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ibnjah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
duparker's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 Stars. This was a critical part of the novel, and it feels like the YA adaptation of something that was gritty and sparse. It has a made up and overdone complexity that doesn't need to be present.
wuchtorff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
waldowade's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
As long as I can shoot with my mind and kill with my heart, my will is my own.4.5 stars
Oh sweet, crackling Moses, but this series is really heating up. The only thing keeping me from showering five juicy stars all over this thing, is that I'm leaving some room for further advancement into the realm of EPIC AWESOME. Because this is where we're headed, if you kennit. The best is yet to come, and I don't have to be a demonic, succubus oracle to ordain that, hear me well.
The story arc of Marvel's ambitious (and glorious) Dark Tower adaptation has finally reached the sweet spot for me -- long, tall and ugly Roland, lethal and obsessed and (let's face it, truly fucked up) Roland, hot on the trail of the man in black, in search of the Tower that haunts his dreams. The Battle of Tull is behind him -- yet another massacre to add to the rising count -- and Roland is traveling across the endless desert with his taunting quarry always just out of reach, always just a few steps ahead of him.
Then Roland stumbles into The Way Station and collapses from heat stroke and is revived by a young boy offering him water (and who thankfully resists the urge to dispatch Roland with his pitch fork). The young boy is John Chambers, but he informs Roland that his friends call him Jake. Jake!!! Oh Jake, how I've missed you! And this is where his story begins, but if you've been on this journey before, you know this isn't where or how it ends. Not even close.
I can't tell you how much joy I got from watching these initial intimate moments shared between gunslinger and boy unfold ostensibly for the first time. The devastation and betrayal that you know is waiting for each of them just makes these early interactions that much more precious and bittersweet. I especially giggled at one early morning conversation they share when Jake wakes up to find Roland has tethered him with rope in the night.
"Why'd you tie me up? I wasn't going to run away. Or is this some kind of gunslinger kinky thing that I'm probably not old enough to know about?"Jake is so innocent here, so trusting, yet to be betrayed, yet to kill. You just want to wrap him up in your arms and hug the shit out of him.
"We don't have time to palaver...Do you see this?...Take the bone and keep it close."
"Sooo first I'm tied up, and now I'm holding your magic bone. This morning could not be more disturbing."
Spoiler
The scene where Roland hypnotizes him and gets Jake to recount his gruesome death in 1977 New York is effectively done. I felt his pain and terror. Bad memories, and one I did not enjoy remembering.This is a most welcome addition to the Marvel series, and I can't wait to read more.
germancho's review against another edition
5.0
Significantly more human than its predecessors, although its lack of a solid ending seems a bit contrived.
laughinglibra84's review against another edition
5.0
This is where it all begins. If you want to start where the original Gunslinger book does, this is the graphic novel you want to start with. It will reference things that covered in the five graphic novels "Beginnings". None of it is spoilery if you read the entire Tower series.
aloyokon's review against another edition
5.0
The Gunslinger's at it again! Straight off his ordeal at Tull, Roland meets a new companion in Jake Chambers, a boy from our world.
Great story, with new stuff thrown into the plotline, such as a prophecy that leaves me guessing "What are the 3" and keeps me wanting more!
Great story, with new stuff thrown into the plotline, such as a prophecy that leaves me guessing "What are the 3" and keeps me wanting more!
jedi_indyjones's review against another edition
3.0
The illustrations are good and the book is represented in a cool way here, but not the best part of the story. I still have a few to read that line up with The Gunslinger novel and I am looking forward to them.