Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 2: Maelstrom

The Dresden Files Graphic Novels #1.2

by Mark Powers, Jim Butcher, Ardian Syaf (Artist)

Harry Dresden is a wizard, the only one in the Chicago phone book. He uses his arcane powers to investigate the supernatural, often assisting the Special Investigations Unit of the Chicago P.D. with cases that are beyond their comprehension. But Harry must use his powers carefully. Because of a dark incident in his past, he is kept under close watch by the ruling body of wizards known as the White Council. Any violation of the Seven Laws of Magic will cost him dearly - perhaps even his life! Now Harry's latest investigation has pushed him to the precipice. He's up against mysterious murders by magic that some believe only he could have committed, and a gangland boss who wants Harry to stay out of the way. From all fronts, storm clouds are gathering around a beleaguered Harry Dresden. Maelstrom concludes the adaptation of Storm Front, the first book in Jim Butcher's New York Times bestselling series, The Dresden Files.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Comics, Paranormal, Fiction, Magic

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2011

About the author

Mark Powers is the writer who created several of the graphic novels adapted The Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher and co-writer of The Encoded from Devil's Due comics. He is a writer at Mega Powers Entertainment and a producer at Volta. At Mega Powers Entertainment he has written comic books and graphic adaptations for various companies including Drafted, Rest, GI Joe, and adaptations of The Dresden Files. He was also a Senior Editor at Marvel managing the X-Men line of titles.

Reviews

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I really enjoyed the story, and I loved seeing it translated to graphic novel. Only problem I had with it (and that's why this rating) is the art style change somewhere in the middle. It felt like reading two different comics, and that threw me off a little. I really liked the art style before the change, mostly because that is how I pictured Harry when reading the book. The new art style just didn't fit the story. But maybe that's just me.

Anyway, solid graphic novel, and I'll be definitely continuing on with the series.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Sv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm Front'u iki cilt olarak bölmüşler, ikisini de okumuşum farkında bile değilim. Harika hikaye, harika.

İkinci kısımda Dresden'in çizimini değiştirmeleri gözümden kaçmadı ama... Karizmasından eksiltmişler. Ben de diyorum ki kitabın ortasında neden değişti şimdi bu adam abdjslal meğer diğer ciltteymişim, çizer değişmiş. (Bu arada korsan indirdim telefondan okuyorum, bu detayı atlamışım:P) Hoş değil ama çok da etkilemiyor tabii. Harry hala komik ama dibe vurunca cidden sağlam vuruyor. Fırtına Büyücüsü'nü okuyalı yıllar olmasına rağmen bir çok sahneyi hatırlamama şaşırdım. Babası hakkındaki detayı tamamen silmişim ama... Bu seri gerçekten her fantezi sever tarafından takip edilmesi gereken detaylar içeriyor, çok zevkli ve zekice. Kaldı ki sadece ilk cildin çizgi romanına söylüyorsam bunu serinin ilerleyen ciltlerini hayal bile edemiyorum.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

In order to enjoy this, I think you need to be a huge fan of Butcher's Dresden Files. I am a huge fan.
Seriously, I will read anything with Harry in it and call it gold. Gold!
Having said that, I think most non-fans will think these particular graphic novels are turd nuggets. I can't say for sure that I would be able to follow the plot very well if I hadn't already read the book. And I hate to say it, but it may not be the best idea to cram a novel like this into a thin two volume comic book. A lot of the world building is missing, a lot of the humor is missing, and a lot of the story is missing.
But I don't care. I love Harry! So, while it may be just a plain turd nugget to most people, it's a gold turd nugget to me!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty faithful translation of the novel. I definitely suggest reading the novel first but Syaf does a good job of visually translating the story. Unfortunately Brett Booth swoops in to finish up the story and he is just not as talented of an artist. Sometimes less is more. Booth always overloads the page with swirly special effects. Some of those scenes in the burning house are difficult to make out due to the amount of crap Booth has drawn on it. It's cool to see Jim Butcher's fantastic world building come to life.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is mostly the same for both volumes of this graphic novel. I didn't take notes while I was reading, so the finer points slipped out of my mind shortly after I read it. However, I did make some specific observations for part two.

One might think, why read a graphic novel version of a prose novel? I was one of those who asked that question. I am eating my words now. I can see why. While I tend to visualize the books I read as movies playing in my head in full color, it's still a pleasure to see how the author's imagery is brought to life as they work with the graphic novel artists and writers.

Harry doesn't quite look like my version in my head, but it's awesome to see how Butcher himself visualizes the character. Harry's "don't care what you think and don't tell me what to do" attitude comes through loud and clear in the graphic version. He's not quite as lanky/thin as I imagined, but his proportions aren't exaggerated into a beefcake version that doesn't hold true to the original. I did like the attention to detail given to Harry's outfit and tricks of the trade. I hadn’t quite gotten a distinction between Harry’s blasting rod and staff until seeing it in the graphic novel.

The climax has energy and excitement through the eyes and hands of the artist. It feels three-dimensional, much like a movie, and it makes me wish that the TV series had been better done and they had spent more money on it, because it would have been so well done if they had. Paul Blackthorne was an excellent choice for Dresden, in my opinion. The imagery of the dark sorcery committed by the villain stays in my head, and it seems very sinister even in graphic novel format.


This isn’t my favorite Dresden novel out of the four I’ve read so far, but it’s a very good start to a series, and I liked this graphic novel enough to pick up the next in the series, Fool Moon, which is probably one of my favorites from the series, although Grave Peril and Summer Knight are also excellent, IMO. It's made me excited to keep reading the books in graphic novel format.

I’d recommend checking this out if you are a fan of the Dresden prose novels. The artwork is well done and bright and the story follows the book very well.

[Ken W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

I love both the Harry Dresden graphic novels and the short lived one season tv series! I'm sure once I'm done with the graphic novels I might dive into the actual novels! Such a fun character! Five stars!

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's the second half of the story from Storm Front. Mr. Butcher does a good job of transferring his novel to graphic novel format. The art is also done well and doesn't have the failings I've seen in some other graphic novels.

While I like this alright and find that as usual stories from J.Butcher is an enjoyable experience still I don't know that I'll follow the series any further. I like the novels and this simply feels a little...less detailed. For example I had high hopes for what happened in Marcone's club...but it was passed over with only a few frames. Things like that have to happen with the graphic novel format. So while I like it okay, I'll stick with the novels. If you're a huge graphic novel fan I think you'll like these. their good.

Enjoy.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stormfront stands up as a graphic novel, a really good one at that. Now seeing Harry up through Cold Days, it was nice to go back to the start. My only complaint would be that the artist changed half way through this volume, and the change was a bit jarring visually. The ladies in this were mostly drawn with the tiny waist, huge boobs that I find disappointing of the style. But then how many graphic novels are drawn to the tastes of almost 40 year old moms?

[Erin Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome artwork!

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

artist change halfway through. not in a bad way, but it actually helped me believe Harry's supposed to be in his mid-20s at this time. most of the other art makes him look at least 35.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art but it worked better as a novel. Still great fun to see it in pictures.

[Vikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah so much fun to dive back into the world of Harry Dresden and to enjoy the first adventure once again, I had read the series enough time ago that I had almost forgotten the finer points of the story and it was like I was reading a new adventure once again so I am glad for the forgetful mind that I got to enjoy this story for the first time twice. Poor Harry he just can't catch a break and have to run from post to pillar to find the killer and to bring people to justice.

I finally decided to read few books for Halloween month because I am in India, October is never the horror month for us but I could read a few scary or works set in the supernatural world and this book just falls especially in the zone.

I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to the bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Tyrell ⚔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic adapted graphic novel of the first Dresden Files book. I was surprised to find that most of the images contained within the graphic novel actually matched what I thought the scene would look like in my head when reading the first novel. I'm excited to see what the graphic novel for Fool Moon brings.

[Alondra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I really love the Dresden Files. The illustrations change from cool, to weird-looking-Harry, then back. I am thinking it is the author and artist trying to figure out what works. In later books, the first illustrations are the one that is kept, thank goodness! That is my only complaint.

I really enjoy reading this series from the beginning, basically. I had forgotten much of the initial storyline.

[Heather McLaughlin]

Hm. 2nd one on Hoopla but not the first? What's up with that?

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great follow up/part 2 of the first book in the Dresden Files in graphic novel form. Enjoyable artwork and always fun to see how the author imagines his characters.

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's two parts: Jim Butcher's Dresden Files: Storm Front Vol 1 #2 and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files: Storm Front Vol 1 #2, but I think that's totally just a binding/printing thing. The story isn't really broken up any differently than the novel already was or than the individual issues that make it up have to be.

All together: it's Storm Front as a comic book.



All of the big scenes are there, right from the very beginning.

On top of that, you get some graphical depictions of the characters which are ... fascinating at times.

Toot toot!



Morgan!



I'm not one to picture characters as I'm reading, but if you are... this might cause a bit of dissonance.

One thing that is great about comics is just how crazy of scenes you can show... while having to censor out bits that novels can much more easily get away with:



Never ask that question... Also what's with the eyes?



Naked magic circle!



Frog demons! Convenient smoke! RRROAAARRRAWK! (I do love comic book sound effects).

Two reasons to really like the comic version:



You can actually get snippets from other points of view. That's not something we saw in the novels up until some of the very last ones (and a few shorts). It's interesting.

Plus, representations of things like The Sight:



Pretty cool. Glad I read it.

Random note: It's on Kindle Unlimited, but not Comixology Unlimited? Weird. Especially since Amazon owns both...

[EA Solinas · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a very long time for the second volume of the "Dresden Files: Storm Front" comic book to come out, apparently because it switched from Dabel Brothers to Dynamite Entertainment.

So there's a bit of a shock coming partway through this comic book, when the shift occurred. Jim Butcher's solid urban fantasy story is as strong as ever, piling on the distrust, monsters and black magic until the fiery climax... but the art derails in a big way. Ardian Syaf, why did you have to go work for DC?

Harry is in more trouble than ever -- after seeing him destroy a demon, Morgan has decided that Harry must have summoned it, which is a deadly offense for a wizard. And Linda is found murdered, Murphy is enraged that Harry withheld evidence, which means his police connection might have just dried up. Worst of all, one of the bad guys just stole his hair, which means he's next.

So Harry hurtles from Johnny Marcone's lounge to the house of another client, searching for the location of the evil wizard's hideaway. But the murderer is one step ahead of Harry, and even if he can find him, he may be not be able to actually destroy him before the next thunderstorm....

"Dresden Files: Storm Front" is a pretty strong, straightforward story, mixing in gritty noir and cop work with the supernatural weirdness of curses, faeries, wizards, demons and giant oozing evil scorpions. The writing is strong, with lots of spooky moments and explosive action scenes, as well as a healthy helping of gore.

And adapter Mark Powers does a good job balancing Harry's internal monologue ("A soulgaze is never a pretty thing") with the external dialogue and the action. Harry himself is shown getting more desperate and friendless, as his allies (Murphy) and enemies (Morgan) start ganging up on him. The supporting characters are still a bit flat, but good for a start.

So what exactly is the problem here? That would be the artwork.

Literally halfway through the book, the comic book shifted hands and Ardian Syaf left to work for DC Comics. So literally in the middle of a fight, the ENTIRE art style suddenly shifts from Syaf's rough, gritty style to Brett Booth's weirdly glossy, contorted-face art. It's intensely weird to see Harry and his magical opposition twisting their faces into rolling-eyed yelps. And Morgan doesn't even look like the same person.

"Dresden Files: Storm Front" has strong writing, a solid hero and plenty of fantasy/horror. However, the derailed comic art is just disorienting, and the last quarter of Jim Butcher's story is undermined by it.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the plot is more confusing this time around and also a bit forced, it's still enjoyable. The dialogue is just as funny, the main character faces another dangerous challenge and the magic is just plain cool.

More pressure is added on Dresden's shoulders. Warden Morgan, a servant of the White Council of wizards, makes it his personal mission to bring Dresden down. He must first find irrefutable proof of Dresden breaking the wizard laws. Dresden loses the trust of detective Murphy who hired him to help on the case and is a kind of friend because he gets the job done. Nothing seems to go well, but Dresden never gives up.

Dresden's investigation leads him toward connecting the two cases - the double murder and the missing husband. The latter, Victor Sells, is the killer. He found magic years ago and has hungered for more and more power, even though his sanity was affected. Now he is as powerful or perhaps more powerful than Dresden, but the latter faces him nonetheless. Dresden interrupts his ritual and just barely defeats Victor before almost succumbing to the flames that engulfed the building. Surprisingly, Morgan saves Dresden and even offers to clear his name with the Council.

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan "This is the worst night of my life."
Harry "That's what you get for going out with a Wizard."

Just finished Storm Front and was pleasantly surprised to see there was a graphic novel version. Well, this second half of this also has gorgeous art. Harry looks like he's just a young man, maybe in his mid 20s, but they managed to draw him with cynical eyes. I won't complain too much about the dialogue being predictable as that's what was in the novel. Just enough to say that if you're a Dresden Files fan, then this graphic novel will satisfy you.

[Ford Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and action

I don't know why they always have different artist draw when the first one had it right! I didn't like the art work on volume two, made Harry look like a weird weakly freak, but the story and characters were still great. But if the arts not good, why have a graphic novel?

[James Biser · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a few years since I read this book. Reading the graphic novel was a good reminder of a story that is very enjoyable. I like Harry Dresden. Jim Butcher is a good author and this fantasy series is excellent.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was pretty good. I am glad I got to see how he did the handcuffs bc I was irritated by that in the book- I thought he somehow opened them.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the artist for the Storm Front graphic novels, it looks really good. This volume did justice to the book just like the first volume did.

[John of Canada · Rating 4 out of 5]

It could be addicting.The story was good,tons of action and good artwork .What more could I ask?

[Roger D. Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Good story line.Interesting plot. Artwork is great, great lines and color. Looking forward to reading more Harry Dresden stories. Jim Butcher is great.

[Eric Copeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so that was volume 2. If you're a huge fan of graphic novels, then you can stop reading here and pretend I gave "Storm Front" four stars because of the graphic novel format and not for the story.

But I'm just not a fan of graphic novels. I've read a few that were passable, but in my opinion they have some real shortcomings. The art, while typically good, is usually not enough to carry the storyline; the narration and dialogue that's included in the graphic novel helps to convey the plot, but it's usually just a sketch of what could be told in a more traditional book format.

"Storm Front" was fairly easy to follow because I had read the novel (though it was some time ago). If I hadn't read the novel, and because I'm not really accustomed to reading graphic novels (because I find them largely dissatisfying), I don't know how well I could have followed the storyline through the dialogue and narration, which was sufficient but much more sparse than in the novel. In fact, I have the same complaints about graphic novel versions of books that most people have about the movie versions -- they're just not as good. They lack the fullness, the completion, the depth of character and action, because they resort to shortcuts that books don't usually use.

I have also watched the short-lived Sci Fi Channel TV series based on this series of books (I think it was still Sci Fi and not SyFy when it was made more than a decade ago), and the graphic novel was superior to it in one way, anyway: because the artwork in a graphic novel isn't subject to the same limitations that casting and TV special effects must adhere to, the depictions of the characters were much closer to the way they were described in the book. From my understanding, that was helped along by author Jim Butcher's participation in the concept art throughout the creation of the graphic novel.

As I mentioned, I gave this book and its first volume four stars because of the storyline. The art was pretty decent, but whoever did the lettering could have paid a little bit more attention. I saw several misspelled words (such as "to" for "too"), letters and entire words being left out of dialogue (for example, "ammit" instead of "dammit"), etc. In a longer work these might not have stood out as much, but I read each of these volumes in less than an hour... I assume an editor could have spent a maximum of two hours on each and caught every single problem that I noticed.

Overall, I'd recommend these if you're interested in the Dresden Files series but don't have a lot of time or much of an attention span. But you'd be much better served by just reading the novels.

[Orio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dresden Files: Storm Front - vol. 1 & 2 - graphic novel edition

Well, what can I say about this version of the The Dresden Files series. It’s like a Cliff Note’s version but with cool illustrations of all the best parts of the book. (Are Cliff Notes still a thing? Hmm, I’ll look it up on Wikipedia). I’ve read/listened to most of the books in the series, over 20 years, and now approaching 18 novels. And each one gets better and better. More characters, more creatures, more demons, both good and evil, and dressed as the “wizard detective” tries to save lives and, in some cases, the world with his half-cocked magician's solutions.

The graphic novel opens just like the novel. The new postman walks up to a door that reads “Harry Dresden - Wizard." Dresden answers the door and the postman jokes about his profession. Dresden, not amused, threatens to turn him into a toad. That sets the tone for the entire story.

The scenarios that follow are him helping out a police detective solve an unexplained murder with obvious supernatural undertones. But through his investigation, his shady past gets in the way and he unwittingly becomes entangled with the murders.

The graphic novel brings to light the ideas that author Jim Butcher had in mind with detailed illustrations. Even the nude scenes are tastefully rendered so as not to distract from the story.

If you enjoyed the Harry Potter series but want something more mature and a bit quirky, checkout The Dresden Files series. And, as a bonus, take a look into the graphic novels that accompany them. I think you’ll enjoy them as I did.

[Daniel Hruskocy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novelization of the first Dresden files book, FStorm Front. I enjoyed this as I read it just after finishing the novel itself. It was not as beautiful artistically as "The Stand", "The Dark Tower" series or even the never finished "Talisman: Road of Trials" series, but it was OK. Storm Front seemed to be better drawn than Fool Moon, IMO....

Overall, I am struggling to buy into the Dresden Files concept of a modern-day crime genre with a supernatural horn-dog magician constantly leering at women and bedding them down in series... but the tales move fast, without a lot of fluff and the graphic novels are actually not too bad on the overall.

I have heard this series REALLY picks up in another couple books, and these are bite-size novels (around 300 pages total each one - which is blessedly short compared to the Stephen King works and bloated classics I have been reading lately!).

I'd say this is 3.25 out of 5, not terrible and a decent "in" for the series, but maybe my thoughts will grow fonder in time?