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: Pretty impressive graphic novel debut
Summary: 4 Stars
You're read him in books, you've seen him on television, now Harry's in the funny papers. Okay, graphic novels, but I had to say it.
"Welcome to the Jungle" is a collaborative effort between author Jim Butcher and artist Ardian Syaf. In my opinion, most of the characters (except Harry) look more like what I expected in the graphic novel version than the televised one.
Our story opens with a murder at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. A zookeeper is found outside the gorilla house mutilated. All fingers point to Moe the gorilla. The only folks coming to Moe's defense are Harry and the gorilla's custodians. Harry's got to solve the case before the police opt to put the gorilla down.
Regardless of whether the story's written or graphic, Jim Butcher's humor comes through. Syaf's renderings are well done and definitely resemble the images of the characters I had in my mind. Syaf's a talented illustrator and very much worthy of keeping an eye on.
Rebecca Kyle, October 2008
Book Review: Pretty good!
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked the story-line, I like Mr. Butcher's imagination, writing skills, and characters, however, I admit that it took me a bit to warm up to this particular addition to the series. I think, if Amazon had been careful to make sure the reader understood that this book was actually a graphic novel (or a "Comic book" as Mr. Butcher himself still refers to them) I would have been better prepared. And I have to admit, I still can't cotton to the idea of a graphic novel, comic book--pick your description--in hardback form. Give me back the days when the comic book came in paperback, and you could roll them up, stick it under your arm, and hunt for a nice, quiet place to read and savor the drawings. Somehow, a hardback makes this publication too "legitimate"--something to be taken too seriously. And folks, there is just too much of that in the world these days! Mr. Butcher, continue to put your stories in the graphic novel format if you must, but please ditch the hardback style except for your other books!Book Review: Another format, another hit
Summary: 4 Stars
Prequel to Storm Front, this is an original Harry Dresden story done in a graphic novel containing four chapters. The graphic stories from Storm Front are to be released soon.
This story centers around the killing of a guard at the zoo and the attempt to lead police to believe that a gorilla escaped from it's cage, killed the guard, and locked itself back in. Harry is given twenty-four hours to find out what really happened.
The graphics are well done, very close to what I imagined them to look like from the descriptions in the novels. The only `way out there' characterizations belong to the monsters. I found the first four pages a little confusing with the rectangular boxes. After those pages, they were used to either tell us what Harry is thinking or what's going on.
Harry's sarcastic wit isn't lost in this format and the action in this story is exactly what you'd expect from this series.
Book Review: Detailed Art with a Good Story
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked this graphic novel, but I read it in 30min at my local bookstore. The art in the panels is in full color, and the use of perspective and inner dialogue is masterful. I'd highly recommend this book to any aspiring manga/comic artist who wants perspective done right.
That said, the entire thing is four (thin issue) comic books long. It goes fast.
I did have one criticism. Dresden is supposed to by six feet nine inches, and Murphy is supposed to be five feet nothing, yet when they are draw together in the same panel, their heights are too close together.
Personally I'd rather spend my entertainment money on a book which will take me a few hours to read. While I liked it, it would end up on my bookshelf gathering dust. I put it back on the shelf in the bookstore. Sorry Jim.
Book Review: My GOD people are stupid.
Summary: 4 Stars
How the hell can you go on Amazon and give a book a low rating because you were too stupid to realize you were buying a graphic novel? How is that the novel, author, or illustrator's fault? If anyone deserves 1 star, it's YOU.
There's no logical way to justify giving a graphic novel a bad review simply on the grounds that you yourself don't like graphic novels. You are all retarded.
As far as graphic novels go, I think it was brilliant. It's a nice little insight into Harry's back story and I think the art is good as well. Stupid little details are overlooked as someone else mentioned-like height differences and stuff, but really-illustrators get creative leniency in this department. Worth the purchase.