In the interest of variety, I believe its time to venture over to the Marvel side of mainstream comics…
For quite some time now, Marvel has been publishing the comic book adaptation of Stephen King’s magnum opus: The Dark Tower. Plotted by Robin Furth and written by Peter David, the series has served as a prequel of sorts to King’s seven-book epic detailing the quest of Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger of Gilead, to find the Dark Tower, centerpoint of all existence. For forty issues, Furth, David, and Marvel have told the stories leading up to the first book in King’s series, which, until now, were mostly hinted at by Roland and others.
However, that all officially changed this month with the release of The Battle of Tull #1. You see, Roland’s encounter with the citizens of Tull is detailed in The Gunslinger, the first book in the Dark Tower series. In other words, the back-story is over. Now, Marvel is actually adapting the books in comic form.
Damn, I forgot my GPS...
This will be refreshing over my previous reviews, because I can’t say enough good things about this series. Marvel’s adaptation of King’s epic has been stellar, and it remains one of the few series where I truly look forward to every issue.
The art team has changed a bit along the way, but Jae Lee and Richard Isanove have handled the bulk of it. Although Lee isn’t listed in the latest issue, Isanove is.
The images are never anything short of breathtaking. They bare a distinct uniqueness to anything else in print, which perfectly serves a set of stories that are quite unlike any other. They highlight the desolate landscape of King’s Mid-World, which he’s previously likened to the backdrop of old Western films like The Good, the Back, and the Ugly. Meanwhile, they also showcase a wide range of creatures, ranging from hideous, green mutations, to horrific vampire demons, to even the occasional, beautiful girl or castle edifice.
Badassery, thy name is Roland
Meanwhile, David’s means of relaying the story in the voice of a typical Mid-Worlder is both entertaining and effective. He finds the right moments to wax philosophical (or at least, what passes for philosophical in Mid-World) while still moving the plot forward. He and Furth also effectively adapt what was previously a literary piece into something that truly works for sequential art storytelling.
I realize I’m often prone to appreciating independent and smaller print publications over anything from the Big Two, but this is one series I can’t recommend enough. If you haven’t read the previous installments, do so. Get them in issue form or trade, whichever you prefer. Just get them. If you’ve been keeping up, as I have, don’t stop.
@#$%ing read this comic. NOW.
The Battle of Tull promises to continue with the series’ incredible retelling of King’s masterpiece. In an era of seemingly unending letdowns from comic book publishers, The Dark Tower stands apart and delivers.
Five out of five stars. Do ye kennit?