Rob reviews Magic Powder #1...
The fantasy genre has always been one that's captured my interest. From sharing the highs (and lows) of Dungeons & Dragon's to the phenomenal MMORPG, World of Warcraft. Stories told within this setting often allow for a lot of imagination.
But what happens when you cross these fantasy tropes with The Godfather and The Wire?
Magic Powder is a hard-hitting fantasy that's steeped within a real-world setting. There are Orcs, Goblins, Dwarves, and Elves, except these characters, are more akin to the Mafia, rather than the courageous adventurers we already know.
2200 years ago the world was conquered by the Elves who brought a sense of law and order with them. Sitting just outside of Elvish jurisdiction is the last remaining "free city", Thesz. It's here where the outcasts such as Dwarfs, Orcs, Goblins, and anyone else who doesn't fit into the Elvish society call their home. This is also the last remaining place where Faerie Dust - an illegal narcotic - can be acquired...if you have the money. This first arc also begins as the fragile peace between the local Magic Powder cartels comes crumbling down.
This opening story follows local Magic Powder cartel boss, Dwarvfather as a shipment of Magic Powder sees him apprehended and imprisoned by the Elves and taken into custody. The viewpoint then switches to the quiet and restrained librarian, Zjah who in that conventional Elf fashion hides a somewhat dishonourable past. Realising that his unique talents are under threat from the cartels, Zjah calls upon the Dark Elf Volta for help. As such the duo set out to inflict turmoil through the streets of Thesz whilst ruffling more than a few feathers along the way.
So, Magic Powder is a comic that I instantly connected with. From its opening shots of a Goblin selling an enchanted sword in a dark alleyway to the backhanded dealings of the local Dawven crime boss, it all feels like a D&D session gone mad.
Creator Jeff Schiller does a superb job in grabbing you, to then pull you fully into this world within a few pages. The opening scenes don't pull any punches, and as this issue unfold you're under no illusions as to what's coming. Within a few pages, you're well and truly down the "Faerie Dust rabbit hole" and the lines between who's good and bad are well and truly blurred.
The scripts pace is pretty quick and doesn't rely too much on exposition. While we do get some backstory to the world, its bulk is still up for understanding. Thankfully the lack of any substantial world-building doesn't stop Magic Powder from being an intriguing read. It doesn't need tonnes of lore thrown out in the open to keep you engaged. Like any good television series, this will no doubt be drip-fed throughout Magic Powder's future narrative.
Daniele Aquilani brings some superb art to this opening act which brings Schiller's narrative to life in an explosive fashion. There's a great mixture of fantasy and "real-life" that paints Thesz as a grand fantasy city, mixed with a gritty crime-ridden 1980's Los Angeles. From the clean suit-wearing Goblins to the rough and tumble Orcs - complete with white t-shirts and slacks - everyone looks and feels a part of this world.
Magic Powder is off to a thrilling start. Jeff Schiller has given a small glimpse into this world that certainly leaves you wanting more. From its crime-drama inspiration to its fantasy setting, everything fits together incredibly well. It's hard to tell if Zjah and Volta are the "heroes" of this story, and that's what makes it even more intriguing. If anything Magic Powder hits you like a Martin Scorsese film. It's big, bold, and doesn't pull its punches!
Rating 8.5/10
Magic Powder #1 is available now and can be purchased by clicking here.
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