Today is a momentous occasion in the world of comics, if only for the launch of a new Mouse Guard series. While it isn’t a mythology advancing journey created entirely by David Petersen, it gives us new stories in that world from a ton of talented creators who haven’t touched it previously. Not just the creators from this issue, but illustrious writer/artists like Gene Ha and Terry Moore. When it’s all said and done, Legends of the Guard should be another incredible addition to the Mouse Guard universe.
Well, assuming Petersen himself set it up well enough and the creators involved brought their A game. Find out if they did after the jump.
MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1 (of 4)
Written by: Jeremy Bastian, Ted Naifeh, David Petersen and Alex Sheikman
Illustrated by: Jeremy Bastian, Ted Naifeh, David Petersen and Alex Sheikman
Before I started reading this and even when I conceptualized it in my head, I really wondered how David Petersen would bridge each creator’s story into this anthology series logically. I mean, he could just jam them in there and be like “here you go, here is some pretty art that just happens to exist in the world of the Guard.” That would still probably work and still probably sell.
Given that Petersen is far more clever than I, the way he sets it up is not only logical but inspired. It seems the local mice of Barkstone are bad at paying their tabs in the June Valley Inn bar, and the barkeep has come up with an idea as to how one of them could pay it off on their meager wages: tell the best story and your tab is erased. Of course, there are rules. Each story must not be a complete truth nor a complete fabrication and it may not have been told in that tavern before – simple as that.
What follows are three stories that vary wildly in tone and artwork, yet all three still fitting the feel of the Mouse Guard universe. Leading it off was the most divergent from a style standpoint…as well as the best story. While I’m not familiar with Jeremy Bastian’s work, his tale of “The Hawk’s Mouse and The Fox’ Mouse” was a classic one, thematically existing perfectly in the world of the Guard while really highlighting Bastian’s strengths as a creator. It was a touching and powerful story, as well as a visual tour de force. If I were the barkeep in Barkstone, I would have ended the competition then and there.
Ted Naifeh was up next, and his story was my least favorite of the trio. While it was stunning visually and really gave the universe a unique look, it was also the most brief and incomplete feeling story. I believe this was intended because in the bridge part that immediately followed by Petersen, he references the fact the story was incomplete and that would give this mouse two stories to tell. Still, the elements are all there for a magical story, we’re just given one half of an assuredly delightful whole.
Alex Sheikman of Robotika fame wraps up this issue with a beautiful and clever ode called “Oleg the Wise”. While the twist of what he did has been done a time or two, successful recapturing of old ideas is entirely based off of execution. Sheikman is a master of this, providing an intelligent script to go with gorgeous art that most naturally paired with Petersen’s own. While it wasn’t as defiant as Bastian’s or as fiercely original, it was a wondrous creation in its own, and a fitting coda to the first installment of this anthology.
While I had inklings of skepticism gathering inside of me, this first issue reassured me and then some. If the work of creators whom I was unfamiliar with before can be so easy to connect with, I struggle to imagine how much I’ll love the work of people like Ha and Moore. Legends of the Guard is a fine addition to Petersen’s world, and one that I’ll gladly pair with my other Mouse Guard collections when this is all said and done I feel.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – Buy
