THE DARK TOWER - THE GUNSLINGER BORN

I'm a big Dark Tower fan and an even bigger fan of the Stephen King universe and how it all leads to the tower.

I've read the entire series (the first four books twice) and quite enjoyed it. Though, if truth be told, did not completely enjoy the way certain things turned out at the end.

My favourite book in the series is THE GUNSLINGER, closely followed by THE DRAWING OF THE THREE (remember the lobstrosities? Dod-a-chock?).

It's a damn shame the trilogy of movies/tv tie-in plans via Ron Howard were shot dead. I think it would have been cool. I think Javier Bardem would have made a cool fucking gunslinger.

Well, Towerheads, at least we still got THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE coming in 2012. The plot sounds pretty cool. Can't wait.

And, oh yeah, we got the Marvel comics!

I recently picked up the hardback editions of the entire series to date and let me tell you, if you're a fan of the epic series of novels, you'll love this stuff!

Unlike the novels, THE DARK TOWER comics kick off the series in chronological order (these stories take place within WIZARD AND GLASS in the novels). In THE GUNSLINGER BORN Roland is a young buck in the days of Gilead, attempting to earn his guns from Cort (his teacher in the art of killing), in order to kill the evil magician, Martin (who is screwing his mother behind his father's back).

Eventually Roland is sent to the quiet town of Hambry on Affiliation business, a task that should keep him and his friends Cuthbert and Alain, out of trouble. Only things are happening in Hambry that will be critical in the battle with John Farson aka The Good Man. Not only will they run afoul of The Big Coffin Hunters but Rhea of the Coos, as well.

Oh, did I mention The Crimson King is behind all of this?

Peter David and Robin Furth (the one person that knows as much about THE DARK TOWER series as King himself and the author of THE DARK TOWER: A COMPLETE CONCORDANCE) do a wonderful job of bringing Mid-World to life. Jae Lee's illustrations are fabulous, each panel a work of art.

The presentation here is fantastic, with bonus material at the back of the book, including alternate cover art, sketches, maps and a letter from Stephen King.

If you are looking for a doorway into Stephen King's epic story, this is great place to do it. Of course I would recommend you read the books, too. There is obviously, because of the order of the comics, a major spoilertude factor here. If you begin to read the comics first, you will know what happens when you get to reading the book WIZARD AND GLASS. So, be warned!