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audiobookmel's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.
This graphic novel is a prequel to The Dresden File series. It is set just before the events of Storm Front, book one. Here, Harry is called in to help CPD Sergeant Murphy investigate a strange murder at the zoo. It appears that gorilla killed a man, but the gorilla is in its enclosure. What gorilla will lock itself back into an enclosure after killing a man? It just doesn’t make sense.
This was a fun story. I always love to see Harry Dresden in action. In addition, we get some time with Murphy and Carmichael. Oh and I can’t forget Bob, the Skull and Mister, the cat. There’s also a really sweet girl zoo keeper who goes by Will, because she doesn’t want to go my Willamena.
I don’t want to go too much more into the story, because I don’t want to give anything away. However, I can talk about the artwork, which is very well done. It has dark drawings that fit well with The Dresden Files series. According to the Forward, written by Butcher, the characters are pretty much what he sees in his head when he writes. He also includes a bit about the process of writing for a comic versus a novel, which I found very interesting.
The one thing I thought was really funny (and I’ve never noticed with previous graphic novels, or if I did that with others, I didn’t notice it at the time), I read the pages with James Marsters in my head. He is just Harry Dresden for me.
The next book is Storm Front in graphic novel. I might grab that too, but I’m not sure when. I do enjoy comics as a general rule, but most of what I’ve read are from authors that I’ve read as novels (Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs and Laurell K Hamilton), but I’ve also read Jennifer Jones Alias and one of the many Deadpool books. I want to get more into the Marvel Universe that I love so much. Maybe even try some DC Comics too.
See some examples of the artwork below. Click on the images to see a larger version.
This graphic novel is a prequel to The Dresden File series. It is set just before the events of Storm Front, book one. Here, Harry is called in to help CPD Sergeant Murphy investigate a strange murder at the zoo. It appears that gorilla killed a man, but the gorilla is in its enclosure. What gorilla will lock itself back into an enclosure after killing a man? It just doesn’t make sense.
This was a fun story. I always love to see Harry Dresden in action. In addition, we get some time with Murphy and Carmichael. Oh and I can’t forget Bob, the Skull and Mister, the cat. There’s also a really sweet girl zoo keeper who goes by Will, because she doesn’t want to go my Willamena.
I don’t want to go too much more into the story, because I don’t want to give anything away. However, I can talk about the artwork, which is very well done. It has dark drawings that fit well with The Dresden Files series. According to the Forward, written by Butcher, the characters are pretty much what he sees in his head when he writes. He also includes a bit about the process of writing for a comic versus a novel, which I found very interesting.
The one thing I thought was really funny (and I’ve never noticed with previous graphic novels, or if I did that with others, I didn’t notice it at the time), I read the pages with James Marsters in my head. He is just Harry Dresden for me.
The next book is Storm Front in graphic novel. I might grab that too, but I’m not sure when. I do enjoy comics as a general rule, but most of what I’ve read are from authors that I’ve read as novels (Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs and Laurell K Hamilton), but I’ve also read Jennifer Jones Alias and one of the many Deadpool books. I want to get more into the Marvel Universe that I love so much. Maybe even try some DC Comics too.
See some examples of the artwork below. Click on the images to see a larger version.
bloodravenlib's review against another edition
4.0
I will open by saying that I have not read any of the Dresden Files novels, but I have heard of them enough. I do enjoy graphic novels, so this seemed like a good chance to read a tale of Harry Dresden in a format I enjoy. I was not disappointed. It was a good whodunit with plenty of action and the feel of a private detective story. If nothing else, Dresden stories seem a lot better than some of the crap that is passing for urban fantasy these days. The art was pretty good. It is a very fast paced read; it goes down easy. What starts as an animal attack in a zoo turns to something a bit more sinister. Just another day on the job for the resident wizard private eye. Overall this story has made me curious enough to consider reading one or two of the novels. I think fans of this series will like it. Casual graphic novel readers and fantasy readers may enjoy it as well.
ubalstecha's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent original story from Butcher about Dresden dealing with a series of murders at the Chicago Zoo.
notsolittlejon's review against another edition
5.0
It was awesome. Definitely something I will read again and again. Completely lived up to the standard set by the novels.
tylovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
mechbutterfly's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big Harry Dresdenn fan anyway, but the visual experience of a graphic novel was adding quite something to my beloved characters. Love the artwork. I have imagined Murphy a little tinier, cuter, but everything else was spot on.
kylemfox's review against another edition
5.0
I have recently gotten into the Dresden Files... I am still only in the middle of book four in the series, but came across this gem of a graphic novel. It takes place before the very first book in the series. It really helps me picture the characters in the story line. Easy read. Read it basically during all of my jury duty breaks.
oswallt's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not sure why we needed a pre-quel, but this is a great Dresden story and definitely worth reading.
shinychick's review against another edition
3.0
Eeee! More Harry! Fabulous little pre-series graphic novel. I look forward to Turn Coat in April, and I need to locate a copy of Backup, too. Ardian Syaf did the pencils, and he's brand-new to the comic industry, so I hope he'll stay on board for the entire series. I like that Butcher added in the notes that these drawings are pretty much exactly what he had in mind for the characters.