Denis Villeneuve's highly anticipated Dune: Part Three is scheduled for release on December 18, with trailers indicating significant deviations from the source material. As the director concludes his trilogy by adapting Frank Herbert's 1969 sequel, Dune Messiah, a new medium to experience the original narrative becomes available this week. On November 3, a graphic novel version of the book will hit shelves, providing readers with a faithful adaptation prior to the film's debut.
The graphic novel is written by Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert's son, and his frequent collaborator Kevin J. Anderson. The duo has previously authored over a dozen prequels and sequels to the Dune saga, beginning with Dune: House Atreides in 1999. Their Great Schools of Dune series notably inspired HBO's prequel show, Dune: Prophecy. Visuals for this new adaptation are provided by illustrator Michael Shelfer, who previously worked on the graphic novel version of Dune: House Harkonnen, while cover art was painted by Bill Sienkiewicz, known for his work on The New Mutants and Moon Knight.
An exclusive excerpt released by Abrams ComicArts reveals a conspiracy involving Paul Atreides' wife, Princess Irulan; Reverend Mother Mohiam; the Tleilaxu Face Dancer Scytale; and Guild Navigator Edric. Although Paul has become Emperor of the known universe and possesses prophetic abilities that make him a formidable foe, the Tleilaxu plot to manipulate him using the corpse of his slain swordmaster, Duncan Idaho. Anderson noted in a statement that the graphic novel focuses on the vast landscapes, cultural colors, and characters struggling against uncontrollable forces, capturing the surprising tone of Herbert's original work where the hero falls to corruption.
Dune Messiah: Book 1 will be available at booksellers starting November 3. Because the graphic novel adaptation is split into two volumes, readers seeking the complete story before watching Villeneuve's film will need to consult Herbert's original novel alongside the first book of the comic series.
Sources: Polygon.