The Dresden Files:

Welcome to the Jungle

written by
Jim Butcher

illustrated by
Ardian Syaf

Del Rey, August 2008, 160 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-345-50746-4

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Graphic Novel / Occult
Reviewed: 10/1/2009

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Graphic Novel Page

The Dresden Files page

 

Synopsis

After a body of a security guard is found mangled at the Chicago Zoo, Harry Dresden is called in by Lt. Karrin Murphy, who is in charge of Special Investigation with the Chicago PD, to help investigate the killing. Harry uses his magic and determines that the guard was killed by something that was strong enough to tear out his throat with its fingers.

Harry soon meets Dr. Dana Watson, a strong, British woman who is temporarily in charge of the zoo. She tells Harry that Mo, the male gorilla, is the main suspect in the killing. Harry soon pays a visit to Dr. Reese, the man in charge of the gorillas, and finds him to be extremely upset at the idea that Mo could have killed someone.

Dr. Reese's lab assistant is Will, a meek, but beautiful, woman who doesn't believe that Mo is violent at all. While they are discussing the murder, a lion under a binding spells enter the room and attacks them. Harry, realizing that the animal is being controlled by someone else, is able to secure the beast.

Just when they think that they are safe, Harry and Will turn around and find every wild cat is also being controlled and is Harry senses the magic that has been used there. Knowing who the guilty party is now, Harry and Will team together to find Dana Watson and put a stop to the killings.

The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle was written by Jim Butcher and illustrated by Ardian Syaf. The Dresden File books are stories about Harry Dresden, a wizard that is a consultant for the Chicago Police Department.

 

Review

I had never heard of The Dresden Files until I caught an episode of the short-lived television show by the same name on the SciFi (now SyFy) Channel. Being a huge fan of Fantasy and the occult, I instantly fell in love with the show. Unfortunately, the show only had twelve episodes that ran in 2007. Why it never had more I never found out.

To this date, there are twelve novels starring Harry Dresden, but The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle is Jim Butcher's first graphic novel. He actually wrote this book to be a graphic novel and found it a lot different than just writing a novel.

As for the 6' 9" Harry Dresden, I really like this leading man. He is quite your normal guy, except for being so tall and also being a wizard, which makes him easy to relate to.

The story is is quite good and the artwork by Ardian Syaf is excellent. I must also compliment Digikore Studios for their wonderful job with the colors. The glossy pages are quite beautiful.

With this being the first of the Dresden Files graphic novels, I thought it was an first-rate beginning to a graphic novel series that has a lot of potential. The following graphic novels will be based upon the Dresden Files novels that are already in print.

Overall, with a cool storyline, wonderful pencils, and awesome coloring, The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle is a hit. I quite enjoyed it an look forward to future Dresden Files graphic novels.

I rated this graphic novel an 8½ out of 10.

This site was created and is maintained by Conan Tigard
2009