Imagine a world where anything is possible. A world where magic exists and dreams can come true. This is the world that can be experienced when one harnesses the power within themselves. We often underestimate the magic that lies within us. We go through our lives, following routines and settling for what seems to be the norm. We forget that we have the power to create our own realities, to shape our lives into something extraordinary.
We forget that we have the power to create our own realities, to shape our lives into something extraordinary. We forget that within us lies the potential to make magic happen. But what does it mean to have the magic within us? It means believing in ourselves and our abilities.
Comic Book Review: ‘Amulet,’ Volumes 1 to 8
Amulet , written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi. 8 vols. New York: Scholastic | Graphix, 2008 – 2018 .
Amulet may be both the best and the worst thing to happen to children’s comics in the last ten years.
We have here before us one of the most ambitions, beautiful, and arresting graphic novel series for young readers that anyone has ever made. Although it starts with a bang and immediately sucks the reader in, by the time it reaches its not-conclusion in the most recent volumes, the story has petered out, suggesting that its fledgling creator was not quite as prepared to tackle this epic story as he at first appeared to be.
Kazu Kibuishi has few titles to his name; in fact, he’s known for Amulet and almost nothing else. Nonetheless, he was the editor of the Flight anthology, which is still just about the best thing that’s ever happened to comics. Over time, Flight morphed into Explorer, an anthology aimed explicitly at young readers. At a time when so much of fiction for children and youth is designed for political indoctrination, Kibuishi appears to be a man concerned for what children actually need—good, solid stories full of heroes and villains and serious decisions that transcend the fads and fashions and worries of the moment.
Amulet transcends itself.
That being said, in spite of what are apparently the best intentions, he appears in Amulet to have bitten off more than he can chew.
When Amulet made its debut in 2008, it shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, and for good reason. With a unique art style that finds a happy medium between careful detail and the overly simplified “CalArts” style, Kibuishi presents a tale for children that pulls no punches and reads like horror: The first volume opens with a young girl, Emily, watching helplessly as her father falls to his death. Two years later, she moves with her family into the decrepit house once owned by her eccentric great-grandfather; there, she finds a magical amulet, and shortly thereafter, a tentacled abomination grabs her mother and hauls her through a door in the basement. Emily and her brother Navin chase the monster into a parallel world called Alledia, a world full of robots, Rube Goldberg machines, and deadly monsters. Emily’s amulet grants her telekinetic abilities, but it also talks to her, playing games with her mind and constantly tempting her to sell her soul for power.
Emily gets all tempted and stuff.
Although intense for children, that’s seriously good stuff. The first volume of Amulet will leave your fingernails ragged and make your butt sore from sitting on the edge of your seat.
Although unable to equal the raw intensity of Book 1, the subsequent volumes are mostly pretty good. Starting off as a brooding horror, Amulet later settles into a more conventional epic fantasy with steampunk trappings. Emily, Navin, and their mom meet a wide array of characters including elves and furries, all while getting caught in the middle of a war involving kaiju and humongous mecha. Emily gains greater and greater power while also coming increasingly under the influence of the sinister voice that speaks to her through her magical stone.
Difficult subjects for children.
The great flaw of Amulet is that Kazu Kibuishi is clearly a huge fan of fantasy and science fiction. He has obviously consumed a large number of popular works in these genres, but like other enthusiasts (I am thinking particularly of Christopher Paolini’s Aragon or the late Monty Oum’s RWBY ), he has consumed more works than he has digested. Kibuishi borrows elements form Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, The Last Airbender, and probably a host of other sources, but has not given sufficient thought to how these various elements might fit together.
Throughout the series, a careful reader will notice problems in consistency. For example, midway through the series, we learn that the elvish empire has destroyed a city called Frontera. A couple of volumes later, a handful of protagonists use their wiles to finagle their way onto a commercial airship headed for Frontera—because Kibuishi did not, apparently, consider how a major war and the total destruction of a city might disrupt commercial air traffic.
That particular detail is forgivable, but the series goes completely off the rails at the end of Volume 7. Although the entire series had represented this alien world of Alledia as steampunkish in technology, at the end of the seventh book, the heroes are suddenly boarding a spaceship.
When I read that, I thought Kibuishi was making a major mistake. That he took two full years to release the eighth volume deepened my suspicions that he had written himself into a corner he couldn’t get out of. Nonetheless, I crossed my fingers and held out hope that he knew what he was doing.
He didn’t know what he was doing. I am virtually alone in this (simply look at the glowing reviews on Amazon ), but the eighth and penultimate volume of this series is an unbelievable letdown.
This series has over seven volumes established a particular character as a major villain. The heroine deals with that villain anticlimactically. The series has promised us a major war between a ruthless invading force and a ragged band of rebels. The war ends anticlimactically without a major battle. The characters who blasted off into space were trained mech pilots on their way to pilot mechs in a last stand against implacable invaders. Instead of fighting from their mechs, they spend most of the volume visiting a farm while riding dirt bikes.
There’s a major fight in which many people die—and it happens entirely off the page. That is an astounding blunder for a series that has until now been full to the gills with heavy action.
I honestly don’t know what to make of this. In spite of some plot holes and rammed-together fantasy tropes, Kibuishi seemed, up this point, pretty good at avoiding the kinds of elementary mistakes he blunders into in the eighth book. He promises at the end that Book 9 will finish off the series—though he took a long time to release Book 8, and it’s anybody’s guess when the final volume will appear.
One thing Amulet has regardless of the story is gorgeous, carefully detailed artwork, although that is largely due to Photoshop rather than Kibuishi’s line work. Still, multiple full-page or two-page spreads are arresting with their sweeping views of rugged landscapes, airships, and fantastical cities. The art alone makes Amulet worth it.
Also, in spite of my criticism, this is the kind of series that will make you neglect your obligations: I sat down with all eight books and plowed through the whole thing, forgetting other duties in the meantime. Even the weak penultimate volume still offers a fair amount of entertainment, though it resolves several conflicts without sufficient drama. I will undoubtedly devour the ninth and final volume when it appears, whether I like it or not.
I do recommend this series, but it’s shaping up to have a poorer conclusion than I’d hoped for.
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It means having the courage to dream big and the determination to make those dreams a reality. It means understanding that we are not limited by the constraints of the world around us, but rather, we have the power to transcend those constraints and create something extraordinary. Having the magic within us also means embracing our uniqueness. Each of us has our own special gifts and talents that make us who we are. It is when we fully embrace these gifts and embrace our true selves that the magic within us truly begins to shine. It is through our authenticity and individuality that we can create something truly magical. But how do we unlock the magic within us? It starts with believing in ourselves. We must have faith in our abilities and in the power we possess. We must let go of doubt and fear and instead embrace the possibilities that lie before us. We must trust in ourselves and in the journey we are on. It requires taking risks and stepping outside of our comfort zones. Magic will not happen if we stay in the same place, doing the same things. We must be willing to take chances and explore new possibilities. This is where the magic happens – in the unknown and uncharted territories. And finally, it requires perseverance. The journey to unlock the magic within us may not be easy. There will undoubtedly be obstacles and challenges along the way. But it is through persistence and determination that we can overcome these challenges and continue on our path to greatness. So, let us not forget the magic that lies within us. Let us embrace our power and belief in ourselves. Let us create our own realities and make magic happen. Let us be the ones who bring light and wonder into the world. For we all have the magic within us, we just need to believe..
Reviews for "Unleash Your Magical Potential: Cultivating Your Hidden Abilities"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Got the Magic in Me". The song had a catchy beat, but the lyrics were extremely repetitive and lacked depth. The artist seemed to rely heavily on auto-tune, and it was difficult to understand any real emotion or connection in the vocals. Overall, I found the song to be generic and forgettable.
2. Sarah - 1/5
"Got the Magic in Me" is a perfect example of everything that's wrong with mainstream music today. The lyrics are cliché and uninspired, and the artist's vocals are unimpressive. The song lacks any real substance or artistic value. I wouldn't waste my time listening to it again.
3. Mike - 3/5
While "Got the Magic in Me" had a catchy melody, I couldn't help but feel like I've heard it all before. The song followed an all-too-familiar formula and offered nothing unique or memorable. The artist's vocals were pedestrian at best, and the lyrics were nothing more than a string of generic clichés. Overall, it was an average and forgettable track.
4. Emma - 2/5
I found "Got the Magic in Me" to be a predictable and unoriginal song. The artist's attempt at creating a catchy tune fell flat, as the melody was derivative and lacked any real creativity. The lyrics were simplistic and lacked depth, resulting in a forgettable listening experience. Overall, it was just another forgettable pop song that failed to leave any lasting impression.