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Law of the Desert Born
The first graphic novel adaptation of the work of master storyteller Louis L’Amour is a dynamic tale of the Old West that explores the borderlands of loyalty and betrayal with the emotional grittiness of a noir thriller.
New Mexico, 1887, a land in the midst of the worst drought anyone can remember. Family histories and loyalties run deep, but when rancher Tom Forrester has his access to the Pecos River cut off by the son of his old partner, he convinces his foreman, Shad Marone, to pay Jud Bowman back for the discourtesy. Yet what starts as a simple act of petty revenge quickly spirals into a cycle of violence that no one can control.
Now Marone is on the run, pursued by a sheriff’s posse across a rugged desert landscape. Leading the chase is Jesus Lopez, a half-Mexican, half-Apache with a personal stake in bringing Shad to justice. Newly released from jail, trusted by no one, Lopez swears he’s the only man who can track Marone down. That may be true. But who will live and who will die and what price will be paid in suffering are open questions. Fate and the Jornada del Muerto desert possess a harsh justice that is all their own.
With a propulsive script from Beau L’Amour and Kathy Nolan, adapted by Charles Santino and illustrated in bold black-and-white by Thomas Yeates, Law of the Desert Born captures the dust and blood of Louis L’Amour’s West—a world where the difference between a hero and a villain can be as wide as the gap between an act of kindness or brutality or as narrow as a misspoken word.
Praise for Law of the Desert Born
“This actually may be the story’s ideal form, since the author’s son Beau came to realize that the core of the tale was the tense relationship between [Marone] and Lopez. . . . The graphic novel version provides room to develop this theme. Yeates’s black-and-white depiction of the rugged landscape and the hard-bitten characters is superb. The result is stunning and richly textured.”—Publishers Weekly
New Mexico, 1887, a land in the midst of the worst drought anyone can remember. Family histories and loyalties run deep, but when rancher Tom Forrester has his access to the Pecos River cut off by the son of his old partner, he convinces his foreman, Shad Marone, to pay Jud Bowman back for the discourtesy. Yet what starts as a simple act of petty revenge quickly spirals into a cycle of violence that no one can control.
Now Marone is on the run, pursued by a sheriff’s posse across a rugged desert landscape. Leading the chase is Jesus Lopez, a half-Mexican, half-Apache with a personal stake in bringing Shad to justice. Newly released from jail, trusted by no one, Lopez swears he’s the only man who can track Marone down. That may be true. But who will live and who will die and what price will be paid in suffering are open questions. Fate and the Jornada del Muerto desert possess a harsh justice that is all their own.
With a propulsive script from Beau L’Amour and Kathy Nolan, adapted by Charles Santino and illustrated in bold black-and-white by Thomas Yeates, Law of the Desert Born captures the dust and blood of Louis L’Amour’s West—a world where the difference between a hero and a villain can be as wide as the gap between an act of kindness or brutality or as narrow as a misspoken word.
Praise for Law of the Desert Born
“This actually may be the story’s ideal form, since the author’s son Beau came to realize that the core of the tale was the tense relationship between [Marone] and Lopez. . . . The graphic novel version provides room to develop this theme. Yeates’s black-and-white depiction of the rugged landscape and the hard-bitten characters is superb. The result is stunning and richly textured.”—Publishers Weekly
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2013
32 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Beau L'Amour
13 books35 followersBEAU L’AMOUR is the son of novelist Louis L'Amour. Beau grew up among the writers, actors, beatniks, Apache Indians, FBI agents, and members of the Hollywood Ten who were the denizens of his West Hollywood neighborhood and his parents’ friends. He graduated from California Institute of the Arts. Over the years, L’Amour has written and produced a series of more than sixty audio dramas and worked in the radio and magazine business, then as a screenwriter and television producer. In the world of book publishing, he has been an art director, literary editor, and ghost writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 8, 2013
I love myself a good western but never seem to read them much anymore. I absolutely loved this atypical form of the classic western. Based on a short story set in the 1880's, the good guy and the bad guy are hard to differentiate. The story starts off with a crime and the Sheriff and his posse going after the men, but quite soon all is not as it seems as the tale is told backwards and justice turns to vengeance. The ending is certainly a wild west ideal of redemption and it leaves the reader to mull over, or debate with others, just who was betrayed the most and who actually was in the wrong. Incredible black and white art with intricately detailed background and emotional close-ups of facial features especially shown in the eyes. A masterpiece both in story and art that complements the mood. Impressive!
November 26, 2013
Law of the Desert Born is a graphic novel adaptation of the story by Louis L'Amour. A murder in a western town brings out a posse, but there may be more to the story than there appears.
The story opens with Marone riding into town and shooting a man in what appears to be cold blood. The town sheriff gets a posse together, including a jailed man named Lopez, to track him down. Marone seems to always be one step ahead, but Lopez is a good tracker and has history with Marone, which is told in flashbacks. The story narrows the posse down until it's only a couple people fighting it out in a harsh desert environment.
The graphic novel adaptation is by Charles Santino from a script by Beau L'Amour and Katherine Nolan and is based on the famous short story by Louis L'Amour. The art by Thomas Yeates is black and white and reminds me of old western films from when I was a kid. Included with the graphic novel is a great essay about the story behind the story. It includes the history of the story and the iterations it's had. There is also biographical information about Louis L'Amour. I really enjoyed it.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Random House and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this fine graphic novel.
The story opens with Marone riding into town and shooting a man in what appears to be cold blood. The town sheriff gets a posse together, including a jailed man named Lopez, to track him down. Marone seems to always be one step ahead, but Lopez is a good tracker and has history with Marone, which is told in flashbacks. The story narrows the posse down until it's only a couple people fighting it out in a harsh desert environment.
The graphic novel adaptation is by Charles Santino from a script by Beau L'Amour and Katherine Nolan and is based on the famous short story by Louis L'Amour. The art by Thomas Yeates is black and white and reminds me of old western films from when I was a kid. Included with the graphic novel is a great essay about the story behind the story. It includes the history of the story and the iterations it's had. There is also biographical information about Louis L'Amour. I really enjoyed it.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Random House and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this fine graphic novel.
July 24, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Law of the Desert Born is a beautifully illustrated retelling of one of L'Amour's short stories - based more upon an audio version by L'amour's son Beau and Katherine Nolan. This is the first graphic novelization of a L'Amour novel and the attention to detail really shows.
The story is set in 1887, New Mexico territory. A pervasive drought in an already dry area means there is very little grassland left for cattle. Cattle Rancher Tom Forrester was allowing his cattle to graze on a neighbor's land next to their river - a rare grassy area. But the son of that neighbor (whose father was Forrester's good friend before he died) feels there's not enough grass for his cattle as well. So he puts up a fence and a feud ensues. What starts as a simple act of revenge against the neighbor spirals into two murders. Forrester's cattlemen, Shad Marone and Jesus Lopez, find themselves on opposite sides of a posse. Marone's on the run, Lopez is leading the chase to find him, and the New Mexico countryside is their battleground.
The story changed from the original novel by being more of a study on how no one is wholly good or bad. More back story was given to the characters and quite a few ironies were born subsequently. As a result, the short story is fleshed out and a bit of L'amour's life is interjected as well since the posse chase was based upon a memoir by L'Amour when he traveled the area as a younger man.
To say the artwork is breathtaking would be an understatement. This is one of the most beautifully illustrated black and white graphic novels I've read in a long time. The panels are clean and the artist/authors were judicious in avoiding making the story too wordy. Surprisingly so considering this came from an audio version.
This is a new way to enjoy L'Amour's work. Not a retread of the short story but a new perspective that is interesting, fresh, full of dimension, but still paying homage to the original.
Received as an arc from the publisher.
January 31, 2024
Un western en el molde clásico adaptando un relato a partir de un guion cinematográfico no filmado. La adaptación incluye cambios sustanciales respecto al cuento de L'Amour (Aunque el tono no deja de recordar a su estilo) que le dan un tono trágico que hace que la historia gane, además de desarrollar sustancialmente los personajes (Especialmente los dos protagonistas: Marone y López) La trama es entretenida y tiene buenos momentos de tensión pero lo que más destaca del libro en mi opinión, es el espectacular trabajo de Yeates con un ritmo y una narrativa prodigiosa (aparte de lo que me gusta su estilo)
October 15, 2013
Set in New Mexico in the year 1887, this adaptation of an early Louis L'Amour western opens with a cold-blooded murder. As the culprit is chased down by a posse, the story behind the murder unfolds. Unlike most westerns, this is no simple tale of good versus evil. Rather, it's a tale of drought and rustling, of betrayal and revenge, of loyalty and friendships gone wrong, and of justice and, finally, redemption. There are no good guys or bad guys here. They all have motives which, at least, to them, seem honourable. Despite or maybe because of the fact that this is a graphic novel, this story is at once nuanced and satisfying.
Written by Louis L'Amour and adapted by his son, Beau L'Amour and Kathy Nolan first for the screen and then for audio and by Charles Santino for this graphic novel, this is a beautifully written and nuanced tale of the wild west and the stunning black-and-white art work by Thomas Yates meshes perfectly with the story and brings the action and the characters to life.
At the end of the novel, Beau L'Amour talks about the progressions of this book from novel to graphic novel as well as some background on his father. Before the war, Louis wrote mysteries and thrillers, often in the noir style. This background in noir shows through in this tale in its nuances and moral ambiguity and this makes for a very unusual but very satisfying tale of the old west.
Written by Louis L'Amour and adapted by his son, Beau L'Amour and Kathy Nolan first for the screen and then for audio and by Charles Santino for this graphic novel, this is a beautifully written and nuanced tale of the wild west and the stunning black-and-white art work by Thomas Yates meshes perfectly with the story and brings the action and the characters to life.
At the end of the novel, Beau L'Amour talks about the progressions of this book from novel to graphic novel as well as some background on his father. Before the war, Louis wrote mysteries and thrillers, often in the noir style. This background in noir shows through in this tale in its nuances and moral ambiguity and this makes for a very unusual but very satisfying tale of the old west.
March 23, 2017
If you thumbed through the Who's Who of Western writers it wouldn't take you long to come to Louis L'Amour. Like Zane Grey, Elmore Leonard, and others, L'Amour taps into the vein of the Old West and weaves multi-layered tales of originality. Case in point, "Law of the Desert Born," which is about (technically) two men on the run - one is a rancher who shot his competition after the competition decided to rob him of cattle and a half-Mexican, half-Apache man named Lopez who was instrumental in helping steal said cattle and is now part of the search team for the rancher on the run. An interesting story overall with amazing graphic sketching/drawing.
January 29, 2024
The problem with most comic adaptions of books is that they are too truncated, that’s not an issue here as the 11 page short story, law of the desert born is flushed out to a 150 page graphic novel.
The art is by Thomas Yeates who is the current artist on Prince Valiant, so you know it is absolute quality; here though it is black and white pencil as opposites to color, the inks are very minimalistic.
It’s an enjoyable story told with a lot of flashbacks (flashbacks may or may not be able a readers particular cup of tea). And interesting tale of the old West, really wish we would see more Westerns nowadays.
Has some enjoyable background material by Beau L’amour, son of Louis, who originally penned the short story.
The art is by Thomas Yeates who is the current artist on Prince Valiant, so you know it is absolute quality; here though it is black and white pencil as opposites to color, the inks are very minimalistic.
It’s an enjoyable story told with a lot of flashbacks (flashbacks may or may not be able a readers particular cup of tea). And interesting tale of the old West, really wish we would see more Westerns nowadays.
Has some enjoyable background material by Beau L’amour, son of Louis, who originally penned the short story.
September 11, 2023
Five stars for the artwork, three stars for the story( I found a lot of it confusing) and 1 star for the annoying commentary by Beau L'amour.
November 16, 2013
***I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for a fair and honest review***
Louis L'Amour is without a doubt, the definitive author for western fiction. His list of works is nearly endless, and there's a reason that most western fiction collections you see in libraries or bookstores are predominately consisted of L'Amour titles. When I saw that a graphic novel had been adapted from one of his stories, I found it kind of strange but interesting as well. It's not the kind of story that a typical graphic novel reader would pick up and read, but more and more we are finding that some of the timeless fictional stories are being converted into graphic novel form for fans old and new to enjoy.
I would like to start by saying I'm not a huge fan of western fiction in any of its forms, but recently I have started to have an appreciation for newer western films that stick to classic western styles. This is the first time I've ever read anything western, and I think this was a good way to start. Lopez is a great character, and his story told throughout the book is the driving force behind its greatness. His association with other characters in the book makes him the main protagonist, in my eyes, and it causes you to look at everyone else with a careful eye because of Lopez's apparent wisdom. He seems to know more than the rest of the characters in the book, which in turns exudes confident and wholesome qualities about a character that maybe 40 years ago would have been the one to have watched with a careful eye.
The story is superbly crafted, told in "present day" with flashbacks scattered throughout. On the first read through, I found it kind of complicated with the flashbacks mixed in throughout. Part of me wishes the story could have been more linear, but it may have taken away from the final impact of the story. I think I would have been able to follow the plot better had it been straight through the first time around, but the use of these flashbacks helps to further the emotional impact of the story and delay the final punch until the end of the book. I think a little more background on Marone before the chase begins would have been neat, but it wasn't necessary in telling this story.
The thing I liked most about this book is the art. Usually, black and white illustration in graphic novels is not my favorite, but there are stories that should only be told in black and white. This is one of those stories, being that it takes place in a western setting and most stories like this told in film were during the black and white era of motion pictures. Westerns are no longer, and haven't been for awhile, the most popular genre of film, but it only seems appropriate to tell a story like this in shades of gray. The shading and the art on each page was breathtaking, and I haven't been this impressed with black and white in a long time. It suits the book really well. The only problem I had here is that sometimes it was hard to tell which character was which on the page, or who was on the page to begin with. When everyone and their father wears cowboys hats, has a horse, and wears the same style clothes, it's hard to tell who is who.
Other than the few minor annoyances, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to mostly adult graphic novel readers. The combination of character illustration issues, and the flashbacks threw me for a loop at first, but with a more studious second read I found it to be a quality graphic novel. I would especially recommend this to an older crowd, as I've already passed this along to older family members who are fans of the western genre. I would definitely be interested to see if more of L'Amour's work shows up in graphic novel form, and I'd hope that the illustrative duties would be taken care of just as perfectly as they were here. The book is hefty, and while large, it enables the art more room to pop off the page and display Thomas Yeates excellent black and white illustrations. A lot of credit goes to the team that brought this book to life for a new generation, and possibly a younger audience. 3.5 stars.
Originally posted at sixthreezy at the movies & more!
Louis L'Amour is without a doubt, the definitive author for western fiction. His list of works is nearly endless, and there's a reason that most western fiction collections you see in libraries or bookstores are predominately consisted of L'Amour titles. When I saw that a graphic novel had been adapted from one of his stories, I found it kind of strange but interesting as well. It's not the kind of story that a typical graphic novel reader would pick up and read, but more and more we are finding that some of the timeless fictional stories are being converted into graphic novel form for fans old and new to enjoy.
I would like to start by saying I'm not a huge fan of western fiction in any of its forms, but recently I have started to have an appreciation for newer western films that stick to classic western styles. This is the first time I've ever read anything western, and I think this was a good way to start. Lopez is a great character, and his story told throughout the book is the driving force behind its greatness. His association with other characters in the book makes him the main protagonist, in my eyes, and it causes you to look at everyone else with a careful eye because of Lopez's apparent wisdom. He seems to know more than the rest of the characters in the book, which in turns exudes confident and wholesome qualities about a character that maybe 40 years ago would have been the one to have watched with a careful eye.
The story is superbly crafted, told in "present day" with flashbacks scattered throughout. On the first read through, I found it kind of complicated with the flashbacks mixed in throughout. Part of me wishes the story could have been more linear, but it may have taken away from the final impact of the story. I think I would have been able to follow the plot better had it been straight through the first time around, but the use of these flashbacks helps to further the emotional impact of the story and delay the final punch until the end of the book. I think a little more background on Marone before the chase begins would have been neat, but it wasn't necessary in telling this story.
The thing I liked most about this book is the art. Usually, black and white illustration in graphic novels is not my favorite, but there are stories that should only be told in black and white. This is one of those stories, being that it takes place in a western setting and most stories like this told in film were during the black and white era of motion pictures. Westerns are no longer, and haven't been for awhile, the most popular genre of film, but it only seems appropriate to tell a story like this in shades of gray. The shading and the art on each page was breathtaking, and I haven't been this impressed with black and white in a long time. It suits the book really well. The only problem I had here is that sometimes it was hard to tell which character was which on the page, or who was on the page to begin with. When everyone and their father wears cowboys hats, has a horse, and wears the same style clothes, it's hard to tell who is who.
Other than the few minor annoyances, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to mostly adult graphic novel readers. The combination of character illustration issues, and the flashbacks threw me for a loop at first, but with a more studious second read I found it to be a quality graphic novel. I would especially recommend this to an older crowd, as I've already passed this along to older family members who are fans of the western genre. I would definitely be interested to see if more of L'Amour's work shows up in graphic novel form, and I'd hope that the illustrative duties would be taken care of just as perfectly as they were here. The book is hefty, and while large, it enables the art more room to pop off the page and display Thomas Yeates excellent black and white illustrations. A lot of credit goes to the team that brought this book to life for a new generation, and possibly a younger audience. 3.5 stars.
Originally posted at sixthreezy at the movies & more!
November 2, 2023
A Louis L'Amour Western turned into a graphic novel. Very well done drawings.
February 11, 2024
Law of the Desert Born takes a very short story and adapts it to an expanded 160 pages. While a thrilling classical Western, it is dragged down a bit by some oddly paced flashbacks.
In the late 1800s, a dispute between two cattle ranchers culminates with one murdering the other. What follows is a chase across the desert as an eclectic posse of men try to round him up. Shad Marone will have to pull every trick he knows to evade the Sherriff and his men. Because a half-Apache, half-Mexican ranch hand who worked for Maroe named Lopez is helping them track him. I do like the dynamics between characters at play in this novel. Thomas Yeates' black and white art style lends itself wonderfully to a Western. Detailed, atmospheric, and feels like right.
Despite a few pacing issues, Law of the Desert Born delivers on its promise of a Louis L'Amor adaptation. And I say that as someone who isn't overly fond of the Western genre. 4 out of 5 stars.
In the late 1800s, a dispute between two cattle ranchers culminates with one murdering the other. What follows is a chase across the desert as an eclectic posse of men try to round him up. Shad Marone will have to pull every trick he knows to evade the Sherriff and his men. Because a half-Apache, half-Mexican ranch hand who worked for Maroe named Lopez is helping them track him. I do like the dynamics between characters at play in this novel. Thomas Yeates' black and white art style lends itself wonderfully to a Western. Detailed, atmospheric, and feels like right.
Despite a few pacing issues, Law of the Desert Born delivers on its promise of a Louis L'Amor adaptation. And I say that as someone who isn't overly fond of the Western genre. 4 out of 5 stars.
December 29, 2025
Tom Yeates' art is perfect, as usual. Really enjoyed Beau L'Amour's story on the book came about as a short story, radio program, movie script and finally graphic novel.
three new things i learned - Tom Yeates is from Sacto which explains why he lives in Nor Cal, L'Amour is a fancy spelling of the family name and Louis L"Amour didn't start writing westerns until after WW2, i'd assumed he was writing them in the 20s.
three new things i learned - Tom Yeates is from Sacto which explains why he lives in Nor Cal, L'Amour is a fancy spelling of the family name and Louis L"Amour didn't start writing westerns until after WW2, i'd assumed he was writing them in the 20s.
December 29, 2024
Just alright. Nothing bad but didn’t blow my socks off. A typical gritty western full of honor, duty and integrity (or lack thereof). One man is out to change the course of his life - another is working to find his freedom. I did love the theatrical adaption!
May 15, 2025
It's not a typical Louis L'Amour book!
Part of the problem for me was getting used to the page scrolling and trying to see what the bubbles of script were saying. It was a quick read, and it was by Louis L'Amour, but other than that I didn't care for it.
Part of the problem for me was getting used to the page scrolling and trying to see what the bubbles of script were saying. It was a quick read, and it was by Louis L'Amour, but other than that I didn't care for it.
April 23, 2024
Fantastic and compelling illustrations by Thomas Yeates for this short story which includes an equally compelling commentary by Louis L'Amour's son, Beau.
February 5, 2025
A short story put into pictures. I reckon I liked it.
July 26, 2025
Well done. The black & white artwork is first rate, plus the story was a fine adaptation of the original short story.
August 5, 2025
A good departure from the typical L’Amour approach in terms of plot, with some good artwork to match.
3/5.
3/5.
April 20, 2026
A cattle war, Cattle thieves, bar fights, chase across the desert.
Greed, vengeance, revenge, and hell pay.
A hell of a good western.
What can I say… I love Louis L’Amour’s writings.
Greed, vengeance, revenge, and hell pay.
A hell of a good western.
What can I say… I love Louis L’Amour’s writings.
April 22, 2026
Bleak art, but acceptable on the whole. Kinds sucks to be the blind girl though.
November 11, 2023
Based on the 1946 short story by Louis L'Amour, this adaptation is beautifully illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Yeates' artwork has a raw penciled look to it that is captured quite well on this paper stock. The book clocks in at over 150 pages and is presented as a single chapter story. I recommend setting aside an hour or two to sit down and read it in one sitting. Think of it as a movie in book form, worthy of your undivided attention for an evening.
Set in the days of the old west (New Mexico circa 1887), a territorial dispute between two ranchers over access to the river during a drought becomes a recipe for murder. Shad Marone is on the run, chased by a sheriff's posse through the desert. The posse is led by Jesus Lopez, a Mexican/Native American who seems conveniently too familiar with his quarry. The scenes shift back and forth in time, and as bits and pieces are revealed things become more intense. I enjoyed the pacing of this book quite a bit. I've been enjoying these Bantam/Random House original graphic novels.
Set in the days of the old west (New Mexico circa 1887), a territorial dispute between two ranchers over access to the river during a drought becomes a recipe for murder. Shad Marone is on the run, chased by a sheriff's posse through the desert. The posse is led by Jesus Lopez, a Mexican/Native American who seems conveniently too familiar with his quarry. The scenes shift back and forth in time, and as bits and pieces are revealed things become more intense. I enjoyed the pacing of this book quite a bit. I've been enjoying these Bantam/Random House original graphic novels.
May 18, 2016
Love me some Louis L'Amour, I have ready maybe 80% of his stuff then kind of lost track and that's ok. His themes can often be repetitive, same as the characters and that's ok too as they are so fun to read. His other stuff that transcends that is truly excellent.
There are L'Amours the pulpish writer and the historical type novelist.
"Law" is firmly in the pulp genre of his work and it's a good story, very noir and by that I mean a lot of people, both smart and not smart, make some bone headed decisions. It's not great writing by any means and this adaptation that fleshes out the short story helps it a lot. Maybe one of those instances where the "movie is better than the book."
What reall shines here is the art, gorgeous blacks and ink wash, the panel composition is near perfect and the actual drawing of scenes and characters is second to none.
1 * for the noir, 1 for making better than the source and 2 for the art.
There are L'Amours the pulpish writer and the historical type novelist.
"Law" is firmly in the pulp genre of his work and it's a good story, very noir and by that I mean a lot of people, both smart and not smart, make some bone headed decisions. It's not great writing by any means and this adaptation that fleshes out the short story helps it a lot. Maybe one of those instances where the "movie is better than the book."
What reall shines here is the art, gorgeous blacks and ink wash, the panel composition is near perfect and the actual drawing of scenes and characters is second to none.
1 * for the noir, 1 for making better than the source and 2 for the art.
August 8, 2016
*I won this book as part of a giveaway on this site for a review.*
Westerns have never been my thing, nor have I read any of L'Amour's work, so I wasn't sure how much I would actually enjoy this. The illustration work was what originally lead me to sign up for the giveaway, and I am happy to say it does not disappoint. It brings the story to life with ease, even at times carrying it.
The story itself is a short, fairly straight forward one that revolves around revenge. It moves at a quick pace with just enough time to get to know everyone's side of the story, without getting too attached to any one character. The lack of attachment comes in handy when the story ends, and you're forced to acknowledge just how blurred the line between good and bad can become.
For anyone who is considering giving westerns a shot, I would say this is a fairly nice way to dip your toe in for the first time.
Westerns have never been my thing, nor have I read any of L'Amour's work, so I wasn't sure how much I would actually enjoy this. The illustration work was what originally lead me to sign up for the giveaway, and I am happy to say it does not disappoint. It brings the story to life with ease, even at times carrying it.
The story itself is a short, fairly straight forward one that revolves around revenge. It moves at a quick pace with just enough time to get to know everyone's side of the story, without getting too attached to any one character. The lack of attachment comes in handy when the story ends, and you're forced to acknowledge just how blurred the line between good and bad can become.
For anyone who is considering giving westerns a shot, I would say this is a fairly nice way to dip your toe in for the first time.
January 9, 2026
This was the first time I had read anything by Louis L'Amour, though I have listened to several of his stories adapted into audio. When I saw this on the goodreads giveaway I couldn't pass it up.
I have heard this story before in its dramatized version, so I already knew what would happen, but that didn't matter because it is one of my favorite stories and I enjoyed looking at the pictures and imagining the sound of gunfire going off in the desert.
One thing I have always liked about L'Amour is that not only are his stories western, but they also have a mystery involved. When you first start the story not everything is as it seems.
I think I will always prefer to listen to the audios but it was a nice change to actually hold a book in my hand, even if it was a graphic novel, and read the story for the first time.
I have heard this story before in its dramatized version, so I already knew what would happen, but that didn't matter because it is one of my favorite stories and I enjoyed looking at the pictures and imagining the sound of gunfire going off in the desert.
One thing I have always liked about L'Amour is that not only are his stories western, but they also have a mystery involved. When you first start the story not everything is as it seems.
I think I will always prefer to listen to the audios but it was a nice change to actually hold a book in my hand, even if it was a graphic novel, and read the story for the first time.
November 29, 2013
I won this as part of Goodreads' First Reads program in exchange for my honest review.
I never read the short story this graphic novel was based off of, so I have no clue how true it stays to the original. I loved the art work, the black and white gives it a gritty, old fashioned feel as it's set in the 1880's. It's also not cluttered with dialogue, letting the art tell a good portion of the tale. The story is also quite good as it twists and turns as flashbacks show the true depth of the plot, showing that everything is not what it seems. My only real gripe is that the characters in the beginning were hard to distinguish who they were and what their role was. I also wouldn't have minded a little more action.
I gave this 4 stars, a beautifully drawn graphic novel that tells a fun, if slightly tame, story
I never read the short story this graphic novel was based off of, so I have no clue how true it stays to the original. I loved the art work, the black and white gives it a gritty, old fashioned feel as it's set in the 1880's. It's also not cluttered with dialogue, letting the art tell a good portion of the tale. The story is also quite good as it twists and turns as flashbacks show the true depth of the plot, showing that everything is not what it seems. My only real gripe is that the characters in the beginning were hard to distinguish who they were and what their role was. I also wouldn't have minded a little more action.
I gave this 4 stars, a beautifully drawn graphic novel that tells a fun, if slightly tame, story
December 30, 2013
As is made clear in the postscript section of this graphic novel, there's very little resemblance between Louis L'Amour's original story and this very expanded comic book version of it, and in the course of its evolution there were quite a number of people involved in the transformation. While I tend to be skeptical of adaptations, in the case of this story I wouldn't be surprised if it resulted in an improvement over L'Amour's original work - anyway, this version is highly readable and the artwork, while not first rate, is definitely up to the level of the story.
October 7, 2013
I enjoy reading Louis L'Amour in part due to his ability to paint a picture in the reader's mind with just a few words. So I was interested in seeing how this translate into a graphic medium. The adaption of the story was well done with spare lines and the tale told by the speech balloons and the graphic art. It worked for this tale. Just not sure it would work for others. But I enjoyed the tale.
August 4, 2016
This is a hard book to review, especially by someone who is a neophyte when it comes to graphic novels.
I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of L'Amour. I would just caution them to approach this novel with a completely open mind and recognize that it is a visual interpretation of the author's story and as such, should be judged completely on it's own merits and not compared at all to the written work.
I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of L'Amour. I would just caution them to approach this novel with a completely open mind and recognize that it is a visual interpretation of the author's story and as such, should be judged completely on it's own merits and not compared at all to the written work.
January 7, 2014
Law of the Desert Born is a Louis L'Amour classic brought to life in graphic format.
This is a great retelling of how life can go bad though you are doing the right thing.
So very nice to see not only westerns brought back to life but that it is a Louis L'Amour is even better.
It is nice to see the legacy brought forward and we can only hope the new format goes over well.
This is a great story with excellent illustrations.
This is a great retelling of how life can go bad though you are doing the right thing.
So very nice to see not only westerns brought back to life but that it is a Louis L'Amour is even better.
It is nice to see the legacy brought forward and we can only hope the new format goes over well.
This is a great story with excellent illustrations.
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