Books of Magic #8 // Review
Brian Churilla continues to add the finishing pencils over Tom Fowler’s layouts while Kat Howard stokes her slow-burning narrative with this new issue. Whether a new or old fan, this series has promise for any and all readers. The heartwarming tale about a boy just trying to find his place within the larger world around him stands as a timeless story about youth and growing up. With each new issue, another layer of Timothy’s past comes into the light and ties itself within the previously established runs and simultaneously creating a series completely brand new.
As Timothy and his teach find themselves within the realm of Faerie, the truth of his own past continues to come into the light. As Queen Titania shows Timothy his lost memories, plot lines from the previous run in the ’90s are tied right back into this new series. With the new found knowledge of Timothy’s potentially dark future, the young Wizard knows he should leave the land of Faerie and continue on the hunt for his best friend. With an ominous future ahead, the Queen remains in discontent as the chapter closes out
Brian Churilla continues to build upon the established aesthetic of the series while still managing to leave his own mark with these issues. With Timothy traveling through the land of Faerie with his teacher, Churilla can stretch his wings and have fun with the magical realm. The character work of Fowler bleeds through Churilla’s finishes and continues to carry the levity and emotions of the series. This time around, both Jordan Boyd and Marissa Louise ass the color finishes to the issue yet seemingly blend into one.
Kat Howard continues to build slowly toward her ultimate goals for the series and genuinely creating a satisfying read with each new issue. As Howard revisits the past, she ties in the old thread into her new plot lines and continues to weave a brand new beautiful tapestry for the young Merlin. Even with issues such as this one where it is not the most eventful, it is still able to lead a last effect of readers with the character interactions and the subtle nuances of the series.
With the past continually being threaded into this new run, unfamiliar readers will be sure to find back issues from the previous run and learn more about their new favorite Wizard. As the series grows, Howard and her collaborators continue to build a love letter for old fans and a great jumping on point for the newer fans. This series is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face and excitement for each new chapter.
Grade: A
