Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft #1

Released in 1993 by TSR, Ravenloft #1 marked the beginning of a comic book series based on the popular gothic horror campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons. The title capitalized on the success of the Ravenloft tabletop modules, which had gained a dedicated following for their moody, atmospheric take on classic horror tropes like vampires and ghost stories. The comic was published during a period when TSR was aggressively expanding the Dungeons & Dragons brand into various multimedia formats, seeking to translate the narrative depth of their roleplaying games into sequential art.

The creative direction for the series was handled by writer Dan Mishkin and artist Esteban Maroto, who sought to capture the dread and gloom of the Demiplane of Dread. Maroto, known for his intricate, highly decorative illustrative style, brought a distinctively dark and ornate aesthetic that aligned well with the series' supernatural themes. Upon release, the title was received as a stylistic departure from traditional superhero comics, appealing primarily to fans of the roleplaying game who appreciated the effort to flesh out the setting's dark lords and harrowing landscapes.