Books of Magic: Part 1

[espanolbot]

12 out of 55

Recently discovered the deluxe hardcover of the original Books of Magic series, and being only vaguely familiar with the series that followed it, I've decided to share some of it.

One of the things that I love about this series that I think that reboot lacks? A sense of history.

That is particularly evident in the first book in the series, in which Tim Hunter (whose future occupation, appearance and familiar being almost identical to a certain cashcow that followed some decade later is purely coincidental) is approached by a series of odd men in trenchcoats while skateboarding around a seemingly abandoned council estate...











The Phantom Stranger takes Tim on a trip of the origins of both the universe and of magic, and Tim witnesses both the creation of the universe and meets the last true Atlantean. Being shown several million years of history all at once proves to be a bit too much for the 12 year old though, so PS takes him to meet someone Tom can talk to despite their being partially removed from time whilst on this trip.







They travel forward in time a bit further, coming closer to the present day, where they meet three of the early 20th century magical practitioners (the daughter of second having an appearance in book two). While doing so, he explains the difference between science and magic.









That's Sargon, I don't know much about him other that he died in the same way as Zatara, incinerated in Swamp Thing in an attempt to save the world. Zatara has had more post-mortem appearances though, in Star Man for example. And, wow, Jonathan Ross had Zatanna AND Knight Squire on his show? Aw man, it sounds much more awesome in the old DCU. :(

With the past and origins of magic laid out by the Stranger, the next book has John Constantine taking Tim to the US to meet the contemporary magic users of the DCU...

Comments

[arbre_rieur]

Something I wondered when I first read this: Where was it established that Jason Blood and Merline were childhood friends. I'm assuming Gaiman didn't make it up himself.

[espanolbot]

There connection seems to be fairly long established, as I remember a trade from John Byrne's run where Jason was a druid who lived near Camelot or something... though it might be from the character's origins. I can't really say.

[icon_uk]

Love this series, John Bolton's art is just... fabulous here.

[featheredserpent]

This is one of those trades I bring out when I want to prove to someone the validity of comics as literature/art.

[damar148]

So why are they dragging the kid around? Would think them having better things to do.

[glprime]

He's kind of... the Chosen One. Gross magic potential, the likes of which haven't been felt since Merlin, or even greater.

But nobody knows how he'll use the power. Will he be Good or Evil or Neutral or what? But nobody wants to chance he doesn't discover magic at all, so the various players agree they should at least show him everything about magic they can.

EDIT: the_blue_padre sums it up well.

[red_cyclone]

I need to reread this, it's very good, though quite depressing, it comes under the 'teenagers have depressing things happen to them and deal with them like real teenagers would' genre of YA that people like Siobhan Dowd do so well. Tim is flawed and complicated and has always rung true to me as a troubled teenager, I hope that isn't changed.

[the_blue_padre]

Greatest premise for a series: The central character is going to be very powerful someday, so before that power is made manifest, the guardians of that power decide to educate the young neophyte in what this power can do, and what it wil cost. This particular series is a fantastic travelogue of the old DCU, and its the second thing I read that Gaiman wrote, but the first that made me undertand what a gift he was to DC at the time.

[lissa_quon]

Oh hah - this was like the first REAL comic I read.

I was ten and my sis left this laying around not realizing I was going to read anything that I could reach. Shortly after my sister discovered I had enjoyed it, I was then handed the rest of the series and I think some Swamp Thing.

Ah so much nostalgia.

[donnblake]

Ah, the trenchcoat brigade.

[icon_uk]

[donnblake]

Indeed, though Bierce isn't part of the Trenchcoat Brigade proper, as Constantine nicknames the assembly of himself, Phantom Stranger, Dr. Occult and (briefly) Mister E here.

[icon_uk]

I'm aware of who the Trenchcoat Brigade are, but Bierce's comment remains my favourite summary of the concept.

[the_blue_padre]

I always wanted a scene where Ralph Dibny was recruited to "join" the trenchcoat brigade...just because someone wanted him to cover up that hideous purple/white costume.

[icon_uk]

He wasn't the only one I suspect

[kraesil]

That art is to die for, imao.