Whether you’re a veteran ‘Critter’ or a newcomer who has just finished watching The Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon Prime, the world of Exandria is massive and complex. What began in 2015 as a group of voice actors playing Dungeons & Dragons in a living room has evolved into a multimedia empire, and this growth is most evident in their comic books.
At its heart, Critical Role is an “actual play” web series where Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer leads a cast of voice actors (including Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Taliesin Jaffe, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, and more) through epic, improvised stories. The show is divided into massive “Campaigns,” each following a different adventuring party across the world of Exandria.
Published by Dark Horse Comics, the Critical Role graphic novels aren’t adaptations, but canon stories, mainly prequel tales. They fill in the “missing” years of the campaigns, providing backstories that happened before the cameras ever rolled.
The Critical Role Comics: Expanding the Lore
While the show spans hundreds of hours of video, the comics serve a different purpose. They act as the “Origin Stories” for the characters we love, answering questions the live stream only hinted at. The comic library is generally split into three main pillars:
- Vox Machina Origins: These volumes chronicle how the original team met in the swampy town of Stilben and formed the group that would eventually save the world.
- The Mighty Nein Origins: A series of standalone graphic novels, each dedicated to a single character (like Caleb’s tragic time at the Soltryce Academy or Jester’s first meeting with The Traveler).
- The Tales of Exandria: Mini-series that shift the spotlight away from the main players to focus on iconic NPCs (Non-Player Characters) and the deeper history of the world, such as the life of the Bright Queen.
- The Whitestone Chronicles: This series exists in the Animated Series Continuity. While the other comics are prequels to the Dungeons & Dragons livestream, these are prequels to the Amazon Prime show.
While Vox Machina Origins and The Whitestone Chronicles both feature the same characters, they technically belong to slightly different timelines. Vox Machina Origins is canon to the TTRPG/Livestream campaign, while Whitestone Chronicles is canon to the Animated Series.
- Midst: It takes place in an entirely different universe from Exandria. Midst is a sci-fi/space-western acquired by Critical Role’s production company (Metapigeon), and while it shares the same creative DNA, you won’t find Grog or Jester here.
Critical Role Comics Reading Order
Navigating this library can feel like trekking through the Hellxian Forest without a map. To help you avoid the narrative traps, here is the definitive Critical Role Comics Reading Order to ensure you get the full story.
Vox Machina Origins
If you are watching The Legend of Vox Machina TV show, Vox Machina Origins provides the context for the “pre-briarwood” era that the show skips over. It was written by Matthew Colville (vol. 1) and Jody Houser (vol. 2-4) with art by Olivia Samson (vol. 1-3) and Noah Hayes (vol. 4).
Vox Machina Origins: Hardcover Library Edition and Paperback Omnibus
Let’s start with the collectors’ preferred editions. There are the Library Editions that are oversized hardcover editions with bonus artwork, and the new Omnibus collection, which has the same content, but in a big paperback format.
- Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Omnibus – Series I and II [2026]
Collects Vox Machina Origins I and II - Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Library Edition: Series I & II Collection
Collects Vox Machina Origins I and II
Vox Machina Origins: The Trade Paperback Collection
- Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Vol. 1
Collects Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins series I #1-6. - Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Vol. 2
Collects Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins series II #1-6. - Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Vol. 3
Collects Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins series III #1-6. - Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Vol. 4
Collects Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins series IV #1-6.
The Mighty Nein Origins
If you are a fan of the Campaign 2 podcast, prioritize the Mighty Nein Origins graphic novels to see the backstories that the players only hinted at during the sessions. Each graphic novel is co-written by Matthew Mercer and the cast member who developed the character. They are illustrated by William Kirkby, Selina Espiritu, Hunter Severn Bonyun, and Guilherme Balbi.
The Mighty Nein Origins: Hardcover Library Edition and Paperback Omnibus
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins Omnibus Vol. 1 [2026]
Collects Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Jester Lavorre, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Caleb Widogast, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Yasha Nydoorin, and Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Nott the Brave. - Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins Omnibus Vol. 2 [2026]
Collects Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Fjord Stone, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Mollymauk Tealeaf, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Beauregard Lionett, and Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Caduceus Clay. - Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins Library Edition Volume 1
Collects Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Jester Lavorre, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Caleb Widogast, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Yasha Nydoorin, and Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Nott the Brave. - Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins Library Edition Volume 2
Collects Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Fjord Stone, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Mollymauk Tealeaf, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Beauregard Lionett, and Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Caduceus Clay.
The Mighty Nein Origins: The Graphic Novels
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Jester Lavorre
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Home (one-shot)
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Caleb Widogast
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Yasha Nydoorin
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Fjord Stone
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Nott the Brave
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Mollymauk Tealeaf
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Beauregard Lionett
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Caduceus Clay
- Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins – Acquired Taste (one-shot)
The Tales of Exandria
The Tales of Exandria is an anthology series that shifts the spotlight to the world’s most iconic NPCs (Non-Player Characters) and the lore-heavy events that shaped the continents.
The Bright Queen
This series, written by Darcy Van Poelgeest with art by CoupleofKooks, focuses on Leylas Kryn, the immortal leader of the Kryn Dynasty. This is a post-Campaign 2 story. While it deals with ancient history, the framing narrative happens after the “Mighty Nein” era.
- Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria – The Bright Queen
Collects Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria – The Bright Queen #1-4
Artagan
This series, written by Matthew Mercer and Sam Maggs with art by Aviv Or, centers on the fan-favorite Archfey trickster, Artagan (also known as Garmelie in Campaign 1 and The Traveler in Campaign 2). Because it’s told as a series of flashbacks during a trial, it spans centuries. However, it is best read after finishing Campaign 2.
- Critical Role: Tales of Exandria Volume 2 – Artagan
Collects Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria – Artagan #1-4
The Whitestone Chronicles
The Whitestone Chronicles is a direct prequel to the Amazon Prime animated series. It may be better to read the graphic novels between Season 1 and Season 2 to avoid diminishing the experience of watching the show for the first time. These stories are complementary to the show, better be familiar with it. It’s written by Marieke Nijkamp with art by Tyler Walpole and Travis Hymel.
- The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 1 – Ripley
- The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 2 – Cassandra [2026]
- The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 3 – The Briarwoods [2026]
Midst
Acquired by Metapigeon, Critical Role’s production arm, in 2023, Midst is an entirely separate universe from the swords-and-sorcery of Vox Machina. It’s a “space-western” that feels like a fever dream. It’s part noir mystery, part cosmic horror, and part satirical corporate thriller.
The world of Midst does not follow the rules of physics as we know them. It consists of Islets (floating landmasses) suspended in a sparkling gaseous space called the Cosmos. However, the Cosmos is slowly being devoured by the terrifying, pitch-black anti-reality known as the Fold, which warps everything it touches. If you fall into the Fold, you won’t just die, but you might come back… different.
The comic anthology Midst: Tales from the Cosmos is designed to fill in the “gaps” in this strange reality. It was written by Colin Lorimer, Jasmine Walls, and Kendra Wells, with art by Alejandro Aragon, Aviv Or, and Vash Taylor.
- Midst: Tales from the Cosmos
Collects Midst: Address Unknown, Midst: The Valorous Farmer, Midst: Ripples, and sketchbook material.