Long-time dungeon raiders look for a higher calling in new Dark Horse OGN

(Image credit: Cristian "Crom" Ortiz (Dark Horse Comics))

Is the premise of Dungeons & Dragons a metaphor for life? That’s the idea behind Raiders, an upcoming new original graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics.

"For me, Raiders was born from the idea that we figuratively hack and slash our way through life, looking for treasure as a means of seeking purpose," writer Daniel Freedman tells Newsarama. "But what happens when you realize that that purpose was never real, or worse, was a conspiracy? It's only by venturing forth and valiantly fighting your way down the levels that we each find what we were really looking for."

Raiders is drawn by up-and-coming London artist CROM.

"From the moment I read Daniel’s script for Raiders I was immediately transported to the days of playing dungeon crawlers in my room as a kid, excited to see what loot awaited me and how far I could get in my adventure," CROM says. "At every turn there would be something new, someone stronger, a greater challenge ahead, and by the end, you'd be a different person because of it."

Raiders follows two brothers, Marken and Maron, who made a long, successful life out of raiding dungeons for treasure and reward - but after many years of success, one of them begins to look for more - and finds trouble.

"But just as Marken decides that it's time to give up the raiding life, both brothers find themselves at the wrong end of the powers that be and stumble upon a secret that may unravel the entire political system," read Dark Horse's description of the OGN.

Check out this five-page preview of Raiders, which is scheduled to go on sale June 10 for $19.99.

Chris Arrant

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)