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The Dark Tower (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born is a seven-issue comic book
limited series
, published in 2007 by Marvel Comics
. It is the first story arc
of five based on
The Dark Tower
series of novels by Stephen King
. It is plotted by Robin Furth
, scripted by Peter David
, and illustrated by Jae Lee
and Richard Isanove. Stephen King serves as Creative and Executive Director of the project.
appeared at a midnight signing at a Times Square
, New York
comic book store to promote it. The entire Dark Tower comic book series comprises four additional arcs of 6 issues for a total of 31 issues.
The Gunslinger Born is an expansion and interpretation of events covered in The Dark Tower
series, beginning with Roland Deschain
's manhood test against Cort and ending with the last events of the flashback sequences in Wizard and Glass. Later arcs will "cover the time period between Roland leaving Hambry and the fall of Gilead
". The Gunslinger Born is followed by The Long Road Home
, whose first issue was released on March 5, 2008.
: The Dark Tower, in which the illustrators, writers, and editors are interviewed.
In August 2007, Marvel released the The Dark Tower: Gunslinger's Guidebook written by Robin Furth
and Anthony Flamini
. The Guidebook features profiles on characters who appeared in The Gunslinger Born as well as those who will debut in later volumes of the Marvel Comics franchise, such as John Farson, General Grissom, and Aileen Ritter.
The entire seven-issue run of The Gunslinger Born was collected into a hardcover edition, released on November 7, 2007 (ISBN 0785121447), though it does not include the prose work that ran in the individual issues.
At the end of the seventh and final issue of The Gunslinger Born, an advertisement is seen for the sequel, The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, published in 2007 by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. It is the first story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
of five based on
The Dark Tower (comics)
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born is a seven-issue comic book limited series, published in 2007 by Marvel Comics. It is the first story arc of five based on The Dark Tower series of novels by Stephen King. It is plotted by Robin Furth, scripted by Peter David, and illustrated by Jae Lee and...
The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
series of novels by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. It is plotted by Robin Furth
Robin Furth
Robin Furth is the personal research assistant to Stephen King and the author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance, which was published by Scribner on December 5, 2006...
, scripted by Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
, and illustrated by Jae Lee
Jae Lee
Jae Lee is an American comic book artist best known for his work on Inhumans and The Sentry, both with Paul Jenkins.-Career:Lee first rose to prominence in the industry for his work on Marvel's Namor the Sub-Mariner, Inhumans , and The Sentry, as well as his creator-owned character Hellshock at...
and Richard Isanove. Stephen King serves as Creative and Executive Director of the project.
Overview
The first issue of The Gunslinger Born was released at midnight on February 7, 2007. Creators Peter David and Jae Lee, and Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe QuesadaJoe Quesada
Joseph "Joe" Quesada is an American comic book editor, writer and artist. He became known in the 1990s for his work on various Valiant Comics books, such as Ninjak and Solar, Man of the Atom...
appeared at a midnight signing at a Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
comic book store to promote it. The entire Dark Tower comic book series comprises four additional arcs of 6 issues for a total of 31 issues.
The Gunslinger Born is an expansion and interpretation of events covered in The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
series, beginning with Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain of Gilead is a fictional character, the protagonist and antihero of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. He is the son of Steven and Gabrielle Deschain and is descended from a long line of "gunslingers", peacekeepers and diplomats of Roland's society...
's manhood test against Cort and ending with the last events of the flashback sequences in Wizard and Glass. Later arcs will "cover the time period between Roland leaving Hambry and the fall of Gilead
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
". The Gunslinger Born is followed by The Long Road Home
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home is a monthly five-issue comic book mini-series, a spin-off of Stephen King's sci-fi western novel series of the same name. The first issue was published on March 5, 2008...
, whose first issue was released on March 5, 2008.
Issues
| Issue | Released | Summary | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Feb 7, 2007 | During Roland's flight across the Mohaine Desert he recalls the treachery of Marten Broadcloak, the sin of his mother, his test of manhood against his teacher Cort, and the night that followed. | A prose story in which Roland's teacher, Vannay, demonstrates to the boys the power and significance of The Beam. |
| #2 | Mar 7, 2007 | Roland's father, Steven, returns with a plan to send Roland, Cuthbert, and Alain to Hambry in the east, the true form of the Crimson King is revealed, and Marten flees Gilead after escaping arrest. | A prose story about Roland's ancestry and the creation of Maerlyn's Rainbow as well as the birth of the Crimson King, and an open letter from Stephen King. |
| #3 | Apr 4, 2007 | Roland and friends have fled for the city of Hambry, as their home in Gilead is now too dangerous. But, once there, Roland learns to his horror that he is no safer. Hambry’s leaders have switched allegiance and the assassins known as the Big Coffin Hunters have marked Roland and company for death. | A prose story about the origin of the gunslingers' shooters, and part one of a Comic-Con Q&A including those involved in creating the series. |
| #4 | May 2, 2007 | Roland seems willing to put his friends in deadly danger by staying in Hambry when his relationship with Susan Delgado deepens. Meanwhile, Marten Broadcloak’s agents — also known as the Big Coffin Hunters — are zeroing in for the kill on Roland and his ka-tet. | Part one of a prose story about Maerlyn's Laughing Mirror, an article on the process of making each page of the comics, and part two of the Comic-Con Q&A. |
| #5 | Jun 6, 2007 | Just outside Hambry, Roland makes a monstrous discovery: John Farson and his men have stolen the weapons of the Great Old Ones and now have the oil to power them and launch an attack against the Affiliation—a group which counts among its members Roland’s father, Steven Deschain. And, at just the wrong time, the young gunslinger’s ka-tet may be splintering, when Cuthbert accuses Roland of cowardice and rides off on his own. | Part two and three of the prose story about Maerlyn's Laughing Mirror, in which the origins of both Rhea and Jonas's evils are revealed, and the third and final part of the Comic-Con Q&A. |
| #6 | Jul 5, 2007 | The Affiliation, the group composed of Roland’s father and his forces, are being lured into a fatal trap in the Shaved Mountains. With the Great Old Ones’ weapons fired up by Hambry’s oil, the Affiliation will be wiped out—unless Roland Deschain—the Gunslinger—can intercede in time. | Part one of the prose story about the history of Charyou Tree, and an illustrated description of Gunslinger's guns. |
| #7 | Aug 1, 2007 | Roland and his ka-tet have their long-awaited showdown with Eldred Jonas and the Big Coffin Hunters; Rhea's plan finally comes to fruition with deadly results; Roland Deschain’s love affair with Susan Delgado comes to a tragic conclusion. | Part two of the prose story about the history of Charyou Tree. |
Related releases
To accompany the series, Marvel released a free 15-page Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born Sketchbook. Also available is Marvel SpotlightMarvel Spotlight
Marvel Spotlight is the name of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics as a try-out book for new characters. The first series ran for 33 issues from November 1971 to April 1977...
: The Dark Tower, in which the illustrators, writers, and editors are interviewed.
In August 2007, Marvel released the The Dark Tower: Gunslinger's Guidebook written by Robin Furth
Robin Furth
Robin Furth is the personal research assistant to Stephen King and the author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance, which was published by Scribner on December 5, 2006...
and Anthony Flamini
Anthony Flamini
Anthony Flamini is an American freelance comic book writer.-Comics Work:Writer*All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #1-12...
. The Guidebook features profiles on characters who appeared in The Gunslinger Born as well as those who will debut in later volumes of the Marvel Comics franchise, such as John Farson, General Grissom, and Aileen Ritter.
The entire seven-issue run of The Gunslinger Born was collected into a hardcover edition, released on November 7, 2007 (ISBN 0785121447), though it does not include the prose work that ran in the individual issues.
At the end of the seventh and final issue of The Gunslinger Born, an advertisement is seen for the sequel, The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home is a monthly five-issue comic book mini-series, a spin-off of Stephen King's sci-fi western novel series of the same name. The first issue was published on March 5, 2008...
.
External links
- Official site at MarvelMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.com - Richard Isanove on The Dark Tower at NewsaramaNewsaramaNewsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
- Interview with Joe Quesada about the series at Lilja's Library
- Interview with Richard isanove about the series at Lilja's Library
- Interview with Peter David about the series at Lilja's Library
- Interview with Robin Furth about the series at Lilja's Library
- Interview with Ralph Macchio about the series at Lilja's Library
- Dark Tower Official Site
- Heroes Con 2007 Panel Discussion with Peter David and Robin Firth (Audio) at The Dollar Bin
- Interviews with Joe Quesada, Jae Lee and Peter David at The Comic Collective