Vault Comics have announced a new fantasy series called “Quests Aside,” from the creative team of writer Brian Schirmer (“Fairlady”), artist Elena Gogou (“Campfire Stories”), colorist Rebecca Nalty (“Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures”), and designer Tim Daniel (Vault’s EVP Brand & Design).
The series takes place in a fantasy world, and chronicles the efforts of a retired adventurer named Barrow, along with his team of staff, who include “a skeleton, an apprentice mage, and an exiled princess,” to prevent their pub, Quests Aside, from being closed down by the King.
Speaking about where the idea for the series came from, Schirmer stated that he has “always loved stories about the thief who wants to take One Last Score, or the outlaw who needs to take One Last Ride,” and rather than Barrow’s equivalent “One Last Quest,” being unsuccessful, he triumphed and “opened a tavern, and got to retire. That’s where we begin.” Schirmer continued that the series, and the pub that gives the series its name, “features a steady flow of colorful characters heading out to slay a dragon, or returning with a treasure, a few scrapes, and tales to tell,” adding “We liken it to high fantasy Cheers or It’s Always Sunny [in Philadelphia].”
Goguo teased some of the types of characters who will appear in the series, stating that the range encompasses “heralds with three-neck electric guitars, orc stand-up comedians and 20-year-old mage apprentices with anxiety.” She continued by detailing her design process for the book, describing that “I wanted the book to look familiar to what you’ve seen before, but with a little unique touch. For that I took a lot of inspiration from Greek culture, among other things.”
“Quests Aside” #1 is scheduled for release on April 27, 2022. In the meantime you can check out preview pages and a variant cover by Michael Dialynas here.
