Homeland (graphic novel)

Well, dang it, now I want to read the book. Which, if it's as solid as this, might make me want to read the other dozens of books.

Some common nitpicks of the otherwise good art aside -- the Drow all look a good bit too similar, it took me a while to learn the very minor differentiations (hair styles, ear rings, clothing colours) the artist identifies them through), and all the Drow women look like identical supermodels in bikini-like pseudo-armour -- this was quite great. I had no relationship to the Forgotten Realms world or the Drizzt Do'Urden character before this, beyond some very vague general osmosis awareness of both, but this origin story did a very good job of drawing me in. It also got me rather liking a character that, if show more handled even slightly less deftly, could easily just read as a boring Mary Sue. His many qualities and strengths are mitigated by the narrative's constant reminders of how oppressive, treacherous and unhappy the world he inhabits is, up to and including his own immediate family members and the very circumstances of his birth. show less

A very good graphic novel version of the novel by the same name. It was great being able to see someone else's vision of what Salvatore so aptly described in the novels. The only issues I had were difficulty telling the characters apart. By strictly sticking to the same skin shade and hair color, the characters in many cases are hard to tell apart. This format also doesn't do justice to the city of Menzoberranzan, it would require more colors and a larger format. Those are minor complaints though, this was really well done.

I will say first of all that I had not read Salvatore's Drizzt series before reading this, but it had been on my list of things to read down the road. A few friends had been recommending it. So, when I saw it graphic novel format, I just could not resist. It was definitely a great read, and I am now fired up to keep on reading. The characters in this first volume are complex, well developed. And when Drizzt finally learns who is his father, it practically reads like a good tragedy as they both find themselves trapped in a world that uses them, yet has no use for them. This was the part that I found particularly moving. The art complements and carries the story on very well. And though this format does not have everything from the novel, show more a fact that is mentioned in Salvatore's foreword, it does present the story in a compelling way with a good blend of action and intrigue. I think fans of the series would enjoy the story in this format. For casual readers like me, this makes a good entry point to the series, and it may spark enough curiosity to seek out the full novel. For now though, I will soon be moving on to the second volume in this series. This is one I definitely recommend. show less

This comic is based on the first novel of The Dark Elf Trilogy, Homeland.

I read the book like ten years ago and enjoyed it a lot, this comic adaptation is like a condensed Homeland, you can enjoy Drizzt's adventures without going through all the book. It's like an appetizer, lessens your hunger but leaves you wanting more.

The artwork is also fine, not impressing but it worked well enough for me. I only found the female drows too comic like, all beautiful and dressed in leather, but it's a comic after all...