Ratings45
Average rating4
Enter once more the world of Roland Deschain—and the world of the Dark Tower...now presented in a stunning graphic novel form that will unlock the doorways to terrifying secrets and bold storytelling as part of the dark fantasy masterwork and magnum opus from #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King. “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” With these unforgettable words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King’s iconic character Roland Deschain of Gilead. Roland is the last of his kind, a “gunslinger” charged with protecting whatever goodness and light remains in his world—a world that “moved on,” as they say. In this desolate reality—a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic, and yet one that mirrors our own in frightening ways—Roland is on a spellbinding and soul-shattering quest to locate and somehow save the mystical nexus of all worlds, all universes: the Dark Tower. Now, in the graphic novel series Stephen King's The Dark Tower: Beginnings, originally published by Marvel Comics in single-issue form and creatively overseen by Stephen King himself, the full story of Roland's troubled past and coming-of-age is revealed. Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, plotted by longtime Stephen King expert Robin Furth, and scripted by New York Times bestselling author Peter David, Beginnings is an extraordinary and terrifying journey into Roland’s origins—ultimately serving as the perfect introduction for new readers to Stephen King’s modern literary classic The Dark Tower, while giving longtime fans thrilling adventures merely hinted at in his blockbuster novels. Bringing the dramatic history of Roland into chronological order—as originally published in the novels The Gunslinger and Wizard and Glass—The Gunslinger Born begins with a reckless act of courage that gains Roland his first set of guns and earns him and his friends, Cuthbert Allgood and Alain Johns, a special mission to the town of Hambry...not only for their personal safety but on behalf of the Affiliation—an alliance resisting the ruinous advance of “the Good Man,” a monster named John Farson. But the expedition will quickly become Roland’s first experience of the evil forces that he will encounter again and again throughout his life, and in a myriad of guises. And he will also discover the overwhelming power and pain of true love, through which, more than anything, he will learn beyond a shadow of a doubt what things are worth killing for....
Reviews with the most likes.
Great art, interesting characters, interesting villians. Looking forward for more
Great visual version of Roland's past. This story is a short version of what happens in the book [b:Wizard and Glass 5096 Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) Stephen King http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279805005s/5096.jpg 750558]
Nice graphics. It's colorful, the flow of the bubbles and images are organized nicely, and the pages are too “busy” unlike some of the graphics I've looked at for other artists.
It basically is just the versions of the first and ?fourth? of Kings books which deal exclusively with the gunslinger's personal memories. Since I'm already famliar with this whole plot I wasn't that enthusiastic to revisit it. It does fill in a few gaps related the Crimson King, Farson and Marten. And if you want to have some faces to see in your mind while you reread, or read for the first time, the series, this is a good way to do it.
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.
Series
1 primary bookThe Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born is a 0-book series first released in 2007 .
Series
11 primary booksStephen King's The Dark Tower is a 11-book series with 11 primary works first released in 2007 with contributions by Robin Furth, Stephen King, and 4 others.