"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." With those words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King's Roland - an implacable gunslinger in search of the enigmatic Dark Tower, powering his way through a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic. Now, in a comic book personally overseen by King himself, Roland's past is revealed

Roland has incurred the wrath of the evil sorcerer Marten, and must flee his home in Gilead with two of his young friends. But arriving in the supposedly friendly town of Hambry may be no safer, for the dreaded agents of Marten are abroad. The Coffin Hunters! Though it is not all completely bleak as Roland meets the woman who will become the love of his young life the beautiful Susan Delgado.

Young Roland Deschain and friends have fled for the city of Hambry, as their home in Gilead is now too dangerous. But, once there, Roland learns to his horror that he is no safer. Hambry's leaders have switched allegiance and the assassins known as the Big Coffin Hunters have marked Roland and company for death! Plus articles and bonus features galore!

Young Roland Deschain seems willing to put his friends in deadly danger by staying in Hambry when his relationship with the beautiful Susan Delgado deepens. Meanwhile, the evil Marten Broadcloak's agents-a.k.a. the Big Coffin Hunters-are zeroing in for the kill on Roland and his ka-tet. Another glimpse into the early years of the world of Stephen King's masterpiece, The Dark Tower. Plus, as an added bonus, more special extras than you can sling a gun at!

Just outside Hambry, Roland makes a monstrous discovery: The evil Farson and his Coffin Riders have stolen the awesome weapons of the Old Ones and now have the oil to power them and launch an attack against the Affiliation-a group which counts among its members Roland's father, Stephen Deschain! And, at just the wrong time, the young gunslinger's ka-tet may be splintering, when Cuthbert accuses Roland of cowardice and rides off on his own. Things are going sour in Mid-World, sai

The Affiliation, the group comprised of Roland's father and his forces, are being lured into a fatal trap in the Shaved Mountains. With the Old Ones' weapons fired up by Hambry's oil, the Affiliation will be wiped out-unless Roland Deschain-the Gunslinger-can intercede in time! It's a story of love and betrayal from the heart of Mid-World, in this, the penultimate chapter in the first act of Roland's tale

It's the final chapter in the first arc of this top-selling title from the mind of Stephen King. Roland and his ka-tet have their long-awaited showdown with Eldred Jonas and the Big Coffin Hunters. And on the outcome of this fateful confrontation rests the future of Mid-world itself! Plus-the tragic conclusion of Roland Deschain's love affair with Susan Delgado and much, much more!