| The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born | |
|---|---|
Cover art to The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1. Art by Jae Lee. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Publication date | February 7, 2007 |
| Number of issues | 7 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Robin Furth (adaptation) Peter David (script)[1] |
| Artist(s) | Jae Lee and Richard Isanove |
| Creator(s) | Stephen King |
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born is a seven-issue comic book limited series, published in 2007 by Marvel Comics.[2][3] 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.
Contents |
The first issue of The Gunslinger Born was released at midnight on February 7, 2007.[4] Creators Peter David and Jae Lee, and Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada appeared at a midnight signing at a Times Square, New York comic book store to promote it.[5][6] The entire Dark Tower comic book series comprises four additional arcs of 6 issues for a total of 31 issues.[2]
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".[2] The Gunslinger Born is followed by The Long Road Home, whose first issue was released on March 5, 2008.[7]
| 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. |
To accompany the series, Marvel released a free 15-page Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born Sketchbook. Also available is Marvel Spotlight: 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.
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