Graphic Novel Review: Storm Born Issues 1 and 2 by Richelle Mead

Dark Swan - Storm Born Volumes 1&2
~Richelle Mead

From Goodreads:
Richelle Mead's Dark Swan (Storm Born) Graphic Novel will be out on the bookshelves in September of this year. For those interested in getting the comic issues, the first issue will be out on May 18th.

Description:
Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she’s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures.  When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld’s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…

When I accepted the invitation to review the Storm Born graphic novel, I hadn't read the book yet.  It's been sitting on my TBR shelf for ages, and other things kept coming up.  I decided I didn't want to review the graphic novel without reading the book first.  I ended up loving the book (4 stars) and as soon as I finished I went to my computer and pulled up the first comic issue.

A very brief book synopsis:  Eugenie is a shaman - she battles fairies (gentry) and spirits and either sends them back to the Otherworld or into the land of death.  She gets a call from a man whose sister has been taken into the Otherworld, and Eugenie agrees to try and go get her.  In her journey she meets many fairies, a fairy king, and other spirits/beings.  She learns things about herself and her family she never would have dreamed of, and in addition to trying to save the girl she ends up on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

Now, on to the comics:
It's obvious the writers and illustrators read the book and paid attention; Eugenie's tattoos and jewelry (which are important in the book) are there, the characters fit the descriptions, and the story follows the book closely.  I like the artwork, and they do a good job of showing the reader what's going on. 

As a fan, I was taken by the first page and enjoyed the whole thing:  the first issue has most of the set-up to the eventual storyline and Eugenie has just met a potential love-interest.  That being said, I don't know if there was enough going on that I would have been interested in continuing the series if I hadn't read the book already.  By the second issue, however, things started to get more interesting and I think even people who haven't read the book will want the story to keep going; I know I did!

I would say to Dark Swan fans - if you like graphic novels, you'll love this, and to comic fans who haven't read the Eugenie books, keep with it - you'll be happy you did.
 
I cannot wait to for the next two issues: Issue 3 will be released in July, and Issue 4 in August:

I will definitely be buying the hardcover when it comes out on September 20.

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Here's a great link to an MTV interview with Richelle Mead - see how she feels about people saying the main character looks like her, lol.

My Rating:

These comics were provided to me by the pubisher in exchange for an honest review.