Excalibur: The Legend of King Arthur

Veteran comic writer Lee takes on the task of crafting a fresh take on the Arthurian legends by letting the character tell his story. Arthur Pendragon begins his tale as the son of a betrayed king, forced to grow up in obscurity until pulling a magic sword from a stone and reclaiming his title. Yet this is only where his challenges begin, as the king must deal with the wrath of his vengeful sorceress sister, Morgana; the machinations of the barbarian Ulric; and the betrayal of his closest friend. Lee's work is faithful to the original legend without being inaccessible or boring. The effectiveness of the work stems from its character-driven plot, which propels the story without the sort of plot contrivances myths often employ. Hart's artwork also focuses more on character than spectacle. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. (Mar.)