After a couple of years with some weak comedy issues for the commemorative April Fools issue, we are back at it in a strong way with this issue. We start off with a great cover by Linda Medley with a whimsical tone and a barroom scene full of little funny details, one of the best comedic covers of Dragon ever made, for sure. Linda Medley would go on to be a pretty successful comics artist and writer, particularly with her own series Castle Waiting, look it up if you like her art style. 

However, it is in the interior of the magazine that you can find most of the humour, with a section entitled Player’s Handbook II, little knowing that in 19 years time it would actually be the name of a book for D&D 3.5 and not a joke, the magazine includes a collection of humorous articles to make the issue a comedy themed one. Some of these are pretty fun. such as the Spells for Everyone: Part 2, in which we get “non magical spells”. This is a joke directed at players that always have to look for a spell or ability to do something in the game, instead of just using their brain. For instance, you can just pick up a shovel and dig, instead of casting Move Earth. 

The rest of the magazine has some other useful and often slightly humorous articles. The editorial is also of note, particularly at this moment when the revised fifth edition has just hit the shelves, in it is discussed how with the announcement of an upcoming second edition of AD&D everyone is running around like headless chickens, afraid of possible changes, losing their characters or the game being destroyed. Pretty similar stuff to the talking points of the last few months. Plus ça change…