Graphic Novel Review – Fall of Gilead (Dark Tower Graphic Novel series, Book 4) by Stephen King, Peter David, Robin Furth, Richard Isanove (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy
Length: 208 pages
Publisher: Marvel
Release Date: February 17, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0785129516
Stand Alone or Series: 4th book in the Dark Tower graphic novel series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 4/5 stars

This is the fourth graphic novel in the eleven book graphic novel series based off of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. This was a well done continuation of the series; I continue to enjoy the excellent artwork and complex plot. Just FYI there are spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read the previous graphic novels in this series.

Steven Deschan has discovered that Maerlyn’s Grapefruit has been stolen and is on his way to visit his wife when he finds his son Roland standing over her dead body. What follows is one betrayal after another as the elder members of Gilead struggle to save the city from both Martin’s and Farland’s (the Good Man’s) machinations.

This was a well done graphic novel. This whole series has a very spaghetti western feel to it but is set in a sort of post-apocalyptic fantasy world. The whole thing is very gritty and dark in tone.

I continue to really enjoy the illustration in this series. The illustration is very detailed and full of wonderful rich colors and is just a joy to look at.

The plot was not all that surprising and was pretty predictable, but it advanced at a good clip. This book focuses more on the elders of Gilead and on their struggle to stop the treachery there. Needless to say there is a high death count.

I have to comment on Aileen; in this book she decides that she will join the boys as Gunslingers. In order to facilitate that decision she cuts her hair short; which okay whatever. However in addition to losing her hair she also loses all personality. She is mostly huddling in the background of the story which seems very uncharacteristic when compared to her earlier boldness. Even the way she is drawn is just…less. Her facial features have lost a lot of their sharpness and definition throughout.

You don’t see nearly as much of Roland and his ka’tet until later in the book.

Things end on a pretty down note, so I am curious to see how the story continues in book 5, Battle of Jericho Hill.

Overall this was a good continuation of this series. The plot makes a lot of progress, although it is fairly predictable. I am eager for the story to focus more on Roland, his ka-tet, and Aileen. I would recommend this graphic novel series to those who enjoy dark and gritty fantasy.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge