Customer Reviews
Excellent Adaptation of Wizard & Glass 
2008-10-02
This is a very good adaptation of the best part of "The Gunslinger" and the entire "Wizard & Glass." I read the single issue first, but unlike some of my fellow reviewers, I did not miss the extra background material that has been cut out. It is not as good as some classic graphic novels (like "The Watchmen"); however, it is still an excellent telling of a classic story. This is fine work by both King and Marvel. I would recommend it to any fan of King, Marvel, or graphic novels in general.
book 2008-10-01
never read a graphic novel before-- thought this was excellent read- art work suited story content
Decent, not amazing 
2008-09-29
This does not compare to some of the great graphic novels, however the story remains true to the Dark Tower series. Perhaps they were simplifying the story a little for the first one, but I think they can make the story line a little more complex, more like a Stephen King novel. If you like the Dark Tower series, however, you should probably pick this up.
A Brilliant Retelling of a Heart Touching Tale 2008-09-13
The Dark Tower, those three words have a great deal of power at least for me. My ears perk up, my heart beats slightly faster and a grin spreads across my face. Stephen King's Mid-World and all it encompasses has spread to comics, The Gunslinger Born is a retelling of the flashback Roland finally shares with his new ka-tet in "Wizard and Glass" (book 4) It is a tale of love, brother-hood, villiany, and of course a bit of gunslinging.
I would highly recommend this to fans of Stephen King's masterpiece, however I would advise readers that have not yet journeyed through all 7 Dark Tower epic novels to read those first. The talented creative team behind this comic book did a fantastic job however there is a lot of stuff you miss, some events don't have the gravity in the comic that is present within King's novel. Which is understandable, I feel this would have been a lot better had they fleshed things out more. Seven issues to cover Roland's journey from apprentice gunslinger to true love then to a possible breakdown. If it was 10 issues I strongly believe it would have been quite a bit better.
Although for the picky fan like myself there will always be something missing, something more the team could do to capture the full feel of the original material.
This is a comic so you get to not only read what transpires but also watch it unfold, the artwork is gorgeous and fits well with the story and world of the Dark Tower however (did you know that was coming? picky fan emerges once again) it removes your imagination from the equation. I had a very different image of Alain and Susan than what is seen here. Honestly I had a different image for everyone except maybe Steven Deschain. How many people read the Dark Tower series and envisioned this characters,? Countless. So is this a valid complaint? No I don't think it is.
I have to commend the creative team behind this book, they have captured the feel of King's series both visually and with the writing. Sure there is lines lifted right from W&G, it is an adaptation right? The aspect of this that grabbed me the most was the narrator bits. I won't say anymore because its better if you read it yourself.
Longtime Dark Tower and King vets will eat this up, I sure did. I think the problem I had with it is I read this right after reading W&G, a few months back I dived back into the books. So with W&G fresh in my mind I could pick out things that were off, there's one part in particular with good old Steven Deschain that really felt off. Read the end of W&G (after Roland's tale is done, right after the ka-tet reach the Green Palace) then this and you will know what I am talking about.
The best part of this book is the fact that it is only the first arc(story) in the Dark Tower series of comic books. The Long Road Home is the second, Treachery is the third. The fourth is yet to be announced. I hope this continues for a couple years.
Over the Top Entertainment 2008-09-08
This comic book version of Stephen King overall has been an entertaining experience. It sometimes seems that the author goes a little overboard trying to emulate the speech of the characters in the original novel, but it doesn't really detract from the enjoyment of reading the comic. The illustrations are fabulous. I would recommend it to any die-hard Stephen King fan. It was well worth the money.
Great Rendition of The Original Story 2008-08-29
"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." With those words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King's Roland -- an implacable gunslinger in search of the enigmatic Dark Tower, powering his way through a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic. Now, in a comic book personally overseen by King himself, Roland's past is revealed! Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by long-time Stephen King expert Robin Furth (author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance) and scripted by New York Times Best-seller Peter David, this series delves deep into Roland's origins -- the perfect introduction to this incredibly realized world, while long-time fans will thrill to adventures merely hinted at in the novels. Be there for the very beginning of a modern classic of fantasy literature!
Great back story for the Dark Tower series 2008-07-10
This was a really good book and added to the over all story of the Dark Tower story line. The illustration was great and made the story come to life. The only draw back is if you have not read the Dark Tower series you may feel as if you were left hanging.
Excellent graphic novel 2008-06-20
This book is very good, and the story is really interesting, Jae Lee's art is awesome and strong, well this book tells the beggining of the gunslinger Roland, the only thing is that the story has not end, and of course I can't wait to read the next collection, I never read any Stephen King's novel, but this is good, it mixes cowboys and magic, well I think if you love adult graphic novels then this is a must have, and of course if you love Stephen King's novel then I am sure you will enjoy this adaptation.
Dark Tower review 2008-05-15
This gives a whole new approach to the series. The graphics are amazing. A must read for any King fan.
Graphic SF Reader 2008-05-01
Quite impressed.
I haven't read the book series, huge multi-novel fantasy series are not really my thing, but this has been intriguing for a while.
I have, however, read some of the earlier short stories, so basically knew the setting, and the characters of Roland and Cort at least.
This was really good. Lee seems to have adapted his style to fit this dark Western type background, with sorcery, mutant cats, witches and decaying technological remnants - a fairly bizarre mismatch of stuff that seems to work well.
I think I like the writing more in this adaptation than some of the stories, too. The old-fashioned American prose can get a bit wearying at times, but it appears to be smoothed a little here and is more palatable.
Boys sent on a mission of important that have to grow up fast, leaving an unsettled situation behind them and a war backdrop and seemingly evil enemies to face seems to work pretty well.
Horror, or dark fantasy, or whatever you want to call it, so things will be not nice.
Definitely surprised by how good this was.
4.5 out of 5
