Long before memes and “dad jokes”, the Dungeon Masters Guide hid a different kind of treasure between its rules and tables … small black-and-white fantasy comics scattered like secret loot. Join Rediscovered Realms as we dust off the 1E DMG and spotlight these seven hysterical panels that poke fun at classic D&D tropes & prove that not all dungeon delving is serious business!
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When’s the last time you cracked open your 1e Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide?
You probably remember the epic illustrations . . . maybe not as jewel-studded as the Monster Manual or Player’s Handbook, but still filled with memorable, moody artwork.
What I had forgotten, though, were the little fantasy comics tucked between the charts and tables!
Anyone who loved “Dragon Mirth” in Dragon Magazine will recognize the style instantly - the kind of wry, geeky humor we lived for (and loved to share with friends).
Those comics are a big part of what made the early TSR books feel like they came from pals huddled over a game night - not from some faceless corporation.
So grab your DMG, blow the dust off the cover, and flip through with me as we rediscover the seven rib-tickling RPG-humor little comics hiding inside!
Your next piece of fantasy fun is calling.
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If you like fantasy comics, then you HAVE TO check out these other Rediscovered Realms editions:
These seven little comics may be diminutive ink sketches, but they speak volumes about the spirit of early D&D - playful, unpolished, and made by gamers for gamers.
Here’s to the smiles tucked between the rules, and to remembering that even in the deepest dungeon, there’s always room for a laugh.
Did you notice these comics when you first read the 1E Dungeon Masters Guide - or are they news to you?
Which old-school D&D joke or cartoon always makes you smile?
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Definitely remember the comics in the 1E DMG, they certainly stood out in something that at times felt like a big encyclopedia. My favorite was probably the "Bigby's/Backscratcher Wand", though I did also distinctly remember the "Barbarian/drink" quote specifically.
Definitely remember the comics in the 1E DMG, they certainly stood out in something that at times felt like a big encyclopedia. My favorite was probably the "Bigby's/Backscratcher Wand", though I did also distinctly remember the "Barbarian/drink" quote specifically.
Weird, I remember all these but I couldn't remember if they came out of the DMG or Dragon Magazine.