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Stephen King's The Dark Tower #10
The Man in Black
Enter once more the world of Roland Deschain—and the world of the Dark Tower…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 adaptation Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, 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 ongoing saga is revealed. Sumptuously drawn by Richard Isanove, Sean Phillips, Luke Ross, and Michael Lark, plotted by longtime Stephen King expert Robin Furth, and scripted by New York Times bestselling author Peter David, The Gunslinger adaptation is an extraordinary and terrifying journey—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 transformed from his blockbuster novels.
Roland closes in at last on his elusive nemesis, the Man in Black. At Roland’s side is his newest ka-tet-mate, Jake Chambers—a boy from some strange other Earth of subways, turnpikes, and fluorescent lights. But to reach the Man in Black—and save the Dark Tower—Roland is prepared to risk it all. His life…his very soul…and even Jake on this final leg of a treacherous journey, to the destiny Roland has pursued for many long years….
“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 adaptation Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, 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 ongoing saga is revealed. Sumptuously drawn by Richard Isanove, Sean Phillips, Luke Ross, and Michael Lark, plotted by longtime Stephen King expert Robin Furth, and scripted by New York Times bestselling author Peter David, The Gunslinger adaptation is an extraordinary and terrifying journey—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 transformed from his blockbuster novels.
Roland closes in at last on his elusive nemesis, the Man in Black. At Roland’s side is his newest ka-tet-mate, Jake Chambers—a boy from some strange other Earth of subways, turnpikes, and fluorescent lights. But to reach the Man in Black—and save the Dark Tower—Roland is prepared to risk it all. His life…his very soul…and even Jake on this final leg of a treacherous journey, to the destiny Roland has pursued for many long years….
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2013
73 people are currently reading
1242 people want to read
About the author
Robin Furth
220 books207 followersRobin Furth is the personal research assistant to Stephen King and the author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance, which was published by Scribner on December 5, 2006. It is a compilation of her two previous encyclopedic books dealing with King's magnum opus, The Dark Tower: A Concordance, volume I - which explores the first four books in King's series - and A Concordance II, which gives the reader definitions and explanations of pivotal terms used over the course of the final three books of The Dark Tower. She is now currently working on the graphic novel adaptation of the Dark Tower for Marvel Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
December 7, 2022
2021 read: I read the volume collecting The Man In Black #1-5, the final part of the trilogy of Robin Furth and cos wonderful adaptation of the first Dark Tower book, The Gunslinger. As the graphic novel series is in chronological order, it took five years to reach this stage where the Man In Black crossed the desert, and the Gunslinger followed! This volume really gets under the skin of the relationship between this iteration of Jake and Roland, and like the books culminates with the long sough after confrontation with the Dark Man. This volume veers from the books to a degree and as a result reveals even more about Mi-World's past! Even the mesmerising art of Alex Maleev does not live up to the remarkable heights set by the series' original artist Jae Lee, but Maleev's work is the best alternate so far. 8 out of 12.
2021 read, 2013 read
2021 read, 2013 read
June 12, 2017
"Go then. There are other worlds than these."
And I might just do that after the next graphic novel in the series, which finishes off this story arc.
This installment completely changed what happened in the books, and I'm okay with that, I guess. However, that combined with the artwork, which I still don't feel is on par with the earlier graphic novels, may be enough for me to quit the series entirely. That goes against my completist nature, but life is too short and I want to read ALL the books. Choices must be made and I'm not sure the rest of this series will make the cut.
And I might just do that after the next graphic novel in the series, which finishes off this story arc.
This installment completely changed what happened in the books, and I'm okay with that, I guess. However, that combined with the artwork, which I still don't feel is on par with the earlier graphic novels, may be enough for me to quit the series entirely. That goes against my completist nature, but life is too short and I want to read ALL the books. Choices must be made and I'm not sure the rest of this series will make the cut.
February 4, 2020
This particular volume of The Gunslinger MIGHT be slightly better than the original book. It does a very fine job, or perhaps an even finer job of foreshadowing, pathos, and giving us the pure hell and damnation of Roland as he travels and cares for the boy, Jake.
Not to mention Jake's fate.
*shiver*
That whole scene is crazy cool. Maybe I'm just totally invested in the full tale and I ken a lot of extra importance on the scene... "Go then! There are more worlds than these!"
But it still makes me shiver as if I just sold my own soul to the Tower.
And yes, we get the trippy scene with the Man in Black. :) Maybe that wasn't quite as good as the one in the book, but oh well... can win some and lose some. :)
Not to mention Jake's fate.
*shiver*
That whole scene is crazy cool. Maybe I'm just totally invested in the full tale and I ken a lot of extra importance on the scene... "Go then! There are more worlds than these!"
But it still makes me shiver as if I just sold my own soul to the Tower.
And yes, we get the trippy scene with the Man in Black. :) Maybe that wasn't quite as good as the one in the book, but oh well... can win some and lose some. :)
March 14, 2024
This is the tenth volume in Marvel's long-running series of associational volumes to King's Dark Tower books. The art is pretty good, not as great as Lee's work in the first few books, but it still captures the flavor of the world pretty well; Alex Maleev did the pencils with colors by Isanove. The story is as always by long-time King associate Robin Furth and adapted by Peter David, based, of course, on King's initial book in the series. But it ends differently, be warned, and it reminds us that there are other worlds than this... Hmmm, where have we heard that line? Roland confronts The Man in Black at last... It's a good adaptation. I still don't recommend reading the graphic version instead of King's prose, but it's a fine auxiliary.
April 18, 2013
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,Marvel's ambitious undertaking to adapt King's magnum opus has been hit or miss for me. The first five volumes (essentially a re-telling of Book IV - Wizard and Glass) did not work for me, most likely because Wizard and Glass is my least favorite of the series. While I eventually grew to appreciate the story for what it is, young Roland will never beat out long, tall and ugly Roland. So I actually skipped over Volumes 3-5 and didn't pick up the graphic novel series again until Volume 6 The Journey Begins.
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone. Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
"The Man In Black", Johnny Cash
I was so relieved and super-psyched to resume the story as it's finally reached The Gunslinger. Roland’s young battles are behind him, all has been lost, and he is now on the road to the Dark Tower as a solitary traveler, embittered, battle-weary, with no tears left to shed. This is the Roland I adore. This is who I want to read about and see captured in the panels of graphic novel.
In the previous volume, Roland finally meets up with Jake, and I loved how the Way Station encounter is handled. This volume focuses on the slow mutants attack and ends with Roland's palaver with the Man in Black himself.
I did not hate this volume by any stretch, but the series is now venturing into sacred territory and I didn't cotton to several of the storyline alterations. Not to mention, most of the art was just...not good. Inconsistent shall we say. I didn't like how in some panels Jake and Roland are very chiseled and there while in other panels they're barely there at all, kind of just shadowy impressions, blurry lines and all.
While I wanted to love the prolonged and "extra" interactions between Jake and Roland, something seemed not quite right about how they were speaking to each other. I can't put my finger on it really. But my gut just wouldn't leave it alone. And the climatic "go then, there are other worlds than these" scene fell flat for me. I didn't feel the punch or the emotionality I should have.
The last section capturing Roland's fireside conversation with The Man In Black is well executed. It strays little, if at all, from the original source material, a lot of the text lifted right from King's novel. Still, there are gaps even in this pivotal scene that I wish weren't there.
It's probably a mistake to read these graphic novels and judge them against King's books. Different format and all that, but I can't help it. And while I'm desperate for more Dark Tower, I'm probably much better off to just go and read the novels again rather than trying to find solace and satisfaction in the colored panels of a comic. A re-read is definitely on the table, but I will stick it out with the graphic novels too. When and where they've worked, I've been extremely pleased.
January 18, 2021
This continuing series detailing the events of the Dark Tower has been uniformly excellent. The story continues into this series.
Roland and Jake are on the trail of the Man in Black. But the path is treacherous and will pose grave dangers for both Roland and Jake. Is this some kind of test? Does the Man in Black really flee from Roland or is there something he wishes to prove?
These questions haunt Roland as he passes through the caves and fights the slow mutants. In the grand scheme of Roland's desires and goals-just how important is Jake? These questions will be answered in this volume. I also appreciated the conversation between The Man in Black and Roland. It explains quite a bit about the Tower, the Beams and Roland's quest.
While the art is decent, I've found Alex Maleev's art to be so-so, it works for this volume though. Decent enough art, but an interesting dialogue that explains much about The Dark Tower (and hints about the Crimson King) make this volume a good addition to any Dark Tower fan.
Roland and Jake are on the trail of the Man in Black. But the path is treacherous and will pose grave dangers for both Roland and Jake. Is this some kind of test? Does the Man in Black really flee from Roland or is there something he wishes to prove?
These questions haunt Roland as he passes through the caves and fights the slow mutants. In the grand scheme of Roland's desires and goals-just how important is Jake? These questions will be answered in this volume. I also appreciated the conversation between The Man in Black and Roland. It explains quite a bit about the Tower, the Beams and Roland's quest.
While the art is decent, I've found Alex Maleev's art to be so-so, it works for this volume though. Decent enough art, but an interesting dialogue that explains much about The Dark Tower (and hints about the Crimson King) make this volume a good addition to any Dark Tower fan.
March 3, 2018
4 Stars
"Go, then. There are other worlds than these." ~ Jake
Roland and his quest. Jake.
"Go, then. There are other worlds than these." ~ Jake
Roland and his quest. Jake.
August 18, 2020
Still keeps on pushing the quality of the story telling, I love how you expect one outcome but it ends up being a totally different one despite the forshadowing, so I would say this series still holds up despite people saying it lost its legs.
4.5 out of 5.0
4.5 out of 5.0
August 30, 2016
*sigh*
This was a little bit of a let-down. I had hoped for an exciting build-up to the end of The Gunslinger, but it was just more of a methodical plod. There's quite a lot that happens in the final pages of The Gunslinger, including that trek through the mountain, Jake's sacrifice, and everything that the Man in Black shows Roland in the vision, but I didn't get any of that sense of scale here.
It was just a lot of the same for page after page. Jake undecided as to whether to continue on with Roland or leave him. Roland hedging and hoping that things won't come to pass as they've been laid out. It's important, and it's true to the book, but in this format, it's just tedious. I can only take the same thing repeated so many times.
The trek through the mountain wasn't exciting or scary at all, and it was over far too quickly to really feel that it was life-threatening. I guess that was time better spent on the "Will-he?/Won't-he?" conundrum again.
And then the climax of the book, Roland having finally caught up to the Man in Black, was just... uninspired. I remember the first time that I read that scene in the book, and really FEELING the scope of the vision. That's the power of King's words, and I was really looking forward to seeing them translated into art here. But it fell extremely flat to me. Don't show me THIS solar system and talk to me about the epicness of the universe. That's such a tiny, infinitesimal speck of the vastness of space. Don't show me molecules of a pencil lead and then say they could all have their own universes. I wanted to SEE it. I want two-page spreads of blackness with a tiny dot to represent the galaxy. I wanted to watch that blade of grass grow in Roland's sight, until it swallowed everything else. I want to zoom down into those molecules and see the universes contained therein.
I want to feel the scale, and I'm extremely disappointed with how it was handled. Such a shame, and such a wasted opportunity to really pull out all the stops and bring the infinite vastness of scale to table.
In addition to that, the artwork in this volume was quite different than the last. Jake and Roland both were drawn completely differently, which was distracting. I liked the way they were drawn better, but still - there should be a consistency, and I've noticed that over the course of this series that's been slightly lacking.
Otherwise, I can't really complain. The adaptation was good, and the tone remained, which I like. It's just such a shame that the one thing that really could have translated wonderfully to this format (artistically representing Roland's vision) was handled so poorly.
This was a little bit of a let-down. I had hoped for an exciting build-up to the end of The Gunslinger, but it was just more of a methodical plod. There's quite a lot that happens in the final pages of The Gunslinger, including that trek through the mountain, Jake's sacrifice, and everything that the Man in Black shows Roland in the vision, but I didn't get any of that sense of scale here.
It was just a lot of the same for page after page. Jake undecided as to whether to continue on with Roland or leave him. Roland hedging and hoping that things won't come to pass as they've been laid out. It's important, and it's true to the book, but in this format, it's just tedious. I can only take the same thing repeated so many times.
The trek through the mountain wasn't exciting or scary at all, and it was over far too quickly to really feel that it was life-threatening. I guess that was time better spent on the "Will-he?/Won't-he?" conundrum again.
And then the climax of the book, Roland having finally caught up to the Man in Black, was just... uninspired. I remember the first time that I read that scene in the book, and really FEELING the scope of the vision. That's the power of King's words, and I was really looking forward to seeing them translated into art here. But it fell extremely flat to me. Don't show me THIS solar system and talk to me about the epicness of the universe. That's such a tiny, infinitesimal speck of the vastness of space. Don't show me molecules of a pencil lead and then say they could all have their own universes. I wanted to SEE it. I want two-page spreads of blackness with a tiny dot to represent the galaxy. I wanted to watch that blade of grass grow in Roland's sight, until it swallowed everything else. I want to zoom down into those molecules and see the universes contained therein.
I want to feel the scale, and I'm extremely disappointed with how it was handled. Such a shame, and such a wasted opportunity to really pull out all the stops and bring the infinite vastness of scale to table.
In addition to that, the artwork in this volume was quite different than the last. Jake and Roland both were drawn completely differently, which was distracting. I liked the way they were drawn better, but still - there should be a consistency, and I've noticed that over the course of this series that's been slightly lacking.
Otherwise, I can't really complain. The adaptation was good, and the tone remained, which I like. It's just such a shame that the one thing that really could have translated wonderfully to this format (artistically representing Roland's vision) was handled so poorly.
July 12, 2015
So this is how I spend my Sunday morning. Well I will admit as this second series comes to an end I think the true strengths of the Gunslinger are finally showing through - A Gunslinger who is ruthless and drive to fulfil his promise regardless of the cost to himself and those around him. For me this is the character I remember from the books, and even though you could say this series of books (and likewise the one before it) went to the shaping of the man who would become the legend - I think the story has finally found its peace - its just a shame it happened in the very last book. (Technically here is another books called Last Shots based on specials and one off stories collected together spread across both series).
I finish this book just as I read that a third series has in fact been commissioned so we should start seeing the beginning of the Drawing of the Three. This marks another massive stage in the quest for the Dark Tower and for me is when really the who span and interlinking of the works of Stephen King finally start to come together.
I finish this book just as I read that a third series has in fact been commissioned so we should start seeing the beginning of the Drawing of the Three. This marks another massive stage in the quest for the Dark Tower and for me is when really the who span and interlinking of the works of Stephen King finally start to come together.
July 6, 2020
The first half of this was cool. Roland and young Jake journeying through the caverns running into some opposition. But the end? Roland talking with the man in black as he goes on and on for multiple pages with some confusing, long winded jargon. 11 books of this tale just to come down to this? Plus it still ain’t over? This run is starting to feel like it’s been stretched out too long. The man in black did some of the most disrespectful, horrible things to Roland and his people just for Roland to finally catch up to him after all this time to sit around a campfire and talk nonsense? I don’t know.
January 6, 2013
The first disappointment from this series, on 2 levels.
First the art work was not up to the standards of the previous illustrators - I am willing to accept "different" is not "bad", however inconsistent (within the same page!) is not acceptable. The majority was okay, but every now and then the artist would spaz out with a low detail wonky lines panel or 2 that didn't even match the profile of the preceding panels and I would have to double back to check it was the same characters; I found this very distracting and added to annoyance with the story...
Second the story has been dicked with - not embellished, not compacted but dicked with to tell a "different" story. There was nothing wrong with the original story - it was short, it was tense, the silence between Roland and Jake spoke volumes on the growing distrust.
The changed story of Roland and Jake entering the tunnel has been rewritten and some of the most memorable elements of the progress into the better preserved high-tech subway have gone - this was when the book really grabbed me and become the sci-fi, western, post-apocalypse fantasy that gripped me for years. Another addition that irked was the "corpse lights" in the train station - Roland is not Golum and Jake is not Frodo... and wtf is the river doing running through central station!!! Worse yet, these additions subtracted time from the mutant attack (very truncated and bit dull, more like vegetable zombies than cannibal radioactive mutants) and the grand station was so under developed - where was the great vault with 12 lines? where were the mix of high tech and 1800's carriages? we get a glimpse of the track switching on line 10 (to western exit points), an interior of mummified station master (NO close up of the newspaper) and weapons store and that is it. No options, just straight forward (no lit tunnel either, just rock). These story changes drew attention to the dodgy panels as I back tracked looking for the missing elements.
Having said that - the last chapter with the man in black (original King text) was spot on.
If they are going to continue on with the "Drawing of Three", they need to get the better artists back and Furth should realise as a writer she is a good curator and scholar, but to leave the story telling to King.
First the art work was not up to the standards of the previous illustrators - I am willing to accept "different" is not "bad", however inconsistent (within the same page!) is not acceptable. The majority was okay, but every now and then the artist would spaz out with a low detail wonky lines panel or 2 that didn't even match the profile of the preceding panels and I would have to double back to check it was the same characters; I found this very distracting and added to annoyance with the story...
Second the story has been dicked with - not embellished, not compacted but dicked with to tell a "different" story. There was nothing wrong with the original story - it was short, it was tense, the silence between Roland and Jake spoke volumes on the growing distrust.
The changed story of Roland and Jake entering the tunnel has been rewritten and some of the most memorable elements of the progress into the better preserved high-tech subway have gone - this was when the book really grabbed me and become the sci-fi, western, post-apocalypse fantasy that gripped me for years. Another addition that irked was the "corpse lights" in the train station - Roland is not Golum and Jake is not Frodo... and wtf is the river doing running through central station!!! Worse yet, these additions subtracted time from the mutant attack (very truncated and bit dull, more like vegetable zombies than cannibal radioactive mutants) and the grand station was so under developed - where was the great vault with 12 lines? where were the mix of high tech and 1800's carriages? we get a glimpse of the track switching on line 10 (to western exit points), an interior of mummified station master (NO close up of the newspaper) and weapons store and that is it. No options, just straight forward (no lit tunnel either, just rock). These story changes drew attention to the dodgy panels as I back tracked looking for the missing elements.
Having said that - the last chapter with the man in black (original King text) was spot on.
If they are going to continue on with the "Drawing of Three", they need to get the better artists back and Furth should realise as a writer she is a good curator and scholar, but to leave the story telling to King.
March 9, 2023
“Go then, there are other worlds than these.”
That’s probably my second favorite line from The Gunslinger, and I’m so glad they included it here. It’s been quite some time since I’ve read the books, but it felt good to sink back into Roland’s story. I kinda liked that this wasn’t a word-for-word adaptation from the novel. The changes made to the story feel very apropos for the very idea of the Dark Tower itself—different parallel universes, can ya dig? As for the art, I was excited when I saw Alex Maleev’s name, but I’ll admit I didn’t love it. The tone felt right, but the actual execution was missing something for me. Maybe it’s just that I think Jae Lee’s art is hard to beat when it comes to telling Roland’s tale. Overall, I really enjoyed this installment.
That’s probably my second favorite line from The Gunslinger, and I’m so glad they included it here. It’s been quite some time since I’ve read the books, but it felt good to sink back into Roland’s story. I kinda liked that this wasn’t a word-for-word adaptation from the novel. The changes made to the story feel very apropos for the very idea of the Dark Tower itself—different parallel universes, can ya dig? As for the art, I was excited when I saw Alex Maleev’s name, but I’ll admit I didn’t love it. The tone felt right, but the actual execution was missing something for me. Maybe it’s just that I think Jae Lee’s art is hard to beat when it comes to telling Roland’s tale. Overall, I really enjoyed this installment.
August 30, 2017
Awesome...this really a lovely retold. I cant find anything out of order in this comic. I never betrayed the real book anywhere but in fact added up to it. I liked the drawing the way it was told, the concept, story line, the charterers and uniqueness of it.
It is awesome to read for both comic lover and Sk lover
It is awesome to read for both comic lover and Sk lover
May 19, 2022
Quick and easy read for a graphic novel. Interesting story and loved the dystopian take. Now I may have to eventually read the books and see the entire story. It has peaked my interest.
September 26, 2015
This is the tenth book in the Dark Tower Graphic Novel series and does a decent job of wrapping up the story arc. There is one more graphic novel in this set called Last Shots which is a compilation of Dark Tower stories. I enjoyed this volume and the artwork as well; it does a good job of wrapping up the story arc for the Gunslinger Born full length novel.
Roland and Jake journey under the mountain in Roland’s continued search for the Man in Black. At first Jake decides not to accompany Roland because the Man in Black says he will die if he follows Roland. Then Jake changes his mind and he and Roland journey through these dark tunnels together. They encounter rats and bats along with the more deadly Slow Mutants. However, the biggest peril both to Roland and Jake is when Roland must decide what he wants more; to build a life with Jake or to continue to follow his obsession.
I remember this part of the book being depressing and it was again depressing in graphic novel format. This is the book where we finally learn the depth of Roland’s obsession with the Dark Tower and learn that maybe he isn’t the hero we thought he was.
The artwork throughout is in beautiful full color and very well done. I love reading these graphic novels partly because of the beautiful and detailed illustration.
There are some very intriguing parts to the story as well. We learn more about how Jake’s world straddles Roland’s. In Roland’s discussion with the Man in Black we learn more about the Dark Tower and how it relates to space and time.
I really do enjoy the relationship between Jake and Roland. They are both tragic characters but still find some comfort in the father/son type of relationship they develop.
This was another excellent volume in the Dark Tower graphic novel series. I continue to enjoy the illustration, the complex characters, and the convoluted plot involving the Dark Tower. That being said this is one of the most depressing books of the bunch. I would recommend to those who enjoy dark fantasy graphic novels. I look forward to wrapping up the Gunslinger Born story arc with the final collection of stories; Last Shots.
Roland and Jake journey under the mountain in Roland’s continued search for the Man in Black. At first Jake decides not to accompany Roland because the Man in Black says he will die if he follows Roland. Then Jake changes his mind and he and Roland journey through these dark tunnels together. They encounter rats and bats along with the more deadly Slow Mutants. However, the biggest peril both to Roland and Jake is when Roland must decide what he wants more; to build a life with Jake or to continue to follow his obsession.
I remember this part of the book being depressing and it was again depressing in graphic novel format. This is the book where we finally learn the depth of Roland’s obsession with the Dark Tower and learn that maybe he isn’t the hero we thought he was.
The artwork throughout is in beautiful full color and very well done. I love reading these graphic novels partly because of the beautiful and detailed illustration.
There are some very intriguing parts to the story as well. We learn more about how Jake’s world straddles Roland’s. In Roland’s discussion with the Man in Black we learn more about the Dark Tower and how it relates to space and time.
I really do enjoy the relationship between Jake and Roland. They are both tragic characters but still find some comfort in the father/son type of relationship they develop.
This was another excellent volume in the Dark Tower graphic novel series. I continue to enjoy the illustration, the complex characters, and the convoluted plot involving the Dark Tower. That being said this is one of the most depressing books of the bunch. I would recommend to those who enjoy dark fantasy graphic novels. I look forward to wrapping up the Gunslinger Born story arc with the final collection of stories; Last Shots.
November 23, 2013
"Go then. There are other worlds than these."
The gunslinger's pursuit of the man in black draws to a close as Roland and the boy venture the dark abyss beneath the Cyclopean mountains. The path to the Tower is near at hand, but is the gunslinger really willing to sacrifice his young companion for the sake of his obsession?
The end of the beginning. Capturing the finale of The Gunslinger novel in glorious detail, this chapter of the Dark Tower comic series is by far the most powerful.
Well worth the read for fans of the Dark Tower series.
The gunslinger's pursuit of the man in black draws to a close as Roland and the boy venture the dark abyss beneath the Cyclopean mountains. The path to the Tower is near at hand, but is the gunslinger really willing to sacrifice his young companion for the sake of his obsession?
The end of the beginning. Capturing the finale of The Gunslinger novel in glorious detail, this chapter of the Dark Tower comic series is by far the most powerful.
Well worth the read for fans of the Dark Tower series.
August 4, 2015
Roland and Jake continue chasing the Man in Black and enter some creepy caves...
The excitement in this volume comes about halfway through, with all the mutants in the caves and the chasing and the train tracks. The ending was much quieter, and involves Roland's meeting with the Man in Black, which is more of an abstract thing. It's interesting to read this, as it was the end of the first Dark Tower novel, and see how that novel might have been a standalone. But then there's the prophecy with the tarot cards... and now I want to get to the Drawing of the Three!
The excitement in this volume comes about halfway through, with all the mutants in the caves and the chasing and the train tracks. The ending was much quieter, and involves Roland's meeting with the Man in Black, which is more of an abstract thing. It's interesting to read this, as it was the end of the first Dark Tower novel, and see how that novel might have been a standalone. But then there's the prophecy with the tarot cards... and now I want to get to the Drawing of the Three!
October 27, 2014
The artwork is beautiful. I wasn't pleased with the climactic decision Roland makes, but I suppose that's the point. Also, I'm not wholly convinced yet why his quest is necessary. A starker contrast with the before and after of the fall would help. The story is interesting characters good though.
March 24, 2014
15th book read in 2014.
Number 197 out of 359 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnh6...
Number 197 out of 359 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnh6...
November 19, 2016
Amazing job of bringing the Gunslinger to graphic form. Love the additions to lengthening the story.
November 21, 2016
Absolutely loved the exchanges between Marten and Roland and Jake and Roland.It was very sad seeing Jake go to his second death.There are other worlds then these.
January 7, 2022
(Zero spoiler review) 3.75/5
Sometimes its blows big time being right. Especially when you're right about the gradual deterioration of a series that set such a high bar for so long. I could just tell at the end of volume four, that this was going to be the most disappointing so far. And despite a very noble and much needed effort from the final issue, which again managed to creep this from a assured 3 to just about a 4, the problems of this volume were many, exactly as I feared.
Of all the secondary characters in the series thus far, the one accompanying Roland at this point is by far the least interesting, the most annoying, not to mention, the longest lasting. I could tell that there was not enough story left to tell to fill the final issues, and again, it certainly came across that way. The final 10 issue arc could have easily been squeezed into five, without as much need to meander around rather plain and boring plotlines.
The Alex Maleev art, which was probably the greatest (although still only slight) departure from what came before was fine, even if Furth's / David's writing suffered from dragging out too little over too much. But again, the final issue did something special, that I wasn't expecting, and renewed my interest that had been wavering up until that point.
I'm not sure exactly where it's going to go from here, which could be a very good or bad thing. I guess only time will tell whether this once again steadily improves, or continues its erratic, wavering decline. I know which one I'm hoping for. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
Sometimes its blows big time being right. Especially when you're right about the gradual deterioration of a series that set such a high bar for so long. I could just tell at the end of volume four, that this was going to be the most disappointing so far. And despite a very noble and much needed effort from the final issue, which again managed to creep this from a assured 3 to just about a 4, the problems of this volume were many, exactly as I feared.
Of all the secondary characters in the series thus far, the one accompanying Roland at this point is by far the least interesting, the most annoying, not to mention, the longest lasting. I could tell that there was not enough story left to tell to fill the final issues, and again, it certainly came across that way. The final 10 issue arc could have easily been squeezed into five, without as much need to meander around rather plain and boring plotlines.
The Alex Maleev art, which was probably the greatest (although still only slight) departure from what came before was fine, even if Furth's / David's writing suffered from dragging out too little over too much. But again, the final issue did something special, that I wasn't expecting, and renewed my interest that had been wavering up until that point.
I'm not sure exactly where it's going to go from here, which could be a very good or bad thing. I guess only time will tell whether this once again steadily improves, or continues its erratic, wavering decline. I know which one I'm hoping for. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
May 8, 2021
Ziemlich mies ....
Der gesamte Geschichtenverlauf ist sehr verwirrend .Der "Revolvermann" Roland ist der Hauptprotagonist in der Geschichte, er verfolgt den Mann in Schwarz durch die Wüste. Warum, weshalb, wieso? Beide wollen irgendeine Turm finden? Warum ? Wir wissen es nicht. Und wer ist eigentlich der Mann in Schwarz? Tja, keine Ahnung.
Eines muss ich aber zugeben: Der Mann kann schreiben. Kings Schreibstil ist sehr komplex, aber wirklich angenehm zu lesen.
Ich bin froh, dass dieser erste Band relativ kurz und deshalb schnell gelesen war, denn durch seine üblichen 1000+ Seiten hätte ich mich sicher nicht durchquälen können. Und hätten mich nicht andere Leser dazu motiviert, dran zu bleiben, weil die Handlung erst nach und nach in den Folgebänden Sinn ergibt, hätte ich das Buch bestimmt schon nach dem ersten Leseabschnitt weggelegt. Obwohl ich die Geschichte in ihrer Gesamtheit nicht verstanden habe und verwirrt zurückgelassen wurde, bin ich froh, es gelesen zu haben ,ich freue mich aber viel mehr auf andere Stephen King Bücher .Diese hier ist leider nicht empfelenswert.
Zwei Sterne NUR weil das Stephen King ist ...
Der gesamte Geschichtenverlauf ist sehr verwirrend .Der "Revolvermann" Roland ist der Hauptprotagonist in der Geschichte, er verfolgt den Mann in Schwarz durch die Wüste. Warum, weshalb, wieso? Beide wollen irgendeine Turm finden? Warum ? Wir wissen es nicht. Und wer ist eigentlich der Mann in Schwarz? Tja, keine Ahnung.
Eines muss ich aber zugeben: Der Mann kann schreiben. Kings Schreibstil ist sehr komplex, aber wirklich angenehm zu lesen.
Ich bin froh, dass dieser erste Band relativ kurz und deshalb schnell gelesen war, denn durch seine üblichen 1000+ Seiten hätte ich mich sicher nicht durchquälen können. Und hätten mich nicht andere Leser dazu motiviert, dran zu bleiben, weil die Handlung erst nach und nach in den Folgebänden Sinn ergibt, hätte ich das Buch bestimmt schon nach dem ersten Leseabschnitt weggelegt. Obwohl ich die Geschichte in ihrer Gesamtheit nicht verstanden habe und verwirrt zurückgelassen wurde, bin ich froh, es gelesen zu haben ,ich freue mich aber viel mehr auf andere Stephen King Bücher .Diese hier ist leider nicht empfelenswert.
Zwei Sterne NUR weil das Stephen King ist ...
May 5, 2019
This series so far has been amazing, I just noticed that I read this before the way station and got a little worried about what I thought was missing, but have gotten most of the way through way station and could not be happier with the work that Robin Furth and Peter David did. I love that they are not pushing the story through for a quick end, but rather are creating a work that is expanding on the work of Stephen King, They add content to help the reader to see and feel the relationship between Jake and Roland, which is such an important part of the later books, that there should be no confusion now when it is so important. An Epic Project, that I hope Marvel will allow to continue at a later date. They are on the verge of one of the greatest Graphic Novel epics ever created, Not unlike the making of the Lord of the rings into those three amazingly long and wonderful movies that will always be the best representation of Tolkien's Books. This was a Good Read.
September 10, 2017
This volume finishes up the main plot of the Gunslinger novel, in fine form. It takes some liberties that actually serve the story better, building the relationship between Roland and Jake up more than occurred in the novel itself, in ways that are fitting for the story, even if the 'avoid the demons' plot device gets a bit overused. The art is surprisingly effective for a section of the story that takes place mostly in the dark. And the presentation of the parley between the Man in Black and Roland is particularly well done, working as well if not better than the novel's presentation. All in all, this is a very good addition to the series and makes a good capstone to the Gunslinger adaptation.
December 28, 2023
A decent ending for the beginning
These comics are fine. The first few volumes really tried to create an interesting visual experience, but now I think they have fallen into a rut. The art is perfunctory and they tend to waver around how to depict the man in black and slow mutants between volumes. In the introduction, Peter David describes how the tale is a parallel existence from the King novels. That’s fine, I suppose and good creativity to update the story a bit. Also feels like a lost opportunity to not proceed with the variation of the story introduced at the end of the “Dark Tower.”
These comics are fine. The first few volumes really tried to create an interesting visual experience, but now I think they have fallen into a rut. The art is perfunctory and they tend to waver around how to depict the man in black and slow mutants between volumes. In the introduction, Peter David describes how the tale is a parallel existence from the King novels. That’s fine, I suppose and good creativity to update the story a bit. Also feels like a lost opportunity to not proceed with the variation of the story introduced at the end of the “Dark Tower.”
October 17, 2017
Ich mochte diesen Band auch wieder mehr, weil die Beziehung zwischen Jack und Roland einfach wunderbar ist und erfrischend. Umso trauriger war ich, dass die beiden erst einmal nicht zusammen weiter reisen (um es milde auszudrücken). Beide mussten sich in den Tunneln zurecht finden und gegen Mutanten kämpfen. Nebenbei erklärte Roland Jack auch noch einiges aus dieser Welt in der sie sich befinden. Zudem bekommen wir weiter Hinweise auf die weiteren Gefährten, die kommen werden. Wie sich Roland am Ende entscheidet, ob nun Jack oder dem Mann in Schwarz zu folgen, war leider vorhersehbar.
June 18, 2020
El Pistolero. Por tanto, este arco argumental llevado a cabo en las labores de guión como siempre, por Peter David, narraba el encuentro entre Roland Deschain y ese misterioso y esquivo Hombre de Negro que elegía plantar cara a su insistente perseguidor y revelarle, más por divertimento que por miedo a lo que pudiera pasarle, unos cuantos secretos del particular Cosmos de Mundo Medio que torturarían aún más la atribulada alma de Roland, alejándolo cada vez más de una humanidad que hacía tiempo que había perdido.
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