As of today, the whole 24 page first issue of The First Law Graphic Novel is up at www.firstlawcomic.com. You can go check it out, entirely free of charge. It is our GIFT to you ungrateful lot, and new pages will carry on being posted every monday, wednesday, and friday.
For those who’d rather not wait, though, all 22 pages of Issue 2 are also available as of now on ComiXology, and it’s a humdinger, with the appearance of the Union’s most self-obsessed young officer, Jezal dan Luthar, not to mention his reluctant fencing partner Collem West and the latter’s unconventional sister Ardee. Meanwhile Logen wanders into the sort of trouble you can only get out of with a blade, and Inquisitor Glokta shows the results that can be achieved with a cleaver, a set of fingers, and the will. The art and colours I feel just keep getting better. Both I and Collem West urge you to contribute to this righteous cause.
Go on, he could do with cheering up, he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders. As well as cinematic-style guided view, ComiXology will also provide you with a bonus package of inks and pencils. Incidentally, it looks as if a physical collection of the first four issues should be available around end of August, but more on that as I have it. I’ll also be looking at the development of some of the pages from script, to pencils, to inks, to colours, over here as we go.
In the meantime, a few interviews about how this project came to be, how it’s got where it is, and where we hope it’s going:
With veteran comics writer Chuck Dixon, who’s adapting the books, plus a comment or two from me, over at Comic Book Resources. You’ll also see a few panels from the second issue in that one.
With me at Graphic Novel Reporter.
With me and Rich Young, the editor and co-ordinator of the project, over at Pipedream Comics.
Then there’s a piece with the artist, Andie Tong, over here.
A quickie at Sword and Laser.
More in-depth at NerdSpan.
18 comments so far
Loving this so far – can’t wait to meet Bayaz.
Joe,
Thanks for posting these great pages. Though in fairness if you were to just have the complete graphic novel come out I am sure I would just hand you a blank check for a copy.
Great stuff! I’m not really into graphic novells or comics, but the first issue has got me hooked. 🙂 Seriously considering getting the full second issue now. Or waiting for the printed version. Any leads on what the price tag will be, Joe?
I’m thoroughly enjoying the comic so far! Thanks Joe, Andie, Chuck, Rich and everyone else involved with it.
I hope the printed version will be available in New Zealand.
These character don’t look like I imagined them!!!!!
Just kidding. Love it. Thank you!
*Insert generic moaning message about someone’s appearance*
Love the look of the city, exactly how I imagined it.
I think Glokta looks better this issue. Or maybe I’ve just gotten used to him now.
And Ardee is smokin’, just as she should be.
Have to say it has been a joy to read so far and you will be pleased to hear I am investing properly for the full read…
Wow, Ardee is hot!
Now I’m wondering whether I’ll be subjected to an onslaught of complaints about Ardee being more hot than she is in the books.
Somehow I doubt it.
” The main villain is Bethod, the power-hungry Northern king who wants to take Angland from the Union”
Bethod never struck me as a villain. He had solid reasoning for his actions, and quite often, the old logen spurred him on.
Agreed bobbby. One of the most powerful parts of the trilogy was when we finally meet Bethod in laok and he tells Logen how things truly came about. Moving stuff IMO.
Having now read Issue 2 in full I just want to say what a great job has been done. it has reminded me what a great book it was and has captured the essence of the book really well. A classy job has been done of a classy book.
I can’t wait to see how they do Bremer dan Gorst.
He’s got to be a big bastard.
Hi Joe, Never read a graphic novel in my life and at 42, feeling pretty guilty about starting now! How about easing my guilt by allowing me to persuade myself that buying a hard copy of this comic, signed by the great man himself, that’d be you, is actually a great investment opportunity, that makes buying apple at 20 bucks a share look like daylight robbery. Maybe you could extend this wonderful chance of a lifetime to all your fellow dark realists who post on you wonderful blog. Just an idea.
Usually the majority of characters in graphic novels are portrayed in a “cleaned up” fashion, given how there’s always been a lack of dirt and grime about them. Never sure why that was/is…
You secretly telling us Ardee is going to be… “well proportioned” there Joe?
Colin J – Bugger Gorst, I can’t wait to see The Feared!
Greetings from Germany!
Lovin’ your literature, i own all of your books. I’ve read them a couple of times. Just starting with “first law” (Kriegsklingen in german :)) again. Just a big fan.
The graphic novel ist really great, takes me to the comic world for the first time. I really like to compare the visualizsation of these great artists with that one in my mind.
I don’t know why, but i always thought of Glokta as a bald man. 🙂