The Hedge Knight

    (Image, 2003-2004)
™ and © Image Comics, Inc.

George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire has attracted a vast legion of fans, some of whom compare his work to that of the genre’s icons. Now, his short story “The Hedge Knight” has been adapted to comics for Image.

“The Hedge Knight” is set a century before the books, in the fantasy world of Westeros, where life is short and the winters are long. The story follows Dunk, a would-be knight, and Egg, a boy who forces himself upon Dunk as his squire. Dunk travels to the great tournament at Ashford, but, as a hedge knight (a self-made traveling knight, without a house or permanent patron), he struggles with even the routine tasks of outfitting himself and finding a place to sleep. In short, he’s a classic underdog.

Martin’s world comes alive in Hedge Knight, and fans of the novels will delight in seeing Westeros captured graphically. The tournament grounds feature a number of house crests, which should be recognizable by fans, and the medieval style of speech can make the reader think he’s reading one of the novels.

If there’s a flaw, it’s the pacing. Highlights of the second issue are Dunk selling his horse, buying his armor, and interacting with more genteel knights. Such details are fine in a 1,000-page book, but a 22-page comic book needs to move along a bit more quickly. Still, fans of the novels should check out The Hedge Knight, if only to truly see Westeros for the first time.

— Jason Winter
Jump to issue:
  • 1/A
    #1 Variation A
    Aug 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    1 copy for $46.98
  • 2/A
    #2 Variation A
    Cover A by Mike S. Miller
    Sep 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
    1 copy for $25.00
  • 2/B
    #2 Variation B
    Foil cover B lettering
    Sep 2003
    Cover: $5.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    3 copies from $4.50
  • 3/A
    #3 Variation A
    Helmeted figure on Cover A by Mike S. Miller
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    2 copies from $15.50
  • 3/B
    #3 Variation B
    Cover B by Mike S. Miller
    Oct 2003
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    2 copies from $21.95
  • 4
    #4
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
    Devil’s Due begins publishing
    2 copies from $12.95
  • 4/A
    #4 Variation A
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    Devil’s Due begins publishing
    1 copy for $15.95
  • 5
    #5
    Mar 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
    2 copies from $14.00
  • 5/A
    #5 Variation A
    Alternate Cover A
    Mar 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    3 copies from $36.98
  • 6
    #6
    Hedge Knight diptych cover, 1/2
    Apr 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    1 copy for $31.90
  • 6/A
    #6 Variation A
    Hedge Knight diptych Cover A, 2/2
    Apr 2004
    Cover: $2.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
    3 copies from $20.00
  • CS 1
    Collector's Set #1
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $8.95
    W: George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery  ·  A: Mike S. Miller
    Collects Issues #1-3
    2 copies from $8.50