Review: Rise of the Magi #0 is Pure Magic

Rise of the Magi #0 (including Free Download)

Writer: Marc Silvestri
Artist: Sumeyye Kesgin
Colorist: Jason Smith
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Editor: Betsy Gonia
Publisher: Top Cow Productions

On Sale May 3, 2014
Price: FREE
Format: FC
Rated: Teen Plus

The world as we know it is at risk because the world we don’t see—the one that makes ours possible—is on the brink of destruction. From Top Cow Productions, Image Comics founder and partner Marc Silvestri (THE DARKNESS, WITCHBLADE, CYBER FORCE) and artist Sumeyye Kesgin present a new ongoing fantasy adventure series set in both the worlds—magical and mundane—in which we live. 
 


A small black sphere contains all the magic that exists—past, present, and future. Without it, two worlds would not survive. But someone has done the unimaginable: stolen a piece of the sphere and fled from the world of magic into the world of man. 
 


Now only the very common Asa Stonethrow can find him. Asa thought saving two worlds was great enough a burden… until he meets a girl. 
 


“The unfamiliar, the uncomfortable, and the things that scare us are what make us grow as people,” said Silvestri. “It’s safe then to say that in Rise of the Magi, Asa and a cast of characters both strange and familiar, will be doing a lot of growing.”
 


The Magi are awake and they are legion, and only seven magicians, sorcerers, thieves, and killers can stop them. But as Asa will soon find out that there truly is no honor among thieves.

Is there anything more I can add that Image Comics didn’t say in that? Yes there is. 

You can tell when a writer is truly enjoying telling a story, and that is definitely the case with Rise of the Magi. From the feel of the book, to the posts on Facebook as Marc Silvestri teased images from the story. To speaking with Marc and just seeing him light up as he tell you of Asa, Bloop or the story in general, there is no mistaking that Marc is enjoying himself. Some have even said it is the story he is meant to write.

As for the art, I don’t know how Marc and Top Cow do it. They find these amazing artists around the world that just seem to FIT the story that is being written. That is the case with Sumeyye Kesgin from Turkey. See told you they find artists around the world. Her style just fits this story. Both magical and mystical and plain old fun. There aren’t better words to describe the feeling you get as you look at the art she has brought to Marc’s story. I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of her work in the coming issues. Somebody has been cruel in that he has told me how amazing they look already, cruel in that it just makes me want to see the book that much sooner. But it’s only a few more weeks to issue #1 so I might just barely survive until then.

If you can’t tell from what I have written I loved this book. I was looking forward to it as soon as Marc started teasing images of the covers and the wait for the book was worth it. And the price for a prelude is perfect… FREE Come on even if my words of praise for the book aren’t enough to get you interested isn’t the price one to do it? If you missed picking it up during Free Comic Book Day, don’t worry I have you covered as you can download it for FREE right here (link is at the end of the story). Yes, I said FREE and the download is with permission from Top Cow so no worries about whether it is okay to do or not.

Would I recommend this book to a friend?  Already done several times over.
Would I put this on my Must Read list and recommend others do the same? Yes and Yes

How to score this issue? That’s easy…. For the story I have to give it a 10, For the Art I have to give it a 10. For delivering a story that was promised a 10. I won’t mark down the story not going into much detail as it is a prelude issue, but a normal issue would only get about an 8 for the level of story, this book did what it was supposed to though it laid a base, its a prelude which the regular issues should be able to stand on their own without. I promise however that I will be even harder on this team with future issues so they better not think that just because their prelude issue is getting a perfect score that they can rest on their magical laurels. They need to bring it each issue and they need to exceed my already high expectations. And Marc, as I said at Free Comic Book Day, an awesome Rise of the Magi story won’t buy you any forgiveness for hurting my favorite character in Cyber Force but it could get you high scores here 😛

Final score? 10/10

Related Stories:

• Free Download of Rise of the Magi #0
• Preview: Rise of the Magi #0
• Free Comic Book Day – Earth-2 Comics – Marc Silvestri Version
• Marc Silvestri’s RISE OF THE MAGI a dark fantasy full of magic and mystery
• Rise of the Magi: A Dark Fantasy for Free Comic Book Day