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Stephen King's The Dark Tower #13
House of Cards
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 second in the graphic novel series adaptation Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three, originally published by Marvel Comics in single-issue form and creatively overseen by Stephen King himself, the full story of Roland’s saga continues. Sumptuously drawn by Piotr Kowalski, Jonathan Marks, Juanan Ramirez, and Cory Hamscher, plotted by longtime Stephen King expert Robin Furth, and scripted by New York Times bestselling author Peter David, The Drawing of the Three adaptation is an extraordinary and terrifying journey—ultimately introducing a generation of new readers to Stephen King’s modern literary classic The Dark Tower, while giving longtime fans thrilling adventures transformed from his blockbuster novels.
“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 second in the graphic novel series adaptation Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three, originally published by Marvel Comics in single-issue form and creatively overseen by Stephen King himself, the full story of Roland’s saga continues. Sumptuously drawn by Piotr Kowalski, Jonathan Marks, Juanan Ramirez, and Cory Hamscher, plotted by longtime Stephen King expert Robin Furth, and scripted by New York Times bestselling author Peter David, The Drawing of the Three adaptation is an extraordinary and terrifying journey—ultimately introducing a generation of new readers to Stephen King’s modern literary classic The Dark Tower, while giving longtime fans thrilling adventures transformed from his blockbuster novels.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2020
59 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Robin Furth
220 books208 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 46 reviews
April 3, 2021
"The Drawing of the Three" introduces us to Eddie Dean.
Eddie grows up with a hard life. He is very close to his older brother, who comes back from Vietnam with a heroin addiction. This will place Eddie in a position where he will, eventually, end up running into Roland.
Without spoilers, I rather enjoyed this look at Eddie before he becomes part of the SK novels. It does give me a better understanding of what motivates Eddie. While the story is pretty good, the artwork isn't as good as some of the other volumes. But, it is by no means bad.
Another good addition to the Dark Tower lore. These comics are instrumental in those seeking a full understanding of the Novel series. Highly recommended to any SK fan or those who wish a complete understanding of the often complex series.
Eddie grows up with a hard life. He is very close to his older brother, who comes back from Vietnam with a heroin addiction. This will place Eddie in a position where he will, eventually, end up running into Roland.
Without spoilers, I rather enjoyed this look at Eddie before he becomes part of the SK novels. It does give me a better understanding of what motivates Eddie. While the story is pretty good, the artwork isn't as good as some of the other volumes. But, it is by no means bad.
Another good addition to the Dark Tower lore. These comics are instrumental in those seeking a full understanding of the Novel series. Highly recommended to any SK fan or those who wish a complete understanding of the often complex series.
August 5, 2018
A decent adaptation, although admittedly, it has been 20-some years since I read Stephen King's The Drawing of the Three. My only issue is that the art does not do enough to fill the gaps left when the writing is pared down to make room for the art…
SRC 2018 SUM 15.10 (Favorite Author)
SRC 2018 SUM 15.10 (Favorite Author)
April 3, 2021
Picks up from the end of the Prisoner. Eddie Dean is trapped in an airplane bathroom with 2 pounds of coke. Luckily Roland is there to help. The rest of the story is how Eddie and Roland deal with his drug dealer and Eddie's brother. It's a good straightforward translation of the book. I liked the art even though Eddie looks like he's 14, especially since the art gets really bad once Jonathan Marks takes over in the next volume.
July 1, 2018
This volume adapts a portion of The Drawing of the Three, specifically the part where Eddie ditches the drugs and the Feds, and then confronts Balazar, through passing over into Mid-World and dragging Roland's half-carcass up the beach.
I'm, I guess, enjoying these graphic novel editions, but it's annoying that they are changing the story so much. I mean, the beginning of this volume has a summary/recap claiming that Eddie was so special that the universe/multiverse/whatever, working through Balazar, tried to kill him when he was a toddler, but ended up killing his sister instead. Except no. That's some revisionist history, right there. Annoying.
Secondly, I don't like the artwork in these volumes nearly as much as I liked the early ones, like Gunslinger Born, etc. Somehow, it makes Roland look like a hokey hillbilly, and Eddie look like he's 12 going on 8, and Balazar looks like he's an old-timey barkeep from the 1800s.
It's just weird, and it doesn't really fit.
That being said... It's still entertaining enough, I don't think I'm ready to give up on the series just yet... but it's not like I'll be rushing out to buy these. I still have one volume left to read, and then I'll see how it goes from there.
I'm, I guess, enjoying these graphic novel editions, but it's annoying that they are changing the story so much. I mean, the beginning of this volume has a summary/recap claiming that Eddie was so special that the universe/multiverse/whatever, working through Balazar, tried to kill him when he was a toddler, but ended up killing his sister instead. Except no. That's some revisionist history, right there. Annoying.
Secondly, I don't like the artwork in these volumes nearly as much as I liked the early ones, like Gunslinger Born, etc. Somehow, it makes Roland look like a hokey hillbilly, and Eddie look like he's 12 going on 8, and Balazar looks like he's an old-timey barkeep from the 1800s.
It's just weird, and it doesn't really fit.
That being said... It's still entertaining enough, I don't think I'm ready to give up on the series just yet... but it's not like I'll be rushing out to buy these. I still have one volume left to read, and then I'll see how it goes from there.
November 7, 2020
We are getting back to midland... finally what a sight for sore eyes. At this point even giant lobsters are better than "reality" but the art has been a great fit for those places... which leads me to my first critique point, everything midland related just lacks soul when drawn by kowalski, it's still Roland the gunslinger but it feels off.
As I said in "the prisoner" review, a lot of what happens here could have started happening in the previous book, esp. with how it made things way more interesting again. I can't speak on the diversions of the main novels of king himself, but as a story it worked for me and that should've started earlier.
Still ways off from the earlier entries of the series, but we are getting there again!
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
As I said in "the prisoner" review, a lot of what happens here could have started happening in the previous book, esp. with how it made things way more interesting again. I can't speak on the diversions of the main novels of king himself, but as a story it worked for me and that should've started earlier.
Still ways off from the earlier entries of the series, but we are getting there again!
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
April 24, 2024
This is the second volume of Marvel's The Drawing of the Three series, which was based on King's second prose novel in The Dark Tower series. It's the thirteenth overall book in their Dark Tower series. It's not exactly an adaptation, but a close-up of the other members of Roland's group and their various origins. This one tells the second half of Eddie's story, and we see the problems he faced with drugs and his brother, and we see the early influence of the Dark Side. I preferred the earlier books that seemed more central to the overall series with a much wider sweep and more intricate plots. This one is quite well-written by Furth and David, just as the earlier books were, but felt more simplified. The art, unfortunately, was not to my liking. It's interesting, but not essential.
June 25, 2016
24th book read in 2016.
Number 111 out of 517 on my all time book list.
Review Pending:
Number 111 out of 517 on my all time book list.
Review Pending:
December 18, 2023
My favorite in the Dark Tower series. Yes this series has sub par illustrations but it is the fucking Drawing of the Three! Roland rips Eddie into Mid -World and takes off the trafficking drugs off him. Through the clearing of the customs. Roland loves the soda, it is so sweet baby, better than a drug, and also his popkin. Balazar's house of cards looks awesome. Balazar's man taken through the door and eaten by lobstrosities. Massive shoot out, Eddie holds his brothers severed head in his arms, Roland tells Eddie there is probably death ahead but also things greater than any dream. You will see the bloody Dark Tower. Who wouldn't want to see that? Make a choice Eddie (reminds me I need to see Saw X) and through the door they go. If I hadn't read the novel I wouldn't read this. But it is still junk for tower junkies.
January 3, 2019
5 Stars
I love Eddie. I love Roland more, of course; but Eddie just steals your heart.
I love Eddie. I love Roland more, of course; but Eddie just steals your heart.
November 12, 2025
House of Cards by Stephen King is a gripping graphic novel that blends suspense, psychological tension, and dark intrigue. The story follows a high-stakes plot of manipulation, secrets, and moral ambiguity, pulling readers into a world where every choice carries weight and consequences.
I really enjoyed this one. King’s knack for tension and character depth translates well into the graphic format, and the visuals add an extra layer of intensity. It’s a compelling, fast-paced read, I'd definitely recommend!
I really enjoyed this one. King’s knack for tension and character depth translates well into the graphic format, and the visuals add an extra layer of intensity. It’s a compelling, fast-paced read, I'd definitely recommend!
September 10, 2015
The art in this one is my least favorite of the entire DT series (feels a little too cartoony for the story) , but I like the way they're progressing the plot. Doing a great of trimming away the fat of the series to get to the core of the story.
August 22, 2024
This was a fast and enjoyable read. Hot on the heels of my reading of the novels this was based on, this was a great follow-up visual experience. Neither Roland nor Eddie were how I pictured them, but that isn't a bad thing. I had listened to the novels via audiobook, so as I read this, I read their dialogue in those voices.
Decent artwork (less King of the Hill-like than the previous volume). Riddled with violence and interesting storytelling, this was a great collection. I highly recommend it to those fans of The Dark Tower series.
Decent artwork (less King of the Hill-like than the previous volume). Riddled with violence and interesting storytelling, this was a great collection. I highly recommend it to those fans of The Dark Tower series.
December 12, 2024
Solid genre fiction
Decent art, good story. Definitely has a sense of humor, which is appropriate when you think that this is our introduction to Eddie Dean. Looking forward to Susannah.
Decent art, good story. Definitely has a sense of humor, which is appropriate when you think that this is our introduction to Eddie Dean. Looking forward to Susannah.
October 22, 2025
good
I don’t understand why Eddie wants to follow in his brother Henry footsteps, when all he does is drugs and alcohol.
I don’t understand why Eddie wants to follow in his brother Henry footsteps, when all he does is drugs and alcohol.
November 16, 2025
this was so good!!!!!! I loved it so much! can't wait to read the next book in the series!
March 16, 2024
(Zero spoiler review) 2.5/5
Better than The first volume, although not by any discernible margin. It's been a been a while since I've been so looking forward to reading a series. So intent on it's undoubted quality, only to have it wipe its mucky, rancid, shit smelling pages all over my literary soul. The Drawing of the Three has been an absolute, unmitigated disappointment. I signed off my review of the first volume stating that it appeared as though things were looking. How wrong I was. Again I find myself in the position of saying 'Looks like things are looking up'. Although if volume three doesn't bring about a rapid uptick in quality, and fast, this series will be moving to a big farm upstate where there's lots of room to run around, if you catch my drift.
I am no Dark Tower aficionado by any means, but this absolutely doesn't feel like The Roland Deschain I loved in the first two comic adaptations. Every character here is thoroughly unlikeable, reprehensible even. I can't imagine myself wanting to spend 15 more issues with Eddie, who is a smarmy little prat, but we'll see, I guess.
I'm not sure whether the fault lies with King himself or Furth's adaptation, although large chunks of the writing and dialogue are hideously bad. I wanted to throw the book across the room and leave it there on multiple occasions, so galling was the writing throughout, but like a trooper (or a martyr), I soldiered on bravely.
Kowalski looks to have put a lot more effort into his art. I would speculate he took some heat for the generally pretty sub par pages he turned in for volume one, but it does appear like he was bringing his A game here. It's still not what I want a Dark Tower book to look like, but having to illustrate to a story this bad doesn't help matters either. I'll be leaving a sizeable gap between this and volume three. I need to wash the taste of disappointing from my eyes and brain. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
Better than The first volume, although not by any discernible margin. It's been a been a while since I've been so looking forward to reading a series. So intent on it's undoubted quality, only to have it wipe its mucky, rancid, shit smelling pages all over my literary soul. The Drawing of the Three has been an absolute, unmitigated disappointment. I signed off my review of the first volume stating that it appeared as though things were looking. How wrong I was. Again I find myself in the position of saying 'Looks like things are looking up'. Although if volume three doesn't bring about a rapid uptick in quality, and fast, this series will be moving to a big farm upstate where there's lots of room to run around, if you catch my drift.
I am no Dark Tower aficionado by any means, but this absolutely doesn't feel like The Roland Deschain I loved in the first two comic adaptations. Every character here is thoroughly unlikeable, reprehensible even. I can't imagine myself wanting to spend 15 more issues with Eddie, who is a smarmy little prat, but we'll see, I guess.
I'm not sure whether the fault lies with King himself or Furth's adaptation, although large chunks of the writing and dialogue are hideously bad. I wanted to throw the book across the room and leave it there on multiple occasions, so galling was the writing throughout, but like a trooper (or a martyr), I soldiered on bravely.
Kowalski looks to have put a lot more effort into his art. I would speculate he took some heat for the generally pretty sub par pages he turned in for volume one, but it does appear like he was bringing his A game here. It's still not what I want a Dark Tower book to look like, but having to illustrate to a story this bad doesn't help matters either. I'll be leaving a sizeable gap between this and volume three. I need to wash the taste of disappointing from my eyes and brain. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
January 20, 2018
This loses a point for poor production values - I appreciate the 'director's commentary' sections with the script and pencil work, but they should all be at the end of the book, not at the end of each section. And having the introduction repeated across 8 pages at the end of the first issue came across very poorly.
That being said, the story itself is strong - this is taken straight out of the Drawing of the Three, albeit from Eddie's perspective. Eddie is trying to finish his drug mule operation but no one else is playing by the rules, and everything gets very messy. Meanwhile, Roland is feverish from his wounds and his views of our world through Eddie's eyes. It all adds up to an epic gunfight, which is portrayed very effectively, and an issue of recovery as Eddie and Roland fight their own bodies (withdrawal and infection) and try to make their way back to their journey. The issue reads quickly, most of the art is good (albeit still on the cartoony side; especially the characters), and it adds nice flourishes to the original without getting in the way of the original story. It just deserved a better presentation than it got.
That being said, the story itself is strong - this is taken straight out of the Drawing of the Three, albeit from Eddie's perspective. Eddie is trying to finish his drug mule operation but no one else is playing by the rules, and everything gets very messy. Meanwhile, Roland is feverish from his wounds and his views of our world through Eddie's eyes. It all adds up to an epic gunfight, which is portrayed very effectively, and an issue of recovery as Eddie and Roland fight their own bodies (withdrawal and infection) and try to make their way back to their journey. The issue reads quickly, most of the art is good (albeit still on the cartoony side; especially the characters), and it adds nice flourishes to the original without getting in the way of the original story. It just deserved a better presentation than it got.
January 17, 2016
Cornered in an airplane bathroom with two pounds of cocaine strapped to his chest, Eddie Dean had no choice but to trust the mysterious stranger waiting for him on the other side of a door only he can see. Together with the unearthly gunslinger, Eddie must find a way through a drug deal gone wrong in order to save his junkie brother.
The Drawing of the Three is one of my favourite Dark Tower books, so I'm a little disappointed with how this one turned out. I didn't really care for the artwork this time around and a lot of the action that made Eddie's part of the book so great really felt undercut. Eddie's big moment of a junkie with making of a gunslinger was more of a stand around doing nothing sequence.
I love this comic series as a whole, but this chapter didn't really live up to code.
The Drawing of the Three is one of my favourite Dark Tower books, so I'm a little disappointed with how this one turned out. I didn't really care for the artwork this time around and a lot of the action that made Eddie's part of the book so great really felt undercut. Eddie's big moment of a junkie with making of a gunslinger was more of a stand around doing nothing sequence.
I love this comic series as a whole, but this chapter didn't really live up to code.
October 5, 2015
Continues a good adaptation of the novel by Stephen King, The Drawing of the Three, but told from Eddie's perspective not Roland's as the novel is. The Drawing of the Three adaptions have been focusing less on visual spectacle and more on narrative elements. This gives them much more of an emotional impact than the early prequels to the The Gunslinger. Vast improvement.
January 24, 2019
I have to admit that this particular comic covers one of my favorite aspects of the Dark Tower series and the one that really brings you in deeper into the mythos of things. The whole concept of the doors and how Roland is able to use them to pull people into his world is a fascinating aspect to things and one that further stresses the unique nature of the story world.
Plus Eddie's tale is a cool one that has a lot of great beats and translated pretty well into comic book panels. But there's a long way to go for the beginnings of this ka-tet and the next door awaits.
Plus Eddie's tale is a cool one that has a lot of great beats and translated pretty well into comic book panels. But there's a long way to go for the beginnings of this ka-tet and the next door awaits.
February 19, 2020
Volume 2 of the Drawing of the Three comic takes (again in chronological order like the last one, though this one last noticeably so) Eddie's journey through customs, to Balazar, the death of Henry, the shootout with Roland, and his official drawing into Mid-World. Only one major change from the books that I can see, and that is that Eddie and Roland have to do the gunfight naked in the novel, while they are clothed here. Other than that, it's pretty much the same.
Strong recommend for the novel, high recommend for the comic.
Strong recommend for the novel, high recommend for the comic.
September 7, 2018
It's been years since I have read "The Dark Tower" series. This was a fun to read and got me thinking I should re-read them all over again. The only thing that I have to say about this particular graphic novel is the Eddie Dean did not look like the Eddie I always pictured in my head. The artist that have been painting mid-world have every thing else spot on.
January 29, 2016
Eddie Dean's story continues - his ka has carried him to mid-world and Roland. Great art, great storytelling. I love theses fleshed graphic novels (I love comic books - glad to know I share that with Stephen King).
June 14, 2016
been waiting to read this since I picked it up a month ago. Love the Dark Tower, and I love what marvel has done with Stephen King's world.
Great read, very nice fan service and all around fun time.
Dadda-chick? Didda-chum? And then the lobstrosities ate that mafioso.
Great read, very nice fan service and all around fun time.
Dadda-chick? Didda-chum? And then the lobstrosities ate that mafioso.
April 29, 2017
I read this to determine whether or not this wld be a good birthday gift for someone who is 1) a Stephen king fan and 2) a comics fan. in that respect it's the perfect gift.
personally though, it gave me zero urge to read Stephen king, not my kind of story.
stars for the art though.
personally though, it gave me zero urge to read Stephen king, not my kind of story.
stars for the art though.
May 17, 2018
Great stuff! This starts from early part of novel #2. Lobster monsters have already eaten some of Roland's fingers and toes and he finds the door to Eddie. I have get more of these. I was fortunate to find this from the local library.
January 2, 2023
Now the series is getting closer to the Eddie Dean we knew from the novels. There are mobsters and battles and...lobstrosities.
Great series and while I did prefer the art with the Isanove coloring from the earlier Dark Tower series, this art works as well.
Great series and while I did prefer the art with the Isanove coloring from the earlier Dark Tower series, this art works as well.
July 16, 2015
A poor showing. I'll keep reading these because I finish what I start and I deserve to be punished. But if you're looking for something just for funsies, look elsewhere.
November 27, 2015
LOBSTROSITIES
Eddie: Man, this thing is heavy. Bet it could feed a half-dozen Red Lobster customers.
Eddie: Man, this thing is heavy. Bet it could feed a half-dozen Red Lobster customers.
February 19, 2016
Another excellent addition to the DT world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews