Review by Ian Keogh

When our comedy fantasy crew were evicted from a tavern, they ended up in Dwayre, where Rolf Copperhead was able to make amends for a youthful indiscretion. Heck, you know that already, because you read A Dozen Cousins and a Crumpled Crown. At the end the gang found their way back to the tavern, but had forgotten about the demon Throol. Unfortunately, he’s not forgotten about them, and they return to a pub packed with possessed ne’erdowells after their skin.

Throughout Skullkickers Jim Zub has proved excellent at reaching back into the past for solutions, and here pulls off his best surprise yet via a ridiculous situation dating all the way back to the first volume. An already crowded tavern squeezes in a few more people, and once again Edwin Huang amazes with his talent for filling panels with people while keeping things clear.

Zub has the narrator tell us upfront about the entire title story being one long bar brawl, which might seem like the easy option, but try choreographing a fight involving forty people yourself while keeping it interesting. Kudos also to Huang for managing to lay out multiple energetic spreads featuring everyone in the same place, yet ensuring they all look different. He does the same for funny alternate versions of Rex and Rolf, and has been the case throughout the series, he just keeps getting better. The sample art is from the final chapter and is one of a breathtking pair.

All the way through there’s been a meta aspect to Skullkickers as Zub has commented on the construction and function of stories, and he’s not finished. The musings provide an unconventional ending to a series that provides constant laughter, yet also food for thought.

Some ‘Tavern Tales’ finish the book, the point where other creators take their turn with the cast, this time themed via some of the satirical alternates seen in the main story. We see Rex and Rolf as superheroes, sci-fi heroes and bikers, but the best is the kung-fu version. Zub and extremely versatile artist Jeff Cruz straddling a fine line between faux philosophy and impossible action.

This finale is part of the third hardcover Treasure Trove, and is due in the third Compact Attack edition later in 2026.