Books of magic comics are a popular genre of literature that combines the elements of magic and fantasy with the visual storytelling of comics. These comics typically feature a young protagonist who discovers that they have magical abilities and must navigate a magical world full of mystical creatures, spells, and adventures. One of the most well-known books of magic comics is "The Books of Magic" series created by Neil Gaiman. This series follows the journey of a young boy named Timothy Hunter, who is visited by four magical beings representing different aspects of the magical world – The Phantom Stranger, John Constantine, Doctor Occult, and Mister E. They take Timothy on a journey through time and space, introducing him to various magical realms and teaching him about the different magical traditions and powers. Another popular series in the books of magic genre is "Harry Potter" created by J.
The art style of each issue has been chosen excellently to reflect the mood of the chapters. John Bolton’s art is grainy like an old photo and shady like a memory, which is appropriate for an issue dealing with the past. Scott Hampton’s watercolors are more grounded for the sequence set in the modern America, but still just eerie enough to remind us that we are dealing with the supernatural. The third issue illustrated by Charles Vess differs from the other three the most. The more defined lines and friendlier colors are reminiscent of old storybook illustrations, but just like old fairytales, there is a sinister edge to this Fairy Land too. The series is finished off by Paul Johnson, whose style is the most garish, befitting for the end of the world. In some panels this edginess does go a bit overboard, as Timothy’s face looks like a middle-aged man.
John Constantine, Phantom Stranger, Mister E, and Doctor Occult attempt to aid Timothy in choosing his path, but by the time Timothy makes a choice, it may already have been made for him. 8 Books of Magic 1 1990 DC Comics Neil Gaiman VF- Combine Shipping 10 BOOKS OF MAGIC,THE MINI SERIES 1 VERY GOOD CONDITION COMIC BOOK 12 DC Comics The Books of Magic Book One of Four Neil Gaiman John Bolton 47 BOOKS OF MAGIC 1 - CGC 8.
Another popular series in the books of magic genre is "Harry Potter" created by J.K. Rowling.
Comic Book / The Books of Magic
The Books of Magic is a comic book series set in the DC Universe's Vertigo imprint, created by Neil Gaiman. It was originally conceived as a "tour" of DC's magical universe, showing off important supervillain and superhero figures, the magical realms, laying down the basic rules of magic, and showing the history of the universe and magic in it from start to finish. The concept was introduced in a 4 issue mini-series written by Gaiman, lasting from January to April, 1991.
The books begin with four famous magicians from DC's history meeting Timothy Hunter, a poor adolescent British boy with messy, dark hair and coke-bottle glasses, who is destined to be the supreme avatar of magic of the age, on par with Merlin in the Dark Ages. They show him everything they know about magic, and at first he refuses the call but then accepts.
After the four-part series, Tim got a continuation of the title written by John Ney Rieber, focusing much more upon himself and the forces dealing with him rather than the DC Universe (this was around the same time the Vertigo line was distancing itself from stuff in the DCU). Unlike, say, Harry Potter, Tim does not immediately start taking magic lessons; instead, he wanders around, wondering what to do with his life now that it has irrevocably become more bizarre, and dealing with all sorts of hard situations.
Everyone and everything he meets wants to use Tim for their own purposes or kill him (except, obviously, Death herself), including demons, fairies, and angels. Tim's friends and family are targeted by supernatural forces beyond imagining in attempts to get Tim to agree to a Magically-Binding Contract to own his soul and power. And everything gets really, really weird.
The ongoing series lasted for 75 issues (May, 1994 - August, 2000), and had three annuals and a two-issue crossover miniseries with Hellblazer. It was followed up with a five-part mini-series by Dylan Horrocks called Names of Magic (February - June, 2001), in which Tim is admitted to "The White School", in the vicinity of Gemworld, to study magic in earnest. This served as a transition to another ongoing series written by Horrocks named Hunter — The Age of Magic, which dealt with Tim's last days at the White School, and his life post-graduation. This series lasted for 25 issues (September, 2001 - September, 2003).
There have also been a few spin-off mini-series under the collective title The Books of Faerie, which focus on supporting characters like Titania, Auberon and Molly.
A fifteen-issue Darker and Edgier Alternate Continuity series by Si Spencer called The Books Of Magick: Life During Wartime (July, 2004 - December, 2005) depicted an alternate Tim Hunter — as well as alternate versions of Molly, John Constantine and Zatanna) — caught in a war between the Born (the Faeries) and the Bred (the humans).
Another version of Tim showed up in the main DCU during the New 52 in a Justice League Dark storyline.
In 2018, a new series by Kat Howard started up, as part of the Gaiman-curated Sandman Universe imprint. This series is somewhat of a Soft Continuity Reboot; events from the original series (particularly the miniseries) are referenced, but this new series starts again with (yet another) twelve year old Tim who is still in school and still trying to figure out how this entire "magician" thing is supposed to work.
Although the Harry Potter series is primarily known for its novels, it has also been adapted into a successful comic book series. The comics follow the story of Harry Potter, a young wizard who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and battles against the Dark Lord Voldemort. Books of magic comics often appeal to readers who enjoy stories of adventure, mystery, and magic. The combination of visual art and storytelling allows readers to immerse themselves in a fantastical world where anything is possible. These comics often explore themes of self-discovery, the power of imagination, and the importance of friendship and loyalty. In addition to "The Books of Magic" and "Harry Potter," there are many other notable books of magic comics such as "Saga," "The Wicked + The Divine," "Fables," and "The Sandman." Each of these series offers its own unique take on the genre, exploring different magical worlds, concepts, and characters. Overall, books of magic comics offer readers a thrilling and imaginative experience filled with wonder, adventure, and magic. Whether it's through the pages of a comic book or the panels of a graphic novel, these stories continue to captivate readers of all ages with their enchanting tales of magic and fantasy..
Reviews for "The Magical Art of Comic Book Illustration: A Journey Behind the Scenes"
1. John - 1 star - I was really disappointed with the "Books of Magic" comic. The storyline felt convoluted and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth and development. Additionally, the artwork was subpar and lacked the detail and creativity I expect from a comic. I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story and ultimately didn't enjoy the reading experience at all. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this comic to anyone looking for a captivating and well-executed story.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had heard good things about "Books of Magic" before picking it up, but I have to say I was quite underwhelmed. The pacing was off, and the plot felt disjointed and rushed. It seemed like the writers were trying to cram too much into a limited number of pages, and as a result, the story didn't have a chance to develop properly. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be awkward and unrealistic, which further deterred my enjoyment of the comic. While the concept itself had potential, the execution fell flat for me.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "Books of Magic" was a letdown for me. The art style didn't resonate with me, and I found it difficult to connect with the characters. The paneling and layout were also confusing at times, making it hard to follow the flow of the story. The dialogue felt forced, and the writing lacked depth and nuance. Overall, I felt detached from the narrative and couldn't fully immerse myself in the world they were trying to create. It's unfortunate as I had high hopes for this comic, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.