docmarten's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent adaptation from Kings "Dark Tower" series. A must read for any fan of "The Gunslinger"
tvil's review against another edition
3.0
This comic is an adaptation of the flashback parts of two of the novels in [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg]'s The Dark Tower series: The first novel, [b:The Gunslinger|43615|The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375776480s/43615.jpg|46575], and the fourth novel, [b:Wizard and Glass|5096|Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4)|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327946510s/5096.jpg|750558]. We follow Roland Deschain of Gilead in two formative periods of his life; becoming a gunslinger, and falling in love for the first time.
The art is gorgeous, but I don't feel like the art style worked too well for the story. It's hard to explain why I feel that way, but it has a very stylistic look, and each panel is like a painting where the characters pose for the artist. I dunno.
It's a good comic though. Don't read it if you plan on reading the fourth book, Wizard and Glass. Do read it if you tried to read Wizard and Glass and couldn't get through the large and retrospective middle section, because then you can skip it.
The art is gorgeous, but I don't feel like the art style worked too well for the story. It's hard to explain why I feel that way, but it has a very stylistic look, and each panel is like a painting where the characters pose for the artist. I dunno.
It's a good comic though. Don't read it if you plan on reading the fourth book, Wizard and Glass. Do read it if you tried to read Wizard and Glass and couldn't get through the large and retrospective middle section, because then you can skip it.
rhganci's review against another edition
5.0
Great comics—and, I must say by way of introduction, the coolest use of shadows I’ve seen in a comic book. I’d love to see Jae Lee try to tackle Batman with his pencils. I really liked this adaptation of WaG, especially some of the histories of Mid-World that were written at the back by Robin Furth. It blended the flashbacks into a seamless story that seemed easier to follow, rather than having to piece them together for myself. So much of Roland’s past is mysterious, even with the help of the flashbacks, and this novel stood to tie some of it together (the Citgo oilpatch, for one, made more sense to me in this telling). Susan was drawn even more beautifully than I imagined her, and the last drawing of her burning on the charyou tree was stunning—it was quite powerful, especially after having seen Roland through to the end of this cycle of his quest. It occurs to me that this part of his journey, however, is never re-experienced, never revisited…and that is very tragic, because it really marks the last time that Roland is happy in any complete way. Susan filled the hole in his heart that his mother’s betrayal had left (albeit in a very different way, say thankya), and to have her taken from him so viscerally and for the Wizard’s Rainbow to predict so accurately that the cost of his journey would be too great remains powerful and well told by the adapters. The fill-in sequences with the Crimson King and Walter o’ Dim were very satisfying, and in the next sequence of books from this new Dark Tower team I hope to see more of them. A stellar cross-medium retelling.
tmdavis's review against another edition
4.0
Having not read the Dark Tower series, this was definitely an interesting introduction. Full color illustrations with dark overtones set the tone for the novel.
It is basically the story of how Roland became a gunslinger--I am not sure how much is revealed in the novels vs. how much is revealed here but I was drawn in immediately and didn't put this one down until I was finished.
Makes me want to give the novels another try.
It is basically the story of how Roland became a gunslinger--I am not sure how much is revealed in the novels vs. how much is revealed here but I was drawn in immediately and didn't put this one down until I was finished.
Makes me want to give the novels another try.
valjeanval's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read the Dark Tower since high school, and I dropped off after that million year hiatus between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of Calla, but I have a lot of fond memories of the series. I'd like to get back into it, but the universe is so vast now I'd probably just end up reading Stephen King for months on end. I won this graphic novel on Free Comic Book Day (It's a major award) and was very pleased. It's actually a prequel (which may or may not come from information in books 5-7) that tells the story of Roland and Susan, of the Man in Black, and of the initial ka-tet of Roland, Cuthbert, and Alain.
It definitely adds to the mythos well, although it's a little awkward to believe Roland is 14 during this time. He doesn't look 14 artists, and that's for the best considering the subject matter. The art style reminds me a lot of Preacher: a dark, western feel that holds nothing back when it comes to gore and horror. At times it was a little much for my taste, but the story makes up for it. The language felt like something of a homecoming, and I particularly enjoy the Wilfred Brimley quality to the dialect.
If you enjoy the Dark Tower, and especially if you've worked as hard as the Reading Guides suggest to fully explore this series, you shouldn't miss out on this companion.
It definitely adds to the mythos well, although it's a little awkward to believe Roland is 14 during this time. He doesn't look 14 artists, and that's for the best considering the subject matter. The art style reminds me a lot of Preacher: a dark, western feel that holds nothing back when it comes to gore and horror. At times it was a little much for my taste, but the story makes up for it. The language felt like something of a homecoming, and I particularly enjoy the Wilfred Brimley quality to the dialect.
If you enjoy the Dark Tower, and especially if you've worked as hard as the Reading Guides suggest to fully explore this series, you shouldn't miss out on this companion.
willowsreads's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic interpretation of Roland's tale from Wizard & Glass. So fun to revisit this series.
leftylucyprivateeye's review against another edition
4.0
Gearing up for the Dark Tower movie in a couple of weeks!
ghastwood_niall's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read any of the Dark Tower books as I tend to avoid Stephen King, however a friend lent me his copy of the bound version of parts 1 to 7 of the comic adaptation. I found the combination of the script and artwork to be very atmospheric, and very enjoyable to read.
diannamorganti's review against another edition
1.0
I thought the writing (adapted by someone other than King) was awful. Granted, I didn't finish the book itself -- which is why I picked up the graphic novel. I thought it might pique my interest back into the series. Nope.