Writers: Raymond E. Feist, Michael Avon Oeming, Bryan J. L. Glass
Pencilers: Brett Booth
Cover Artists: Brett Booth
Publisher: Dabel Brothers
Publication Date: 2006
I’m probably the last person who should be reviewing the Dabel Brothers’ adaptation of Raymond E. Feist’s Magician. I’m not at all an aficionado of the comic book art (especially the antics of leotarded superheroes). Fortunately, Dabel Brothers Productions don’t do superheroes, and the fact that they have acquired the rights to some major fantasy works piqued my interest.
Magician, the novel, is the ‘gateway drug’ to fantasy for many people. It’s not stylistically or thematically cutting edge, but it’s an enormously popular and beloved work in the tradition of Tolkien. So, a big challenge for the Dabel Brothers.
This first issue of the comic really just introduces us to the story, setting up the characters’ personalities and relationships (and to be frank, my interest level was wavering until the final, tantalising introduction of some elements of mystery, heh, and a wizard and some elves).
Nevertheless, it is a promising start to an epic undertaking. The artist (Brett Booth, I believe) has created a gorgeously detailed rendition of Feist’s feudal world. You can tell that he loves his work.
Pug is a hapless young kitchen hand (and orphan) who is more than he appears to be. His friend, Tomas is his protector from bullies. Tomas’ father, the castle cook, sends Pug to gather seafood from the beach, where he imprudently falls asleep and wakes hours later …
The threats faced by Pug in this issue are all fairly common: bullies, the elements, animals. When he meets the wizard Kulgan, and his firedrake Fantus (the issue’s best scenes, IMHO), we get the insight that the action is going to get a lot more interesting …
As I said, it’s a promising beginning, and the only real problem I found was that I wanted to read more right away. If you’re a fan of Feist, and of epic fantasy, I’m sure you’ll want to check this out!
