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The Hedge Knight rides again
07/03/2005 . Source: Jessica Martin 
Graphic novel based on story by fantasy author George R. R. Martin heads for second printing to meet demand. In the world of comics, even death can rarely hold back a hero.
Such is the case of Dabel Brothers Production's adaptation of The Hedge Knight, which, despite already selling 20,000 copies in its first edition, will be going into a second printing this spring to meet reader demand.
The Hedge Knight is based upon a short story by author George R. R. Martin (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords) that serves as a sort of prequel to his epic series, A Song of Ice and Fire. The story focuses on the adventures of Dunk, a young would-be knight, as he attempts to make a name for himself at a tournament while learning hard lessons about honor and chivalry in the process.
Originally published in 2003 as a six-issue miniseries adapting the short story of the same name, The Hedge Knight endured many problems in its brief run, switching publishers midway through the series and shipping late on more than one occasion. And yet at the same time, it was lauded by critics and fans alike, gaining attention from the publishing world and piquing the interest of booksellers.
The book's art, drawn by Mike S. Miller and inked by Mike Crowell, brought the world of Martin's story to life while the script adaptation, by Ben Avery, paid close attention to the source material. And, as Martin continued work on A Feast for Crows, the next novel in his series, The Hedge Knight served as a distraction for fans who were eager to see the world of A Song of Ice and Fire brought to life in the visual medium.
That the first graphic novel edition of the series was underprinted was a tragedy for fans, many of whom were unable to collect all six issues of the comic due to the book's uneven release schedule.
But this situation, we are told, will be remedied as Dabel Brothers Production and Diamond Comic Distributors bring forth a new edition of the graphic novel this spring in a second printing, which features a different cover by painter Boris Vallejo and new artwork from artist Amok, best known for his work on the A Song of Ice and Fire card game.
"We're blown away by the fact that The Hedge Knight has gained such a huge following over the last year," said Les Dabel, Vice President and New Business Director of Dabel Brothers Production. "On Amazon.com, it's been ranked in the top 100 overall recently, in the top 20 for comic books and the top 10 for graphic novels, among books like The Complete Far Side, Sin City and Watchmen, all of which are powerhouses in the world of comic book trade paperbacks."
"The orders are in such high demand that we have to run a second printing just to appease everyone," continued Dabel. "And that's great news. We worked hard to bring The Hedge Knight to the medium, and we've enjoyed the warm response it's received from the industry and from readers over the last year. And while we've definitely hit a few bumps along the way, we've learned a lot from our mistakes, and we're doing our best to ensure that our upcoming adaptations of other major fantasy authors enjoy a smoother release now that The Hedge Knight has paved the way."
In addition to working with Martin, DB Pro has also begun adapting stories from other major fantasy works such as Raymond E. Feist's "Riftwar Saga," Robert Silverberg's "Majipoor Chronicles," Tad Williams's "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn," and Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time," all of which should be available in comic book form throughout 2005. (Graphic novel trade paperback editions are planned to follow soon thereafter.)
"We're very excited to be working with some of the best writers and stories in the realm of fantasy," Ernst Dabel, President of DB Pro, told the 'Nest. "We're taking some of the most wonderful and breathtaking worlds ever conceived and bringing them into the visual medium. Quality and authenticity are our top concerns, and we're working hard to ensure that these adaptations are faithful both to the original stories and to fans' ideas of how they should appear."
For more information on The Hedge Knight check out http://www.dabelbrothers.com 
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