The Dark Tower graphic novel series

Stephen King’s Dark Tower series by Peter David, 928 pages

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is considered one of his best works but can be daunting to start reading. It currently sits at 8 books with over four thousand pages. Still it is a series I kept saying I would eventually read. Luckily for me it then started coming out in graphic novel form. But I couldn’t see picking up the first of five books and reading it only to have to wait for the next one to come out so again I skipped over it. Eventually it faded from memory until I saw it on a book truck waiting to be shelved. Some quick checking indicated that not only had all of the Dark Tower graphic novels made it out, but so had all the graphic novels for Dark Tower: Gunslinger. I could wait no more and finally took the plunge.

The Dark Tower graphic novels are actually a prequel to the Dark Tower novel series. They are based off various memories the lead character Roland has in the novels. I know this only be the various letters in the beginning of the books from the editor Ralph Macchio that not only give some information about the books but also character development and storyline placement.

The graphic novel series is written as if told by a storyteller providing us of the legend that is Roland. It starts off in Gilead where he was born and his training to be a gunslinger. Gunslingers are sort of like the nights of old, protecting people from the evil of the world. From there it quickly branches out into the challenges he must face to prove his worth. From love and loss to hardships, murder and death it has everything. Just giving the list of titles in the Dark Tower series tells the story; Gunslinger Born, Long Road Home, Treachery, Fall of Gilead, and finally Battle of Jericho Hill.

This set of graphic novels are wonderfully written and a thrill to read. Not just because of the story but the art that goes with them. The panels are in full color and have such powerful imagery they will stick with you long after you have stopped reading. I had initially wanted to read these to avoid the bigger novels but now I feel more compelled than ever to start reading them.