Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dark Tower has taken a different path toward the clearing, October 23, 2008
Unlike Gunslinger Born this is pretty much new material, not a quick summary of Roland's flashbacks. The authors take some liberties with the story, especially concerning the story of Sheemie. (In DT7 Roland says he always knew Sheemie was special but according to this story that was quite the understatement.) But it also means it flows a lot better as a comic book. Read it if you're a tower junkie. If not, you probably won't get much out of it.
After looking at this after a year I have to disagree with myself as I was still in denial. Its nice to come back to Roland's old Ka-tet but the writers of this graphic novel wanted to combine the Roland's old world with elements of the last three books. And I've got to say that they do not belong. I don't want to spoil anything but it takes away some of the magic and mystery of the dark tower universe. The story definitely does not capture the literary elements that Stephen King is best known for. (That is if you don't count making the Crimson King seem like a pushover in the climactic fight.) I did not continue to buy any of the newer ones because for me I don't want to see any more of my dark tower ruined.
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23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A long road ahead, October 7, 2008
"The Gunslinger Born" explored the origins and early struggles of young Roland Deschain, as well as the loss of his first true love, Susan Delgado.
And Stephen King's "Dark Tower: The Long Road Home" picks up right after that, showing us more devastating events that shaped Roland Deschain into the gunslinger anti-hero we know and love. While the first part is rather slow, it has plenty of horrific moments and the haunting quality of a "world that has moved on."
A devastated Roland takes down Susan's charred body, as Alain and Bert argue about whether they should be stopping. But suddenly Roland fires at Maerlyn's Grapefruit -- which suddenly turns into a tentacled eyeball that jumps on Roland's face, and enthralls his very soul before they can peel it off. His ka-tet is chased by a bunch of local thugs, the last Big Coffin Hunter, and a ghastly pack of mutated wolves.
Nearby, a mentally challenged boy named Sheemie was seen climbing into old war machines, only to encounter a strange robot that is somehow still "alive."And inside Maerlyn's Grapefruit, Roland is slowly being driven mad in his own memories -- right before being dragged to the hellish citadel of the Crimson King, who reveals a ghastly secret to the young boy from long ago, which will change him forever...
"The Dark Tower: Long Road Home" isn't quite as gripping as its predecessor, "The Gunslinger Born" -- partly because it's a briefer story, and partly because it's simpler. It's a tribute to Stephen King's original story -- and to the hauntingly vivid artwork -- that it's still such an intense rollercoaster ride.
After the heartbreaking first few pages, the plot speeds into a suitably confusing, desperate chase through a lonely wilderness, with plenty of gunshots and dying creatures. Things actually get rather gory as Roland's pals struggle over rickety bridges and across a red-tinged wilderness, since one of them almost gets his arm bitten off (and announces that he'd rather die than shoot left-handed forever. Hardcore, kid).
And since this is a world made by Stephen King, we have plenty of the eerie and the horrible -- Sheemie's confrontation with a baby-faced robot is just one example. King's rich, old-time narrative translates well into comic form, almost as if he were conversing with the readers ("But don't be laughing at Sheemie, I beg ya, because he's been through considerable trials").
And Jae Lee and Richard Isanove really bring this story to life -- they create a world split between bright bloody red mist and autumnal twilight, filled with shadowy faces, barren lands, and ghastly pursuers. And inside the Grapefruit, we get a full cornucopia of horrors, with Roland defiantly trying to keep his sanity and soul intact in a dusty, hazy landscape full of withered trees, tragic future selves, evil crows, lumpy castles, and the vaguely spidery King with his hellish magic and his suitably evil offers to Roland.
"The Gunslinger Born" introduced Roland as a boy, but "The Long Road Home" has undeniably made him a man. He has the guts and integrity to snarl not just at Marte but at the King himself. And after being in Roland's shadow for so long, Alain and Cuthbert also get to take center stage here -- we get to see just how strong and capable they are.
"Dark Tower: The Long Road Home" is not as tightly-written as its predecessor, but it's filled with a sense of overhanging horror and some solid action for the sidekicks. Definitely worth checking out.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I like the new material, January 3, 2009
I'm probably in the minority... but I enjoyed the new material in Long Road Home. Storyline is about the journey back after Hambry,Roland's encounter with the Crimson King and features more Cuthbert and Alain dialogue, which I enjoyed. I like the story of the young Gunslinger and I really hope they keep the story arcs to the early days (since there are already seven books written by The King about what happens after) Even though it is not King's words, so to speak, it's still his story and there's lots of material to mine from this fantastic epic. The artwork is breath-taking. I can just pore over the illustrations. I'm not even a comic book reader and in all probability this is the only series I will ever purchase. I actually read the comics because I couldn't wait for the graphic novel at the time, and I don't have the hardcover (Yet). I noticed with Gunslinger Born graphic novel they left out some material that was in the Gunslinger comics -- backstory regarding the history or In-World, meaning of the Beam, the myth of Dark Tower, Eldred Jonas, Rhea as a young girl etc. I'm wondering if they did this with the Long Road Home graphic novel. If so that would be very disappointing, because I enjoyed that extra story/exposition that was included in the comic books. I'll still buy the graphic novel anyway because I just prefer hardcovers.
If you're a Dark Tower junkie you just need this. The Dark Tower was made for comics (but I'm so glad there are books! books with lots and lots of pages!) If you're new to the series, I'd recommend Stephen King's seven books instead because even with all the exposition (in the comics) I think readers will not 'get it' in its full context -- just my humble opinion, but it's good stuff nonetheless.
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