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kathydavie's review
4.0
A short story, a prequel in the Dresden Files. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of The Dresden Files books on my website.
My Take
Do keep in mind that I don't like graphic novels. I much prefer using my own imagination. That disclaimer aside, I did enjoy Adrian Syaf's graphics---Harry is much more good looking than I had imagined! Although the Harry pictured on the inside doesn't appear to be the one on the cover…
It's a fun, flash-bang-smash'em-up in true Dresden fashion as Harry fozares his way from one clue to the next.
The Story
The police want to pin Maurice Sandbourne's murder on Moe, the gorilla. It's clean, neat, and not supernatural. Lieutenant Murphy, however, prefers the truth.
The Characters
Harry Dresden is a professional wizard and private investigator who occasionally is hired as a freelance consultant by the Chicago PD. Well, Karrin Murphy, anyway. Dumorne is Harry's foster father, mentor, and teacher. Bob the Skull knows more about magic than Harry can imagine.
Lieutenant Karrin Murphy is with Special Investigations and hires Harry on a fairly regular basis. She does believe there are things that go bump in the night. Sergeant Ron Carmichael is Karrin's partner; he's totally unenthused about Dresden.
Dr. Reese directs the gorilla program at the zoo; Willamena "Will" Rogers is his assistant. Dr. Dana Watson is on loan from London.
Anthrophages are the inner circle of the cult of Hecate.
The Cover
The cover is black and electric green highlighting graffiti'd brick walls behind a Harry posed with his black coat, staff, and star pendant, waiting for something to leap out at him. A bright yellow draws your attention to the smallish title while a colonial blue highlights "Dresden"...just in case you might miss seeing it.
The title is quite accurate as you are Welcome to the Jungle of both the Lincoln Park Zoo and Harry's world.
My Take
Do keep in mind that I don't like graphic novels. I much prefer using my own imagination. That disclaimer aside, I did enjoy Adrian Syaf's graphics---Harry is much more good looking than I had imagined! Although the Harry pictured on the inside doesn't appear to be the one on the cover…
It's a fun, flash-bang-smash'em-up in true Dresden fashion as Harry fozares his way from one clue to the next.
The Story
The police want to pin Maurice Sandbourne's murder on Moe, the gorilla. It's clean, neat, and not supernatural. Lieutenant Murphy, however, prefers the truth.
The Characters
Harry Dresden is a professional wizard and private investigator who occasionally is hired as a freelance consultant by the Chicago PD. Well, Karrin Murphy, anyway. Dumorne is Harry's foster father, mentor, and teacher. Bob the Skull knows more about magic than Harry can imagine.
Lieutenant Karrin Murphy is with Special Investigations and hires Harry on a fairly regular basis. She does believe there are things that go bump in the night. Sergeant Ron Carmichael is Karrin's partner; he's totally unenthused about Dresden.
Dr. Reese directs the gorilla program at the zoo; Willamena "Will" Rogers is his assistant. Dr. Dana Watson is on loan from London.
Anthrophages are the inner circle of the cult of Hecate.
The Cover
The cover is black and electric green highlighting graffiti'd brick walls behind a Harry posed with his black coat, staff, and star pendant, waiting for something to leap out at him. A bright yellow draws your attention to the smallish title while a colonial blue highlights "Dresden"...just in case you might miss seeing it.
The title is quite accurate as you are Welcome to the Jungle of both the Lincoln Park Zoo and Harry's world.
yodamom's review
5.0
I love the visual view of Harry's world. I read the introduction by Jim Butcher and was thrilled to see that he thinks this Harry is dead on what he see's him looking like. he looks very close to what was in my head as well.
The art work is very well done. Harry is beautiful and strong. Mister is huge ! Murphy was a bit more angry then I pictured her, but hey this book was in the very early stages of their relationship. Kudos to the artist, everything was very emotional.
Harry is hired to find a killer at the local zoo. Some believe the animals have gone killer, but Murphy senses something off and calls him in. He does what he does best, gets into the tangle of bad and takes care of business.
The art work is very well done. Harry is beautiful and strong. Mister is huge ! Murphy was a bit more angry then I pictured her, but hey this book was in the very early stages of their relationship. Kudos to the artist, everything was very emotional.
Harry is hired to find a killer at the local zoo. Some believe the animals have gone killer, but Murphy senses something off and calls him in. He does what he does best, gets into the tangle of bad and takes care of business.
jgintrovertedreader's review
4.0
In this prequel to the first book in the beloved Dresden Files series, Chicago PD’s Special Investigations unit calls in wizard Harry Dresden to investigate an impossible murder at the Chicago Zoo. The best they can come up with is, “The gorilla did it.” But Harry and Lieutenant Karen Murphy know something dark is happening, with the zoo at its center.
This was a pretty fun entry in the series. It’s nice to read something set fairly early in Dresden’s life, before things get so…messy. The mystery is pretty straightforward and engaging enough. Harry tries to be his sarcastic self but I think the shorter format interferes with that a bit. How many panels of snark are truly important to an action-packed story?
The artwork was mostly great. I had to look at a handful of panels for a few minutes, wondering what was going on or why the artist chose to portray the scene from such an awkward angle. I’m no artist myself though, so I may have just missed something. Harry is portrayed pretty much as I picture him but Murphy is a bit more complicated. I do know that she’s a deceptively cute little blonde, but I cannot get the tall brunette actress who portrayed her in the TV show out of my head. It was kind of nice to see her as she’s really described but a bit jarring all at the same time.
I recommend this for fans of the series who also like graphic novels. It’s not necessary to the overarching series plot but it’s a fun way to pass an hour or so.
This was a pretty fun entry in the series. It’s nice to read something set fairly early in Dresden’s life, before things get so…messy. The mystery is pretty straightforward and engaging enough. Harry tries to be his sarcastic self but I think the shorter format interferes with that a bit. How many panels of snark are truly important to an action-packed story?
The artwork was mostly great. I had to look at a handful of panels for a few minutes, wondering what was going on or why the artist chose to portray the scene from such an awkward angle. I’m no artist myself though, so I may have just missed something. Harry is portrayed pretty much as I picture him but Murphy is a bit more complicated. I do know that she’s a deceptively cute little blonde, but I cannot get the tall brunette actress who portrayed her in the TV show out of my head. It was kind of nice to see her as she’s really described but a bit jarring all at the same time.
I recommend this for fans of the series who also like graphic novels. It’s not necessary to the overarching series plot but it’s a fun way to pass an hour or so.
charms1976's review
4.0
Loved the writing and the world created by Jim Butcher. Plot was good for a graphic novel with a total page count of 168. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations though and that is why it got knocked down to a 4 star rating.
vorsoisson's review
4.0
The Dresden Files adapt amazingly well to comic form - in fact, I think they're better this way. Much about Butcher's writing style becomes clear when you read in his introduction to this that he has always thought of Dresden as a comic. The plot is fairly typical of this series, the female sidekick is extremely annoying. The depictions of the characters are remarkably similar to how I pictured them in my head.
erincataldi's review
4.0
A nice quick read to satisfy the longing I get for more Dresden Files in between books. This short story takes place as a graphic novel which is kinda cool, but I also kinda didn't love it because I picture all the characters in my head very differently (which is why I haven't checked out the TV show yet). Harry Dresden is called in to investigate a mysterious death at the zoo. It looks as if the night guard was murdered by the gorilla but hings aren't adding up. How did the gorilla get out or back in for that matter? The guard emptied his entire gun, where are the bullets? Something is fishy and Dresden the finest (and only openly practicing) wizard in Chicago is on the scene to help out his pal Lt. Murphy. A Fun, quick read.
ogreart's review
4.0
Gonna try to read/listen to all the Dresden Files again (2019)--in chronological order this time. This is the first. Fairly decent story. Good artwork.
cheesygiraffe's review
5.0
Great Dresden story but the illustrations where the best. I think I love this book! :D