Vox Machina
The origin story of Vox Machina before the stream began.
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins is a comic series published by Dark Horse Comics that serves as a prequel to the web series Critical Role. The story details how the characters formed the adventuring party known as Vox Machina before the events of the main campaign. Written initially by Matthew Colville and later by Jody Houser, with art by Olivia Samson and Noah Hayes, the series spans four volumes released between 2017 and 2025. It adapts the group's private game sessions into a cohesive narrative, showing their transition from individual mercenaries to a unified team in Stilben.
- Core Members
- 6
- Campaign Origin
- Critical Role Campaign One
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Volume 1 begins with Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia investigating a curse in the swamp near Stilben, where they meet Keyleth. The party expands when Scanlan and Grog arrive after raiding a fish-god temple, joined by Tiberius who identifies a poison linked to an assassins guild. After Iselda of the Myriad ambushes them using mirror magic, Vax is kidnapped but escapes on his own. The group converges at the docks as a ship explodes, discovering both poison and ritual spells harming the swamp. In a climactic battle, Grog kills Iselda, who had transformed into a fiend, solidifying their bond.
In Their Own Story
Volume 2 picks up after a successful job in Stilben when Grog has a vision of his father and leaves for Westruun. The party pursues him while Tiberius splits off to research the Ashen Gorge. In Westruun, they meet Pike Trickfoot, who learns Grog is trapped by Drath Mephrun in a mountain known for madness. After rescuing Grog, they learn his scar is cursed and seek help from Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien. To break the curse, Vex, Vax, and Grog retrieve a nymph's heart while Pike, Scanlan, and Keyleth find a nightmare skull with the aid of Percival de Rolo. During the ritual, Drath Mephrun possesses Grog, but the group defeats the near-lich before he fully returns.
Reader's Guide
The comic series is divided into four volumes, each consisting of six issues released both digitally and in print. Volume 1 was written by Matthew Colville with art by Olivia Samson; Volumes 2 through 4 were written by Jody Houser. Artists include Olivia Samson for the first three volumes and Noah Hayes for the fourth. Digital releases began in September 2017, followed by trade paperbacks in October 2019, August 2020, November 2022, and November 2025. In February 2025, Dark Horse announced single print issues for Volume 1 starting June 2025 as part of Critical Role's 10th anniversary.
Did You Know?
- Matthew Colville wrote the first volume while Jody Houser took over as writer for the subsequent three volumes.
- The first six issues were released digitally starting in September 2017, with print collections following later.
- In Volume 2, Grog is rescued from a curse by Drath Mephrun after the group retrieves a nymph's heart and a nightmare skull.
- A fourth volume was published from May 2024 to May 2025, with its print collection scheduled for November 2025.
- Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III joins the group in Volume 2 after helping them fight a cult that summoned a nightmare.
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