The week-long wait for episodes of Dark Horse Comics, a new graphic novel starring The Mighty Nein’s Yasha Nydoorin is set to arrive later this year.
Critical Role is a popular web series where several professional voice actors play the hit role-playing game Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer, the show first began streaming back in March of 2015 with campaign one, titled Vox Machina. What began as a simple game between talented friends has evolved into a full-fledged franchise, complete with merchandise, animated shorts, and official comic book tie-ins. After the end of the first campaign in 2017, campaign two, The Mighty Nein, began in early 2018 and is still ongoing. However, much of the Mighty Nein’s backstory will be unveiled outside of the game proper.
The Mighty Nein Origins is an series from Dark Horse Comics that will detail the party ' individual backstories. Graphic novels starring Laura Bailey’s Jester Lavorre and Liam O’Brien’s Caleb Widogast are already set to release this Summer. Now Ashley Johnson’s Yasha Nydoorin is next in line. Yasha is an Aasimar barbarian who was raised by the Dolorov, a tribe of fearsome human warriors. After being exiled from the tribe and becoming a fallen Aasimar, Yasha began worshiping Kord the Stormlord, god of storms, battle, and warfare, before eventually ing with other adventurers and forming the Mighty Nein. The synopsis promises the book will explore the, "tumultuous past" of Yasha Nydoorin. Check out the cover art and official synopsis from Dark Horse below:
For Yasha, there has always been a storm on the horizon. Maybe it formed with her adoption by the Dolorov people in the harsh lands of Xhorhas. Or perhaps when she fell for her first love, Zuala. Or still later, when grief and madness drove her from her village and out into––somewhere else. Maybe, on the other hand, Yasha IS the storm.
Both Johnson and Matthew Mercer will work alongside the creative team to bring Yasha’s mysterious past to light. So far, the team includes writer Cecil Castellucci (Soupy Leaves Home, Batgirl), artist William Kirkby (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Rat Queens), Critical Role letterer alum Ariana Maher (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Star Wars: The High Republic), and colorist Diana Sousa, who will also be working on Caleb Widogast’s solo story. Fans can likely expect to see glimpses into Yasha’s time with the Dolorov tribe, including her forbidden romance with Zuala and subsequent exile, and possibly how she wound up with the tribe to begin with. Johnson confirmed that Yasha is actually unaware of her own Aasimar heritage, so the early parts of her life are an enigma to both fans and players alike. There is plenty of lore for the graphic novel to crack into.
With Jester Lavorre, Caleb Widogast, and now Yasha Nydoorin all receiving graphic novel origin stories, it stands to reason the rest of the party won’t be far behind. In the meantime, check out Critical Role episodes on Twitch every Thursday. Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins - Yasha Nydoorin will be available September 15, 2021.
