With the recent popularity of dungeon crawling series like Delicious in Dungeon, it took no time at all for other titles that also fit into that vein to appear. This isn’t a bad thing in the slightest. Whenever I’m playing a tabletop RPG, one of my favorite things to do is explore new areas and potentially find new treasure. The one question always on my mind, however, is how did that treasure get there to begin with? What if it was left behind by some kind of treasure elf?
That’s the basic idea behind the manga Dungeon Elf: What’s a Dungeon without Treasure Chests? In this series written and illustrated by River Slan, the story focuses on an elf named Snail whose job it is to visit different dungeons and leave treasures for future adventurers to find. Sometimes these missions can be as simple as showing up. More often, though, Snail must deal with traps, poisons, and S class monsters.
A Strong Start to the Series
Just from the artwork alone, Dungeon Elf is off to a strong start. The first six pages are in full color and have a rich watercolor quality to the scenery. From there, the series with a description of a dungeon and our first introduction to Snail.
One thing I found fascinating about this first volume is the careful attention spent on character details. Because there are so few characters (aside from the monsters that are always defeated within a couple of panels), Slan was able to put a lot of care into each time Snail appears. While some might say that a bit too much attention was spent on her massive chest and svelte figure, I found that rather easy to ignore thanks to all of the lush backgrounds.
Speaking of the backgrounds, each dungeon is different in every way, with no environmental overlap. One dungeon is high in the sky, another is in a poison forest, and yet another is on a cursed pirate ship. I found it exciting to get through each chapter and see what new setting Snail would find herself in next.
Set Up, Execution, Moving On…
After the initial introduction to Snail, there are very few deviations from this formula. Every chapter opens with a brief description of the dungeon to be explored. From there, Snail figures out a way to the treasure point and usually faces some kind of danger for her trouble.
This is where Dungeon Elf runs into its first problem. Whenever Snail faces off against an enemy, she transforms into an entirely new entity with amazing combat powers. The issue here is that the transformation is extremely quick, with absolutely zero segue: no sequence that shows her transforming or anything. Just a completely different design from one panel to the next. It’s so jarring that at first, I honestly thought the two forms were different characters entirely.
Coasting on Potential
There’s honestly not a ton in this opening volume aside from a lot of building blocks. However, there are makings here for an exciting long-term series.
There are just so many questions raised in these first few chapters. Who is Snail, and why was she given this mission? Where does the treasure she leaves come from? What would happen if she met an adventurer before she could leave the treasure? What about the mascot character she meets in this volume? There are so many things I want to know about this world, but I’m honestly not sure that I’m patient enough to find out.
Conclusion
Beautifully drawn and capable of dripping out an intriguing slow-burn story, Dungeon Elf is the perfect cozy read for a rainy weekend. There’s enough here that will leave fantasy fans wanting more. In particular, I recommend this series to creative folks who need ideas for new worlds to put their own original characters in. However, if you’re looking for a hard fantasy or something that paints a clearer picture on where it plans to go in the future, you’ll find yourself out of luck. This series is what it is without a single worry on its face.
Dungeon Elf: What’s a Dungeon without Treasure Chests? Volume 1 is available in print and digitally from: Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Indigo
Credits
- Cover Design: Nicky Lim
- Proofreader: Krista Grandy
- Production Designer: Melina
- Editor: Robin Herrera
- Copy Editor: B. Lillian Martin
- Story and Art: River Slan
- Translation: Alethea & Athena Nibley
- Lettering: Ochie Caraan
Published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment
Thank you to Seven Seas Entertainment for providing a review copy. Receiving this copy had no effect on the reviewer’s opinions as expressed here.
Article edited by: Anne Estrada
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