This review covers some general plot points, but doesn't spoil any surprises for #2 and #3. (It may for #1.)

The Story

Dragonlance: Chronicles #2 and #3 center on the sudden immersion of the Dragonlance Companions into a world of politics and ultimately warfare that they had scarcely known existed before. It begins with the Companions on the run due to the Blue Crystal Staff held by the barbarians, Goldmoon and Riverwind. We start to learn something about the Staff's powers, and along the way we also learn a bit of Goldmoon and Riverwind's history with the artifact.

More importantly, these issues really open up the word of Krynn for us. We travel across Krynn, to the plains and eventually the lost city of Xak Tsaroth. We meet the true antagonists of the Dragonlance Chronicles: the Draconians and even the titular dragons. And, we encounter other strange and fantastic creatures, including pegasi and a unicorn. The first issue of Chronicles felt a bit cloistered, set as it was mainly in a single inn, but here we first begin to appreciate the breadth of the world, and to travel quickly across it.

Change is brewing in Krynn. These comics set many of the important pieces into action and also put the Companions' true place in the world into perspective.

The Storytelling

I found the storytelling of the first issue of the Chronicles a bit slow-paced, but that notably picks up in these two more recent issues which offer a good mixture of adventure and characterization.

The characterization isn't necessarily deep, but in each issue many of the characters get notable moments that help us understand better who and what they are.

Conversely the over-arcing plot is notably strengthed in this issue. All together the first three issues of Dragonlance: Chronicles fall together like puzzle pieces forming the first story of Krynn, with a strong beginning (#1), middle (#2), and end (#3). It's just the prologue to everything that will come afterward, but a good one.

My only complaint about the storytelling is that it occasionally feels a little choppy, as the story of Dragons of Autumn Twilight is boiled down to its essence. Things seem to move past very quickly, and you almost get whiplash moving from one scene to another.

Overall, however, the second two issues of Dragonlance: Chronicles form (with #1) the beginning of a strong, interesting, and ultimately original fantasy story full of excitement and wonder. It earns an above average "4" out of "5" for Substance.

The Artwork

The artwork continues to be by Steve Kurth (pencils) and Djoko Santiko (colors). As I wrote in my previous review, it's a very vivid, realistic style that looks quite nice. As with the first issue, #2 had some problems with the artwork getting a little muddy, especially in the nighttime scenes.

In issue #3 the artwork has been brightened up a considerable amount. It some cases details seem to have been lost, but overall the artwork in #3 looks even better than that in the first two issues because it's a lot less murky.

I continue to be happy with the artist & colorist and I'm glad to see that the Devil's Due staff is working on the overall look & feel of their artwork in the comics.

The Presentation

As with previous issues, these ones feature 22 pages of story on glossy, white paperstock. Alas, the ads are no longer grouped at the end of the issue, but then it's a rare comic book that does that.

On the whole this comic rates a high "4" out of "5" on Style.

Conclusion

Issues #2 & #3 of Dragonlance: Chronicles finish out the first arc of the Dragonlance saga and the first third of Dragons of Autumn Twilight. Together with issue #1 they form an engaging introduction to the world of Krynn and help show why the Dragonlance stories really took off 20 years ago.

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