Though I remain a consummate dabbler, never diving completely or full-force into anything, I will still count myself a Fritz Leiber fan.  Have I read all his work?  No.  Have I even finished just his Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories?  Also, no.  But I’ve quite enjoyed what I’ve read so far.  Similar with Mike Mignola, who worked on this comic in his pre-Hellboy days.  I love Mignola’s work, but there’s still plenty of it out there for me to eventually get to, maybe.  Howard Chaykin?  I know the name.  I’m not a comic guy, even though I have read a bunch.  I’m not super versed in the medium, its history, or its luminaries.  I’m pretty sure Al Williamson, who did the inking on this is famous, too.  But I’m not sure.  All that is to say, others who are more familiar with any and all involved might have more learned observations, but I quite enjoyed this.

Apparently Mignola chose most of the stories to be adapted, and Chaykin did the actual adaptations, then Mignola did the art.  First up is probably the most famous tale of the two heroes, “Ill Met in Lankhmar.”  This is where they meet and become fast friends, but also where they share their first tragedy.  The second story is “The Circle Curse,” which is mostly a quick overview of their wanderings outside of Lankhmar, being disillusioned with the city after the events of the previous tale.  Next is “The Howling Tower,” one of their extra-Lankhmar adventures, pitting them against some weird magic.  With “The Price of Pain and Ease,” the companions are back in Lankhmar, and sent on a mission by their patrons Ningauble and Sheelba to retrieve an item, for which they will be given means to overcome their long-standing grief (from the first tale).  With “Bazaar of the Bizarre,” they deal with some super weird magic, possibly the first true hints of just how strange things eventually get for our boys.  “Lean Times in Lankhmar” has the companions at odds, with each descending into a different form of urban decadence.  Fafhrd falls into religiosity, while Mouser gets fat on his success among the city’s bandits.  But they can’t stay mad at each other forever.  Finally, “When the Sea King’s Away…” restores a sort of status quo, though it leaves the companions far out to sea, away from their beloved and hated Lankhmar.  

These stories are a ton of fun.  There’s a grimness, mixed with a good humor that gives them a unique tone.  People often point to Howard’s Conan and Tolkien’s Legendarium as key influences on the Fantasy genre, especially on the genre convention catalyzing force of Dungeons & Dragons.  But I think Fritz Leiber’s contribution can not be oversold.  He sort of bridged the gulf between the Pulp, Sword & Sorcery and the more whimsical Heroic Fantasy.  He never let logic and reason get in the way of a good story.  There’s a gritty visceral nature to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser’s world of Nehwon and its most famous city, Lankhmar.  Yet, there’s a wry humor, a wink and a smile, around every page turn.  I think Chaykin and Mignola did a pretty good job of capturing that in this adaptation.  There were a few occasions where I imagine someone who was not already familiar with the stories might be lost, which is a weakness of some adaptations.  But overall, I think any fantasy reader should check this out.  Reading this makes me want to go back and read the Leiber stories.  And who knows, maybe finally get around to finishing them.  

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