The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle

After enjoying the short lived Dresden tv show, I decided to give this a try.. I’m happy I did! I’ll definitely be continuing this series and I’m even going to give the novels a try! Five stars!

Jim Butcher always saw The Dresden Files as an animated cartoon, rather than a tv series. He collected every Marvel comic between 1983 and 1986, barring toy tie-ins and New Universal titles. He loved the stories - the heroes, the villains, the victims, the explosions, the battles. Those comic books heavily influenced the type of books he would write. "Welcome to the Jungle" is the first graphic novel set in the world of the Dresden Files, and takes place directly before "Storm Front".In "Welcome to the Jungle" we are introduced to Harry Dresden, Chicago's first, and only, wizard PI. If you haven't read "Restoration of Faith", a short story in the anthology "Side Jobs", this will be the first time meeting several characters of The Dresden Files. We also meet, briefly, Lt. Karin Murphy and Sgt. Ron Carmichael. Lt. Murphy is the head of a special division of the Chicago PD, Special Investigations, whose job it is to investigate and explain any weird happenings, since, of course, magic isn't real, and monsters don't exist. She is the one who calls Harry in as a consultant whenever something doesn't make sense. Sgt. Carmichael, on the other hand, thinks Harry is a con man and running a scam. He is less likely to believe in the supernatural, but then again, Murphy was introduced to that world in "Restoration of Faith", where she and Harry first met.The illustrations drawn by Ardian Syaf and inked by Nick Nix, Joe Pimentel, Rick Ketchum, and David Rivera are absolutely amazing. This was my first graphic novel, and the stunning images pulled me in as much as Mr. Butcher's writing! For this story, Mr. Butcher spent his time on creating his brilliant characters rather than world building. In conjunction with the illustrations, his characters leapt from the pages. You were given a solid feel for the character attributes through the writing and, in tandem, the expressions and action you saw on the page. Having a set picture of the characters, rather than just a well detailed description, made it easy to identify with them, and allow for continued relatability in the further novels.Lt. Murphy and Sgt. Carmichael are introduced first, though we don't know their ranks yet. However, it is clearly apparent who is charge. We get a feel for Carmichael first, simply by his comments on the city wanting the case closed quickly and his disagreement with the order to get "him". When Harry arrives on scene, their back and forth easily shows Carmichael feels Harry's service is a waste of budget and Harry himself is a shyster running a scam. We learn little about Murphy, other than she'll push when she wants something and she, mostly, does things by the book.The first thing we learn about Harry is his sense of humor is very dry and he gives people huge leeway in their beliefs and reactions. He uses kinetic energy, which is usually directed by a six feet oak, medieval quarterstaff, which is six inches circumference, and covered with runes and sigils. It also makes a great weapon to smack someone if necessary, since Harry isn't against using regular physical ways to attack, including using a gun. "Fair fights are for suckers." He's intelligent and thinks outside the box in fights, using magic to manipulate objects when it seems as if he's out of options. He has a high moral code in regards to innocents, he will not leave them behind or unprotected. "People suck but persons are worthwhile, always."In a note at the end the, Mr. Butcher mentions that Harry is meant to be an average person, who likes beer and pizza, and can't always pay his rent on time. I'd say he achieved that very well.

I liked the story-line, I like Mr. Butcher's imagination, writing skills, and characters, however, I admit that it took me a bit to warm up to this particular addition to the series. I think, if Amazon had been careful to make sure the reader understood that this book was actually a graphic novel (or a "Comic book" as Mr. Butcher himself still refers to them) I would have been better prepared. And I have to admit, I still can't cotton to the idea of a graphic novel, comic book--pick your description--in hardback form. Give me back the days when the comic book came in paperback, and you could roll them up, stick it under your arm, and hunt for a nice, quiet place to read and savor the drawings. Somehow, a hardback makes this publication too "legitimate"--something to be taken too seriously. And folks, there is just too much of that in the world these days! Mr. Butcher, continue to put your stories in the graphic novel format if you must, but please ditch the hardback style except for your other books!

First, I'd like to address some of these more negative reviews.Yes, it is a comic book, not a novel. But the idea that Amazon "hoodwinked" anyone is ridiculous. The book has listings of its sales ranks and has for a while, and it is listed under "graphic novels". Additionally, it has TWO authors listed, not just Butcher, and the picture used to advertise the product has it clearly depicted at the bottom "ILLUSTRATED BY..."So you whiners who think Amazon pulled one over on you are just too lazy or stupid to read the product description.Additionally, this is a PREQUEL, so people whining about this and that not looking right or not addressing larger issues brought up later in the series, it is as it should be based on his Pre-Stormfront days.It is also funny people whining about how it looks, maybe Butcher is just a liar and he writes forwards to sell his product, but according to his own introduction to the book, much of what is depicted is close to how HE sees it in his mind. So he seems to like it and being that he created the characters that is good enough for me.It is a joke to say that "comics are for kids and books are for adults". Come on, the Dresden Files is good, but it isn't as if you have to be above the age of 10 to read and enjoy them, and Harry Dresden (and Jim Butcher) are comic fans (Butcher himself even says he has always seen the Dresden Files as an Animated Cartoon) so Harry translates well to the medium.As to the product itself: I found it a thoroughly enjoyable Dresden Files mini-adventure. It is 132 Illustrated pages detailing a Dresden adventure just prior to the start of Stormfront.It has all the fun and action that you expect from a Dresden Files story, just on a slightly smaller scale, more in line with the early books than the later "heavier" fare. I like the art for the most part, there are some complaints with how the illustrator draws his women, they just don't seem as attractive as they should. The guy has a real Steve Dillion style, and I think faces are his weakest point, everything else looks really good.Even with the illustrations, there is a LOT of text for a comic book, so the story still is comparable in length to a long short story.In all it is worthwhile, especially considering individual issues cost $4 and you can get it all hardback for $12. At the very least it is a nice little Dresden snack that, combined with Backup, will take the edge off the wait for Turn Coat.Not just that, but Dresden quotes from Big Trouble In Little China, it doesn't get any better than that!