Vox Machina Origins
From scattered mercenaries to a legendary brotherhood: the story of how Vox Machina began.
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins is a comic series published by Dark Horse Comics that serves as a prequel to the web series. It details how the characters formed the adventuring party known as Vox Machina before the events of Campaign One. The story spans three volumes, with Matthew Colville writing the first two and Jody Houser handling Volume 3. Owen Gieni illustrated the interior art for Volumes 1 and 2 (with cover art by Olivia Samson) and continued as the primary artist into Volume 3. Released starting in September 2017, the series bridges the gap between the characters' isolated pasts and their legendary status.
- Member Count
- Eight
- Region
- Tal'Dorei
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The narrative begins with the half-elven twins Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia investigating a curse in the swamp near Stilben, where they meet the druid Keyleth. Simultaneously, the bard Scanlan and barbarian Grog raid a fish-god temple before encountering the dragonborn sorcerer Tiberius. These groups converge after tracking an alchemist involved with a poison affecting the peasants. They are ambushed by Iselda, a member of the Myriad crime syndicate who can step out of mirrors. After Vax is kidnapped and later escapes, the group unites to stop a ritual spell harming the swamp. Grog kills Iselda in her fiend form, cementing their first bond. In Volume 2, the party separates when Grog has a vision of his father and heads toward Westruun. The twins, Scanlan, Keyleth, and Tiberius follow, while Pike joins them after scrying on Grog's location in a mountain of madness. They rescue Grog from a shadow entity possessing his father, but he is left with a cursed scar. To cure him, the group splits to retrieve a nymph's heart and a nightmare's skull. During this quest, they meet Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III in Emon after he helps them defeat a cult summoning a nightmare. Percy joins the group just as Grog is possessed by the shadow entity during the cure ritual.
In Their Own Story
The journey starts in Stilben, where Vax and Vex'ahlia battle shark-speakers before Keyleth reveals herself from a squirrel form. The twins track an alchemist who lied to peasants about a swamp curse, only for Iselda to step out of a mirror and order her allies to attack. Meanwhile, Scanlan and Grog return from a fish-god temple raid with a stolen potion. Tiberius identifies it as poison used by Wildemount assassins. The two groups meet in a sewer lair but are ambushed again by Iselda, who flees with the alchemist through a mirror. Later, Vax is kidnapped, forcing Vex to seek help from both groups. After Vax escapes on his own, the full party converges at an exploding ship dock. They discover a ritual spell and poison harming the swamp. In a creative maneuver, they dilute the spell before Iselda transforms into a fiend. Grog delivers the killing blow, saving the group. Years later in Westruun, Grog vanishes following a vision of his father. The party finds Pike, who joins them to rescue Grog from Drath Mephrun inside a mountain. After freeing him, they must split up: Vex, Vax, and Grog travel to Frostweald Forest for a nymph's heart, while Pike, Scanlan, Keyleth, and the newly recruited Percy head to Umbra Hills for a nightmare's skull. In Jorenn Village, they help Percy escape jail after he fights a cult summoning a nightmare. Upon regrouping, Grog is possessed by Drath Mephrun during the cure ritual, but the group holds him in the circle until Eskil Ryndarien destroys the near-lich.
Reader's Guide
The comic series consists of four volumes, each containing six issues. Volume 1 was released digitally starting September 20, 2017, with print collections following in May 2018 and October 2019. It features art by Olivia Samson and writing by Matthew Colville. Volume 2 continued the story in 2019, both digitally and in print, with a trade paperback released on August 12, 2020. Jody Houser took over as writer for this volume, which also featured Olivia Samson as the artist. Volume 3 was published in 2021, with issues released both digitally and in print, followed by a print collection in November 2022. The fourth volume ran from May 2024 to May 2025, with its print collection scheduled for November 2025. Noah Hayes became the artist for this final volume. In February 2025, Dark Horse announced that Volume 1 would be re-released as single print issues starting in June 2025 as part of Critical Role's 10th anniversary. The series is a collaborative effort where writers receive outlines from the Critical Role team to ensure consistency with character voices and magic systems.
Did You Know?
- Matthew Colville wrote Volumes 1 and 2, while Jody Houser penned Volume 3.
- Iselda, a member of the Myriad crime syndicate, could step out of mirrors to ambush the party.
- Percy joined the group in Emon after helping them defeat a cult attempting to summon a nightmare.
- Volume 3 was released as the final trade paperback in June 2020.
- Owen Gieni served as the interior artist for Volumes 1, 2, and 3, with Olivia Samson providing the cover art for the first two volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vox Machina Origins?
This comic series serves as a prequel to Critical Role Campaign One, detailing how the individual characters first met in Tal'Dorei. It chronicles their transition from scattered mercenaries into the legendary adventuring group known as Vox Machina.
Who wrote and illustrated the series?
Matthew Colville scripted the first two volumes before Jody Houser completed Volume 3, with Owen Gieni handling interior art throughout. Olivia Samson contributed cover designs for the publication run starting in September 2017.
How does the story end?
The narrative concludes by establishing the full party lineup just prior to the start of the main web series events. It resolves early conflicts that brought them together, setting the stage for their future campaigns.
Is this considered official canon?
Yes, the comics are published in collaboration with Critical Role and align with the show's established timeline and character histories. They are treated as canonical material within the broader Exandria universe.
Why should fans read these comics?
They offer deeper insight into character motivations and relationships that were not fully explored during the live gameplay episodes. Reading them enhances understanding of the brotherhood's bond before their major adventures began.
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