A purple-skinned firbolg sits in front of a window, making tea. Image: Gus Allen, Angiolini/Dark Horse Comics, Darrington Press

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Your first look at Critical Role’s Caduceus Clay in his new Dark Horse comic

The Mighty Nein origins concludes with a heartfelt tale

By Charlie Hall
Art by: Matthew Mercer, Taliesin Jaffe, Kendra Wells, Eren Angiolini, Selina Espiritu/Dark Horse Comics, Darrington Press
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Charlie Hall is Polygon’s tabletop editor. In 10-plus years as a journalist & photographer, he has covered simulation, strategy, and spacefaring games, as well as public policy.
Part of The 2024 summer entertainment preview

Critical Role and its gaming imprint, Darrington Press, are having a banner year. Not only is the troupe’s highly-anticipated new tabletop role-playing game, Daggerheart, currently in open beta (and free to download!) but its series with Dark Horse Comics is coming to a heartfelt conclusion. After exploring the backstories of Jester Lavorre, Nott the Brave, and many other beloved characters, now it’s time for everyone’s favorite firbolg, Caduceus Clay, to take center stage.

Today Polygon can share exclusive pages from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay. Written by Matthew Mercer, Taliesin Jaffe, and Kendra Wells (Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas) the book features art by Selina Espiritu (Critical Role: the Mighty Nein Origins — Caleb Widogast, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Fjord Stone), lettering by Ariana Maher, color by Eren Angiolini, and cover art by Gus Allen and Angiolini. Here’s the official description:

Generations of the Clay family have tended to the careful rituals in the Blooming Grove. But when corruption begins to creep in on their sacred space, the Clays depart one by one to seek answers. Soon young Caduceus and Clarabelle are the only ones left, and when a dangerous burial quest falls to Caduceus, he must leave the Grove to do the family’s work.

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay comes to book stores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble, on June 4 with a retail price of $17.99. It arrives in comic shops a day later, on June 5. Pre-orders are open now.

A page from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay showing a cottage in a field of stones. They look like headstones.
A panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay showing a female firbolg leaning over Caduceus.
A panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay showing two firbolgs embracing over the body of a bird, then burying it.
In a panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay, two firbolgs bury a bird. A golden flower emerges from the earth.
In a panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay two firbolgs discuss the nature of death and emotion.
In a panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay two firbolgs discuss the nature of death and emotion in a field that is clearly filled with headstones and graves.
In a panel from In a panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay, a young firbolg rises from bed to hear an argument outside their room.
In a panel from In a panel from Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins — Caduceus Clay, two young firbolgs argue with an elder.

The 2024 summer entertainment preview

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