IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
ARTIST: Olivier Coipel
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
EDITOR: Rachel Fulton
COVER: Oliver Coipel with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER: Adam Hughes
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 13, 2018 – Diamond ID: APR180455)
Rated M / Mature
The Magic Order is a new comic book series created by writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Chrononauts) and artist Olivier Coipel (Thor). It is also the first new and original comic book series created by Millar since he sold his organization, Millarworld, to Netflix in August of 2017. The Magic Order focuses on the sorcerers, magicians, and wizards that protect humanity from darkness, a darkness that might end up destroying these protectors.
The Magic Order #1 introduces a world in which monsters do exist, but humanity does not see them. Why? “The Magic Order” is a group of five families of magicians that has protected humanity for generations, keeping people safe from monsters. However, one of them, Edward “Big Eddie” Lisowski, has just been killed, and the killers may be other magic users. Leonard Moonstone and his children: Regan, Cordelia, and Gabriel will find themselves at the center of a mob war-like conflict against a force that is picking off wizards one by one.
There are Mark Millar written, creator-owned comic books that I really like (Kick-Ass, The Secret Service) and there are those that do not interest me enough to keep reading past a first issue (Huck). The Magic Order is one of those that I like enough to keep reading past the first issue. The best Millar comic books are crazy, sexy, cool, and The Magic Order is that. It is really like a blend of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a Martin Scorsese mob film – leaning more towards Fantastic Beasts.
The more Olivier Coipel draws comic books, the more his illustrations come to resemble the work of comic book artist, Kevin Nowlan. Honestly, I do not think that Coipel is the best choice for this series or even if he is an appropriate choice for this subject matter. I am not saying that Coipel is a poor illustrator, quite the contrary. He is quite talented, and his graphic storytelling here is good. Maybe... I am not quite feeling Coipel or colorist Dave Stewart, for that matter, in this series. And I am a big fan of Stewart.
Still, I am excited by Millar's premise, and I really enjoyed reading The Magic Order #1. I'm ready for the next issue.
8 out of 10
http://www.millarworld.tv/
www.imagecomics.com
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
---------------------
