Dungeon Monstres: My Son the Killer

Gr 10 Up—A spin-off of the Dungeons & Dragons spoof-comic "Dungeon," the "Dungeon Monstres" volumes (both NBM) recount the exploits of secondary characters from the long-running series. This two-story edition starts with "My Son the Killer," in which baby dragon Marvin and his mother meet Hyacinthe de Cavallere, who needs help overturning an assassination plot against himself. It's a deep cut, as serious fans will know Hyacinthe as both his alter egos (vigilante Night Shirt and curmudgeonly Dungeon Keeper) and appreciate the fleshing out of Marvin's backstory. "Soldiers of Honor" is a decidedly darker piece, narrated by a dragon soldier in the Great Khan's service. After his brother fails his mission to guard a secret entrance to the Black Fortress, the soldier is ordered to rip off his brother's wings and leave him for dead in a desert. Nothing goes well for either sibling, and readers see a more morbid view of the series, which is often light and humorous. Readers with an affinity for gallows humor will find the ironic ending satisfying. With a little sexual content, a lot of great campy gore, and solid expansion of the "Dungeon" world, this continuation of the series is filled with shadowy artwork that enhances the ominous stories.