Customer Reviews

Uther, the Half Dead King

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This story deals with a little described aspect of Arthurian legend, that of his father, Uther Pendragon. He is often shown as the brutal violent animal, a walking Id, who wanted nothing but war and vice. That is, he is a foil for Arthur's own "enlightened" reign. This book fills in the gaps on why Uther was this way.

The story deftly mixes Arthurian legends with English history (history as described by Gregory of Monmouth). Some events obviously occurred, such as the Saxon invasion. Others, such as those around Merlin, probably did not. Uther was a man shaped by his times. To survive he had to become the brutal war monger, otherwise he and his people would have been overrun. He had the ability to survive the times, but not to shape them, and that ultimately cost him his life.

The art is shadowy and well inked. It compliments what we actually know about those times, but being a little blurry around the edges. But it is competently done and leaves a definite impression.

If you like Arthurian Legend, then this is the book to possess. An essential book, in my opinion.

This graphic novel retells the episodes related to Merlin from Geoffrey of Monmouth's HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIAE (HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN). The narrative is told from the point of view of both Uther and Merlin through a series of flashbacks to explain why Uther is the half dead king of the title.