Publisher: Boom! Stuidios
Writers: Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
Illustrator: Dev Pramanik
Colors: Alex Guimaraes
Set in the years leading up the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Dune-which inspired the upcoming feature film from Legendary Pictures- DUNE: HOUSE ATREIDES transports readers to the far future on the desert planet Arrakis where Pardot Kynes seeks its secrets. Meanwhile, a violent coup is planned by the son of Emperor Elrood; an eight-year-old slave Duncan Idaho seeks to escape his cruel masters; and a young man named Leto Atreides begins a fateful journey. These unlikely souls are drawn together first as renegades and then as something more, as they discover their true fate – to change the very shape of history!
Dune is a bit of a mystery to me. I’m a big fan of the original novel, the Syfy series from almost 20-years ago, and the cheesy 80s David Lynch film. The original novel is seen as one of the penultimate works of science fiction, yet many of the young nerd I talk to today have never even heard of it. It to the point where I almost want to tell the young whipper-snappers to get off my lawn and turn their music down…..almost. All that was set to change this December with Legendary Pictures and Denis Villeneuve big screen adaptation, but COVID has other plans as the film has been delayed for almost a year. Even with the delay in the film, the marketing machine is still full steam ahead as we get Dune merch and tie-ins
Open with Boom! Studios new comic is written by Kevin J Anderson adaptation of Brian Herbert’s (son of Dune creator Frank Herbert) 1999 prequel novel that he wrote based on his father’s notes.
The plot line for this tale is set in the years leading up to the source novel and transports readers to the far future to the desert planet Arrakis, where famous planetologist, Pardot Kynes, is recruited to study the hostile alien desert planet. Meanwhile, the ruthless Barron Vladimir Harkonnen has been given control of Arrakis with strict orders to increase the collection and refinement of the spice. A substance used for everything from substance, to medicine, to creating interstellar travel. Elsewhere, a political coup is plotted by Prince Shaddam, Emperor Elrood’s son and a young Leto Atreides starts his fateful journey toward the royal throne. Little to these men know their houses are destined to be intertwined and will determine the fate of not just Dune, but the entire galaxy.
Overall this is a very strong first issue of the overall 12-issue arc. Anderson’s words flow with the “feel” of Dune. Even the inner thoughts of the characters is present through thought boxes, but not in an annoying way like the whispers dialog from the Lynch film. Pramanik’s visualizations pull more from the source material than from any of the big or small screen adaptations. This gives both an authentic and new look at the world of Dune.
In the end, if you’re an existing Dune fan this is already on your radar and headed to your pullbox. If you’re new to the Dune franchise, as many young people are, I suggest you pick this up and get some background on these characters before you, eventually, see the new film
Score: 10/13
