Critical Role – Vox Machina: Origins Hardback Edition
Critical Role fans the world over are rubbing their hands together and getting excited for the hardback release of Critical Role – Vox Machina: Origins. And can you blame them? It’s gorgeous.
The second season of Critical Role may be well underway, but there will always be a special place in our hearts for Vox Machina, the premier Critical Role adventuring party. So when given the chance to explore those characters a little further, through stunning artwork and an original story, how can any Critter say no?
“Nerdy-Ass” Voice Actors 
Inspired by the long-running Dungeons & Dragons series Critical Role, which sees one of the world’s best-loved Dungeon Masters, Matthew Mercer, take a group of “nerdy-ass” voice actors through the world of Exandria, this beautifully realized graphic novel presents the full six-issue series, revealing where it all began.
Critical Role – Vox Machina: Origins follows six would-be heroes as they uncover a plot to destroy the small coastal town of Stilben. Regular viewers of Critical Role will get to see how the familiar faces first met, and by the end of the series will recognize the original line-up of heroes—Scanlan, Grog, Vax, Vex, Tiberius, and Keyleth—as they face their first Big Bad.
Hardcore fans will recognize the absence of Pike and Percy—both characters apparently joined the crew later—and will be excited to explore a bit more of Tiberius’ character, who only appeared in the early episodes of the series.
It all begins with the heroes working separately. For the most part, they’re ignorant of the others’ existence—some are even working alongside entirely different adventuring parties. First we meet Vex and Vax. Then Keyleth. Then Grog and Scanlan. And finally Tiberius. And by the end of it all… well you’ll just have to wait and see.
2 Fantastic Hardcover Editions
The comics started off in digital form and became the fastest- and strongest-selling comic for Dark Horse Digital, making it among the top-selling issues and series in Dark Horse Digital history. Now for the first time, all six issues are being brought together in one glorious hardback book (two editions), available from the Geek and Sundry online store.
Fans can get hold of limited and standard editions, both of which feature 160 pages of magical storytelling and bonus content. The comic series is written by Matthew Colville (Evolve, Priest, Thief) with interior art by Olivia Samson, a member of the Critical Role fan community, and coloring and lettering by Chris Northrop.
The standard edition features cover art by Stjepan Šejić with a spot gloss treatment, while the limited edition comes bound in foil-stamped and burnished faux leather, along with a lithograph and cloth portfolio, housed in a faux leather, foil-stamped, and burnished slipcase. The standard edition of Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins is available for $44.99 and the deluxe edition for $99.99. Along with the stunning artwork, readers will find the complete collection of Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins #1–#6, annotated cover process pieces, preliminary character sketches, and character descriptions and stats.
Overall
This new volume brings together Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins #1–#6, and for the first time explores the enthralling origins of the Vox Machina team providing fans with a closer look at the show’s setting, the captivating world of Exandria.
It really is a fantastic story with some excellent artwork, and the overall presentation of both editions is sublime. For some, it might be considered a little expensive, but as collector’s items they really do sit very nicely alongside your Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting
Critical Role is a weekly live show of voice actors playing Dungeon & Dragons. Originally launched in 2015, the series follows voice actor Matthew Mercer leading a group of fellow voice actors on epic Dungeons & Dragons campaigns allowing imaginations to soar as the characters embark on adventures. Catch Critical Role every Thursday night at 7:00 PM PT on the Geek & Sundry Twitch channel and on Alpha.
Do you have a lead on where to buy this now? Dark Horse’s site says G&S but they no longer have it listed and I must have missed the release. Thanks!