Review: ELENORA MANDRAGORA: Daughter of Merlin

ELENORA MANDRAGORA: DAUGHTER OF MERLIN
IDW PUBLISHING/EuroComics – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Severine Gauthier
ART: Thomas Labourot
TRANSLATION: Edward Gauvin
COLORS: Grelin & Thomas Labourot
LETTERS: Ron Estevez
COVER: Thomas Labourot
EDITORS: Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon
ISBN:  978-1-68405-008-6; hardcover – 8¼”  x 10¾” (November 8, 2017)
60pp, Color, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN

Age 10-17; Grades 5-12

Elenora Mandragora: Daughter of Merlin is a full color, hardcover graphic novel recently published by IDW Publishing.  Written by Severine Gauthier and drawn by Thomas Labourot, Elenora Mandragora: Daughter of Merlin is French comic book originally published as a graphic album, entitled Aliénor Mandragore – Merlin est mort, vive Merlin! by Paris-based publisher, Rue de Sèvres.  The IDW edition has a trim size of 8¼”  x 10¾” and comes in at 60-pages long.

Elenora Mandragora: Daughter of Merlin focuses on Elenora, the daughter of Merlin the wizard.  Merlin is the greatest druid in the forest of Broceliande, and he spends most of his time in his “Mushroomery,” a dank and dark place in the woods where a variety of mushrooms grow.  Elenora lives with her father, but the impish and undisciplined girl has no interest in “druiding,” which her father insists on teaching her.  Elanora has no talent for magic.

That all changes one day when Elenora does something that kills her father.  However, Merlin's ghost is determined not to stay dead, and it falls on Elenora to befriend the one person who may have the ability to revive Merlin.  That would be her father's greatest rival, Morgana the fairy magician and sorceress.

IDW's press materials for Elenora Mandragora: Daughter of Merlin compares this graphic novel to the work of legendary creators of stories for children:  author Roald Dahl; animated filmmaker, Hayao Miyazki; and American legend and mogul, Walt Disney.  I am quite versed in Miyazaki and Disney, but I have only read two Dahl books (that I remember), and with that experience, I can still say that IDW is not far off with such comparisons.

Elenora Mandragora: Daughter of Merlin is a fantastic comic book and original graphic novel.  I think middle school students who read fantasy literary will likely enjoy this.  I think older teens and high school students familiar with comic books will also enjoy this graphic novel.

It is not perfect; there are some oddly extraneous characters in the story, characters I am assuming will be important in later Elenora Mandragora adventures.  However, the three core characters:  Elenora, Merlin, and Morgana form a solid trinity of motivations, desires, conflicts, rivalries, back story, and endearment.  They are the powerful engine that drive this engaging and magical story of fathers and daughters and mentors and students.  This is a love triangle, of sorts, that propels this wonderfully inventive comic book.

Elenora Mandragora: Daughter of Merlin is infused with a sense of magic, and the setting is a place to which you will want to return, even if only in your dreams.  And the characters – you will want to visit with them again... and again.

9 out of 10
A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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