Adapted by Charles Santino; Script by Beau L’Amour and Katherine Nolan; Based on the short story by Louis L’Amour; Produced by Beau L’Amour; Illustrated by Thomas Yeates.

I recently read Louis L’Amour‘s memoirs, The Education of a Wandering Man, in which he recounts his early years of moving throughout the country and world, from one job to the next, reading whatever he could get his hands on. He eventually grew into the writer we know and love today, but it was a long, drawn-out process.

This short story, “The Law of the Desert Born,” was one of his earliest Western-themed short stories but is also one that has enjoyed a very long life. Adapted and republished man times over, this graphic novel is just the latest rebirth of “the Desert Born.”

The story begins with a murder and a posse gathered to hunt the killer. Lopez, a “half-breed” Apache-Mexican locked in jail, begs to join the hunt for Marone, the man who betrayed him. Handcuffed and gunless, he joins the posse as they cross the plains into the desert, serving as their tracker and guide. Gun battles ensue, and eventually the posse dwindles to just one man desperate with thirst but relentless in the chase.

It’s been a while since I sat down with a good graphic novel (besides Wonderstruck), and this one came at an opportune time, as a pause from my studies and while the springtime snows flurried. I viewed this story like a slow black-and-white film, drinking in the scenes.

I imagine it’s hard for most readers to appreciate the artwork of a solid graphic novel like this for what it is, painstakingly developed images with intricate details that would be noticed most if they were missing. Poor Thomas Yeates‘ name is last on the list of developers for this book, but I dare say it should be second at least. Most of his images are realistic, the faces especially drawn with hard emotion. I felt present in some of the scenes, which is the sign of a great illustrator.

Although I’m not all that big on Westerns, whether in print or on screen, I really enjoyed this style and will likely look for more. It was a good reminder of Ethan Hawk’s Indeh and I hope my library has more offerings besides.

©2022 E.T.

Read More from Louis L’Amour:

• Dead Man’s Trail (1947)
• Kilrone (1966)
• Last of the Breed (1986)
• The Education of a Wandering Man (1989)
• Law of the Desert Born: A Graphic Novel (2013)