Customer Reviews

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files #2

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When last we saw Harry Dresden, the only Chicago wizard in the phone book, he was being chased by a bunch of enspelled jungle cats.

Amazingly that is not the only problem he runs into, in the second part of "Welcome to the Jungle." Jim Butcher's graphic novel continues at a brisk pace, even as it becomes much darker and eerier in tone. But it's also recognizably Butcher -- lots of tongue-in-cheek asides and flash-free wizardry -- and Ardian Syaf's detailed, slightly grimy artwork complements him well.

As the second part opens, Harry and that girl with the glasses are frantically dodging a bunch of tigers and leopards. Harry's magic shield isn't enough to stop them, so he tries a more conventional method to save their bottoms. And in the mass confusion that follows ("the news crews burst into spontaneous orgasm"), Harry decides to continue poking around for the supernatural baddie.

So he drags Will out on a not-entirely-legit office-check of Watson's files, and soon finds evidence of magical goings-on -- as well as some little pots of blood. Problem is, Dr. Watson knows they're onto her, and so Harry decides to haul Will along with him to his place of residence, in hopes of learning more from Bob. And the truth of Watson's plans -- and her true identity -- may be more horrible than he imagined.

I'll give it to Jim Butcher -- not only can the man pen two vastly different series and assorted short stories, but he can turn out a pretty thrilling graphic novel prequel. Though "Welcome to the Jungle" is a short work, it's still crammed with action, monsters, magic, and a unique new supernatural threat that Harry alone can deal with. Basically, what one expects of the Dresden Files.

In fact, "Welcome to the Jungle's" second part is a pretty good example of how to do a graphic novel. It moves at a quick clip with lots of killer carnivores and encounters with creepy scientists, and thankfully it never becomes boring. And the whole supernatural threat is presented in only a couple pages, with an eerie visual flourish (hooded clawed creatures reaching to the blood-tinted moon).

Harry's inner narrative also keeps things interesting, since our favorite wizard-for-hire has a certain knack for dry humor ("We stop for critically important wizard supplies..." he informs us at the Burger King drive-through).

Despite all the animal attacks and magical infodumps, Butcher slows down long enough to give us some insight into what an "out" wizard has to deal with. Harry has a rather melancholy scene in which he explains why people choose not to believe in the existence of magic, and hinting at why his life is so rough in general.

Also, supporting character fans can rejoice, for this issue heralds the first graphic-novel appearance of Mister the ginormous cat and Bob the Skull. Said spirit-archive is about as lecherous and lovable as ever, even inquiring if the evil Watson is hot, because "obviously she's all evil and stuff, which increases her hotness factor automatically. But there's degrees of hotness."

The accompanying artist seems to be a relative newbie to the world of professional graphic novels, but Ardian Syaf's work is really quite good, and well-matched to Butcher's writing. Lots of shadows, harsh sunset lights, eerie bloody flashbacks, and lots of focus on Harry's worn clothing, gimlet eyes and stubbly face. Definitely good stuff here.

The second part of "Welcome to the Jungle" succeeds in being even better than the first part -- monsters, magic, and talking skulls galore. And it leaves you waiting to see what Harry will do next.