Reviews

Shannara was one of my first three fantasy series (after Dragonlance Chronicles, and I think before The Dragonbone Chair series, so that should thoroughly date me) when I was a wee fledgling nerd, and I will always hold a special place in my heart for Allanon and friends. All of that said, I just didn't find the graphic novel medium to be effective for this kind of epic storytelling. It's possible that I am rendered inflexible by having read hundreds and hundreds of pages of Shannara in traditional narrative format. It's also just possible that I could never have found it a good match.

I was curious about the usage of a different medium. I tried it. I did not at all care for it.

hotsake's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was a decent filler story but I think it would've worked better as a traditional short story than as a comic.

spellboundbybooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

weaselweader's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A graphic novel that extends, enhances and enlivens Terry Brooks’ magnificent Shannara universe!

Go back … go WAY back, go back to The Wishsong of Shannara, the concluding novel of the original Shannara tetralogy, that debuted over (can you believe it?!) forty years ago with The Sword of Shannara!

Brooks has used the conditions at the end of The Wishsong as a jumping off point for a new and exciting addition to the original Shannara series. The Mwellrets and the evil Croton Witch have kidnapped Cogline. The witch is using her awesome powers to invade and drain Cogline’s arcane knowledge, to combine it with the spells in the last remaining scrap of the Ildatch – “the book of dark magic that had subverted the Warlock Lord” – and to reveal the hiding spot of Paranor, the Druid’s Keep. Allanon’s shade has appeared once again and charged Jair Ohmsford with stopping that from happening and protecting the Four Lands from the evil that threatens. But to do so may require his use of the Wishsong, the devastating , seductive magic that threatens to subsume his very being and forever close the door to Jair’s return to reality.

A note of warning to potential readers – Dark Wraith of Shannara would be utterly meaningless and, as a result, unenjoyable for anyone who was not a confirmed fan and a reasonably knowledgeable reader of the existing Shannara universe. BUT the reverse is also true. Existing fans will love it. The story line is new and compelling. The illustrations by Edwin David are convincing and add in a very meaningful way to the setting, the atmosphere and the narrative. And enough threads are left hanging slightly loosely that one might hope for more to come in the graphic novel format.

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

jaredpence's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

A bad graphic novel. It only took about an hour to read, but I want that hour back. The title is not explained, there’s no accountability or recompense for the only significant decision or character development in the book. There’s a lot of worthless action sequences and even a horrible love scene.

alex_t's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

More...