Review by C.J. Bunce
First seen in comics form in 1984 by Marvel Comics, Frank Herbert’s Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 2–Muad’Dib sees familiar science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson continuing his adaptation of Herbert’s 1965 work with his co-author from 14 Dune follow-on novels, Brian Herbert, Frank’s son. We reviewed the first part way back in 2020 here at borg. The trilogy’s finale, The Prophet, is available for pre-order now here at Amazon. Muad’Dib is a title given to series star Paul Atreides, signaling his chosen status as prophetic savior of his people, and this installment follows Paul and his mother across their desert journey to find the Fremen peoples.
The graphic novel is not a tie-in to the 2020s movies, but an attempt to re-create the original novel in visual form. The second book in the graphic novel adaptation is even lighter on the action, consistent with Herbert’s original. Spanish artists Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín avoid–as much as possible–the “talking head” panels that typically burden political dramas, taking advantage of color and crisp, easily identifiable characters. But Herbert’s story is so explanatory that it’s unavoidable in Part 2.
As with the first volume, artists Allén and Martín adhere to Frank Herbert’s novel, translating the science fiction/fantasy elements scene for scene in a very deliberate manner, accompanied by an expressionistic cover–part of a a triptych–by the great Bill Sienkiewicz.
This installment follows Paul Atreides on a difficult part of the journey, one that makes Denis Villeneuve’s second film installment similarly difficult to translate to audiences. Diehard Herbert fans will appreciate the detail and nuances in this middle act, but the story slogs. Lady Jessica’s story is the most interesting piece–her role and arc is clearer here than you’ll find in Villeneuve’s film.
The first volume has more action visuals to break up the explanatory material, and there are far fewer moments like that here. The artists make efforts to shift the story with colors and shadows, and it does break up the narrative into more bite-size pieces. Some of the elements may remind readers of Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières’s 1960s sci-fi tales of Valerian and Laureline, although this is less science fiction and more space fantasy.
For good and bad, Muad’Dib is a faithful continuation of Frank Herbert’s story, a books fans of the novels will appreciate. Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 2–Muad’Dib is available from Abrams here at Amazon.
Catch up on the original Herbert novel here and the original David Lynch cult hit film from 1984 starring Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Brad Dourif, Linda Hunt, Everett McGill, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Sean Young, Alicia Witt, Dean Stockwell, and Max Von Sydow here. A spin-off television series is in the works, a prequel series titled Dune: The Sisterhood, being prepared for Max. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies are now streaming on Max.
