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
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  NotesWriterArtist
#1

August, 2003
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $27.00 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#1 Variation A (Alternate Cover A by Michael W. Kaluta)

August, 2003
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $39.98 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
#2 Variation A (Cover A by Mike S. Miller)

September, 2003
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $9.98 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
#2 Variation B (Foil cover B lettering)

September, 2003
Cover Price: $5.95
4 copies available from $4.50 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#3 Variation A (Helmeted figure on Cover A by Mike S. Miller)

October, 2003
Cover Price: $2.95
3 copies available from $14.98 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#3 Variation B (Cover B by Mike S. Miller)

October, 2003
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $14.98 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#4

February, 2004
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $12.95 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
#4 Variation A

February, 2004
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $7.99 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#5

March, 2004
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $12.99 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
#5 Variation A (Alternate Cover A)

March, 2004
Cover Price: $2.95
3 copies available from $39.95 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#6 (Hedge Knight diptych cover, 1/2)

April, 2004
Cover Price: $2.95
2 copies available from $29.99 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller
#6 Variation A (Hedge Knight diptych Cover A, 2/2)

April, 2004
Cover Price: $2.95
3 copies available from $20.00 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller, Mike Crowell
Collector's Set #1

February, 2004
Cover Price: $8.95
2 copies available from $8.50 		George R.R. Martin, Ben AveryMike S. Miller