100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games

By Fred Van Lente
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
Roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, in which players take the roles of heroes in their own story, have solidly moved from the geek fringes to the mainstream. They are beloved by celebrities and have inspired hit podcasts as well as massively successful sales in games,... Read More
Format: Hardback
$7999
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, in which players take the roles of heroes in their own story, have solidly moved from the geek fringes to the mainstream. They are beloved by celebrities and have inspired hit podcasts as well as massively successful sales in games, comics, and hobby shops.

The story of the tabletop's triumph, even in our digital age, begins in the day of actual sword-wielding warriors and leads right up to the fireball-casting avatars of today. In Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games, New York Times-bestselling and award-winning comics creators Fred Van Lente and Tom Fowler take you on an incredible journey from the mists of the past to the screen-lit present. They show not just how these games work and why we love them, but also what they can tell us about ourselves.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781951757267

Publisher: Clover Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 31 July 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Clover Press

Illustration: Illustrations

Contributors:

  • By Tom Fowler
  • Colorist Bill Crabtree

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 215.0mm

Height: 279.0mm

Weight: 600g

Pages: 104

Collections

Board Games Fred Van Lente Graphic Novels

About the Author

Fred Van Lente's first published work was a GURPS article for Steve Jackson Games' Pyramid magazine and his first book was a Call of Cthulhu supplement for Chaosium (The New Orleans Guidebook). He went on to become a six-time New York Times bestsellingΒ writer of comics and graphic novels, notably The Comic Book History of Comics ("Done with wit, energy, a healthy dose of insolence and a dedication to getting it right."β€”NPR),Β The Comic Book History of Animation ("A must-read comic that will both entertain and educate"--ComicBook.com), and the American Library Association award-winningΒ Action Philosophers ("Intensely goofy but intellectually rigorous"--The New York Times), all with artist Ryan Dunlavey. His fiction comics include The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Archer & ArmstrongΒ (Harvey Award Nominee, Best Series) and the latest volume of Paizo's Pathfinder comics series. His past comics with Tom Fowler include Hulk: Incredible Origins (Marvel)Β and Howtoons: (Re)Ignition (Image). Writer, cartoonist, and illustrator Tom Fowler started his career drawing and painting for RPGs and card games such as Shadowrun, Werewolf Wild West, Deadlands, Doomtown, Hell on Earth, Star Wars, and Men in Black, as well as Dragon and Dungeon magazines. He went on to work for a variety of publishers including DC, Marvel, Simon & Schuster, Hasbro, Oni, Valiant, and Mad Magazine. His comics include Rick and Morty, Mysterius, Venom, Books of Magic, and Refrigerator Full of Heads. He lives in Ottawa, Canada with his family and occasionally goes by the name Skrrrrrrlok Gnollmes, World’s Greatest Meat Detective. Bill Crabtree has been working in comics since 2003.Β His color art has helped shape the look and feel of the many titles he's worked on, including Invincible,Β The Damned, BRZRKR,Β The Sixth Gun (also now a tabletop RPG using the Savage Worlds system) and the RPG themed webcomic, Table Titans.Β His work has been nominated for Harvey and Eisner Awards.Β He is an avid videogamer, with a particular affection for the RPG's of From Software. He lives in Portland Oregon with his wife and many children, cats, and dogs.

Also by Fred Van Lente

View all
  • Assassin's Creed: Templars Vol. 2: Cross of War
    Assassin's Creed: Templars Vol. 2: Cross of War
    Collects the incredible second arc of the riveting Black Cross saga! In the dungeons of Tripoli, a man will have his fortunes changed forever as he becomes an agent of honour for the legendary Templar Order!
    By Fred Van Lente
    Paperback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Murder Kingdom
    You must be this tall…to DIE! Tanith and her best friend are trapped overnight in a fantasy-themed amusement park where someone is killing the employees in the gruesome fashion of the original fairy tales! They have to unravel the mystery before they become the next victims and live never ever after… Once upon a time, in a strange land called...
    By Chris Panda and Fred Van Lente
    Paperback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • X-Men: X-Verse - Wolverine
    Join Wolverine on some of his wildest adventures, in this new format perfect for young readers! In the uncanny X-Verse, he's the best there is at what he does! Join Wolverine on his wildest adventures! When Professor X tasks Logan with taking new student Kitty Pryde under his wing, neither of them is happy about the arrangementβ€”but they'll need to...
    By Marc Sumerak and Fred Van Lente and Peter David
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Assassin's Creed
    Assassin's Creed
    Assassin's Creed movie due for release on 21st December 2016. Based on the popular game series, Assassin's Creed: Templars: Black Cross collects the first five issues of a brand new story arc exclusive to Titan Comics. Collecting the first arc of the new explosive Templars series, from the world of Assassin's Creed, Fred Van Lente and Dennis Calero offer a...
    By Fred Van Lente
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Die!namite Blood Red TPB
    The ravening undead return to resume their feasting upon the living in the newest bloodcurdling chapter of Dynamite’s all-star supergroup adventures in the dystopic future! TIME TO DIE ANOTHER DAY! The ravening undead return to resume their feasting upon the living in the newest bloodcurdling chapter of Dynamite’s all-star supergroup adventures in the dystopic future! Outside the crazily fortified gates...
    By Fred Van Lente
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Board Games

View all
  • Dutch Blitz
    Hannah's Pick Hannah's Pick
    Dutch Blitz
    In Dutch Blitz, each player has her own deck of forty cards, with cards 1-10 in four colors; red and blue cards show a Pennsylvania Dutch boy, while yellow and green cards show a Pennsylvania Dutch girl. Each deck has a different symbol on the back to aid with card sorting between rounds. At the start of each round, each...
    2–8 players
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Dungeons & Dragons - Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Refreshed Starter Set
    Dungeons & Dragons - Dragons of Stormwreck Isle Refreshed Starter Set
    An ideal introduction to the world of Dungeons & Dragons, offering players and Dungeon Masters a turnkey onboarding experience.This complete game experience contains everything you need to leap into adventure, including an adventure book with everything the Dungeon Master needs to get started; a rulebook for playing characters of levels 1Β–3; 5 ready-to-play characters, each with a character sheet; and...
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Heat Pedal to the Metal
    Shirl's Pick Shirl's Pick
    Heat Pedal to the Metal
    Manage your race car's speed to keep from overheating. 1–6 PlayersΒ  |Β Β 30–60 MinΒ  |Β Β Age: 10+ Based on simple and intuitive hand management,Β Heat: Pedal to the MetalΒ puts players in the driver's seat of intense car races, jockeying for position to cross the finish line first, while managing their car's speed if they don't want to overheat. Selecting the right upgrades for...
    2–6 players
    $12500
    Elsewhere:
    $12999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Ticket to Ride (Refresh)
    Siobhan's Pick Siobhan's Pick
    Ticket to Ride (Refresh)
    Build your railroad across North America to connect cities and complete tickets.Β  2-5 PlayersΒ  |Β  30-60 MinsΒ  |Β  Ages 8+ Features: Connections, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Network and Route Building Theme: Trains Description: Build your tracks across the United States in Ticket to Ride, a fast-paced and strategic board game for two to five players. In every game,...
    2–4 players
    $7700
    Elsewhere:
    $7999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wingspan: Americas Expansion
    Wingspan: Americas Expansion
    This fourth Wingspan expansion explores the birds of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. This incredibly biodiverse and abundant region is home to more than 3,000 bird species, including the birds with the smallest and largest wingspans in the world (the Bee Hummingbird and Snowy Albatross, respectively). Hummingbirds make up about one-tenth of the bird species in Latin...
    1-5 players
    $5999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Love Letter Classic (Eco Box)
    Tim's Pick Tim's Pick
    Love Letter Classic (Eco Box)
    Love Letter is getting a new packaging update! The new environmentally-friendly design is free of any single-use plastics. Can you get a letter to the princess or remove all your rivals? You win either way!Β  2-6 PlayersΒ  |Β  20 MinsΒ  |Β  Ages 14+ Features: Deduction, Hand Management, Player Elimination, Score-and-Reset Game, Take That Theme:Β Card Game, Deduction, Renaissance Description: Your goal...
    2–6 players
    $2599
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Monopoly - Deal Card Game
    Dylan's Pick Dylan's Pick
    Monopoly - Deal Card Game
    Swap, steal, and scheme with the Monopoly Deal card game! Be the first player to collect 3 complete Property card sets, each in a different colour, to win. This deck includes 110 cards: Property cards, Wild Property cards, Action cards, and Money cards. Wild Property cards help players build Property sets. Action cards mix up the game by letting players...
    $599
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • CATAN (6th Edition) - Seafarers Expansion
    Expansion for CATAN. Expand from the island of Catan into the ocean with boat shipping lanes. 3-4 PlayersΒ  |Β  60+ MinsΒ  |Β  Ages 10+ Features:Β Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Memory, Modular Board, Network and Route Building, Trading Theme:Β Expansion for Base-game, Exploration, Negotiation Description: Not everyone’s content with a simple life on the shore. You? Your restless spirit cannot resist the call...
    3-4 players
    $7999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 7 Wonders Duel
    7 Wonders Duel
    Science? Military? What will you draft to win this head-to-head version of 7 Wonders? 2 PlayersΒ  |Β  30 MinsΒ  |Β  Ages 10+ Features:Β End Game Bonuses, Income, Layering, Market, Modular Board Themes:Β Ancient, Card Game, City Building, Civilization, Economic Description: Experience an intense two-player struggle for supremacy in the ancient world! Choose the Wonders you aim to build and guide your city...
    2 players
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Bananagrams
    Amelia's Pick Amelia's Pick
    Bananagrams
    Addictively simple, and simply addictive, Bananagrams is the fast and frantic word game enjoyed by millions! Players and their opponents aim to use all of their letters to build a word grid in a race to the finish. The first player to use all of their tiles is crowned Top Banana! Bananagrams requires no pencil, paper, or board, and comes...
    2–8 players
    $2899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • CATAN (6th Edition) - The Game
    CATAN (6th Edition) - The Game
    Welcome to the unexplored island of Catan! 3-4 PlayersΒ  |Β  60+ MinsΒ  |Β  Ages 10+ Features:Β Chaining, Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, Income, Modular Board, Negotiation, Network and Route Building, Race, Random Production, Trading, Variable Set-up Theme:Β Economic, Negotiation Description: As you and your fellow explorers gaze across the uninhabited landscape of hexagonal tracts of terrain, you quickly realize that this unique land...
    3-4 players
    $7699
    Elsewhere:
    $7999
    Backorder
    Ships early August
  • Terraforming Mars
    Terraforming Mars
    In the 2400s, mankind begins to terraform the planet Mars. Giant corporations, sponsored by the World Government on Earth, initiate huge projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level, and the ocean coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars, you play one of those corporations and work together in the terraforming process, but compete for getting victory points...
    1–4 players
    $12999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Board Games lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all