After the success of the 3-volume adaptation of the original Dune novel Brian Herbert (son of Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson return with an adaptation of Dune Messiah. Originally planned as one large volume it is now split into two parts, which may have been so that the first half could be released in time for Dune: Part Three.
Bill Sienkiewicz returns for the cover art, which appears to be based on a behind-the-scenes picture of Timothée Chalamet from Dune: Part Two.
The previous graphic novels were illustrated by Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín, however Dune Messiah is done by Michael Shelfer, who is no stranger to Dune, having previously illustrated the 12-issue House Harkonnen comic series for BOOM! Studios. This results in a difference in art styles between Dune and Dune Messiah, with the new art appearing more stylized, which may be a positive or negative depending on your tastes.
The layout of the pages is clear, and the panel placement is nicely varied so it never feels repetitive. I’m fortunate to have seen some of the black and white pages by Michael Shelfer, and I could have quite happily read the entire novel in such a format. But the colors by Carlos Lopez look fantastic, from the orange of the spice gas in Edric’s tank to the green and purple tints used for flashbacks/memories, all bringing the story to life.
At 128-pages it is thinner that the previous Dune graphic novels which weighed in between 176-200 pages each, but as Dune Messiah is a lot shorter than Dune this new adaptation is less condensed. The price ($25.99 / £18.99) is the same as the thicker previous novels, but given how everything is more expensive it still feels a fair price.
The adaptation begins 12 years after the events in Dune, with the “Death Cell Interview with Bronso of IX” prologue, which is a welcome inclusion as it can be missing from some editions of Dune Messiah, as Frank Herbert added it after the initial publication of the story.
Like the previous graphic novels, the adaptation is very faithful to the novel, following the story scene by scene, although naturally the dialogue is simplified to accommodate the comic book format. In at least one instance however, this simplification results in an error, referring to Jamis as Paul’s “first kill” (the Harkonnen pilot Czigo holds that unfortunate honor).
One other detail has been changed for obvious reasons: Alia no longer trains naked.
The graphic novel ends roughly halfway through the novel, with Book 2 of the adaptation expected in 2027 (although no official date has been announced yet). Given the quality of this graphic novel, I’m greatly looking forward to it.
Also included in the book are an introduction and afterword, both written by Brian Herbert. Neither were written specifically for this adaptation, having previously appeared in other Dune books. There are also 6 pages of “The Making of Dune Messiah Book 1″, which show sections of the script by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, plus sketches and final black and white artwork by Michael Shelfer which provide an intriguing glimpses into the behind-the-scenes process.
The quality of the book itself is also excellent, presented in a sturdy hardcover, with thick, glossy pages. Removing the dusk jacket reveals a colorful cataclysmic explosion: part of Paul’s vision of a falling moon.
Dune Messiah Book 1: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Frank Herbert, adapted by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, illustrated by Michael Shelfer and Bill Sienkiewicz (Abrams ComicsArts, $25.99 / £18.99). Available 3rd November 2026 (US) and 5th November 2026 (UK).
About Abrams ComicArts
Abrams ComicArts publishes groundbreaking graphic novels and illustrated books about the creators and the history of comics art, animation, and cartoons. Notable titles include Mom’s Cancer; Kirby: King of Comics; My Friend Dahmer; The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis; R. Crumb’s Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country; and The Art of Rube Goldberg.
Note: Many thanks to Abrams ComicArts (UK) for providing the Dune News Net team with a review copy of this book.