First…kudos to Dynamite Publishing for understanding that ‘novel’ is part of ‘graphic novel’ and that the story within the covers, even though it represents a number of single issues of a comic book, is a complete story arc. That wasn’t too hard to do now, was it?
In this book, wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is enlisted (drafted?) by the White Council to be a ‘warden’ to look out for the Council’s interests. His task is to take other raw recruits and rescue some mortals who are on the endangered list, being targeted by the Red Court. Harry and his mostly-untested companions will face thousands of vampires, led by a villanous Baron Bravosa, with eleven hours to go before dawn arrives. The secret to surviving may be in the hands of the humans they are there to protect, but it might also bring about the end of all life.
What can I say… this story by Jim Butcher and Mark Powers is fabulous. The stakes are high – not just Harry Dresden’s life, but all life – and the obstacles in Dresden’s way couldn’t appear more overwhelming! There is loss, and there is the need to survive on wits, skill, and luck. Dresden and company rise to the challenge and beyond what they might otherwise be able to achieve.
This story really captured me from the start, and it held my interest all the way through.
The art, by Carlos Gomez, really works for this title. In the previous Dresden Files graphic novel that I reviewed (see that review here), I felt that the art was too ‘cartoony’ for such a dark book. Gomez’s art hits it just right and his Harry Dresden may be precisely how I picture the wizard from here on out.
If you haven’t experienced the world of Harry Dresden, this will be a fine initiation. If you already know Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, then this graphic novel is an absolute ‘must.’
Looking for a good book? Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: War Cry is an exciting, driven graphic novel.
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Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files: War Cry
authors: Jim Butcher and Mark Powers
artist: Carlos Gomez
publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
ISBN: 1606905740
hardcover, 136 pages
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