Crtical Role Ep 17 Jester Funny Noise

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 · 1,346 ratings  · 171 reviews

Start your review of Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins: Jester Lavorre

I haven't watched any Critical Role, only really read the Vox Machina comics, so I'm possibly not the target audience - I'm judging the book on its own merits. And the merits aren't great.

The story is quite simplistic, it reads like an episode of a soap opera. Some deeper issues are touched on, but it all stays very surface level. The interactions between characters and the characters themselves feel soapy and like fan-fic for itself, if that is possible.

I have the most problems with the art - i

I haven't watched any Critical Role, only really read the Vox Machina comics, so I'm possibly not the target audience - I'm judging the book on its own merits. And the merits aren't great.

The story is quite simplistic, it reads like an episode of a soap opera. Some deeper issues are touched on, but it all stays very surface level. The interactions between characters and the characters themselves feel soapy and like fan-fic for itself, if that is possible.

I have the most problems with the art - it reminds me of the more typical DeviantArt art, which combined with the strangely over-colourful colouring makes the whole thing feel flat, like a Saturday-morning cartoon. The art has no atmosphere, no sense of place, which you see a lot in fantasy comics and it's a shame.

(Also, there seems a weird bit of kinkshaming towards the end..?)

I'm sure fans of the series will like this a lot more, but it might be too niche for 'outsiders'.

(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)

...more

Nov 21, 2021 Chad rated it liked it

I haven't watched any of Critical Role but a comic should be able to stand on its own. Introductions to the characters would have helped a bit. Still it was a light and fun comic. I liked the art and animation style coloring. I haven't watched any of Critical Role but a comic should be able to stand on its own. Introductions to the characters would have helped a bit. Still it was a light and fun comic. I liked the art and animation style coloring. ...more

Being an avid Critical Role watcher of both first campaigns, and especially following the second one closely for a while, I have to say I'm fairly disappointed at how Jester's backstory came to "life" on this issue.

Jester is a magical character and like most C2 characters, has a very compelling and unique backstory that explains her idiosyncratic point of view. There was none of the sort here. Aside from a few lines, it was like it was a totally different character, stripped of her quirkiness an

Being an avid Critical Role watcher of both first campaigns, and especially following the second one closely for a while, I have to say I'm fairly disappointed at how Jester's backstory came to "life" on this issue.

Jester is a magical character and like most C2 characters, has a very compelling and unique backstory that explains her idiosyncratic point of view. There was none of the sort here. Aside from a few lines, it was like it was a totally different character, stripped of her quirkiness and extremes. Marion also was never defined by her agoraphobia the way she is here. Jester's and Artagan's relationship feels more like a teenage flick story about two casual rebels and less about a child living in solitude who had a magical best friend that taught to always be proud of who she is and to not take the oppresive world around her so seriously.

It felt like Jester's tale was stripped of its frankly inoffensive fangs by making her older when she met the Traveler and completely erasing her characteristic off-color jokes. Hunter's lineart is absolutely beautiful throughout the whole spread, but the compositions and pace were unimaginative and did not help to enact the magic of wild imagination that only exists in the world shared between the tiefling and the archfey - that we get to witness in full throttle by Laura's and Matt's acting during the campaign. The basic silhouette of that story was presented in a too straightforward and a matter-of-factly way and Lord Sharpe's plotline involving his son behind her ultimate prank back at home felt shoehorned and dissonant with our main heroine's characterization, which was definetely the element suffered the most with this iteration.

As a fanservice product, the enjoyment of this issue can be debated, as we can witness a few hints of the moments during the campaign (like Fjord being present in a background) and having more Jester for those who already love her can feel great. But as a standalone product and additional lore content for the fans of the campaign of the show, it failed to make justice for the story many saw unfold before their eyes weaved by the group of friends and actors that makes the heart of Critical Role.

...more

Aug 10, 2021 Devann rated it really liked it

I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss

A must read for any Critical Role fan. I'm not sure exactly how much of this is new information and how much we already knew because my watching of the Mighty Nein arc was incredibly chaotic and sporadic but Jester is great and it's such a fun little story and the art is incredible so I think it's worth it for that alone. Also I absolutely adore the Traveler ;)

I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss

A must read for any Critical Role fan. I'm not sure exactly how much of this is new information and how much we already knew because my watching of the Mighty Nein arc was incredibly chaotic and sporadic but Jester is great and it's such a fun little story and the art is incredible so I think it's worth it for that alone. Also I absolutely adore the Traveler ;)

...more

Jan 21, 2022 SassyBooks rated it really liked it

I give this four stars, being a fan of the show and loving Jester as a character. However, I do not recommend this book to anyone who is not a fan of the show. I'll explain why.

The comic gives you some beautiful drawings of Jester's childhood and gives you a little more insight in her backstory - something you already knew from the campaign. It won't add anything you didn't know, but it is more of an endearing read. I loved the art, however I found sometimes the text bubbles/boxes not in style w

I give this four stars, being a fan of the show and loving Jester as a character. However, I do not recommend this book to anyone who is not a fan of the show. I'll explain why.

The comic gives you some beautiful drawings of Jester's childhood and gives you a little more insight in her backstory - something you already knew from the campaign. It won't add anything you didn't know, but it is more of an endearing read. I loved the art, however I found sometimes the text bubbles/boxes not in style with the art, making them feel a bit simplistic/not really match the comic. Which was a bit of a shame, but not too bad.

I found the drawings of Jester as a child especially very well done and I loved seeing her grow up over the course of the book.

If you don't know the Mighty Nein, Jester Lavorre or basically, anything of Critical Role, this comic is not the place to start. It could've introduced the characters better to the unknown audience and/or added a little introduction for the comic reader who might come across this in a shop, without any knowledge whatsoever. You basically end up reading a story thinking "What in the world is this?" and not in a good way.

...more

Dec 13, 2021 Vanessa rated it it was ok

Considering this Comic was delayed for over a Year it was not really worth the wait.
I preordered it 10 months ago and almost forgot about it when it came today in the Mail.

The Art ist amazing und beautiful to look at, but the Story is very short and feels extremly rushed. With just short under 50 pages it feels a lot like a cash grab.
I think it's just sad considering the possiblities they threw away. You could have made it a little longer to really dive into the Characters early life and put so

Considering this Comic was delayed for over a Year it was not really worth the wait.
I preordered it 10 months ago and almost forgot about it when it came today in the Mail.

The Art ist amazing und beautiful to look at, but the Story is very short and feels extremly rushed. With just short under 50 pages it feels a lot like a cash grab.
I think it's just sad considering the possiblities they threw away. You could have made it a little longer to really dive into the Characters early life and put some faces and Pictures to the great characters and places described in the campaign.
Now it is just a pretty rushed recap of the Story we heard about in the show.

For Fans it's a nice extra to have but all in all a really weak product.
Especially next to the other Critical Role Comics that are way more engaging.

...more

Dec 26, 2021 Ryan rated it liked it

Short and whimsical, the graphic novel seems to capture the fun side of Jester that Laura Bailey portrayed in the campaign!

Outside that, there wasn't a whole lot of depth. I was surprised it set up more questions instead of answers, it being an origin story. I was hoping we would find out who the traveler was, why he had interest in Jester, and more about her mother. Yet none of those answers came, and that was a little disappointing for me.

Still, the artwork was great, and it was a fun and ea

Short and whimsical, the graphic novel seems to capture the fun side of Jester that Laura Bailey portrayed in the campaign!

Outside that, there wasn't a whole lot of depth. I was surprised it set up more questions instead of answers, it being an origin story. I was hoping we would find out who the traveler was, why he had interest in Jester, and more about her mother. Yet none of those answers came, and that was a little disappointing for me.

Still, the artwork was great, and it was a fun and easy read that fits in well with the lore of the Mighty Nein!

...more

Jan 21, 2022 Cheryl rated it really liked it

3 stars in general, 4 as a Critical Role (Mighty Nein) fan

This was very short and the story is not that deep, I expected this to be a little bit longer, but it's very cute and heartwarming. Jester is by far my favourite of the Mighty Nein, I loved the illustrations so much and I personally thought that her character is very well captured even though this is so short.
If you read this as a stand-alone it's still a cute story in my opinion.

Beautiful inks cannot compldtly overshadow the feeling the drawings had to be rushed; the backgrounds are kinda flat and empty, the comic's missing big establishers to show the vibrant life of a city like nicodramus. The focus on the main characters works really good, dialogue sounds like from the gaming table itself - besides Jesters mom who talks mostly in infernal monologues, without showing her conflicts with other pafties.

Overall an okay read with a clearly visible " heart" that is kept dow

Beautiful inks cannot compldtly overshadow the feeling the drawings had to be rushed; the backgrounds are kinda flat and empty, the comic's missing big establishers to show the vibrant life of a city like nicodramus. The focus on the main characters works really good, dialogue sounds like from the gaming table itself - besides Jesters mom who talks mostly in infernal monologues, without showing her conflicts with other pafties.

Overall an okay read with a clearly visible " heart" that is kept down by the feeling of being rushed and having no real purpose in being in the comic world in the first place. Hard to recommend to an audience, Fans know the details in more fun and engaging ways from the storys at the table, casual readers are not introduced properly to have fun on their own.

...more

Dec 12, 2021 Anna rated it did not like it

I like the art. That was all I liked. I preordered this because Jester is one of my favorites (more fool me, which actually is fitting considering this is about Jester). Even when treating it as something new, like if you were just going into Critical Role, it's very bad. There is little to no plot or story or what have you. If you have followed Critical Role, it breaks a lot of things already established. The characters were out of character. The dialogue was as disinteresting as the plot. It f I like the art. That was all I liked. I preordered this because Jester is one of my favorites (more fool me, which actually is fitting considering this is about Jester). Even when treating it as something new, like if you were just going into Critical Role, it's very bad. There is little to no plot or story or what have you. If you have followed Critical Role, it breaks a lot of things already established. The characters were out of character. The dialogue was as disinteresting as the plot. It fell completely flat. If they wanted to tell this story, the writer needed to flesh it out. By which I mean the writer needed to do more than hand in a skeleton of a story. I'm honestly just very disappointed with this. ...more

Apr 13, 2022 Maja rated it it was amazing

[caleb to jester] "I'm a transmutation wizard, but you're the one that changes people" 😭🤚

Ok first of all I am so in love with the character designs in this. Everyone looks so good and baby Jester was SO CUTE. And I'm even more in love with Marion now than I already was before.

The fact that Jester started drawing and painting to "bring the world" to her mom? Because Marion has some heavy anxiety over leaving their establishment? Excuse me this had no business hitting me in the feelings.

With that

[caleb to jester] "I'm a transmutation wizard, but you're the one that changes people" 😭🤚

Ok first of all I am so in love with the character designs in this. Everyone looks so good and baby Jester was SO CUTE. And I'm even more in love with Marion now than I already was before.

The fact that Jester started drawing and painting to "bring the world" to her mom? Because Marion has some heavy anxiety over leaving their establishment? Excuse me this had no business hitting me in the feelings.

With that being said though, I'm confused a bit because there are discrepancies with the canon here? Firstly, in the campaign Jester says that the Traveller appeared to her for the first time when she was a kid and he appeared as a little kid at the time as well and grew up with her, here he seems to appear to her for the first time as she's well into her teen years. On top of that Artie tells her that he is god? Somewhat jokingly, but still. Meanwhile, somewhere at the beginning of Rumblecusp arc of c2, Jester tells the party that he never *actually* told her that he is a god. She assumed that and started calling him a god herself, he never corrected her but he never told her specifically that he is a god. ANYWAYS it's not like this even matters much but still.

All in all, I just love Jester so much and I love her family so bad😭 Marion (and Bluud too) deserve all the best things in the world.

...more

Jan 04, 2022 Cindy rated it really liked it

I will start by saying I had almost no knowledge going into this of Criticsl Role. The cover caught my eye and after doing a little digging and saw it was possible to read this as a standalone, I knew it was coming home with me during B&Ns 50% off HC sale. I loved the artwork! The way the characters were drawn was very much my style and the colors were beautiful. I wish this was going to be a continued graphic novel series. I want to know more about The Traveler. As well as expanding on Jester's I will start by saying I had almost no knowledge going into this of Criticsl Role. The cover caught my eye and after doing a little digging and saw it was possible to read this as a standalone, I knew it was coming home with me during B&Ns 50% off HC sale. I loved the artwork! The way the characters were drawn was very much my style and the colors were beautiful. I wish this was going to be a continued graphic novel series. I want to know more about The Traveler. As well as expanding on Jester's story and family. ...more

I really really love the art style and character designs, it is also beautifully illustrated in colour all the way through, however this absolutely did not add anything to Jester or her backstory which wasn't already known from the campaign itself. It also was really short. And it doesn't really match up with the show's canon that well, which doesn't bother me THAT much but it's still a bit disappointing I really really love the art style and character designs, it is also beautifully illustrated in colour all the way through, however this absolutely did not add anything to Jester or her backstory which wasn't already known from the campaign itself. It also was really short. And it doesn't really match up with the show's canon that well, which doesn't bother me THAT much but it's still a bit disappointing ...more

Feb 05, 2022 Jessica rated it really liked it

5 stars for the art.
3 stars for the story, it felt super rushed and could have done with being longer.
It didn't add anything new as Laura had already explained most of this info on the show. 5 stars for the art.
3 stars for the story, it felt super rushed and could have done with being longer.
It didn't add anything new as Laura had already explained most of this info on the show. ...more

Apr 13, 2022 Sarah rated it really liked it

Fun, but I would have liked to know how she and Fjord met...

The art is absolutely stunning! The story was fine but Jester honestly doesn't have the most interesting background.

Aug 06, 2021 Zoe rated it it was amazing

Thank you to Critical Role, Dark Horse, and Edelweiss+ for the earc!

I LOVED THIS STORY.

I mean, it's no secret that I adore Critical Role--I started watching during campaign 2, fell in love with the characters, then went back and saw campaign 1 and fell in love all over again.

There's a certain magic that CR brings to their characters and stories, and that hasn't changed now that they've expanded into comics, novels, and more. Side note: I'm so proud of how far they've come, how successful CR h

Thank you to Critical Role, Dark Horse, and Edelweiss+ for the earc!

I LOVED THIS STORY.

I mean, it's no secret that I adore Critical Role--I started watching during campaign 2, fell in love with the characters, then went back and saw campaign 1 and fell in love all over again.

There's a certain magic that CR brings to their characters and stories, and that hasn't changed now that they've expanded into comics, novels, and more. Side note: I'm so proud of how far they've come, how successful CR has gotten to be. It brings me so much joy.

Now, onto the story itself. Mighty Nein Origins: Jester follows Jester Lavorre before she's started her travels with the Mighty Nein. We see a vulnerable part of her we haven't necessarily seen in full before--her experiences living at the chateau, how she befriended the traveler, and the antics that led her to eventually finding the rest of the Nein.

We learn so much about Jester in a short graphic novel that it's practically begging to have a sequel. Which in reality, is just the Mighty Nein's story. And I love that.

This graphic novel gives us a peek into what Jester told us, but never expanded on. And we get a really fun version of the traveler. And just...seeing Jester come to life on these pages and having it SOUND so much like her....

I loved every minute I spent reading it.

...more

Nov 06, 2021 Charlotte rated it it was amazing

The art style is beautiful and all of the outfits are amazing. Cosplay ideas??
Wow, was not expecting Bluud to be so sexy!
Such a quick fun read of instant happiness

Aug 07, 2021 Vanessa rated it really liked it

Jester is as lovable as always. We all know the story in these pages already, but it's nice to see it come to life with such great art and personality. It's a shame it didn't contain many revelations or new content for those of us who already watched Mighty Nein, but it's such a tidy little story it's hard to be disappointed by it. Wonderful character design and a big heart. Jester is as lovable as always. We all know the story in these pages already, but it's nice to see it come to life with such great art and personality. It's a shame it didn't contain many revelations or new content for those of us who already watched Mighty Nein, but it's such a tidy little story it's hard to be disappointed by it. Wonderful character design and a big heart. ...more

I feel like I would have enjoyed this a lot more a) if Jester wasn't so freakishly skinny (not a fan of the art in general tbh) and b) it followed any of the internal continuity of the show

Feb 28, 2022 Charlie rated it really liked it

4 STARS

The Mighty Nein will always have a very special place in my heart because they were my introduction to Critical Role and although I absolutely adore all other characters across all three campaigns, the Mighty Nein are always a little more special to me.

I adore Jester so much and while reading this (after having watched multiple hundred hours of the streams) I definitely heard all the characters' voices in my head.

The story is nothing new to fans who have watched through the entire campaig

4 STARS

The Mighty Nein will always have a very special place in my heart because they were my introduction to Critical Role and although I absolutely adore all other characters across all three campaigns, the Mighty Nein are always a little more special to me.

I adore Jester so much and while reading this (after having watched multiple hundred hours of the streams) I definitely heard all the characters' voices in my head.

The story is nothing new to fans who have watched through the entire campaign but I loved seeing it in this medium and seeing the art so much!
That being said, I think people who are unfamiliar with Critical Role and the Mighty Nein will probably not enjoy this as much. I can definitely see how some people might not like this but to me it was great. The biggest downside is that it is so short... Which makes it very re-readable at the same time.

Can't wait to do just that with this and get my hands on the other Mighty Nein Origins. (I'm probably most excited for Yasha...)

...more

Dec 17, 2021 Colleen rated it really liked it

Reviewing this is a little hard given that I watched all of Campaign Two of Critical Role and therefore I knew Jester's origins story before going in. Jester was one of my favorite characters in the campaign so I was more than happy to see how her childhood shaped the fun-loving tiefling that turned into the adventurer we see during the DnD game. However, I can't judge the story on its merit as I have a lot of knowledge going into it. That being said, in the small amount of time we have with the Reviewing this is a little hard given that I watched all of Campaign Two of Critical Role and therefore I knew Jester's origins story before going in. Jester was one of my favorite characters in the campaign so I was more than happy to see how her childhood shaped the fun-loving tiefling that turned into the adventurer we see during the DnD game. However, I can't judge the story on its merit as I have a lot of knowledge going into it. That being said, in the small amount of time we have with these characters, you see the love Marion has for Jester and why Jester is so accepting and confident in The Traveler. The art in this comic was absolutely stunning and the colors were beautifully vibrant. The faces of Jester, Marion, and The Traveler were so expressive and the outfits throughout the comic were stunning. I would put some of the panels of this on my wall as art if possible. Overall beautiful and fun, but I am very biased. ...more

I love Campaign 2, and while Jester isn't my fav character, I do like her.
This comic supposedly tells the origins of how Jester got on the road and ended up with the Nein. It does include the main event at the end, but it also flesh out the story. At least a little.

I have to admit, however, that I was disappointed. This was very much a short, and not really a story in its own right. I often felt like there was a panel missing when it came to context, or even that some panels were placed wrongl

I love Campaign 2, and while Jester isn't my fav character, I do like her.
This comic supposedly tells the origins of how Jester got on the road and ended up with the Nein. It does include the main event at the end, but it also flesh out the story. At least a little.

I have to admit, however, that I was disappointed. This was very much a short, and not really a story in its own right. I often felt like there was a panel missing when it came to context, or even that some panels were placed wrongly. It made the story telling very confusing at times. Additionally, Arty was introduced very late, and while I really liked the design of him, the way he and Jester interacted in this comic didn't really feel organic to what we saw in the show.

I did like the design of the characters, but the art was very busy, but at the same time flat. That said, it did fit Jester, with all the colors and such.

And I appreciate that they actually touched on Marion's phobia, although it was very minimalist. There wasn't much space for it in just 56 pages, after all. I just wish we'd gotten more! And I'm especially disappointed that we didn't get to see the first meeting between Jester and Fjord, as I always got the impression that Marion initially paid Fjord to protect Jester.

...more

5/5 Stars. I love Jester Lavorre with my whole heart. I loved this little glimpse into her childhood and meeting the Traveler. I also loved we got to see her pranks that got her kicked out of the city play out on page. Jester is an icon and I would die for her. I also adored seeing more of Marion and Jester's family and how much of a father figure Bludd was for her as a child. This is a must read for Critters.

An adequately entertaining backstory story for Jester - a character I admittedly only have passing familiarity with (largely through YouTube clips). Felt like it could have done more, however, and it certainly doesn't have the emotional texture of Caleb Widogast's origin story. (B) An adequately entertaining backstory story for Jester - a character I admittedly only have passing familiarity with (largely through YouTube clips). Felt like it could have done more, however, and it certainly doesn't have the emotional texture of Caleb Widogast's origin story. (B) ...more

Dec 11, 2021 Edy rated it really liked it

I didn't know how much I missed Jester until I read this. It was so fun and I really enjoyed it!! For those who have watched the second campaign this isn't new content per se, but it's entertaining. Also, I think this is an amazing take on Jester and I'm obsessed with how beautiful the art is. I didn't know how much I missed Jester until I read this. It was so fun and I really enjoyed it!! For those who have watched the second campaign this isn't new content per se, but it's entertaining. Also, I think this is an amazing take on Jester and I'm obsessed with how beautiful the art is. ...more

May 28, 2022 Rachel rated it liked it

3.5*

short and sweet but probably could have benefitted from being longer to be able to properly flesh out and explore the aspects of jester and artagan/marion's relationships it touches on. the art is so fresh and cute though comic artagan is going to make me act up

3.5*

short and sweet but probably could have benefitted from being longer to be able to properly flesh out and explore the aspects of jester and artagan/marion's relationships it touches on. the art is so fresh and cute though comic artagan is going to make me act up

...more

Dec 20, 2021 Kelly rated it it was amazing

Great for people fan of the serie but also great as a stand-alone. This story purely focuses on Jester. It's fun and short and tells more about her past. The art style is stunning! Great for people fan of the serie but also great as a stand-alone. This story purely focuses on Jester. It's fun and short and tells more about her past. The art style is stunning! ...more

Dec 27, 2021 Anna K. rated it liked it

5 stars for the beautiful art but I expected way more from the story. Shame!

SAM MAGGS is a bestselling writer of books, comics, and video games, including Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope, Tell No Tales, Con Quest!, and Marvel's Spider-Man PS4. A Canadian in Los Angeles, she misses Coffee Crisp and bagged milk. Visit her online at sammaggs.com or @SamMaggs! SAM MAGGS is a bestselling writer of books, comics, and video games, including Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope, Tell No Tales, Con Quest!, and Marvel's Spider-Man PS4. A Canadian in Los Angeles, she misses Coffee Crisp and bagged milk. Visit her online at sammaggs.com or @SamMaggs! ...more

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