James Patterson's The Murder of King Tut HCPublisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: November 2010
Price: $24.99
Creator(s): Based on a story by James Patterson; Written by Alexander Irvine; Art by Christopher J. Mitten and Ron Randall
Format: 132 pgs.; Full-Color; Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-3161-1933-7
Age Rating: Teen+
ICv2 Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
James Patterson's The Murder of King Tut is made up of three interconnected stories. The first concerns Howard Carter’s decades long search for the Tomb of Tutankhamen intercut with a retelling of the life of Tut. The third is set in modern times and involves an attempt to solve the Pharaohs 3,000 year old murder.
It’s a political thriller containing sex, religion and bloody violence so there’s plenty to hold a reader’s attention, but unfortunately some segments of the narrative work better than others. As arduous as Carter’s struggle to find Tutankhamen’s Tomb might have been, when it comes to drama it hardly compares to Tut’s struggles to survive, rule and produce an heir for his dynasty.
It doesn’t help that the portions featuring Carter are drawn by Ron Randall who’s usually better than this (I suspect it’s a matter of the coloring overwhelming his pencils), while the parts featuring Tut’s story,drawn by Christopher Mitten, have a rawness that helps create a genuinely alien feel for ancient Egypt.
In the end someone I’m going to assume is meant to represent author James Patterson presents what was found in Tut’s tomb then treats it like evidence in a murder case, then puts together a scenario of how Tut might have died. Anyone who wants to know more about Egyptian history will find The Murder of King Tut interesting reading, I only wish the individual pieces made up more of an agreeable whole.
--Steve Bennett: Writer and retail services consultant.
