Freddy Hernandez and Gil Riego
Fans of Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series now has a chance to delve deeper into the inner workings of Mid-World with the recent release of the graphic novel, “The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born.”
The prequel series distributed by Marvel Comics, tells the story of the Gunslinger (as a boy) and the strange and unusual hybrid setting between western and fantasy world he inhabits.
Though difficult to grasp without prior knowledge of the series, the story becomes coherent as one reads further along.
Illustrated by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, both Marvel veterans (with Lee working on the “Hulk & Thing” comic series and Isanove on the acclaimed “Wolverine: Origin”) have come together to produce one of the most anticipated and talked about series in what has quickly become a growing trend of adapting fantasy books into graphic novels.
With so much hype about this series Marvel optioned for comic book stores across the country to hold midnight releases for this series.
The end result is a rich and darkly beautifully drawn and colored 31 pages of visual gratification that is able to keep readers captivated with content for both the mind and the eye.
The feel of this moody story is well displayed by the earth-toned colors of the characters and foreground and use of burgundy-amber sunset backgrounds within many of the panels.
The graphic novel succeeds in telling the chilling childhood of the Gunslinger of the original stories and connects it with a whole new audience that may have not read the series written by King.
Overall Rating B+
The first of seven comics, the next issue will be released March 7. (Marvel Comics)