Delver

by MK Reed, Spike C. Trotman, Clive Hawken (Illustrator)

Overview

In this fantasy adventure story we follow Temerity Aster, a 15-year-old girl who lives with her large family in a small village of goat herders in the tiny hamlet of Oddgoat. The world she lives is shaken up when random doors to living dungeons appear, including one that has appeared in her cellar.

Now her family must deal with the introduction of “Delvers”—adventurers who are looking to explore these dungeons and escape with treasure. Soon life for her and her family changes forever, and she must face two choices: abandon the only home she's ever known to carpet baggers and sellswords, or carve out a place for herself and her family in this new and dangerous world of delving.
Collects Delver #1–#5.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506724522
Publisher:	Dark Horse Comics
Publication date:	10/19/2021
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	1,119,660
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

MK Reed is the author several graphic novels and comic series, on subjects ranging from humorous paleontology history, to romance, to young adult first amendment rights. Her work has been nominated for the Ignatz and Eisner awards, and her debut graphic novel, Americus, was the winner of NAIBA’s 2012 Carla Cohen Free Speech Award. MK lives in Portland, Oregon with her very tall husband.


C. Spike Trotman was born in DC, raised in MD, and lives in IL. An artist and writer, she founded Iron Circus Comics in 2007, which has since grown to become the region's largest comics publisher. Her notable work includes the webcomic "Templar, Arizona," the Smut Peddler series of erotic comic anthologies, and Poorcraft, a graphic novel guide to frugal living.

A Kickstarter early adopter, she pioneered the widely-adopted bonus model that's since completely reshaped the pay system of the small press, jump-starting the current renaissance of alt-comics anthologies. Iron Circus is also the first comics publisher of note to fully incorporate crowdfunding into its business model, inventing one of the single most effective uses of new media in comics publishing today.

Editorial Reviews

04/02/2022

Fifteen-year-old Temerity Aster lives with her herder family in Oddgoat, a nowhere corner of Atang where houses can be grown like plants. Things change when a mysterious dungeon appears under a neighboring family's coldhouse, a sentient, shape-shifting dungeon that offers treasure and danger. Oddgoat soon draws treasure-seekers ("delvers") from far and wide, creating opportunities as well as trouble for the village. Finally, Temerity decides to try her luck underground, partnering with the peculiar yet charming Clem. Can she bring back treasure for her family? Stellar world building from Reed (Americus) and Trotman (Poorcraft) plus beguiling dialog makes Oddgoat and its people easy to love. The effectively grunge-toned earthy art from newcomer Hawken evokes magical realism more than sword and sorcery, so that the fantasy elements seem almost possible. VERDICT This enjoyable adventure pulls readers in with quirky fantasy details underlain by universal issues: gentrification, coming of age, fear of change, and family legacies. Teens through adults will enjoy Temerity's exploits.—Martha Cornog

Library Journal

2021-08-18
A 15-year-old girl and her small village experience sudden change when a mysterious door appears.

The village of Oddgoat was always a bit strange, but it was a simple place with a tightknit community. That is until the residents discover that a door to Dungeon—a place of magic and never-ending change—has opened in one of their coldhouses, creating friction in the community regarding their options. Before they can decide anything, two Delvers explode from the underground realm, narrowly escaping one of Dungeon’s terrifying magical beasts. The Delvers share stories of magical escapades and the riches available to those who succeed. Soon the village sees an increase in visitors, all interested in access to Dungeon. While this initially seems like a boon for the villagers, they quickly realize how these newcomers have changed the land they’ve known for generations. Merit, a determined, impulsive teen girl, risks everything for a chance at the wealth the Delvers possess, a move that could end up costing her more than she planned. The colors are primarily darker earth tones, giving more weight to the heavy linework that fits the overall mood of the characters watching their home being overrun. Readers who enjoy moderate worldbuilding and who can push through the initial disorientation may find this an intriguing story exploring themes of gentrification. Most Oddgoat residents are Black; Delvers are of varying human ethnicities as well as fantasy species.

A slow-burning adventure with social themes. (map) (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews