R. A. Salvatore once opined to me that today's readers grew up predominantly with the visual medium of television. Accustomed to quick action and short narratives, they don't need the amount of detail that J. R. R. Tolkien invested in his novels.
If so, maybe that explains that why I can't bring myself to read Lord of the Rings. Believe me, I've tried, at a variety of points in my life; but no matter how (im)mature I am at the time, I just couldn't get into it. I'm not against the concept, though; like with Shakespeare, I just need the story delivered in another medium.
So combine LotR with comic books, add an acerbic wit, and what do you get? Shamus Young's The DM of the Rings, a web comic that uses stills from the live-action films to theorize what LotR would be like played as a Dungeons & Dragons game. Observe as the party is railroaded to key locations:
| Indulge in out-of-character conversations on the slopes of Mt. Cahadras … |  |
 | … Dread the coming denizens of the Mines of Moria … |
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and resolutely defend the residents of Helmsdeep. |
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This satirical narrative encompasses the entire film trilogy but focuses on Aragorn's party and their perspective on the second and third films. As a former role-player myself and current fan of the Knights of the Dinner Table comic book, I loved this unique and irreverent take on a classic tale. A couple of marathon sittings will make an enjoyable experience of its 144 strips. When you're done, go behind the scenes in Fear the Boot's interview with artist Shamus Young. You may also enjoy Darths & Droids, a similar approach to Star Wars Episode I.
(Tip of the hat to Showbits reader GeneD.)
This blog post got noticed by Star Trek author Dayton Ward. Enjoy!