THE BOOKS OF CLASH VOLUME 1

Nail-biting battles spun off in graphic format from the immensely popular Clash of Clans and Clash Royale video game franchises.

In action-crammed panels, Yang makes good on an opening promise of “eye-smackingly good” smashing and bashing by pitting the awesomely muscled, hammer-wielding Hog Riders of Triumphica village against the seemingly defenseless town of Jazzypickleton—where the invaders on their porcine steeds are first met and sent reeling by a giant battle machine. Then, in a rematch, they are battled to a stalemate by an even more powerful secret weapon. It seems that in Triumphica, Barbarians march only with Barbarians, Wizards with Wizards, and so forth, each to their own. But in Jazzypickleton, as diminutive and despised Hog Rider Terrodicus discovers when he creeps in to spy but stays to become part of the mixed and wildly successful Jazzypickleton Cucumbers Royale team, diversity is key to achieving a “win condition.” Let the bashing begin! Though the cast comes in an array of typecast Valkyries, Goblins, Minions, Barbarians, and more, the Hog Riders are depicted with brown skin, and the other human-adjacent sorts are shown in a mix of hues. The backmatter features strategy tips for gamers as well as preliminary scenes and sketches.

A legendariously legendary kickoff.