The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 1--Ripley

The Legend of Vox Machina: Whitestone Chronicles #1

by Marieke Nijkamp, Tyler Walpole (Illustrator)

A prequel to Amazon Studios' The Legend of Vox Machina!

Fans of the fantasy animated series from Critical Role and Amazon Studios won’t want to miss this original graphic novel - the first of three interconnected prequel stories!

Tragedy strikes the renowned de Rolo family of Whitestone when they’re massacred by the vicious Briarwoods. Luckily for Dr. Anna Ripley, the bloodshed and regime change presents the perfect opportunity for her to further her own dark plans in service to Whitestone’s new ruling family. But just how much of her loyalty lies with the family, when compared to her work?

**Written by Marieke Nijkamp ( Critical Vox Machina Kith and Kin ) with art by Tyler Walpole, in collaboration with the cast of Critical Role !**

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Dungeons and Dragons, Ebooks, Adventure

80 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2024

About the author

Marieke Nijkamp a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek.

***

Please note I don't respond to friend requests or messages on GR, but you're always welcome to tweet or email me. :)

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 2 out of 5]

I start every Vox Machina book I review saying I don't listen and/or watch any of the Vox Machina podcasts/webseries, and now I have to tell you, dear reader, that I also have never seen the animation series this is based on. Just so you know where I am coming from.

To me the book actually reads like a tabletop game session, which is a negative for me - I love playing a game, but retelling your adventures tends to be like retelling a dream. You had to be there.

I really don't like the art, it looks like a saturday morning cartoon. I know, it's the art style of the cartoon series, so I get why you'd go for that, I still think it just looks flat and kind of cheap.

Unsurprisingly and obviously, this one is for the fans.

(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)

[Tamara Morrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comic shows us some of the background for Ripley and other members of the villians seen at Whitestone during Vox Machina

If you like critical role you will enjoy this comic
I would recommend only reading if you have seen the Whitestone arc either as the podcast or as the animated tv show.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

really just supplemental knowledge for TLOVM’s Whitestone arc. definitely does not stand on its own, unlike other CR graphic novels. art also feels… minimal? unfinished? would have loved to see a little more care go into beloved Vox Machina villains.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded down

[Lizardley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love my wife, wish the backgrounds had been a little more lived-in

[Ben A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been incredibly excited for this one from the moment they released a few preview pages a while ago. It filled in some gaps in the timeline of the animated series and independently told a compelling and interesting story about Anna Ripley. I'm very excited to see more original graphic novels like this one.

Special Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

[SainteCrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been interesting to see Ripley after she escaped whitestone but was still fun to get more info on her relationship with the briarwoods and percy

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

1/28/2025 Likely a great read for fans of Critical Role, but people unfamiliar with the lore will have lots of questions. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

1/30/2025 I have to admit that I've never really gotten into the CR lore and fandom, mostly due to the fact that when I have time for role-playing games, it's because I'm playing them, not watching other people play them. I did manage to find time for the brilliant Exandria Unlimited: Calamity miniseries because it was only 16 hours or so long, but since I don't have time for regular TV (she says, typing while keeping one eye on the Arsenal game at Girona,) watching Actual Plays is pretty low on my list of priorities. Still, as a committed RPG enthusiast, I've definitely been interested in the iterations of CR across multiple media, if only to keep up with current trends in one of my favorite hobbies.

So I absolutely jumped at the chance to read this graphic novel and get a better idea of the much-celebrated world created by Matt Mercer & Co. EU:C aside, I've also run the Frozen Sick campaign for my local group, some of whom are much more interested in the setting than I am. I thus have a general understanding of the worldbuilding, and was looking forward to expanding that with this graphic novel.

And I did! Mostly. I guess. Like many other media tie-ins, this book suffers from assuming that readers know more about the overarching story than we actually do. Anna Ripley, the focus of this title, is a scientist who loathes magic due to the trauma of her own past. Relegated to the outskirts of polite society, she's suspicious when the wealthy Briarwoods promise her a lab and funding once she helps them find and activate an ancient ziggurat. But she's also desperate for resources so she agrees, and stays complicit no matter what awful tactics the Briarwoods use against anyone in their way.

While staying at the de Rolo estate to study the ziggurat, Ripley befriends their academic young son, Percy. The two soon become locked in a twisted sort of mentorship, as Ripley and the Briarwoods march relentlessly towards their goal.

I appreciated how the story signaled that Ripley is a villainous supporting character instrumental to the backstory of CR main character Percy. The book actually starts out really well, with more than enough space to develop and breathe as a standalone fantasy tale. But it definitely gets more Inside Baseball the further we go along, and not even Tyler Walpole's gorgeous fantasy art can fill in all the details that casual readers are missing from the story. It just felt as if no one unfamiliar with CR read this and asked pertinent editorial questions.

And that's fine, I guess, if this book is meant only for existing CR fans. I'd be greatly surprised if it brought non-fans into the fold, but stranger things have happened. As a non-CR diehard, I probably most enjoyed the pages from Mr Walpole's sketchbook, with insightful commentary from Rachel Roberts. So while this probably belongs on the shelves of any CRitter, as fans call themselves, you're not super missing out otherwise if you're not.

The Whitestone Chronicles, Volume 1: Ripley by Marieke Nijkamp & Tyler Walpole was published December 3 2024 by Dark Horse Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

First, an admission: I have watched all of the Vox Machina TV series from Amazon but I've never seen a single episode of the podcast it derives from. Hence, I don't know if the original series is faithful to the podcast, or whether the events in this comic are from the podcast or written for the comic. I'm assuming these are all new elements and greater for it.

Story: Whitestone, the origin and home of Percy gets visited in the series in an excellent story arc. This comic shows the beginning of that arc, depicting Percy as a teenager and the arrival of the Cerberus'. The whole story is told from the point of view of Ripley, the pragmatic and uncaring villain who we meet in the series later. The eventual arc in the series is one of the best and I think this sets it up beautifully.

The choice of Ripley as the main character is excellent and allows us an unique view into the events. While she is clearly evil, she has enough depth to make reading this interesting. Or maybe not strictly evil, just completely focused on her goals and having absolutely no qualms about any steps that need taking to move her toward them.

Art is great, very much in the style of the series. Everyone is immediately recognizable, and the environments are great. The comic medium is used well here.

I can't recommend this enough for any fans of the series, especially now that season 3 is coming soon. If you have not seen the series yet, you could still read this beforehand and then watch the series later - it would be a different experience as you'd learn some things from the comic that are only revealed later in the series, but also would give a lot more weight into some of the interactions that end up happening. Either way, do yourself a favor and pick this up. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was alright. I had high hopes going in to this graphic novel, but they were not met. This story, while offering additional details about the Briarwoods’ takeover of Whitestone, felt fairly lacking in details itself. It had no real story arc to it. It was mostly just Dr. Ripley mucking around Whitestone castle and lamenting about how being an engineer is the key to greatness, magic is stupid, this theory, that theory, blah blah blah. We’re told a lot through Ripley’s inner monologue; at least that’s what I think that was? It wasn’t clear. At first I thought maybe she was talking to someone about her time with the Briarwoods (Orthax perhaps?), but I don’t think so. I feel like a Dr. Ripley centered prequel story would have been better if it focused on her life before this. I want to see more of how she got to be where she is when the audience meets her for the first time. Also, I feel like we’re supposed to sympathize with Ripley, and I do to a certain extent because of what happened with her father when she was a kid, but she’s also done many horrific things herself, so I found it difficult to do that. So there was that too.
And full disclosure, I have not yet finished CR campaign 1 and this is the first CR book I’ve read (saw it at the library), so maybe more of this information is somewhere else and I just haven’t gotten to it yet. I’ve just seen the show/watched clips online. I do plan on continuing to read the CR books. Hopefully the others are better. Also, the art in this was very good.

[Carro · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second book of 2025, hot on the heels of the first. It was, also, okay!

The writing on this was fairly good and it surrounds a character and piece of Vox Machina history/storyline that I adore. Anything to do with Whitestones and the Briarwood occupation and Ripley? Fantastic. I loved seeing more of how that tragedy came to play. I was not, however, super enthusiastic about the art, which I feel was hindered by an attempt to stick closely to the style of the animated series but didn't quite *land* for me. Also, reading it in hardcover, some of the darker panels printed WAY too dark and I wasn't able to parse anything happening on the page.

Overall, I really liked it, and if there's to be more volumes, I can't wait to read them! The execution can just use a liiittle bit of work.

3.5/5 stars, rounded up.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some background on the infamous Doctor Ripley, as we get to see the Briarwoods' takeover of Whitestone play out in real time. Not a massive amount of extra detail here, although we do get to see how Ripley lost her hand, and the depths of her ambition.

I think some more pages would have helped this one out. I know this is one of three, but it runs at about 75 pages, and just as everything gets going, the story ends.

I did enjoy the artwork, which almost felt like stills from the Vox Machina cartoon with dialogue added to them. Getting these tie-ins to fit the source material is always important, and this is a success in most respects. The backgrounds are a bit dark at times though, which can make it seem like the characters are floating about in the foreground.

For fans, for sure, but fun if you've got the context.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author and artist do a good job of filing in the backstory of the villain Ripley from the Amazon series, however the backstory isn't all that interesting and only adds a little to the overall narrative that you didn't get from the show. Walpole does a good job of rendering the characters and settings with his own twist on the animation style that made the story feel connected to the show in a way the dialogue didn't, but I felt that was at least partly due to the story that had to be told in this volume. Read it if you enjoy completeness in your fantasy stories. I received a free digital copy of this graphic novel from the publisher.

[Rhys Causon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning art at times, though the posing and emotions on characters faces can feel a little bit off in the occasional frame.

An interesting look into the past of the character of Anna Ripley from The Legend of Vox Machina, I don’t know how different this is to how Matt Mercer first thought of her backstory for the campaign version, and a story that could actually help introduce people to the world of Critical Role if they didn’t fancy watching 2-4 hours of people playing D&D.

An interesting side view of events that are well known in Whitestone’s history but with a lot more dungeon delving than I expected going into it.

Enjoyable read.

[Ashly Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amo una historia que me hace reforzar mi odio hacia los Briarwoods🤣, igualmente saber más detalles acerca del lore de Whitestone, la historia de Ripley, la familia de Rolo y sobre la personalidad de Percy antes de que todo se volviera un desastre me apretó el corazón de la tristeza. No puedo esperar por el siguiente volumen!

//English Version//

I love a story that makes me reinforce my hatred for the Briarwoods🤣, also knowing more about the lore of Whitestone, Ripley's story, de Rolo's family and Percy's personality before everything turned into a mess squeezed my heart with sadness. I can't wait for the next volume!

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Backstory for one of my favorite Critical Role villains and my favorite story arcs in Vox Machina!

Ripley is such a complex character and I think we were able to get into her mind a little bit more through this comic. It was interesting to see how she got mixed in with the Briarwoods and Whitestone.

Art reflected the style from the animated series, which I know some others didn’t enjoy. I thought it was done well, but could have used a few improvements on some panes and spreads.

Downside is the storyline coverage was pretty high level. Honestly, I wish this could have been a novel rather than a comic.

Still, well done!

[Katheryn Haskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice addition to the Vox Machina world. I will say I am only kind of interested in this series, mostly because I didn't find the villains of Whitestone endearing, and this more or less confirmed that, as Ripley was the only one I kind of liked. Still interesting backstory none the less.

I will say the art in this novel is beautiful though. It did a great job of making it look and feel like the animation. Like you could tell me this was an episode and if I hadn't watched it all I'd believe you.

Definitely wouldn't use it as an introduction to Exandria or Vox Machina but good for the people who want a bit more background.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know the story if you've followed Vox Machina in any of its forms, but also because it is a fairly straight forward Villain who does not see herself as Villain (and later a couple forms of revenge) story. The artwork is familiar. You know the scenes and setting. Few real surprises, but it is a good read if you like a simpler fantasy reading in a graphic novel format. I liked it, didn't love it as I still have a few questions. Though available read via an online reader copy.

[Bookwalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of the “Vox Machina” series, this was an interesting look at one of its most interesting villains. We not only find out how she ended up where we find her in her first show appearance, but we also get more context for her dynamic with Percy De Rolo. Overall a fun and action filled read. It felt like I stepped into the show in book form. Can’t wait to see the characters whose stories they tell for parts two and three of “The Whitestone Chronicles”.

[DaniLanglie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly, this is a nice curio for my Critical Role shelf. I really liked the painted background art in the few larger landscape shots in the comic, they were beautiful. The story was basically what you'd expect, it was nothing you couldn't guess or assume from what we see of Ripley on the animated show. I wish there had been more Cassandra; there's no evidence in the origin story that the two of them had much to do with each other, but it could have been a cool dynamic to tease out!

[Bret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a Critical Role comic that breathes! This is the first one that not only feels like a full story, but feels like it is fully fleshed out. Don't get me wrong, I could stand to have another 10 pages scattered in several areas, but this book actually breathes and lives. It puts you right in the mind of Ripley and gives you all the info, answers your question, and adds to the overall CR universe.

Wonderful. Will read again!

[Amy Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-moving story of Ripley, this graphic novel had lovely art and featured the legendary Briarwoods, but could have been a bit longer. Ripley is complex and I’d’ve liked to see more of her moral complications, and I think this book was too quick. Still a fun read for Critters and fans of the show!

[Amanda Broyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Dark Horse and Publisher's Weekly for a review copy!

This is a delightful prequel for fans of Vox Machina. The art style matches the animation perfectly, and the story gives nice insight into a fascinating character.

[Jeff Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. An excellent companion to the "Vox Machina" animated series. And, from a biased point of view, good as a standalone. A little rushed in one or two places. But the writing and art were both very good.

[Sarah Presnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vox Machina is my absolute favorite thing in the world and I was absolutely stoked to pick up this graphic novel that gives you Ripley's story. I am sooo excited to see the rest of Whitestone Chronicles!

[Çınar Demir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Delivers on what it is supposed to do but that itself isn't that great. Also the art style felt like someone amateurishly trying to copy the Prime animated show rather than being directly involved with it.

I love Briarwoods, their representation here isn't what we know of them imo

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC from Edelweiss.

[James Deaville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition the critical role comic-verse.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great artwork, cool new background information but very short. I would have loved to learn more details about Ripley and her work.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a nice and easy read. Filled in some of the gaps that were missing when watching the show. Cant wait to get more backstory with these chronicles.