School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-A dramatic retelling of King Arthur's life, death, and beyond. With centuries of divergent, often contradictory, story lines to pull from, Lee was able to pick and choose those aspects of Arthurian legend that would best suit his vision. The final product emphasizes the magical elements of the tale, placing Arthur within a grand scheme of warring fairy factions. The artwork is certainly up to the task of recounting these events. In particular, the artist's use of color does a fantastic job of creating different moods. The work isn't perfect, however. The dialogue is written in a faux archaic style that lapses occasionally into anachronism; whatever your take on Arthur's historicity, it's doubtful that Lancelot would reply to a question with a Keanu Reeves-esque "Totally." The many characters and plotlines are often crammed together, giving short shrift to some elements. Still, this is a solid work, and one that will attract new readers to a classic story.-Douglas P. Davey, Halton Hills Public Library, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Veteran comic writer Lee takes on the task of crafting a fresh take on the Arthurian legends by letting the character tell his story. Arthur Pendragon begins his tale as the son of a betrayed king, forced to grow up in obscurity until pulling a magic sword from a stone and reclaiming his title. Yet this is only where his challenges begin, as the king must deal with the wrath of his vengeful sorceress sister, Morgana; the machinations of the barbarian Ulric; and the betrayal of his closest friend. Lee's work is faithful to the original legend without being inaccessible or boring. The effectiveness of the work stems from its character-driven plot, which propels the story without the sort of plot contrivances myths often employ. Hart's artwork also focuses more on character than spectacle. Ages 10-up. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In graphic novel form, this volume presents the story of King Arthur, from the events leading to his birth through his final battle with Mordred. Many of the stories and characters from the Arthur mythos are included (not always in familiar form). The art uses color and shadow to good effect in depicting the sometimes gritty, sometimes mystical realm of Arthurian legend. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The author of Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood (2009) proves once again that he's a master of graphic-novel adaptations. Teaming up with illustrator and colorist Hart, his partner for the previous title, Lee negotiates the terrain of medieval legend with finesse, rendering it easily accessible for a new generation of readers. They touch on it all here: the sword in the stone, King Arthur and his round table, the love affair of Lancelot and Guinevere. The magical stylings of Merlin and Morgana are also explored, making for one of the more interesting story lines in a book of many. The quiet exposition of tangled court scheming as well as careful introductions of an overly-vowelled cast of characters break down intricate plotlines for young readers unlikely to be familiar with much of the story's content. The author's striking, urgent prose sets the pace of the action, but it's Hart that truly shines here. The artist's use of color guides the reader through the heights and valleys of action and emotion subtly, while his paneling is varied and interestingly designed, always providing the reader with a fresh perspective of the scene. Masterful adaptation of medieval material. (Graphic fantasy. 12 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In an age overflowing with comics adaptations of just about every canonical classic out there, it's a puzzler why there aren't a slew of Arthurian graphic novels exploring the timeless legend of magic, adventure, chivalry, and betrayal. Well, the creative team behind Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood (2009) have now authoritatively filled that gap. Taking cues from a wide range of familiar sources, they construct a coherent narrative in which Arthur proves himself by pulling the famous sword from the stone, defeats a villainous pretender to the throne, and unites his kingdom. But instead of spinning off into the exploits of the Round Table, the focus shifts primarily to the vengeance quest of Arthur's half-sister enchantress, Morgana, whose dark-faerie machinations impact everything from Lancelot and Guinevere's betrayal to Arthur's eventual fall. Hart captures it all with intense, shadow- and light-filled artwork, bringing an exciting, gritty visualization to the book's balance of wizardry, court intrigue, gruff romance, and loads of sword-swinging action.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist