The Hedge Knight | ||||||||
George R.R. Martin, Adapted by Ben Avery, Art by Mike S. Miller & Mike Crowell | ||||||||
Devil's Due Publishing, 160 pages | ||||||||
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A review by Adam Volk
Such is the case with George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight, a lavishly illustrated and highly entertaining graphic
novel from Devil's Due Publishing. Martin has earned a well deserved reputation as one of the top writers working in the field
of fantasy today, due in part to his highly successful A Song of Ice and Fire series. The novels, which are
loosely based on the historical events surrounding the War of the Roses, chronicle the fates and fortunes of a disparate
cast of characters struggling to survive in a land wracked by civil war, strife and bloodshed. Martin's writing is
crisp, his characters and plots textured and realistic, and he skillfully avoids the usual pitfalls and clichés associated
with the fantasy genre. In short, the series of novels are nothing short of brilliant. In The Hedge Knight,
Martin -- along with the assistance of writer Ben Avery, illustrator Mike S. Miller and inker Mike Crowell -- continues
the tradition established in A Song of Ice and Fire and offers readers yet another glimpse into the elaborate
world of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms.
The Hedge Knight itself takes place a hundred years before the events in the A Song of Ice and Fire
novels, and chronicles the misadventures of Dunk, a burly and somewhat oafish commoner who has spent his life as a squire
to Ser Arlan; a now elderly hedge knight who earns his living wandering aimlessly from both jousting tournament and
battlefield alike. Like many young squires, Dunk naturally longs for the day when he too can take up the mantle of a
knight; a chance he is finally given when the elderly Ser Arlan finally passes away on a mud splattered road in the middle
of nowhere. Armed with nothing more than his former master's sword and a weary steed, Dunk makes his way to the great
tournament at Ashford Meadow posing as an ill-born hedge knight and determined to earn fame and fortune on the jousting field.
Along the way to Ashford Dunk encounters Egg, a young boy living near a road-side tavern, who despite Dunk's best
efforts, eventually becomes his squire. When Dunk eventually reaches Ashford Meadow however, he soon finds that he is
completely out of his league, and with no reputation, no gold, and no noble born status. He becomes a virtual outcast amidst
the seasoned knights and pompous aristocrats that flock to the tournament. Adopting the name Sir Duncan the Tall, Dunk
eventually finds sponsorship with an influential noble house even as he finds his attention drawn to the beautiful
Tanselle, a skilled puppeteer and artist plying her trade at the tournament.
But before the newly reborn "Sir Duncan" can try his luck on the jousting field, Dunk finds himself caught up in a deadly
political confrontation after rescuing Tanselle from death at the hands of a brutal lord, and discovers that there is more
to Egg than meets the eye. The story culminates in a frantic battle with Dunk's very life on the line, and results in a
series of key events that will reshape the history of Westeros and have a direct bearing on future events as they relate
to Martin's novels. An additional illustrated short story unrelated to Dunk's trials and tribulations, chronicles the
Battle on Redgrass Field, a key moment in Westeros history which sheds some light on the dreaded house Targaryen and
provides the basis for one of the Seven Kingdoms pivotal legends. It is these clever details that offer a unique
glimpse into Martin's intricate and well-developed world and readers already acquainted with A Song of Ice
and Fire will instantly recognize many of the allusions and references peppered throughout the text.
It is in Martin's pacing, plot and dialogue however, where The Hedge Knight truly shines. What might outwardly
appear as a rather contrived tale of a squire seeking to become a knight is in reality a complex, multi-layered and
highly innovative tale combining Martin's usual stylistic balance of action and character. The reader can't help but
care about Dunk, Egg and Tanselle, and all are complex, well-developed characters complete with their many foibles and
moral ambiguities. The Hedge Knight, in terms of the writing alone is well worth picking up, but the brilliant
narrative is also complemented by the gorgeous artwork of Mike S. Miller and the vibrant colouring job by Team Kandora. In
both instances the quality of the visual work is truly impressive. Miller's art in particular is almost cinematic in
scope, shifting between kinetic action sequences and more subdued character driven moments. It is this calibre of artwork
and writing that elevates the work into a truly unique artistic and literary experience.
In the end The Hedge Knight is well worth picking up and remains a stunning example of both the visual and literary
potential of the comic book medium. With the fourth book in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire nearing completion,
and fans eagerly clamoring for more, The Hedge Knight offers a wonderful opportunity for both new readers and
fans alike to take a glimpse into the brilliant and vibrant world that is George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
Adam Volk may or may not be a zombie cyborg. He is also an editor with EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing (www.edgewebsite.com), a freelance writer, a comic book creator and a regular reviewer for the Silver Bullet Comic Books website (www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com.). |
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