NetGalley Graphic Novel Review: Orcs Forged for War

Overview from Goodreads:

Orcs: Forged for War is the first graphic novel in Stan Nicholls’ beloved Orcs universe. The fantasy landscape in this world is brutal and unforgiving, and populated by a race of unlikely protagonists: the powerful and violent warriors, orcs.

Orcs: Forged for War is an original story—a new entry in this series, not an adaptation of old material. It follows a ruthless and deadly cohort of warrior orcs as they fight their way free of the dominion of an evil human enchantress. Sitting on an exhilarating peak with high fantasy on one side and the thrilling, gruesome battlefields of graphic novel classics like Frank Miller’s 300 on the other, Orcs presents the world of its ogre-like protagonists with technicolor violence and moments of unexpected sympathy.

My Take on Orcs: Forged for War:

Favorite Quote: “So we got to babysit a bunch of f**king goblins in charge of a f**king weapon we don’t know about, under orders that ain’t f**king clear.” 

Magnificent! That pretty much sums up how I feel about this graphic novel.  Its action packed, filled with tidbits of comic relief, and the characters resemble some of my favorites from television and other novels. It’s a refreshing journey through the day in the life of an Orc, a misunderstood member of the Elder Races that are a lot smarter than other creatures give them credit for. Once I started reading their story, I could not stop, consuming all 208 pages of death, blood, betrayal, and redemption. It was magical, fun, and just what I needed as a break from all my usual vampire/werewolf romance novels.

The story itself is set in a land called Maras-Dantia that is inhabited by a variety of creatures known as the Elder Races. They had all learned to coexist until a new race, the Humans, emerge and threaten to take control of their lands. The story is a bit contrived in this aspect, like other stories before it such as Avatar, humans come along and destroy the homeland of various creatures and the creatures have to defend themselves. However, the human race is also divided among itself between those who are tolerant of other races and those who only want a pure race worshiping one true God. Cliché I know, but in Orcs: Forged for War it works.

There are a few characters in the story that reminded me of characters from some of my favorite movies and/or television shows. Here’s a quick rundown so you can see what I mean: