Dune: The Waters of Kanly #1 begins the missing story of Gurney Halleck after the Battle of Arakeen! This was a short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson that was a part of the anthology Infinite Stars (2017). It will also be part of the forthcoming Dune anthology, Sands of Dune, to be available on June 28th! Now, it is published by Boom! Studios as a four issue limited series by the authors along with art by Francesco Mortarino. The regular cover is by Christian Ward. It has the Warmaster of House Artreides, Gurney Halleck, shadowy and facing the burning of Arakeen with his Artredies flag to the side. Cinders, paint sprinkles, dot the scene. We open with an epic splash page of Harkonnen ornithopters litter bombs on Arakeen with the burning flag of Artreides. There is adult content even with the manga style of Mortarino.
Over two pages we see the soldiers in Harkonnen armor cutting down their rivals, a helmet and sword in the foreground, fighting figures, then shadow masses at combat before we get the burning city. An interesting composition. In a series of panels below the battle, we catch glimpses of the soldiers marching in, a grisly look at a fallen Artreides soldier with bloody streaks on his face, as Gurney notes that they don’t fight like Harkonnens, but he was still in the battle. The character was played by Josh Brolin in the 2021 film. Gurney has a bloody face and checks the wound on his side. He says that there was a traitor and decides on the rites of Kanly, vendetta against a Great House. As the city burns, Gurney notes that there are 73 soldiers that survived that sneak attack. A soldier asks Gurney what is their next move and he says to find the smugglers.
I know that we pick up with Gurney and the smugglers, but what happened after the Battle of Arakeen was not clear for me. Gurney explains that it is now a year after the Battle of Arakeen, they found refuge with the smugglers led by Staban Tuek. He solemnly plays his stringed instrument, the baliset, and think over the current situation. The Baron, whom we see smiling over his dominion, has control over Arakeen. Gurney says the Duke and Paul have died. The Beast Rabban rules under the Baron on Arakkis. He is seen as a warrior with red hair and cloak. Gurney thinks of writing sad songs for the Artreides. He plays his baliset as the smugglers and soldiers pass by. They steal spice with the smugglers, a gambling soldier tells Gurney to sing a song about Duke Leto. In shadows, Gurney thinks that they are still Artreides. He sings of the “gallant” duke’s betrayal. This is ended by the burley, Orbo, with eye patch like a warlord or a muscular Sagat from Street Fighter.
Orbo doesn’t want to hear songs about revenge and says that smugglers don’t care for politics. He takes Gurney’s baliset and shatters it! Gurney takes this calmly and says that Staban Tuek gave them sanctuary and he promised he would delay his revenge. In a meeting room, Gurney meets with Tuek who has a dark beard and golden armor. Gurney is still focused on revenge for the trailer whom he suspects is Lady Jessica! He notes that Beast Rabban is a target. He shows his power over the assembled Fremen and strikes one! Tuek says that he is starting a purge of the Fremen. Gurney says that Beast Rabban also gave him a wicked scar that runs down his right cheek. He tells his story of growing up on Giedi Prime, homeworld of House Harkonnen, at a”forced-labor farm.” Gurney reveals he criticized the Baron in a song and his parents paid the price. His sister is taken away and he is lashed before taken to the slave pits.
Gurney’s defiant spirit continued fighting a worker in the rain before Beast Rabban dealt with him. His sister is brought for him to see and the soldiers brutalize her. Then, Rabban kills her before lashing Gurney as a boy with an inkvine whip. Gurney’s plan now is to have a meeting with the Imperial spice observer and ambassador to the smugglers, Count Fenrig. This is a character that was in the novel and appeared in the 2000 mini-series, but not the current Dune films. Then, we see the city of Carthag, the base of the Harkonnen. Gurney and Tuek see Count Fenrig, dressed in turban, purple and white robes. A woman is about to serve them spice beer, but Fenrig orders purified water for himself. The woman is strangely suspicious. He explains that Governor Rabban has been running spice production. Gurney pulls down his mask and Fenrig recognizes that he worked for Duke Leto. This issue of Dune: The Waters of Kanly #1, to fullfill the Kanly that Duke Leto declared on House Harkonnen, Gurney will need Fenrig’s help to take down Beast Rabban!
Four Waters of Kanly out of Five!
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