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I reviewed the novel Cry in SFRevu's July 2008 issue. And have enjoyed Patricia Briggs' world and characters since I first read Blood Bound in 2007. When Alpha and Omega: Cry Wolf: Volume One came across my desk, I couldn't resist and ended up reading it that day.

Cry Wolf was the book that introduced readers of the Mercy Thompson series to Charles Cornick, son of the Marrok and his enforcer, and Anna Latham. Previously, Charles had been in the series but as a secondary character. Anna is presented in Cry Wolf as a young woman who was turned werewolf against her will and then beaten, tortured, and raped by the pack that turned her. She was the one who had the courage to turn to the Marrok for help when she recognized that the pack wasn't just treating her badly but killing others.

Charles was sent to investigate the charges and decide what needed to be done. What he didn't expect was that his wolf would choose Anna as his mate. The fact that she'd been treated so badly and hadn't been taught the things most werewolves learned prior to being turned, let alone after the fact, was making things difficult.

Charles and Anna are trying to work out their relationship. Anna is trying to come to grips with her wolf and the discovery that she's not a submissive wolf as she'd been told by her old pack, but a rare type of werewolf -- an Omega wolf. There were very few werewolves who had any experience with Omega wolves and their powers. Luckily for Anna, one such person lived in town near the Marrok. Unfortunately, he was considered to be dangerous and a bit crazy.

Turning a novel into a graphic novel doesn't necessarily change the structure of the story but only how it is told. The art will convey much of the information that previously was part of the narration. It also supplies the images of the main characters and the settings and must somehow represent the flashbacks in a manner that lets the reader know what is going on. Alpha and Omega: Cry Wolf: Vol. 1 succeeds in all points.

The artwork by Todd Herman is amazing -- moody, informative, and keyed to the text. The cover artwork by Daniel Dos Santos, who has done the covers for the novels, smoothly transitions to the interior work by Herman. The colors by Mohan and lettering by Bill Tortolini and the issue covers by Jenny Frison are icing on the cake.

The text was adapted by David Lawrence with input and consultation with Patricia Briggs. The resulting graphic novel, while different from the novel, as anyone would expect, supplies a tale that is, at its core, the same. The characters are interesting and the story intriguing. However, since this is only volume 1, you're left hanging to wait for the next installment of the story.

Recommended for those who are fans of the series or of graphic novels.