Wizard and Glass, the illustrated cliffnotes editition
|
|
If you've read/are reading the dark tower series do not expect anything new. Having just finished volume 4 i picked up the graphic novel which was basically an illustrated version of the events of 4. Don't get me wrong the artwork is supreme (as one would expect from marvel) and comic isn't bad. BUT it's like reading the book i just finished again. Ultimatly i didnt finish the graphic novel as i didnt feel the need to. The story is good though so perhaps after a while i'll be able to read it. For the moment it remains on my shelf.
|
|
great comic book adaption of wizard and glass
|
|
ive read all of stephen kings dark tower books and i was impressed by marvels first graphic novel of the saga. the artwork is amazing and im suprised how true this book is to the original novel. for those of you who have read the dark tower books before and wonder wether you shud check this out i say go for it, there is some great artwork put to kings story and i cant wait for the next part. for those of you who are unfamiliar with kings dark tower check it out if you like dark, gothic, fantasy, horror. say thankeer sai :)
|
|
|
A stunning venture into the world of the Dark Tower
|
Stephen King's The Dark Tower is a seven book epic following the journey of gunslinger Roland Deschian on his quest to the Dark Tower. In book 4, Wizard and Glass, Roland tells of his youth and the time he became a true gunslinger. It is this story that we follow in The Gunslinger Born, a comic adaption of The Dark Tower overseen by Stephen King, drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by Robin Furth and scripted by Peter David. The Gunslinger Born collects all seven of the comics that were released individually in one stunning hardback.
We join a fourteen year old Roland as he discovers his mother's adultery with Marten, his reaction to this is anger and he challenges Cort, the one that trains the young gunslingers. If he fails he must leave Gilead in shame. Should he win, he will be the youngest gunslinger, pushing his father into second place by two years. Roland triumphs and becomes a gunslinger, although not yet able to take on the sandalwood grip guns of his father, he has his own first set.
His father returns to Gilead, aware of his wife's affair and disappointed in Roland for reacting the way he did. To protect Roland, his father send him and his two closest friends, Alain and Cuthbert, to Mejis in order to gather information on the activities there and to see if Farson, the one leading an attack on Gilead and its surroundings, has influenced the inhabitants and using resources that are needed for the alliance. It is in Mejis that Roland meets Susan, and in doing so changes his destiny forever.
The graphical style of the comics are truly impressive, with both artists doing a superb job on them. For myself, a long time fan of The Dark Tower books, the collection is a great new experince on some of my favourite stories from them. Even for a first time reader, this is a great introduction to Roland's world. As I said before, as it is basically a shortened version of the events we are told in Wizard and Glass, but it is still an amazing story and Robin Furth and Peter David have done a great job in adapting and scripting the events to suit comic book format.
All I can add is that I hope further comic books are done on Roland's life, and if we could get some new stories that between the time of these events and those in The Gunslinger (the first Dark Tower book) it would be even better. Whatever happens, I'll buy more of these if they are ever made and thoroughly enjoyed my first venture into Gilead and Mejis in this form.
|
|
EPIC
|
|
This first part to a huge saga is just awesome, Stephen King is at his best here with his ability to create engrossing characters that one actually feels for and a compeling story, horror is just something he throws in there which this isnt strictly it runs more through the fantasy vein if anything. The art is super and praise to Marvel for getting this among their finest I can think of no other label more ideal than MArvel. Buy it its really very cool.
|
|
|
The Missing Piece of the Tower
|
This collection is simply amazing. The quality of the hard leather bound cover, the glossy pages and the content itself is a 'Marvel' to behold (if you'll pardon the pun!) The story is excelently translated from the orginal 4th book of King's DT series.
The pace of the story is very balenced unlike a lot comic books which seems to be all action and no story. By the end, the charecters have been made full and it leaves you with great expectations towards the next arc in the story of young Rolland and his companions. Jae Lee's gothic type pencil drawings are simply amazing and really give the perfect atmosphere to the Dark Tower story. This is only enhanced by Richard Isanove's colourings, simply amazingly done. Together, each page contains works of art, brilliantly framed cinematic scenery with detailed charecters and a faithful script by Peter David with Robin Furth's help. On top of this, after the story arc has finished, the final section of the book contains all the vairent covers for each chapter, original black and white pencilings by Lee and a map of the world around Gilead, giving hints as to where the next part of the story may take place. At the very end there is a short explination to how the colouring is achieved by Isanove. If your a fan of the DT series this is a must have!
So why only four stars? Well, not only is this comic and its future sequals the missing piece of the Dark Tower story, there is also someting missing in this collection, a missing piece...
What is this missing piece? Well, the original realease of each chapter had a prose story with some complementary art. These stories were fairly well written in my opinion, they added extra background which fitted together with the themes which had been presented in that chapter of the story arc. Previous reviews have mentioned these prose stories, but i must make it clear that these are NOT included in this book! This is, for me, the missing piece of this collection.
Nevertheless, this is a truely loveable book, worthy of a place in King's DT series. One can only hope that these standards can be upheld with release of the second story arc.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada