The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 1: The Gathering Storm

Beginning an unusually successful adaptation, this volume covers the first part of the book that introduced Harry Dresden, a modern wizard who’s set up shop in downtown Chicago. Unlike Hellblazer ’s John Constantine, Dresden is unambiguously heroic, cooperating with the police to solve gruesome magical murderers while also working solo as a supernatural PI. The two cases he undertakes here don’t seem related, but they both send Dresden out into the mean streets and eldritch corners of the modern world. More to the point, they let Butcher (and adapter Powers) set up a rich, quirky universe for Dresden to explore, as when he interviews a spiteful vampire madam or fights a trench coat–clad demonic assassin. Powers and artist Sayaf do a very nice job of working a lot of text—conversations and Harry’s reflections—into lively-looking pages. The action is well handled, too, especially when the climactic battle with the demon moves from inside Harry’s apartment to outdoors during a thunderstorm. The Dresden novels are already New York Times bestsellers, and this comic looks like another winner. (June)