Previously Published Review: (Graphic Novel) Storm Front Volume 2, Jim Butcher, Ardian Syaf, Brett Booth

This is the second half of the hardcover compilation of the comic adaptation of the first novel of the Dresden Files, Storm Front, created by Jim Butcher (e'way are not orthy'way), adapted by Mark Powers, and illustrated in sequence by Ardian Syaf (through about the halfway mark of Issue 2 of this volume) and then picked up expertly by Brett Booth (although sadly, we aren't allowed to get too used to him either, as he'll be replaced at the beginning of Fool Moon by a new artist, Chase Conley.)

Did you get all that?

So, if you're considering this graphic novel for your reading pleasure, I would highly suggest picking up the first half (otherwise you'll be a little confused, and miss some great artwork) titled Storm Front: The Gathering Storm. I also suggest going a little further back in the chronology and picking up Welcome to the Jungle, which is a very nice piece of work as well.

Now, on to the actual review.

The story isn't Butcher's best, but it was good enough to get the Dresden Files going (and at book 14 out in July, that's no small feat) and to me at least, this particular story seems tighter and better suited to graphic novel form than to an actual novel. As (almost) a librarian and someone who reads at a frantic pace, that's a big admission to make.

Powers does an amazing job of keeping the characters, the snark, the one-liners, and the noir feel of the novel, while paring it down to the bare bones, and they're some pretty good bones. The baddies are bad, the women are cliched (necessary to the genre) without being wince-worthy, the magical ju-ju is creepy, and the pace builds strongly to the ending, closing out solidly (none of this cliffhanger crap here, but there is an inked teaser for Fool Moon, the next in the series).

The artwork is lovely. I enjoy Syaf's compositions and creatures more, but Booth's interpretation of Harry's and Murphy's faces (and Mac, oddly enough) make me really feel for them as characters. Something about Harry's eyes and that vulnerable heart-shaped face really helps position him as not quite as magically bad-ass as he desperately wants you to believe. I can SEE this Harry being panicked, being worried, being afraid.

I have to say, I'll be sorry to see that go so quickly, but the teaser at the end reassures me that Conley has his own very appropriate interpretation for the hand-off, and it's one that I don't think I'll dislike. Thankfully, each of the subsequent artists has hewn close to the original character idea and the dark, gritty environmental feel visioned by Syaf, so even in the transitions between artists, nothing like the horrors of the "Restoration of Faith" short are in evidence.

I have been anguishing for ages over the much-delayed and many-times imperiled release date of this concluding hardback, but that is entirely due to circumstances beyond any of the artists' controls. I am VERY happy to see this finally out, and to clutch it protectively to my heart. This one's MINE - go get your own copy!