King's Dark Tower Comics

[Akuma]

I know it's due for release and I'm excited, but I forgot when it's coming out.
An "A" month, I think. April? August?

Anyone got details for me?
Thanks. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/e2flowers.gif

[E.G. Gammon]

From Marvel's official website (http://www.marvel.com/king):

The 1st issue of the yet-to-be-named first arc of the Dark Tower comic series will be shipping in February 2007. The last issue of this six-issue series will be shipping in July 2007. The first hardcover collection will be shipping in October 2007.

The reason why you thought it was being released in APRIL 2006, is because the original press release indicated so, but, according to the Marvel's official website (and Stephen King's official website),

Stephen and Marvel have decided to push back the launch of the Dark Tower comic books to 2007. "Given the size of the project and all the creative talent involved, I want to give the Marvel series all the room to breathe it needs and deserves," said Stephen. "I've got so much else going on in 2006 - two novels coming out, CELL and LISEY'S STORY, and the work with John Mellencamp on 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County.' The Marvel series is going to be a blast, and I want to have the time to enjoy it."

Here's a link to the original press release that gave the APRIL 2006 release date:

http://www.stephenking.com/pages/news/dt_marvel/

[Akuma]

Alright, thanks, bud!

[Chicago Expat]

Curious if anyone read these.

I received the first TPB (Gunslinger Born) as a gift. I liked it enough to consider picking up more in the series. The artist, Jae Lee, is a favorite of mine and a big reason why this TPB made it on a gift list.

Admittedly, I have never read any of the King Dark Tower books, so I have nothing to compare the adaptation to. This, sometimes, can be a good thing.

Any thoughts on this series?

[elae]

I read Gunslinger Born and liked it quite a bit-- clearly a small part of a larger whole, but I didn't feel like I was "missing" the original prose. I later read the first of the novels and actually liked the Gunslinger Born TPB better. I still need to finish the series, though (in both formats...)

[Candra H]

Hmm, I read the books (first three so far I think...) before the comics. I picked up the first one, Gunslinger Born, thinking it might be an enhancement to a series I already liked.

Thing is, I felt the art didn't match the story. Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic in its own right and fair enough, the comic I read is from Roland's youth so no sign of dusty deserts or weatherbeaten gunslingers but I don't know. There's something eastern in the style of the art that doesn't gel with the subject matter of the comic somehow. Maybe it's just me being pernickety...

[Chicago Expat]

Maybe it's just me being pernickety...

Oh, I seriously doubt it. Great storytellers instigate some terribly visceral imagery in our heads as we read along. That you would react adversely to someone else's portrayal of that imagery doesn't seem unreasonable at all. I feel the same way when a movie or tv show adaption is done of a book that had a strong affect on me. The cinematography always feels incongruous to the images I had in my head.

I kinda think I'm fortunate to be reading the comics before the book. Plus, I'm a huge fan of Jae Lee's art.

[Candra H]

Jae Lee is definitely a cool artist though I'm no expert and only started looking at his stuff on his website. What I find interesting is that that eastern style isnt in the other thumbnails (havent gone in for a closer look yet), just the Dark Tower comics. Makes me wonder what the brief/concept stage/artist/writer collaboration discussions came up with re the art. Did they actually deliberately decide to go for that particular style or was it a case of leaving it up to the artist to come up with his own approach?

No worries about answering that. Just general musings I guess.