’s
investigate,
shalL we?
 ah!
don’t loOk
at me! I’m
hideous!

I’m fun, this is we’lL ask the easy, glopP. you’re the we thought that
...okay. games and we’re questions round I’m butTer sherifF of was the fair
investigating some here, newbies! Dunderchute, dungeonham? maiden archer that
screaming. you question one: why the sherifF of this atTacked us!
hear any? alL the screaming, town. Please excuse
huh? my over-zealous
asSistant.

what Did you say glopP, send word you don’t scare me,
do you know madame hel to madame hel it seEms my bubBa dunderheid! this
of Dungeonh-- is pursuing that we hold her days of woah is the sword that toOk
wait. you? prey captive and wilL not be the heads of the
she knows our furlong! wurstest.
terms. I also
kicked a big
spider right
in the butT
recently!

eEp!

so you feEl
you’ve faced
monsters.
how cute. He realLy
was a master
swordsman!

KLANG!

but I warn
you now, child--
you have never
faced the master
swordsman butTer
dunderchute!
 great! now am
let’s back-up a bit: on orders I able to order
she toOk from the someone to help no
bronan! that queEn, no me with these neEd!
loOk on his doubt! monster
face! heads?

sm
ek

I’lL seE to it my you must be the herb in a manNer.

men wilL take care leader of this here humperdoOp. why, you could
and lucky say it’s one of
of that for you, for you, my fine comMunity.
ma’am, or my name pleasure’s alL mine, them there goOd
name is herb ...and you’re news/great news
ain’t herb humperdoOp. I asSure you, here to tidy
humperdoOp. scenarios!
up this
place?

lesSeE, goOd GREAT news… So…we’lL on orders the queEn is

news...we’re then we’re neEd everyone to from the indisposed? her
tidying up this demolishing it move, please! queEn, no y’alL got a manservant pulLs
moat for ya. and turning it into Oh! doubt! queEn? naw, this the strings? you
a multi-storey GoOd news, was signed ofF by realise what this
dragon park! great news, a litTle grey means?
amazing news: felLa. name’a
You don’t live gerard.
in a moat
anymore?

k
sme

also
I totalLy
a power knew this was
vacuUm! going to
hapPen!
 Sounds like With it, I can
did we’re going soOk up those
you hear to be evicted, monster heads and
that, lad? mum. I’lL start clean up deEpmoat
packing. once and for alL!
Go and fetch it
not for me! Go!
that!

the
power

vacuUm.

you’re probably asking

I’lL “what does this have to do
soOk them with anything?”
up toO! Go!
go go go! “is this the story of

muUuU
uUuUuUuU
uUuUm
or what?”
of course not! ...I’m sure it’lL
alL be relevant at some point.
 stay away from sherifF!
let’s get back to so glad I
fun and games. the woOds today
everyone! amber caught you!
alert. gah!
uh, right after
this guy. today’s
forecast: low to
moderate chance
of ghosts!

thanks
sherifF!

gulLibelinda! that’s what I the new arRivals!

how lovely to want to talk I think they hold
seE you. now, I to you about! the key to solving
must return to our problem.
my post...
...our ghost
problem?

with the
ghosts.

actualLy, they’re madame hel wilL be if your businesS with

the key to solving here soOn, and she’lL be them can be conducted
my problem. taking them with her, while they remain behind
no doubt. bars, so be it.

but... if they
helped with
the ghosts...
sherifF, we
could roam
this dungeon
freEly again.

...as your it’s not safe

sherifF I must for you here.
remind you that you return to your
are outside vilLage home.
limits.

leave the
ghosts to me,
gulLibelinda... tryand
not to
stirRup any
trouble.
 WelL, loOks like we’re don’t you realise
going to be here a while. Oh, that? how important
You might as welL read I gave that stories are? stories are
me a story from that to Frank. they’re how we alL that’s left
boOk you toOk. share experiences! of us after we’re
You how we entertain gone! a story is
WHAT? each other! the best thing
you could hope
to be!

I’ve
got a
story...

actualLy,
...the story of what is your
the jailer who story?
was bored to death because no …I
by his boring
prisoners!
YAWN ofFense, but the
sherifF seEms kind of
don’t have
to telL you
a jerk. yet you let him that.
ride you around like
a horse. why is
that?

it’s because
I’m cursed to aw,
do what anyone nuts.
telLs me.
aw,
go on, telL
us!

So if we …I don’t let
told you to have to us out let
let us out answer your us out let us
of here, you’d questions! out let us
have to? out
 don’t lock me in that’s goOd to it may be in as usual
here! the sherifF’s know, thanks! our favour to games, I’m
toO busy minding the and don’t telL pasS through way ahead of now hand
town from ghosts to anyone where this hovel you. me that
worRy about you we went! undetected. blanket.
two!

And try and

GreEtings keEp the head
be giving you ugh! leave upright!
felLow dungeon the talking to
inhabitant! me, you sound
nothing like
him!
i’m trying!
this thing
weighs more
than me!
where are
you taking
us?

you didn’t my vision is

seE the sign? obscured by this
this is a magic Shield in my
tavern! face. and I stilL hey, so
fail to seE what why--
atTraction--
{ahem}
magic
tavern,
games!

...

why’s this
place calLed
the magic

DON’T
tavern?

DON’T
ASK ASK
k weEeEeEe
sme
 we’re
cursed! enchanted!
DON’T
we are
cursed!ASK (it’s the
worst.)

DON’T
ASK
we
regret
a wizard it! but
did it! it was
humorous
at first!

we’ve no we we life
no physical just sit exist! nothing for us?
hands! and no neEd to here! a crushing
eat! more! bore!
feEt!
spout
opinions!

like
embitTered
tavern
minions!

‘
DON’T
ASK
 Bso that
you’lL alL B
re... ...mumber?

B AND SO WE Sing
this number
B

DON’T
B ASK

{pan and I am a knight of

nt} t} considerable clout! an
{pa alLy indeEd when there’s
danger about!
{pan
t}
{pan
t}

{pant
}
 WelL if it
isn’t litTle misS
and sir exploits-
the-cursed!
welL, you
won’t be
exploiting this
guy again in
a hurRy.

Yup, you’re not

getTing me this
time. I can’t hear
a thing. I’m not
even loOking!

you’re up ...
to something,
aren’t you. What?

aw,
come on
guys.
 right, no more a
distractions! giant worm
let’s just get out yes! let us apPeared!
of here and get on save some
with our quest! princesSes!
finalLy!

yes That’s why

SorRy sir we’re alL here
My curse wow. is
everyone in I do apologise for
hey! watch sometimes this dungeon tripPing you up
where you’re
going!
startles cursed?
I can’t seE you
people understand

No I’ve beEn
No I’m a cursed with
This poOr
devil’s beEn worm I have a loud voice
cursed with
blindnesS! no eyes

This poOr
devil’s beEn
cursed into
that is
a worm! equalLy
anNoying.
 sorRy, did you say
you were here “I was once cursed
because you were by a wizard who was
cursed? jealous of my hat.”

YES “this made me very

unpopular. you can hear
me, you understand.

“so my family toOk

me to seE the queEn.

“my elders often spoke

of the benevolent ruler
of our land.”

“if anyone could help

with my curse, she could.

“welL, she
couldn’t.

“or
wouldn’t.

“I don’t think she

was even listening.”

And then I
but another voice spoke
woke up here
I couldn’t seE it but I felt
a presence in the roOm

it just said

send it to
dungeonham now
that’s a
story!
 yes. thanks for
the story. now if what there
is ayou
you don’t mind, we
neEd to be leaving dungeonham
are! come
dungeonham--
anyway
with me!

I know you!
what you’re the
ah! is this witch I stole
place? our sword
from!*
(my
sword)

...I don’t
recalL. funNy
*chapter one, page 18, you mention your
panel 2 dungeoneErs! - ed. sword though--

you are!
your name is
gulLibelinda what
the gulLible, go on. about my
is it not? sword?

welL,
yes
but--
I am a
knight of
considerable
clou--

it’s What,
his sword? welL,
it’s mainly her
sword now.
 it’s the famed wait-- did you
spectral steEl say you stole Who, me?
of spoOksvilLe! it from me? No.
fun, I
I could sense can’t believe
its curse as soOn the curse your sword is
as you entered our means that the cursed! so
vilLage! spectre of its sad!
last owner
remains with
the sword.

and if that
spirit merges with
the sword, it becomes
a weapon designed to
fight the supernatural
and unliving!

so, games
oh okay. touches the sword
anyway... and it becomes a sword
for fighting ghosts?
How does that
work then?

totalLy.

gulLible.

it’s magic,
I don’t have
to explain it.
There’s no
rules.

ANYWAY! The
can it be reason I brought sidequest!
uncursed? you here is because most exciting!
I noticed you had that
it could, sword. you could
but he’d cease realLy help the
to exist. vilLage out!

best not,
then.

...how can
we help?

for some it’s meant we’ve

time now this beEn unable to
vilLage has beEn venture outside
plagued by our vilLage but--
ghosts--
no no
no
 fun! this is most unlike you! I don’t
as adventurers in a position to want to fight
help, it is only right we should any ghosts, ...ghosts
save this vilLage from their okay? frighten
ghost problem! me.

welL, it apPears You’re not alone. games... AlL your

that I am a ghost! There’s no neEd to be talk about
do I frighten afraid. Think how much stories…
you? this would mean to that song
these people! you sing...
alL the
time...

no...
you’re just
anNoying.

do you just
want to be ...wouldn’t
remembered? you?

okay, okay. sidequest!

let’s go get sidequest!
some ghosts. sidequest!
 no.
that
is not how we’re
doing it. you sound
ridiculous.
it’s catchy!
maybe you just
neEd to hear it
a few times.

wow.
that’s what
I was afraid
of?

it’s seEn
us!
ghost sword
activate!
ghost sword
Activate!

how
about... by
the power of go! ghost
spoOksvilLe! oOh, no--
it’s ghost-
slayin’ time! go! sword!
no,
wait!

tickles!
 “designed which means if ...bumble that vilLage
to fight the you’re alive, it dumbledance? depends on you! And you
supernatural and probably won’t repay them by scaring
unliving”... scratch you. isn’t them and keEping them
that right... prisoners in their own
homes? you’re a
monster!
ghost
sword
deactivate!

ah!
don’t loOk
at me!

you realLy think please understand...

it’s that simple? sure,
in an ideal world we’d
alL be jumping over --no.
fences and munching
sugarcubes, but it’s
just not like--
it kept them away from
here, but the ghost
wasn’t for keEping the
oh no townsfolk in -- it was
he’s here! about keEping him
out!

wha?

forget
it fun...
 ...it’s
dungeonham!

e!
mov

you must
protect the
vilLage! he
only eats the
cursed!
 hey,
snouto!

knight-
like?
indeEd. but
isn’t that the
way back to the
vilLage?

smek
 what
did you do?
at least the
ghosts weren’t
eating us!

get out of the

way! he won’t
harm me -- he
only eats the
cursed!

ah! no
swiping!

are you
kidDing me? you
hold the sword!
you’re cursed! I
explained this!

riiiiiiiiiight.
 ¡comer mi greEtings!
telaraña, here frank
cerdo! baxter!

and frank
am boOk
returning!

WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
2
damage 2
2 damage 2
damage damage

aAaAaAaH!

fun!
 I shalL
just kidDing! avenge
theE, fun
mudlifter!

stilL
here!

oh.

gulLibelinda! I can’t uncurse

you spoke of someone I haven’t
how you can sense yes, uncurse cursed myself!
the cursed – but-- it! There are rules!
is that creature
cursed?

I thought That’s just a coOl

you said thing I say! There’s a
there were Magic Police! There’s You mean...
no rules? hundreds of rules! that rule
There’s a big rule boOk?
boOk!

if anyone’s
watching this I
strongly advise
against the
totalLy. destruction of
boOks!
gulLible.
did you just
tear up the verily! right
magic rule I would go so then!
boOk? far as to venture
that there are
no rules now!

whoa!

desrucnu
era ey!

sarge, there’s barRy how about you go

a clear violation a day without violating
of rule 26b rule “don’t take the lasagne
taking place clearly marked as the
in-- sarge’s from the fridge”
and then we’lL talk.
 so. this is
the mighty ga?
dungeonham.

it’s not as if it

BURP
would bring back

BURP
he’s

BURP
alL the people
vulnerable!

BURP
he ate...
atTack it now
while we
can!

easy,
games!

hay!

budDy
didDlespit!

that
might,
though.
 butTer
dunderchute!
glad to seE
you’ve kept the
town safe in my sherifF I wish I
absence. ayeshot! could take the ...that
you’re alive! credit, but there redheaded girl
was only one over there. she’s
hero today... got some ridiculous
name I can’t
pronounce.

That’s very
kind of you.
young lady, I’m afraid I can’t but
we’d be honoured acCept the position, I’m taking
if you’d stay and I’m on a quest, I’m sure the this!
help loOk after you seE... vilLage is in safe
this town as a hands with bufFy
sherifF. sumMershorts.

but
who’s going A+
to loOk after entrance
the--
I comMand
you to raise
that baby. Next
problem!

you!
 I’m not for someone critical...
here to fight that doesn’t want hit...
you... to fight you sure
love shoOting frank
baxter in the face
with arRows!

please. that
was obviously
a shield...
{mwah}
{mwah}

hey!

tzo!

oOoh,
priiincesS...

not coOl, ...princesS?

if I kisS a
princesS my
curse is lifted!
dunderchute! everyone
and I can lose
this horRible be coOl!
I’m sorRy! visage!
I neEded to
kisS a
princesS!

if it’s
curses
you want
lifted...

why
didn’t you
say so?
 can
it be?

A G I C !
M

MAGIC
it
worked
!
{GASP}

seriously sarge,
there are curses
being lifted
unauthorised left
right and centre
here.

...lasagnes
being lifted
unauthorised
left right and
centre...

leave me
out of this,
O guys.

and you, litTle

fairy knight? I... haha! I’m not
I can lift your ready to let it is
curse toO, should welL... you go just yet,
you wish. pal! you.
 ...it
realLy is
you.

I
found
you!

stephanie,
you’re
you’re huh?!
alive! alive!
FOUR
“WE’re
“I AM
about
a knighttoof
level up.”
considerable
clout!”
THis is a story of a girl oh, coOl.
and her sword.

I already told
you that?

sorRy to
bore you.

welL, how’s this?

did you know that
before the sword...

...there was just the girl?

 stephanie!
come back STEF!
here!
fun!
KNEe!

gah! got you, you... now say “yes helena,

you monster! I understand, sorRy for
your behaviour is ruining the throne roOm.
most un-princesS Again. like I do every
-like! day.” you jerk. --mother?
{thbptT}

{sigh}
I should put
you with the
other trolLs
in the m--
{hnNg}
what are
you?

fun?

No! Don’t
hurt her!
if you want my
help, DO NOT
HURT HER.
 stephanie!

MUD

horace, did
you hear
something?

MUD

You…
MONSTER.
 that’s a lot
to take in at Am I a
...but once. first are we PrincesS?
I didn’t. try things first: princesSes?
as it might, I
didn’t become in
its monster. fact--
hold
up.

welL--
your
YES YOUR
!
MAJESTY
majesties games,
may I be get up.
the first-- games be
quiet.

YES
YOur--

don’t worRy Fun, I’ve

got this vilLain! I’m a
seasoned adventurer
hel, are we now!
princesSes? grimload?
what’s going
on?

welL--
guys
loOk
out! some
trolLs came to
build a dragon-park
over deEpmoat but now.
that’s not important has anyone
at the moment! seEn any
vacuUms?
 I’d care about because of alL the monsters stephanie,
my hometown a bit I’ve fought! THE MALEficent do you know
more if they hadn’t otTerlord! chompy the this trolL?
exiled me. many-toOthed! skulLbutT!
ah. I fun,
but ...when we went right.
why are you that makes you know
so beat up? entered the her? who’s
dungeon we sense. stephanie?
went left.

I am, Bow before …welL SHE I haven’t

apParently. potential kidnapPed hurt anyone.
royalty, Bronan! I told you,
peasant! I’m not a
monster.
Come
with me, I’lL
show you.

not likely! We neEd Stephanie,

to find the power you’ve beEn down
vacuUm and then here alL this
we neEd to save time…Haven’t you
deEpmoat! wanted to seE the
world?

alL
my life.
 are you
going with
them? ...I
don’t have
a choice.

...and you’lL
teach me alL that
coOl ninja stufF?
is that a princesS
thing toO?

...let’s
just get out of
here for now,
stephanie.

whoa! Only
{gasp} Who is my best
this? friend in the
world!

I calL
her…
flapPy
blackwings.
 it’s
bigGer than
I’d ever hel Do
imagined! you do this
Can you go every day?
ANYWHERE?
pretTy
much...

though normalLy SO COoL THAT pretTy coOl

I don’t have I CAN KEeP YOU dragon, huh
anyone constantly COMPANY. games?
yelLing in my fun, I’m
ear. a knight...

...dragons
are literalLy
our natural
enemies.
I’m finding
this horRibly
disconcerting.

I CAN’T HEAR YOU

OVER THiS WATERFALl BUT
I’m GLAD YOU’RE HAViNG absolutely.
A GOoD Time.
hey
hel aren’t we
flying a litTle
close to the
waterfalL?
 madame
hel has
returned to
helhaven!

alright, everybody,
goOd to seE you toO.
I hope you’lL alL join
me in making our new
friends welcome.

any
friend of
madame hel’s is
a friend of mine
unlesS they’re
we a terRible
love you, you are person!
madame literalLy
hel! the best!
woOoOoO!

yoW!
thank you,
flapPy. I’m
watching
you.

{snuff}
 what is this are this must be
place? these guys where she’s beEn
alL coOl ninjas stowing alL her
toO? kidnap victims! loOk
how hapPy they are
now we’re here to
freE them!

setTle
down victims,
we’lL get to you
momentarily!

hey!
I’ve not beEn I’ve
kidnapPing beEn saving she
anyone! them. did burn down
our house oh, would
though. you let that
go?

fun!
bronan!

bronan,
did you know
I was a
princesS?

as I was On orders that’s...

I-- saying... from the complicated.
QueEn, no But if I didn’t
doubt? deal with you,
someone else would
be sent to do the job.
So I hid people.
Here.

it’s true that

I had beEn sent
to kilL you. You, but now You
Bronan…everyone never have to go
here at some point anywhere again.
or another. You’re home.
 so,
elLiseye...

I guesS you’re
going to telL me
you saw this I seE
coming? alL!
...yes!
it’s
kind of my
thing!

But it’s
okay! Fun
wilL--

oh, enough You pinNed

about fun! alL our hopes on My boy
that poOr girl! wilL!
And for what?
Nothing!

She’s not
coming. She’s
not going to welL...
save us. as long as
one of us is Mum?
right.

What
are you two
doing h--
Aw,
I WENT
THE WRONG
WAY.

I wondered it’lL
why I was hapPen.
fighting She’lL come
everyone back.
twice.
please
hapPen.
 this hel...
is nice, what is it that
isn’t it? you’ve got us alL
here hiding
alL from?
of us
here. is the queEn
some kind of
safe in the monster?
darknesS of
this cold, dank
cave.

what?
no.
the it’s the
queEn’s my kumMerspeck.
mother.
she’s
just a litTle...
posSesSed by
something.

kumMerspeck.

so this thing
a creature as old as time itself! deliberately keEps
everyone miserable

KUMMERSPECK
to keEp itself
alive?
that must
'kUm-ir-shpek be why deEpmoat’s
being demolished!
a demon constructed
of shadows that
sustains itself on the
feElings of grief and
misery from those
around it!
maintains a symbiotic
relationship with a
human host--wilL die
without one.
toO bad none have got near enough to kilL it!
 whoa, deEpmoat’s we have to
elLiseye being go back to
won’t like that demolished? deEpmoat!
mu--
yeah, elLiseye’s
I’lL bet alive?
he--

but that
monster is ruining
things for
everyone!
woah
woah woah! what about
You’re not AlL the people in
going back! DeEpmoat being
forced out?

I only
just rescued
you!

please...
I can’t I can keEp
save everyone, have you you safe
Stephanie... tried? here.

That
is not fair.
Like you did Do you think I
when I got gave up on you
thrown into that easily?
the moat?
 “I searched.
so hard.”

And I’ve trained …And I’lL

my whole life to stop you if I
make sure I never have to.
lose anyone like I won’t let
that again. you hurt my
I...I’m mother.
betTer
now.

stronger.

fun, hel hel,

has a point-- give me my
this batTle is sword.
unwinNable. stephanie...
the
kumMerspeck
is legend for
a reason--it
endures because
no one has
bested it.

my
name...
 ...is

fine. you’ve got WelL I

oOnf! your ninja skilLs don’t neEd
to protect you. protecting.
great.

And I never and games, I’m sorRy ...I don’t.

neEded the you’re sulking because the
sword anyway. princesSes you wanted to save neEd.
saved themselves first,
but if you’re going
to be like this... you.

alL I
neEd...
 people of
helhaven! coO-eE! that’s
can I have your over here! betTer.
atTention,
please? {ahem}

there is a
monster that has
turned our lives
into an engine of
miserY! your families
and friends,
madame hel left behind. I can’t stay
has brought you who protects here in safety
here and kept you them? and pretend that
safe, but at what because we’re okay,
cost? you can’t everywhere else
set foOt out of is okay!
here!
I’ve spent my life
in darknesS, and now
I’ve seEn the world, I
never want to go back!
but I must save my
friends.
and you
can help! we can
save everyone
left behind! neEd
proOf? loOk at
this badge!

this badge says

I’m the sherifF of
deEpmoat! and I
who’s woOoOo!
neEd deputies. with me?

nah.

yeah!
 anything you ...technicalLy you
want to say, neEded our sword
games? Are you when you defeated
in or not? the wurstest--
ugh,
forget
it.

you’lL never
make it! you don’t
even know where
you’re going!

the big
castle on the
horizon that can be
seEn for miles
around?
yeah.
I think I’lL
manage.

no but that’s
ofFence... fine, ‘cause alL
the princesSes I
know are, like,
the bigGest
jerks.

oh, and guesS

what? that sword’s
cursed and you
touched it last!
sucks to be you!
squawk!
fun’s
coming HOME!
Fun’s COMing
home!

fly ahead
and spread
the word. telL
everyone. I’m coming
to vanquish the
kumMerspeck.

...and she’s
going to
vanquish the
kumMerspeck!

...and
she’s going to...
I want to say
varnish?
the
kumMerspeck.
whatever
that is.
please
don’t eat
me.
 …and she’s
going to come
inspect the
varnishes!

I betTer clean
up, I’ve beEn sick
everywhere!

...and she’s
coming to ingest
YUSs!
sandwiches!
 fun is SQUwerkLE!
coming! fun
is coming!

h
muncnch
mu

fun...coming...
home...vanquish...
kumMerspeck
hey!
 stilL wet.
cement. anything falLing
in would probably
sink right to the
botTom.

...alL the
way down to
deEpmoat.

...fun, loOk
what they did
to our home.

what do
we do
now?

fun?
{ahem}

I said--
pasSport
please. GAH!

barnabus
games says
helLo.
 she’s I think-- I’m ofF to fight alongside
fine, isn’t she? my friend in what may welL
I’m sure she’s probably gah! be the fight of our lives. you
fine. having a great That’s it! I’m not are of course welcome
time. letTing her hog alL to join me.
fighting the glory, even if it is
just getTing eaten by and
monsters. having I’m taking
adventures. the an unbeatable
monster. this!
usual.

are you forgetTing

something? she
said she doesn’t
neEd you. you can’t
make it by
yourself!
and she’s
probably
right.
but
I’m beginNing
to think it is
I that neEds
her.

welL,
quite. isn’t
that rather
the point?
 who’s
barnabus
games? who’s
barnabus oh hi!
gaAames?
so. how
do you reckon
we’re getTing
in here?

you oh,
survived? but the that?
cement...

“I knew we
were never in
any danger...” I always
knew it would
end this way!
 ...ice
monster.
boOm!
calLed it!
when
word got round
you were coming,
the gang alL banded
together to seE how
we could help.

...not
everybody.

jutht
thuper.
cecil! hi,
fun.

notTheface
notTheface

now. I know what’s

going to hapPen next,
but why don’t you filL
the rest of the team in plan?
on your plan? I was just
going to head
up these stairs
and seE what’s
what...
 fun, loOk
out! hey!

waAaAaAaAaAaAuUuUuUuUugGgGghHhHhH

should’ve
brought my
sword.
 {hufF}

oho.
hey!
 {gasp}
w-where
am I?

oh,
I’m not
alone.

and
the only
thing I’lL be
hosting... ...is some kind
of victory party
after I beat you!

and
you’re not
invited!
 relax...

I’ve
done this
before.

now that
was pretTy
ninja.
 it’s my
speciality.

are you
hel, your kidDing?
mum is in the
throne roOm.
she’s freE.
I can handle
this, but I
neEd everyone
kept inside and
safe. can you
do that?

tzo!

cha!

your
such sword, my
ninja lady.

I do believe
that beast has
revealed how we
can defeat it! {ahem}
 I...

ah!
get
inside!

...it
sure is.

ghost go go ghost
sword go go
ghost ghost sword
activate! sword! activate!
sword!
 you’ve
got this.

shut up
games, I
know it.

bite me,
kumMerspeck!

...
be! KNiGHT! you would be
making am
A! goOd dungeon
master, fun.

young lady,
we’d be honoured
if you’d stay and
help loOk after
this town as a
sherifF.

I...
 DON’T!
I!

YET!
KNOW!

AND

THAT’S
OKAY!
then I guesS
we’ve got a
lot of work
to do.
 no!

let me get it
back! let me
get it back, what’d
bronan! I can’t, fun! I misS?
it’s stuck and did we
going down fast! win?
there’s nothing oh.
we can do!
...I’m
sorRy.
 I guesS I’lL be
on my way then. We
had a goOd quest,
didn’t we? Saved
a kingdom.
don’t apologise.
You were right--
you never neEded
the sword. Time
to let it go.

it’s ...You’lL be
toO far down remembered.
already...I’m People wilL telL
sorRy... stories of--

stories
of me?

I am Barnabus
Games, and I am
proud to be but
a foOtnote in the
story of fun
mudlifter.
And as it
hapPens that’s
alL the legacy
this old knight
ever neEded.

I’lL telL
everybody.
I’lL say:
 he was a knight of
considerable clout.
an alLy indeEd when
there was danger
about.
a champion
of justice, a foe
of alL wrongs,
an excelLent
draughtsman and
composer of
songs.

our journeys
were noble, and
from the day we met
hence, our quests
were butT righteous
and adventure
comMenced.

it was a
pleasure to meEt
him, dear sir or
madame! sir
barnabus games
was who--

...he...

AM.
the crowd soOn rushed
out from where they
had hid, and laid eyes on
what had hapPened.

and there was

much rejoicing.

and talk of
sandwiches.

because her
friend was gone.

and yet, she

felt litTle.

the girl and her

sword were parted.

and so she waited.

...and waited...

...and waited...

...and waited...

...and
waited.
and that
pretTy much coOl
brings us up story.
to now.
alL I said
was that the
queEn would
like a word
with you.
 your no neEd,
majesty! child. please, my...
stand. After alL cousin?
that’s beEn done
under my name
these past years,
no one should
kneEl for me.

I am
no longer the
queEn. Your cousin
fulfils that duty
now.

Royalty suits There’s

hey, you! does this mean absolutely
stepha-- you’re a fulL-time no reason why
queEn now? No ultra I can’t be
fun. coOl ninja-ing on both.
helLo, hel! the side?
fun.

won’t you
consider
moving into the
castle with
everyone?
there’s roOm
enough for alL.
we’d love to
have you.

before you She and her

answer, child-- ilL-begotTen
I feEl you are old husband…were
enough now to know pirates!
the truth about
your lineage!
Your mother…
Was my sister.
She left you to
my safekeEping,
as much goOd as
that did.
 I can’t even besides, I
begin to deal know who my
with that just parents were.
now. they raised
me.
and
I know who
I am now,
toO. I’ve had
a long time to think
about it, and you know
what I realised?

firstly:

but... games I hope so! that

must be at the way when I dig
Fun… I’m very botTom underneath it, I’lL
what are you getTing of the moat. be able to get
doing? my friend to him!
back!

I’m
taking
this!

it’lL take a
while, but I’lL
get him! just
watch! don’t
hel. you know?
but--
 I’m a
mudlifter.
FUN AND GAMES
wilL return

PIRATE

FUN
2016
 ABOUT THE AUTHORS
NEIL SLORANCE
is a Glasgow-based TWENTY-
something ilLustrator.
His tortoise went viral on
youtube and he plays lots
of Zelda.
He would like to thank his
family and Coralie for their
ongoing supPort.
COLIN BELL
in adDition to dungeon fun,
colin writes back-up
strips for titan comics’
doctor who: THE
TWELFTH DOCTOR series,
and has letTered comics
for publishers such as
image comics, dark horse
comics and boOm! studios.
he also won some sicba
awards once.
he lives in the outskirts of
glasgow with his wife and
daughter, whose infinite
patience and supPort made
this boOk posSible.