Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Volume 1 - The Gathering Storm

Graphic Novel

I would like to start by saying that I have enjoyed Butcher’s books for a number of years and I was surprised and amazed to find that he had recently started collaborating with Ardian Syaf to turn Harry Dresden into a graphic novel hero. This G.N. series is too new to have won any awards, but I’m sure that it will in the future.

‘The Gathering Storm’ starts by introducing us to both Harry Dresden - Wizard and Karrin Murphy - Cop. Murphy brings Dresden on a double murder that turns out to have been committed with magic. We follow Harry through the magical underbelly of Chicago as he meets with irate mobsters, a big-talking faery, a vampire Madame, and a big, ugly, slime green demon intent on destroying him with acid show more spit, all in the hope of solving a gruesome double murder.

‘The Gathering Storm’ is not what I would have expected from a graphic novel; it’s nowhere near being a hastily written comic that capitalizes on the popularity of the Dresden Files novels. Instead I was impressed with both the writing and the artwork. Both are done with care and absolutely capture the spirit of the original story, right down to correcting some ‘errors’ committed when the television series was released. (Karrin is not dark haired). Mark Powers has written an excellent adaptation of Butchers work, and Ardian Syaf has captured Butchers characters to a tee. The only problem I found was that on some pages the ‘panes’ were arranged in rather confusing formations that forced me as the reader to break my flow and search the page for the correct order. This was a minor annoyance and I suspect easily remedied with practice. All in all I have to say that this is an excellent graphic novel for young adults; it has enough blood and magic to please any teen, but not enough that parents might feel they need to object. show less

Well I love the shit out of the original book and the audiobook; so it only makes sense that I would love this as well! Some of the characters are not how I imagined (as it always is in movies and pictures), but it was no biggie. I also thought the storytelling pace was perfect and didn't leave anything out; it was very faithful to the book! Overall a great adaptation and I definitely need to get the rest in this series so I can see how it progresses. Eventually I'll get around to watching the show!

This was ... okay. I've heard the series gets more intriguing and thoughtful as it progresses, and I can see how there is some potential. A wizard working as ... well, I guess he's working as a wizard P.I. and it's that classic formula where his cases from the real world and the supernatural world end up being related. This initial one feels a lot like a first book where the author isn't quite convinced yet whether or not he will stick with it. I liked a lot of the things he established about this urban fantasy world, I could have lived with fewer wise cracks - it was too much of a shtick, you know, those supernatural beings, always cracking wise HA HA HA.

Grade: I am going to withhold this until I read more in the series, and I liked it show more enough that I will. show less

I like Harry Dresdan. I just don't like him in Graphic Novel form. The story is nice, the graphics so-so, but I just don't picture Harry as depicted in the comics. Still, I enjoyed seeing some of the magical creatures portrayed, including Toot-Toot, the fairy.

solid adaptation. added a little insight into the white council and morgan. and there was a comic for another short story at the end, so bonus!

I'm going to start by saying Jim Butcher has managed to write some of the funniest and most captivating Fantasy novels I have had the pleasure of reading. And when I heard Storm Front was to be adapted, I was beyond thrilled. It's great to see Jim's work in a new format. The art is lovely. And the adaptation is very true to the original work. Great for a fan or as an introduction.

The graphic novel wasn't bad, good drawing, good adaptation of the book. The problem I had with it was that I already knew the story. I much rather read an original Dresden Files book in graphic form as opposed to adapting the novels into graphic books. Especially since I'm not much of a rereader. I didn't realize that would mean I'd have trouble keeping interested with the same story, but adapted, but it turns out it did feel too much of a reread.