King's DARK TOWER series from Marvel

[gnbraun]

Just received comic arcs two and three of the Dark Tower/Gunslinger series from Marvel, both in HC collectors editions. Beautiful artwork, great stories...I'm impressed (but I must say I have a soft spot for the Dark Tower mythos).

[gaybrat]

I must say I haven't been that interested in these, mainly because I felt the last 3 DT books went way off the track and ruined the seires for me. That and how he retroactively started tying in so many of his older books with the series.

[FrederickHamilton]

Loved the books. What was it about the last three that got you offside Mark? The comics are on my ever expanding to get list.

[gaybrat]

Loved the books. What was it about the last three that got you offside Mark? The comics are on my ever expanding to get list.

There were many things that bugged me, but I'll try not to give spoilers but be warned there might be some for those who haven't finished teh series. The way he wrote himself in as a character left a really bad taste in my mouth. The fates of some of the characters I felt were pulling punches. He'd kill off certain characters, which was devastating but emotionally moving, only to have them back later, and it felt like a cheat, like he lacked conviction. Then the very ending was just so anti-climactic after all this time. Not the VERY ending that is so disputed, but the actual battle to even get in the tower, after all these years that was how did it. Thank goodness you had that eraser, kid! I just felt the last 3 lost focus and didn't even truly feel like part of the same series anymore. At least to me. The first four books, I felt like he had a plan; the last three books I felt he'd come up with a new plan (and considering how his accident became relevant, some of it had to be an alteration of any ideas he had originally) and it didn't impress me. That's jsut my opinion though, I'm not suggesting those who enjoyed the last three books are wrong or anything, they jsut left me cold and unsatisfied.

[FrederickHamilton]

I must admit, I too was briefly put off side by the way he introduced himself as a character. It's not something I generally care for in fiction. But after a brief hiccup, I thought he smoothed it into the story quite well and it didn't really bother me too much. Though that said, with everyone I talk to, this is the thing that gets them offside the most.

And I'd agree that there was a definite schism between books 1-4 and the others. I suppose the difference is I really dug the direction he took the story in.

[gaybrat]

My reaction to him writing himself into the story was the opposite of yours. At first I thought it was intriguing and interesting, but then I felt it became self-indulgent and self-congradulatory. Also--MAJOR SPOILER ALERT HERE!!!!--okay, so all his fiction was connected because he was sort of god-like in this world, so why was there stuff like Harry Potter shit in here as well?

[yarmak]

I got them cause I have too many of Kings novels to just stop collecting them so for that reason I was sort of obliged too
Dave

[gaybrat]

I'll admit, I might get them if King were actually writing them.

[gnbraun]

I'll admit, I might get them if King were actually writing them.

Mark...these storylines are so close to King's style they sit really well in the mythos....it's worth getting them, as they cover a lot of stuff regarding Roland and his ka-tet that was only hinted at in the books...