Dynamite Entertainment 2016
Written by Jim Butcher & Mark Powers
Illustrated by Carlos Gomez
Coloured by Mohan
Lettered by Bill Tortolini
Trickster demigod Puck has cut a swath of paranoia and destruction through Chicago, setting the White Court of Vampires against the Mob against the Police. If Puck is to be defeated, Harry Dresden is going to have to convince these three factions to work together. But with each sensing a chance to cripple their opponents, is this even possible?
Well I have to say that these original stories set between the novels are among the most anticipated stories I read. Since it takes time between novels these little vignette stories serve to sate the appetite nicely while waiting for a new novel. Plus it’s always nice to see things as they were and revisit characters that are no longer around. It doesn’t hurt that Mark works with Jim in creating these stories so that the characterisation is spot on for that time period.
I like the idea behind the Trickster God Puck. He’s from the Nevernever and he’s pretty darn powerful as we’ve seen already. I mean he’s too much for Harry to handle alone and even his godmother so that alone makes him one of those formidable opponents that come along and have to have a creative solution to his banishment. Not all the Nevernever creatures are easily killed and especially one as powerful as Puck. His personality here and the fact that he’s making all the factions of Chicago go after one another for the sheer enjoyment of it is the kind of fun that drives Harry mad.
There’s a real question here that needs answering though and Puck wouldn’t have just come to Chicago on his own he needed a reason and a direction pointed to him. So which one of the Queens is responsible for wanting to see this kind of chaos reign and quite possibly test Harry and the strength of the different factions of Chicago.
The interiors here are pretty amazing in themselves as well. I love the fact that through what Carlos and Mohan do here you can read the story without words. It’s so strong that you can actually see what’s being said and that’s the ultimate accomplishment of a great art team. The flow through the page layouts with the use of angles, perspective and backgrounds really flesh this out the story incredibly well. The pops of colour and shading used help make moments really stand out as well.
Harry Dresden is one of the most original, fun and unique characters in modern literature and it’s always an entertaining read.