When Marvel Comics announced they’d be working with Stephen King to not only adapt The Gunslinger and Wizard & Glass but also use the comic book medium to fill in some of Roland Deschain’s back story, someone had to peel me off of the roof!
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born was released two years ago and Dark Tower fans loved it! The creative team Marvel brought together—artist Jae Lee, colorist Richard Isanove, writer Peter David and plotter Robin Furth—really did a fantastic job of bringing King’s original vision to the initial seven issue mini-series.
Marvel was doing it right!
Then the five issue mini-series Dark Tower: The Long Road Home continued the story, but with a twist. The Long Road Home was all original content no Dark Tower fan had previously known.
The creative team handled it just as smoothly as the first mini-series!
Now Dark Tower: Treachery #1 has been released. And I can already tell you the creative team has taken their endeavor many notches higher now that the fledgling gunslingers have returned to their home of Gilead!
Dark Tower: Treachery #1 is the moment I've been waiting for the last two years. As I wrote previously, Dark Tower fans have had a glimpse of Roland Deschain's youth before; The Gunslinger and Wizard & Glass gave us a new appreciation of King's stunning wild west romantic hero. But there were massive gaps in Roland's youth, gaps readers had wanted to know about for a very long time. Stephen King, in his understanding of how useful and great the comic book medium is, gave Marvel Comics that information and let that creative team run for it!
Do ye kennit?
But many of us were looking forward to two events:
1) the return to Gilead where the Camelot-like last bastion of good in Mid-World would be revealed
2) the battle of Jericho Hill where Roland takes part in a life-altering event that places his boots upon a dusty and wearing path
Marvel Comics has begun releasing the Return to Gilead—and it is stunning!
First, I was overwhelmed by the color work. Richard Isanove is widely considered to be one of the best colorists ever. He does beautiful work and right from the first page the reader is inundated with the vivid colors of an alive and vibrant Gilead. Gilead represents Good, and Isanove captured that. But as the comic book goes on and the notion that not all is well within Gilead begins to form, the colors become more mute and darker, representing the tone and feel of Roland's home.
Next, the artwork by Jae Lee is top form. Lee has been a great artist for a long time but it is his vision of these characters that is keeping the uniformity of all these mini-series together and coherent. I really enjoyed Lee's take on Gilead, Steven Deschain and the Crimson King.
To the story, brought to you by King, Furth and David. Man. This is the story I've wanted! The Gilead we know to be true but rotting from within. Jealousy. Sinister plans. An addicted Roland. Gunslingers in question. The writing creative team delve into some of the darker aspects of humanity, a humanity that is being pressured by the "Good" Man and his soldiers. The issue is well-plotted and paced just right, leaving the reader wanting more when they turn that all too important page that reads TO BE CONTINUED.
Well, I can't wait to continue!
All in all, this first issue sets the stage for the rest of this mini-series. If it continues with how it began, we are in for a real treat! Marvel Comics and this creative team are continuing and doing a fantastic job with what I believe Stephen King will in the far future be eventually remembered for more than his horror—the Dark Tower Saga!
And the Tower is closer...
Leave a comment