The Dresden Files: Storm Front by Jim Butcher adapted by Mark Powers and Ardian Syaf (book review)
If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who ya gonna call? Wizard detective Harry Dresden.
Called in by the local police to investigate a crime of passion with a mystical bent, occult detective Jim Dresden suspects he may be put in the frame for the job, giving him extra incentive to find out what actually happened.
Combing dark magics and gumshoe detective work, this graphic novel adaption of Jim Butcher’s first ‘Dresden Files’ book covers about half of the novel, so don’t expect too many resolutions here. What it does do is set up the illustrated version of the Dresden universe. The lead character’s relationships with the police and his mystic superiors are explored here, setting up potential clashes and love interests.
Although Dresden may seem like a poor man’s Constantine, after a few pages you’ll realise that this is not the case. Of course, there are similarities: the cool coat, low-rent abode and generally wandering about solving mystical crimes all while getting into trouble. Where Dresden differs to Constantine is he does actually have a moral code and does want to do what’s right, rather than just what’s right for him. There also seems to be more scope for different stories with Dresden rather than a pretty girl who gets a guy into trouble which seems to be the typical ‘Hellblazer’ storyline.
This volume is certainly worth picking up if you’re a Dresden fan. The artwork isn’t earth-shattering but perfectly decent and even if you already know the story and how it ends (which is one up on me), it should offer a different insight to the tale with the characters given that extra dimension through illustration.
Aidan Fortune
Mayl 2013
(pub: Del Rey/Ballantine Books. 128 hardback graphic novel. Price: $22.95 (US), $26.95 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-345-50639-9)
check out website: www.delreydigital.com
