The Chronicles of Oro
Art Style: Iām not exaggerating when I say the first chapter featured some of the most lush natural environments Iāve seen on Tapastic. From the forest canopy to the museum under storm clouds, itās a style that allows you to stop and just take it all in. This worked especially well by giving the chapter breathing room ā allowing it to gradually ramp up to a climactic moment without disengaging the reader. I felt the characters melded into these environments well, but were derived from a style that felt common for a fantasy webcomic.
Story: So going into Chronicles of Oro I had that readerās prejudice befitting the countless fantasy epics out amongst the media. The prologue seemed to confirm these expectations ā my first thoughts were: heroes struggle to gather diamonds, need diamonds to challenge dragon, god kings are released from the orb ā standard high fantasy stuff. But I think the best way the story dodges this trope is with its back and forth switch between said magic world and what we know to be the Muggle world. This of course has been done before too, but it serves the first chapter well, keeping the reader grounded amidst a breath-taking introduction. Itās a skillful pacing I feel I could learn from for my own creations. In retrospect nothing too unexpected happens, but even so youāre going to want to know whatās next.
Dialogue: Letās take a moment to appreciate the fantasy language. So many other works introduce foreign speech but then struggle with re-writing everything in English or including tons of bullet points. Chronicles of Oro solves this ā for the most part the English translation is presented first, followed by a subtle inclusion of the fantasy speech. Thereās no fear of feeling like youāre back in a high school language class, and yet if you want to immerse yourself you still can. I recommend both options ā the translations are cool, but thereās something to be said for experiencing the dialogue on its own as well. The dialogue comes off exactly as you would expect per scene; every character speaks believably and uniquely. And thatās where the magic is ā the museum guide feels like the corny, try hard guide weāve all met while the elven hunters speak of the forest with the knowledge that comes with familiarity. And ābear boobsā, you have to read it to know.
Conclusion: Based on this chapter, I doubt Chronicles of Oro will be deconstructing my preconceived notions of fantasy any time soon. Yet it takes all these familiar ingredients, and whips them up perfectly without oversaturating us with all that language and world-building. Even the prologue, which is fittingly lore heavy, is illustrated in a way to speed you through so you get to the more engaging bits. I feel as if this comic knows exactly what it is, and knows how to go about being an enjoyable story. I donāt expect it inspire me with Tarantino-esque dialogue or leave me questioning the meaning of life. But I think back to Lord of the Rings, the Golden Compass, and even Eragon, and it feels like the start of something big, it feels like a proper fantasy epic.