Graphic novel biography to retrace life of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax

A new graphic novel biography will examine the life of Gary Gygax and his creation of seminal roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons in the 1970s.

Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D takes a unique approach to retelling Gygax’s childhood growing up in a 1950s America, adopting multiple first-person perspectives of those around the emerging tabletop designer.

The story leads through to the origins of Dungeons & Dragons in the mid-1970s, including the invention of the iconic D20 die, before moving onto the RPG’s impact and influence towards the end of the decade and up to the modern day.

The 144-page book, written by Masters of Doom and Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto author David Kushner, is based on a 2008 profile of Gygax published in Wired and interviews with both him and co-creator Dave Arneson before they died.

In the Flesh, The Abaddon, and Love Addict: Confessions of a Serial Dater illustrator Koren Shadmi provides the accompanying artwork.

Rise of the Dungeon Master’s paperback is out on May 9th and will cost £14 in the UK.