Thieves' World vol 6 (Graphic Novel)

By Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey, & art by Time Sale

Publisher: Starblaze Graphics (1987)

Softcover 64 pages

Finished 2/9/2018

Mile High Comics Listing

       This is an adaptation of several stories from the Thieves’ World shared fantasy setting. There have been at least twenty five novels and short story collections in the series, various board game and rpg spin-offs and this collection of comics. Beginning in 1978, this was the first in a number of shared universe series along the line of Wild Cards, The Man/Kzin War and, my favorite, The Damned Saga or Heroes in Hell.

          The stories presented here are “The Vivisectionist” by Andrew J. Offutt, about a man who, dum dum duuuummm, is a vivisectionist is gutting random people he captures for fun; and “The Rhinoceros and the Unicorn” by Diana L. Paxton, about a man who paints a picture for the shifting wizard, Enas Yorl, and is granted the ability to paint a person’s soul. Both of these were originally published in the third anthology Shadows Of Sanctuary.  The last is an original piece done for the series called “Arno the Nose” about a retired thief that can sniff out and destroy magical wards, who is coerced into one last job, but he insists on bringing his newborn baby along.

          All three stories are told in a staggered account, a little piece at a time is revealed in each tale before moving onto another story, giving the impression that they are all happening simultaneously. This is not how they are depicted in their original format, but adds a nice touch in my opinion.  The art masterfully plays with shadow and light adding the needed element to the dying city of Sanctuary and its derelict denizens.

          Now the internet will have you believe that these books are rare and charge astronomical fees, but I keep running into them in the bargain bins of comic stores and the dusty shelves of second hand book shops. So look there. I picked up this volume for $2, not 60 like some places are charging.

           For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.