by Joe Iconic, Reporter

 Munchkin #4 continues the kicking down the door and looting the room! Puns, fantasy, and backstabbing is par for course in another issue which stays true to the spirit of the popular Munchkin card game.

If you don’t know Munchkin, go and buy it now. A “munchkin,” in roleplaying game terms, is an immature roleplayer, only interested in smashing stuff, grabbing the loot, and leveling up at any cost. So, basically, having a lot of fun.   Produced by Steve Jackson Games, Munchkin’s first dedicated deck card game (aka the original fantasy set) won the 2001 Origins Award for Best Traditional Game. Since then, there are dozens of stand-alone (and combinable) Munchkin card games, with over twenty expansion decks, as well as an assortment of accessories, including miniatures, shirts, and dice bags that give you bonuses. And most importantly, you’ll recognize enough references to Munchkin cards in Munchkin #4, you could make a drinking game out of it.

Munchkin #4’s first story is written by Tom Siddell, Gunnerkrigg Court webcomic’s mastermind. In “Munchkin in the Sky with Diamonds,” Siddell and artist Mike Holmes take Spyke and his companions out of the fantasy setting and into the final frontier of Star Munchkin. Besides introducing yet another Munchkin game, the advantage of this story is that it now has science fiction troupes to pilfer for puns.   This story is entertaining in its own right, but has an impressive, almost casual depth. It’s smart enough to joke about sorcery in one world being technology in another, the not-so-fine line of gender identification and wizard/witches labels, and the danger of trusting the barbarians at the gates. My first request is more from Tom Siddell, especially in the sword & sorcery comics! This writer has a lot to offer the industry, and I can’t wait to see his next endeavor.   My second request is simpler: more Pix the Goblin!!!

The second story in Munchkin #4 is by fantasy-writer rising star Jim Zub. “Munchkin Booty on the High Seas of Stupidity” references the Munchkin Booty game, which consists of munchkins, puns, and pirates. I did not quite get the feel of the classes of this game as spelled on the previous “Munchkin Cthulhu” story, but this is still good stuff. Jim Zub and Rian Sygh capture the spirit of Munchkin perfectly.

It really helps to know the Munchkin card game, to experience each story to its fullest. I am an advocate of family game night, and “Munchkin Mondays” are currently a thing in my house. Although the game is listed as appropriate for 10 years old and up, my 8 year old has no problem beating Dad on a regular basis.  She thinks we are just having fun, but Munchkin is a great reinforcement for being a good sport, reading comprehension, and the importance of reading all the instructions. Especially if she wants to keep Dad from reaching 10th level.

Reading Munchkin #4 and playing Munchkin is highly recommended. Overall, this issue was slightly less brilliant than the previous issues, which can be attributed to the difficulty of cross-genre stories. Still well worth the read, and not just for the avid collectors for the exclusive playable game card.  Which we fight over.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Munchkin #4 3.5 treasure cards out of 5 treasure cards.

For more puns and more encouragement to go and play some games, go to  ComicsOnline.com and check out our Facebook, Twitter, Blip, Instagram, and iTunes for more comic reviews and everything geek pop culture!