C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1 Review

 

Writer: Tom Taylor

Artist: Daniele Di Nicuolo

Colorist: Rain Beredo

Letterer: Wes Abbott

Cover Artists: Daniele Di Nicuolo & Rain Beredo; Darko Lafuente; Nicoletta Baldari

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99

Issue Length: 40 Pages

Release Date: September 10, 2025

 

When an explosion rocks the scenic countryside of Cornwall, England, the staff of The Hill races through the scenic underground facility. They find an empty vault. The roof has disappeared, exposing the room to grazing animals, farmers, and hikers. While the staff doesn't understand how one of the artifacts they guard could suddenly take to the air, their captain realizes a new age of heroes has begun. Where will the ancient stone land? And what world-shaking events lie in store for Humanity? Let’s leap into C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1 and see!

 

Story

As a soccer game nears its end, Fel has a chance to score the winning goal for her team. Connor, the opposing team's goalie, tries to psych her out. But Fel takes the day, and Connor hangs his head. His grandmother praises Connor's defense. Fel also offers consolation. But Connor wanted to prove himself and feels responsible for his team's loss.

 

While Connor seems to live with his grandmother, Fel's family is similarly incomplete in C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1. With her father out of the picture, her mother bought her a dog Fel didn’t want. Like any kid her age, Fel yearns to hang out with her friends. Her mother is willing to let her run off and play. But Fel must pay a price for her fun.

 

Tom Taylor introduces a band of friends who enjoy going on adventures together. Each boasts character quirks and an engaging personality. They may not be the cool crowd. But instead of sitting at home and playing board or video games, the children design quests. As they travel to locales in the Hollywood Hills, they use their imagination to playact like mythical heroes. But when the stone from Cornwall crashes their quest, Fel, Connor, and their friends realize that their fantasy games have become a reality. And whether they wanted it to or not, the children’s lives are about to change in C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1.

 

Art

Daniele Di Nicuolo shows Fel’s exhilaration as she scores the winning goal. Yet she approaches Connor as a supplicant begging his forgiveness. She pouts when her mother insists that she take Cabal along on her outing. The gray Schnauzer regards her with glowing eyes and propels her with as much energy as the stone that exploded out of The Hill.

 

Aside from his confident smile when he challenges Fel, Connor wears a dour expression in C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1. Kelly and Randall share similar hair color and features, but Randall has a prosthetic leg. Ash seems a too-cool observer of the world, while Kevin betrays an eagerness to please. Little Hanan seems like a quiet outsider, and the emblem on her hoodie evokes a novel by Stephen King.

 

Rain Beredo lavishes a loaded palette on Daniele Di Nicuolo’s action-packed, all-ages art. Fel’s red hair links her with the staff at The Hill, while Connor’s yellow hair links him with Fel’s Kings uniform. Blue bonds most of the group, with little Hanan once again the outsider in her pink hoodie and black pants. When the stone arrives, the impact hurls a burst of yellow and orange into the air. Then yellow-and-orange streaks race across its gray surface as the children reenact the opening scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 

Wes Abbott fills white dialogue balloons with lowercase black letters that grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Lowercase black letters in yellow boxes denote locations, and big white letters in black boxes identify characters. Sound effects reveal Connor's dissatisfaction with his life, while Cabal proves a valuable member of the team. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Tom Taylor, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Rain Beredo, and Wes Abbott introduce a spunky group of engaging children to the most enduring heroes from English legends in a surprising way in C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1.  

 

Rating 9/10

To look inside see my preview of C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #1.