The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher
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Book Reviews of The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle
Book Review: Beautiful Graphics for Beautiful Words
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, the book is a graphic novel--a comic book (I'll defer to Butcher's wishes and not put that in derogatory quotes). Please don't jump to conclusions based on that alone. Yes, not all stories translate well into a visual form, and not all writers can manage the lower word counts needed for the medium. That isn't a problem here. The visuals are gorgeous, and the writing is very, very Jim Butcher.
The artwork is always something to be aware of in graphic novels, and I have been turned off more than one series because I couldn't stand the artist chosen. This one really works for me, though. Not being an art major (or minor, or really knowing anything about art), all I can say is that I found that the characters look enough like I pictured them to be, and the art always seemed to add to rather than distract from what was happening.
There's a fair bit of internal monologueing being done in this book, more than you usually see in a graphic novel. Given how the Dresden books are usually written in first person, though, it really works. The words never seem to overwhelm the art, but rather to work with it. I have no issues with it whatsoever.
This isn't like the first book of the new Thor, or *that* chapter in Watchmen (the one that's never going to translate to another medium, because it's pretty much perfect as is). It's a Dresden book, and it sidles quite nicely into its new format, keeping everything that was good about the novels (the characters, the poignancy, the humor) and adding some nice visuals. If you like Dresden, you'll probably love this if you give it a fair chance. It's shorter than a novel, yes, being only four comics long, but it's a well-made, well-drawn book none-the-less, and the price being asked for it is not outrageous. (Go look at other hard-cover graphic novels if you don't believe me.) If you're into graphic novels, this gives a fair representation of the series, though without quite as many twists as you would normally find in one of the novels (again, it's only four comics long). Give it a try.
I'd have to say Dresden Files is one of the best fantasy series of our time, and this makes a fine prologue to the series. There's one line that might give some continuity issues (about Justin and Elaine), but that can be handwaved away as the character ossilating between two possibilities.
Anyway, hopefully this will be helpful to someone. If you're still uncertain, hop into a bookstore and flip through a copy. It won't be a waste of time.
Book Review: A fabulous, entertaining addition to the Dresden Files universe!
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Dresden is a hapless, down on his luck wizard. In fact, he's the only licensed wizard in the Chicago phone book. Business isn't exactly brisk so from time to time he acts as a consultant with the Chicago Police Department when the cases drift out of the mundane and into the realm of the paranormal. When Karrin Murphy, one of Chicago's finest, is called upon to investigate a brutal mauling at the Lincoln Park Zoo that left way too many weird questions from left field unanswered, she knew it was time to call on Harry's unique skills. One look at the crime scene was all that Dresden needed to realize that powerful black magic was at work.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is an enjoyable graphic novel and a welcome extension (a prequel, actually) to the Dresden Files, a series that almost defies genre classification. While Harry Dresden assumes the role of the angst-ridden, hard-boiled detective with the self-sufficient, anti-authority attitude reminiscent of a John Corey or Harry Bosch, he's also a bit of a laughable bumbler. We've got fantasy, blended with comedy, the paranormal, cozy mystery, thriller and even a touch of heart-warming romance from time to time.
As with any venture into the paranormal, a certain suspension of disbelief is required. But the willing reader will reap abundant rewards - strong character development; gritty, realistic, easy-flowing, natural dialogue that has lots of lightweight comedic moments; good guys and bad guys that will evoke strong reactions; smiles, chuckles and laughs throughout; a new supernatural universe complete with rules governing the use of magic and an over-riding White Council, the government overseeing the appropriate use of magic as it were; a convincing glimpse at the criminal mind's twisted interpretation of honour and respect; and an enjoyable tale that will provide a few hours of pure entertainment.
Illustrator Adrian Syaf's art is first rate and, in an introduction, author Jim Butcher acknowledged that Syaf's visions of the characters were bang-on with the mental perception of the characters that up until now had only existed in Butcher's mind. I expect that should be interpreted as a compliment to both Jim Butcher's skills at narrative description and character development as well as Syaf's artistic abilities.
Even if WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE can't lay any great claims to literary merit, it sure is fun and a fabulous way to while away a couple of easy-going reading hours. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Book Review: Excellent Storm Front prequel!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Mind you, I haven't actually read the bound graphic novel (though once I recoup from buying Backup and Blood Lite: An Anthology of Humorous Horror Stories Presented by the Horror Writers Association, I'll consider getting it), but I have read the individual issues of the comic book release (no easy matter since the second issue sold so madly I had to bid for a copy on eBay after not finding it in any the local comic book shops).
I've been a fan of the series in all forms (prose stories and novels, the sadly short-lived TV series), and I'll admit, I was hoping to see a graphic novel set in this universe. Jim Butcher himself has said he himself visualizes the story as an anime as he's writing it, thus translating it to a graphic novel is ideal! It's great to get a clear picture of a certain wizard in a mantled duster in action, and it's fun to see an earlier chapter of his story, prior to the start of the odd doings in "Storm Front" which later led our hero to suspect there's someone or something or a group of them in the shadows pulling all the strings and leaking very dangerous dark magic into the world of the unsuspecting. Maybe the strange creatures creating havoc at the Lincoln Park Zoo have something to do with it... This is very much worth a read by TDF fans, even if you're a newcomer to comics: lots of fun and some nifty visuals.
Book Review: Fantastic Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
Just who exactly is Harry Dresden? Private detective? Wizard? Chicago Crackpot?
After you read "Welcome To the Jungle" (Jim Butcher and Ardian Syaf), you won't really care who Dresden is, but rather when he's coming back for another adventure. "Welcome To the Jungle" is a remarkable story of Hectate coming back for the Ascension, and the truly dangerous job of Dresden tracking down the clues that help him (and Will) restore the world to normal.
The zoo is normally a place of enjoyment, with spectators ogling the various animals in their `natural' habitat. Not so in the Lincoln Park Zoo. The murder of a security guard under suspicious circumstances leads to Harry Dresden being hired as special consultant. Following the clues to a Doctor Watson and Dr Reese (the suspected killers handler), pits him against evil in a wizards duel that can only result in death.
I loved this book. Based on the popular Dresden files, Jungle, is packed with many elements of noir and supernatural fiction that linger on the edge of popular culture. Bits of Richard Diamond, Shakespeare (Toil and trouble), and a talking skull combine to make this book timeless and entertaining. Ardian Syaf contributes outstanding art that turns this book into a must read, and the rest of the series one to pick up and enjoy time and time again.
Two hairy thumbs up for Welcome to the Jungle. Keep the books coming Dabel Brothers.
www.randomhouse.com
Book Review: A Good Fun Time
Summary: 5 Stars
This beautiful graphic novel (that's fancy talk for bound Comic Book) is an excellent prequill to Stormfront and the rest of the Dresden series. For those who say it has no plot, I say try READING it. Aside from an amusing murder mystery, it also provides a flashback to Harry's battle with his former Master. Now, it's not as involved as his text-only novels, but then it doesn't have nearly as many pages.
To the people who bought this without realizing it was a graphic novel - did you even go to the description page? It is impossible to NOT know that it's a graphic novel - I stumbled on it when it was a preorder months yet away, looked up its info, and went "oh, neat, graphic novel" and went out and found the comics (a couple of them anyway). I finally got to read he whole thing when the graphic novel came out and it is excellent.
So, to sum up, if you don't like graphic novels, don't buy it. Butcher loves them, and everything feels very comic-like, so if you don't like the genre it isn't going to change your mind. And, people who bought the comic by mistake - stop being idiots and giving it a one star rating! If it isn't what you wanted, well, that's your own fault for not reading what you were buying. I think Amazon should remove some of these one-star reviews because they obviously don't reflect on the quality of the book. And if someone bought it knowing it was a comic book and STILL didn't like it, then let THEM give it a bad review.