Dungeon crawling is an essential part of the swords & sorcery fantasy genre, and the new Image Comics series Scales & Scoundrels invites readers of all ages to join a group of treasure hunters and warriors as they venture into an ancient labyrinth. But what these characters don’t know if that they’re heading down a path that will take them far beyond that maze, putting the fate of the world in their hands. Written by Sebastian Girner with art by Galaad, Scales & Scoundrels follows Luvander, an orphan “treasure-hunter, adventure-seeker, [and] life-saver.” She’s looking to make a name for herself while getting rich in the process, and she assembles a group of like-minded individuals to brave The Dragon’s Maw with her. The A.V. Club has an exclusive first look at Atlantiz Park’s trailer for the new series, and the French animation studio brings a rock ‘n’ roll energy to this fantasy tale.
A former editor making the jump to writing, Girner has shown that he knows how to enliven traditional narratives with his work on Shirtless Bear-Fighter, a fairly straightforward action narrative that benefits from a satirical tone and hyper-exaggerated storytelling. That sense of humor carries over to Scales & Scoundrels, reinforced by Galaad’s bright, expressive artwork. Galaad also works as a storyboarding artist in France, and his experience in animation brings clarity to the characterizations and action on the page. This exclusive preview of the first issue showcases that talent, as well as the attention to environmental detail that is such a big part of European comics. Readers can delve deeper into this fantasy world when Scales & Scoundrels goes on sale September 6, but until then, here’s a taste of what the series has to offer.