Having never read A Game of Thrones or indeed any of Martin's fantasy novels set in that world, I wasn't sure if The Hedge Knight was going to be accessible to me, or entertaining to me. However, like R.A. Salvatore's DemonWars, another fantasy novel series that has made its way to comics, The Hedge Knight stands on its own, serving not only as an entertaining story in its own right but a good advertisement for the novels it is based on, making me wonder what I'm missing. The story starts off fairly slowly; no epic action here, and the only fights against dragons are done via puppet shows, but it's an introduction to the world and the character that is filled with interesting details, strong atmosphere and characterization and some of the best work I've seen from Miller.
Upon opening this book, I was greeted by the sight of a young squire burying his lord, and it reminded me of the opening of the popcorn joust movie A Knight's Tale. The story and tone of Hedge Knight is completely different, but I find it interesting to realize that the death of a squire's knight makes an effective shortcut turning point, the equivalent of a graduation or a new job in modern continuity, serving as a signal that life is about to change. It's exciting because we're coming in right at the beginning of a phase in the character's life, and it also happens to be a perfect time for introspection and reflection, making it an ideal time for flashbacks and backstory.
The story here is most definitely fantasy, in trappings and setting if nothing else, but it earns points from me by being very readable as a modern allegory as well. Sure, the character is talking about coppers and silvers, and staying in inns and seeking is fortune in tournaments, but it's really a story about a young man seeking his fortune and starting to learn about the potential to better himself. Dunk, the squire who is the protagonist of the story, comes across as likable and good, but he's got enough uncertainty and human foibles to make him interesting. His love of good food and drink, his difficulty in deciding what to do about the ambitious stable boy and his troubled mind regarding his former master's thoughts on losing give him plenty of depth, and I like that he was neither a naive cliche or an unbelievably smart and capable natural at his new role.
Mike Miller and I may be on complete ends of the spectrum in terms of religion and politics, but he sure can draw some pretty pictures. The sense of speed and force in the joust sequences, done through clever perspective, the quiet importance placed on the "funeral" at the beginning or Dunk's decision to take up the sword and the pageantry of the tournament all come through loud and clear in the work of Miller and Cromwell. There are also some great transitions, notably from the dragon story back to the modern day, and a generally impressive level of quality in the artwork. It also seems worth noting that the coloring by Lynx Studio is bright and beautiful, reminiscent of the work of some of my favorite colorists like Paul Mounts and Jeromy Cox.
These days, the fantasy picture in comics isn't as sparse as it used to be, and so there's tougher competition out there. Hedge Knight looks like it can stand proudly amongst the sweeping, beautiful epics being told at Crossgen as well as the more character and setting-driven indies like Thieves & Kings, Bone and Castle Waiting, and fantasy fans should definitely check it out, whether you're a fan of Martin's books or haven't ever read them before.
