The Game Of Thrones community is still reeling from the conclusion of the final season. While HBO’s House Of The Dragon might have redeemed the franchise and brought people back on board, it’s obvious that the show simply didn’t end how anyone would have expected based on years of detailed storytelling. That may partially be down to the fact that the series strayed so far from the books throughout its run. Thrones fans are looking to similar video games and spinoff books to get a taste of the fantasy world, but there is a comic run that many are overlooking.
George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire saga is being adapted to the comic book medium. So far, adaptations of Game Of Thrones and A Clash Of Kings have been released from Dynamite Entertainment. Presumably, the rest of the series will get the same treatment, and it’s a great time for audiences to jump on board — especially if they were unhappy with the depiction of Westeros in the HBO series. The promising runs have been collected into graphic novels, which prove themselves to be worthy of the fanbase’s attention.
The Game of Thrones Show Strayed Far From The ASOIAF Books
Fans of the Song of Ice and Fire series will be well aware that the series strayed very far away from the books. While the show started as a relatively faithful adaptation, with tweaks to ensure it fits within the constraints of TV, the showrunners went on to make decisions that completely disregarded Thrones lore. It’s safe to say that this all had a knock-on effect on the finale. George R.R. Martin has yet to release the final novel of the series, and it’s unclear how the author intended the saga to be concluded. That was a major factor in the failure of Game Of Thrones‘ final season, but there are other elements at play here.
Since Thrones had ignored crucial prophecies, removed key characters, and left out notable arcs from the novels, Martin’s plans for the conclusion wouldn’t work the same way on the screen as it may in the books. That’s really frustrating for readers, who would love to experience the story in an accurate way in a visual medium. Perhaps the show will one day be remade as Hollywood seems to be in the habit of doing. But right now, Dynamite Entertainment is providing the answer, creating a more accurate depiction of the novels that could lead to a more satisfying finale than the shows.
The Comics Have Become A Faithful Adaptation
At the very least, the comics have become an excellent way to experience George R.R. Martin’s amazing storytelling in a completely unique way. While the never-ending array of spinoff series continues their development, Dynamite Entertainment has been quietly releasing tremendous adaptations from talented creators. The first comic run of Game Of Thrones ran between 2011 and 2014 and consisted of 24 issues. It was worked on by writer Daniel Abraham, artist Tommy Patterson, letterer Marshall Dillion, and colorist Ivan Nunes. The follow-up, A Clash Of Kings, ran from 2017 to 2021 and consisted of 32 issues. The team included writer Landry Walker, artist Mel Rubi, letterer Marshall Dillion, and colorist Ivan Nunes. Clearly, this is a long-term project, and it will take years before the comics catch up to the show — plenty of time for George R.R. Martin to finish his books and thus give the graphic novels even more guidance.
Although the art style is perhaps not as polished as other high-profile series, and it is a frustratingly slow release schedule, the structure of the books does lend itself well to the comic book medium. The previous releases are well-paced and take Martin’s much-loved dialogue, adapting it to suitably tell the story in a streamlined way. There aren’t any glaring omissions that have been decided upon purely for the sake of it, with the comics feeling both deliberate and well-considered. Even the appearances of the characters feel like they have stepped from the book. The shows have clearly been taken into account, with the comics learning all the right lessons from them. They do not follow the beats of the HBO version, which makes for a harsh rewatch in parts, instead ensuring that they remain faithful to the original materials. Plus, it gained the stamp of approval from George R.R. Martin, who worked in an advisory capacity. The comics have found a dedicated audience because of their quality.
The Future Is Bright For The Next Runs
Some criticisms could still be levied at the comic series, most prominently the fact that it cannot be as detailed as the novels, because it doesn’t have the room to hit on every single character beat. It cannot get into the minds of Martin’s figures in quite the same way, nor can it take the time to include every killer line of dialogue. But fans should be optimistic about the future of the run if Dynamite Entertainment is to continue. Major book events like The Red Wedding are still to come, and characters like Lady Stoneheart, who never made it to the screen, should be making an appearance. Personal arcs, like Sansa Stark’s journey, will be told in their original form with characters like Jeyne Poole taken into account. And the politics of places like Dorne, which is crucial as the books develop, will excitingly get the chance to play out properly, away from the mistakes of the HBO portrayal.
Fans of Game Of Thrones, who had all their book theories as to how Season 8 of the show would play out but were disappointed with the final result, should definitely check out the comics. It’s still in its early days, and yet it is already showing the show how it should be done. With great characters like Euron Greyjoy on the horizon, the graphic novels are sure to go from strength to strength with their book-accurate foundations. The definitive version of this tale will always be George R.R. Martin’s initial works. Still, it’s hard to deny the effort put into giving the community an alternative visual display of the battles, betrayals, and feats of bravery in action.