Dark Tower comic book continues to get more coverage than seems warrented

From AICN, “If you're not a Dark Tower junkie, have no fears with this one. They've taylor made the first of the 7 issues to be an introduction to this world. The book does begin with the titular gunslinger, Roland, pursuing the Man In Black, just as in King's first book and focuses on Roland's childhood coming of age. He has a big, tough bastard of a trainer whom he has to challenge and defeat in battle to earn the right to wield guns. If Roland fails in his challenge, he is exiled, his family shamed and his birthright forever denied him.

In this world Gunslingers are like Knights in Arthurian legend. Roland's father is the leader of the Knighthood, a direct descendant of the line of Eld, which began with Arthur. These are evil times and there are even more evil men working to destroy this order. One of these men manipulates Roland in to challenging Cort, his trainer, a full 2 years younger than the youngest has done so and been victorious.
My understanding is that over the course of this mini-series we'll be getting the story of Young Roland's first tests, which were detailed in WIZARD AND GLASS, the 4th book in the series. There is a promise that we'll see events just hinted at in the books, such as the events leading up to the fate of Roland's childhood friends Cuthbert and Alain and the much hinted at battle of Jericho Hill, where Gilead fell and the world began to fall apart.

The 7 part mini-series is overseen by King, with story help by his Dark Tower protege Robin Furth (author of the fantastic Dark Tower Concordances, illuminating examinations of every one of King's books) and Peter David. Jae Lee penciled and Richard Isanove colored.

The book is a great companion piece to the novels. The artwork by Lee and Isanove is not what I had in my mind, but it's very interesting and not overly computerized like I've seen so many comics turn to recently. It has a water painting type quality in the colors, although Lee's artwork is sharp and focused.
The gore in Roland's fight with Cort is much bloodier than I expected, so good on Marvel for getting that part right.

Is this my ideal window into Roland's world? I prefer Michael Whelan's amazing work in first and last Dark Tower books and to me that is the look and feel of the Dark Tower world, but speaking as someone who was ready to call bullshit on this comic, someone who began reading it with an incredibly cynical and critical eye, I have to say that I'm greatly enjoying it so far. I'm a little disappointed that I have to see them cover material already in the books when there's so many grey areas that King and Furth could illuminate in this medium, but I also understand the need to have this series appeal to more than just the rabid Dark Tower fans.
If you're a Dark Tower virgin you won't feel lost with Book 1 of 7. If you're a fan, you'll get to see a great artist like Jae Lee interpret Gilead, Cort and Roland's Father.

Marvel's putting a lot of weight behind this release. They're doing midnight sales tonight at comic book stores across the US (Click here to find the list of stores staying up late) and King himself is appearing at the NY Comic Con to talk about it. I wish to God I was going. I'm such a Stephen King geek and a geek for Dark Tower in particular I'd love to hear him talk about this series and I'll be kicking myself for not being able to be there.
I hope this book becomes popular so we can get King's authorized (or even better... authored) account, in comic book form, of the Fall of Gilead and other events hinted at, but not explored, in the 7 Dark Tower books.
I've got a full next few days in LA, but I'll try to start catching up on my Sundance interviews and Santa Barbara reviews.”