As a fan of the Cult of the Lamb video game, I was excited to dive into this graphic novel adaptation. Cult of the Lamb Vol. 1 captures the dark charm and eerie humor of the game while expanding the lore in intriguing ways. The artwork by Troy Little perfectly complements Alex Paknadel’s storytelling, creating a twisted yet captivating world. The story’s pacing is solid, though it occasionally feels rushed. Still, it’s a great continuation of the game's narrative, and I look forward to seeing where Lamb’s journey leads next. Four stars!

I love the Cult of the Lamb game! This graphic novel is a great addition to the lore. It is funny, cute, and absolutely disturbing. It does follow the plot of the game pretty closely, and I was hoping we would get a little bit more new lore. But it is still done really well and Lamb is definitely given a lot more depth as a character.

Truly a fun book. Thanks to NetGalley, Alex Paknadel, and Oni Press for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own.

When I started reading it I didn't really know where I was going to go, but the illustrations were so tender and at the same time sinister that I wanted to continue.

Cult of the lamb is a quite particular story, which has its bizarre moments and also satire. It was fun and different to read. I think it achieves a somewhat strange but also particular combination, which makes it quite original.

I'm intrigued to know how this story will continue!

Thank you Oni ​​Press for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore Cult of the Lamb as a video game, I've streamed it on my Twitch channel and beat the game so many times now so when I saw that they turned it into a graphic novel series you already know I had to read it ASAP.

It was everything I could have wanted and more! the first volume is essentially the game play leading up to the first boss battle of the game. I loved the way the characters were brought to life. We still have all the characters we love from the game but they have so much more personality to them. really excited to see what the other volumes will have in store!

Go read it! it was a fun time and if you want more you can always go play the game! 😉

*eARC received through netgalley, opinions are my own*

Solid first volume.
The art in this is gorgeous and very true to the graphics in the game.
There isn't much new story here so if you played the game you know what happens but I think it would do a good job of telling the story to new audiences.
I like how gameplay mechanics from the game were used as plot devices and I think a lot of the jokes only really hit when you know the game but because I do, I enjoyed them.
Will definetly pick up the next volume!

I got this comic as an ARC from Netgalley a few weeks ago, but I had never played the game despite having my eye on it when it was released.

I then proceeded to get and play the game, beating it before reading the comic. I loved the game, really enjoyed my time with it, and so decided it was time to read the comic.

I'm not always a big fan of this all ages, cartoonist style of comic art. But in this instance, it is compatible with the artwork of the game.

The comic is a retelling of the games story in comic form with some fun embellishments and Easter eggs, all of which I really enjoyed.

This is a fun read for fans of the game and otherwise. Are you ready to join The Cult of the Lamb?

I absolutely adore the video game Cult of the Lamb. It's so wrong in all the right ways and it's kind of adorable to be the maybe-not-so-evil leader of all your cute/horrifying/beloved/detested little culties. (To be clear, this is not in any way advocating for cults in real life, this is about a VIDEO game in which you pretend to be a cult leader, cults with real humans = serious bad news) I love naming them after silly things like K-pop stars or items in my grocery orders.

So I was pretty enthused to see there was going to be a graphic novel version. I wasn't sure what to expect, because in the game the lamb doesn't get any individualized personality, you get to choose what the lamb does because you're playing as the lamb. To make a graphic novel they have to give the lamb and the followers personality. It was interesting.

In the graphic novelization of the game the lamb becomes the leader somewhat reluctantly, we see Ratau pushing them to do things they don't really want to do, while Nana, their first follower tries to keep them grounded and content. Eventually the lamb realizes that as they have gathered followers the burden then falls to them to care for their followers, keep the camp clean, provide food. So they realize they must venture out into the Darkwood again to provide. But what happens to the cult while the Lamb is away? What might they do?

I really loved that they kept the lambs pronouns they/them and didn't force gender onto any of the characters, they don't do that in the game and I appreciated them avoiding doing it in the print too. There are a lot of fun easter egg elements of the graphic novel that you'll really love if you're a fan of the game as well. This graphic novel was a fun read. If you liked the game you're going to enjoy this too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I was so excited to read this.! I bought the cultist edition on switch when it released and beat the game. Just recently, I bought the game, again, on Steam. I also got all of the DLCs. Needless to say, I know and love Cult of the Lamb. The story was basically what I expected since I’ve played the game. Just as dark and gory. I love that.! I’m glad the themes of the game weren’t shied away from. Ratau annoyed me a bit; I feel better about sacrificing him now. The art was beautiful. I can’t wait for the next volume to release.

I love comics and graphic novels! Especially like this one, where you can just sit down and devour the whole thing in like an hour. It is so much fun!

This volume contains the first four issues of the Cult of the Lamb (yes, there is a game for the Nintendo Switch with the same story and yes, I am now considering getting/playing it).

This story follows a lamb who is considered a heretic and is then chosen to start a cult. And, of course, things get chaotic because cults...that's what makes then a cult...

This had major Gravity Falls vibes to me. Between the illustration style (which was so cute and I adored) and the general tone and topic of this story...definitely would HIGHLY recommend for fans of Gravity Falls.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

If you want to read this book you should definitely have in mind that it's originally a game and not a graphic novel. Therefore the lamb has they/them pronouns, (since the player could be both female and male), choices are individually in game but chosen in a certain way for this graphic novel and of course it might just feels like being in a game while reading, though I think it was good implemented. The graphic novel isn't that different from the original game, appearances stayed the same and most part of the story line. But we will get moments that didn't happen in the game, making the graphic novels unique in its own ways.

I personally really liked the drawing style and how the little lamb could look innocent and scared, but at the same time mighty and fearless. That's also the personality for the lamb. For the beginning it was scared, but when it got its own cult and power it learned to fear nothing, but in the end we get a heart touching moment (which didn't happen in the game), which made me really sad, but also made me able to see how vulnerable the lamb still can be. Even though we never got a real name or any pronouns (that indicates gender) for our protagonist, the lamb still feels real by having its own personality. While you have the freedom to make your own decisions in the game, the graphic novel makes them themselves, but in a satisfying and justified way. The lamb might appear evil, but it still has a pure heart and the typical hero personality, trying to save everyone who it can. That makes the graphic novel a lot enjoyable, as the lamb gets its own personality and sometimes even small moments that didn't appear in the game.

I can't say a lot to the graphic novel yet as I didn't read a lot so far, the pacing is great regarding the length of each volume, but I wished the volumes might be a big longer. Nevertheless, the four volumes I was able to read in just an hour were really great and I'm looking forward to be reading more of it.

Recommended to anyone who likes action based storylines and video games. More specifically; Anyone who likes Animal Crossing should have at least tried to read this one. Even though Animal Crossing is expecting less from the player, the animal aspects and designing/managing your town (in this case cult) is the same.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the advanced reader copy of Cult of the Lambs Vol. 1 by Alex Paknadel and Troy Little.



Started the book: 04. October 2024
Finished the book: 04. October 2024
Wrote the review: 04. October 2024

As a graphic novelization of the popular video game Cult of the Lamb, this is everything I was hoping for. We follow our adorable protagonist as they are offered the chance to avenge their death and create a cult of their own. The graphics were just like the video game, and the storyline was closely followed. The artwork in here, especially between chapters, was gorgeous. There is quite a lot going on on each page between the graphics and text, but I found that to be a positive, as there is so much detail to look at and appreciate.

I'd recommend this for fans of the video game or fans of cutesy-but-dark graphic novels. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is sensitive to religion/cults or violence.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t played a lot of the game, but the The First Verse feels like a very faithful adaptation. There’s only a couple places game mechanics come up in passing, purely because they’d leave a weird gap if not addressed.

Otherwise we get to see our innocent sacrifice become an avenger and, ultimately, a corrupted idealist. There’s some great bits of character here, as well as wonderful interactions with Ratou and Nana, the first cultist Lamb rescues.

Lamb is described with they/them pronouns, presumably because they are the player character, but it adds a nice touch to the overall feel of the book.

Little’s art captures the essence of the game while adding extra details and character expressions to flesh out the story. I particularly like how he handled the shift between Lamb the rescuer and Lamb in destroyer mode - a shadowy silhouette with narrowed red eyes, always captured in movement.

The First Verse ends on a somber note, with a promise of dark arcs to come.

The art in Cult of the Lamb was bright and beautiful, and the imagery was nice and gory, but the story was a little juvenile for my tastes. I wanted the characters and world to be a little more fleshed out.

This may be a failing on my part as I haven't played the game, so for those who have already played the game and enjoy the world my struggles may not be an issue at all.

OMG I loved this!! I NEED MORE! Cult of the Lamb Vol. 1 is a visually striking and darkly whimsical graphic novel that blends elements of horror and satire. Set in a world where a lamb becomes the leader of a cult, the story explores themes of faith, power, and manipulation with both humor and a sinister edge. The artwork is bold and expressive, perfectly complementing the twisted yet engaging narrative. With its unique concept and vivid visuals, Cult of the Lamb offers a fresh and entertaining take on the complexities of belief and control.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a review copy.

I have played and enjoyed Cult of the Lamb so was keen to read the graphic novel. The art is the same style as the game, making the book feel very familiar. During fight scenes, there is quite a lot going on on the page and it can be hard to make out what is happening. This makes the scenes feel fast paced and confusing, very similar to fighting in the game, although I think the book would have benefitted from a bit more clarity in these scenes.

The story also feels a little rushed. This could have been a great opportunity to flesh out the story of the lamb and the founding of their cult, but unfortunately we don't get to see much interaction between the followers as they build up the cult.

This is still a pretty enjoyable book, especially if you are a fan of the game, and I am looking forward to seeing more of the story.

This one was fun - or well, as fun as sacrificial cults can get haha. Anyway, I liked the expansion of the lore and how the Lamb ended up where he was at the start of the game. I think I would've liked it more if they hadn't leaned so hard into the Reluctant Hero/Leader for the Lamb's personality, but otherwise I am so glad they included a panel of a follower pooping on the ground. Made my night.

3.5

The art style is lovely, but I think I prefer this story as a video game where you can do what you want and not as set story. I'll definitely replay the game, but I most likely won't read more of the comics.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

As someone who has been addicted to this game since release I was so excited to get an arc of this and I read it all in one day! I loved the art as always and the story was awesome! Can’t wait to be able to get a physical copy of this and see what comes next!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a big fan of the game, I absolutely loved this graphic novel! This installment follows the general plot of the game but adds a bit more characterization to the followers and The Lamb. I also loved the art style! Very good for fans of creepy monsters and silly lil animals.

I really liked reading this adaptation! I’m a big fan of the game Cult of the Lamb, so being able to get an early look at the graphic novel was amazing!
The great thing about adaptations is that they change the existing media into something a bit more refined and intentional. The graphic novel Cult of the Lamb really diverts from the game Cult of the Lamb in a way that highlights the need for the player of the game to have humanity. Not to say that the Lamb doesn’t have humanity in them, it just comes later. We instead get more bloodthirsty vengeance from the Lamb right of the bat which I feel goes really well with the overall storyline.
As always, the cutesy art-style paired with the gore is so fun to see. I appreciate having slightly more fleshed out cult members with this adaptation! And the fact that all of the characters are basically genderless. This is a violent, sacrificial cult – who needs a gender?