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Comic Book Review - Magic #1

Rob Lake reviews Magic #1...


Comic Book Review - Magic #1

I've never experienced the phenomenon that's Magic The Gathering. The bestselling trading card game has never sunk its claws into me. This isn't to say that I don't know what the basic premise is. I've got two friends who are heavily into collecting and playing Magic, with one who even writes for a couple of MtG orientated websites. When BOOM! Studios announced that they would be developing the MtG world into a comic it piqued my interest. 

Magic #1 follows the Guildmasters, Ral Zarek, Vraska and Kaya - who I've been informed are actually major characters in the CCG. The opening issue focuses on the trio of Planeswalkers as they fend of a series of separate assassination attempts. As the issue progresses we soon learn that the assassins are all working together and the events are not as random as first thought. 
The story builds up as the Guildmasters, with the help of the Azoruis Senate, interrogate one of the assassins. In true Magic style this then results in a monstrous turn as the assassin brings a message to the Senate's Mind Mage, Jace Beleren. 


As I mentioned above, I don't have the greatest understanding of the Magic The Gatheting world or its characters. But, with Magic #1 I got a lot out of what writer, Jed MacKay has started to build. The use of Ral Zarek, Vraska and Kaya are no doubt a way for fans of the card game to relate to what's going on, but to me this story could also work with any other characters too. MacKay gives us a great action-packed opening that's full of high-octane thrills set within this fantasy world. 

Both Ig Guara's illustrations and Arianna Consonni's colours leap right from the page. The double-page image of the Ravnica skyline is an incredible picture and really sets the location. As the action picks up the pace, Guara gives us some incredibly detailed scenes that are full of lightning bolts, smoke and frantic lines. It all works to show off the forces at play within this world, and the ferocity of the battles at hand. Consonni adds a gorgeous vibrant colour palette that not only draws attention to all the right places, but much like everything else highlights the high-fantasy setting.

Fans of the card game will no doubt get a kick out of this opening issue. The use of three different personalities, who've now got to team-up isn't something new. But, with Magic #1 and the card games rich history, it adds a new dynamic. What happens next? Well I have no idea, but I'm looking forward to visiting the world of the Planeswalkers again. 

Rating 8/10

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev

Shout out goes to @emmmzyne for the background information on the world and characters. Please check out her work on MtG here. 


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