Review: Rise of the Magi #1 - Beautifully Magical

RISE OF THE MAGI #1

Writer: Marc Silvestri
Artists: Sumeyye Kesgin and Marc Silvestri
Colorist: Betsy Gonia
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Editor: Betsy Gonia
Art Assists: Bridget Silvestri
Assist’s Assistants: Monkey and Pickles Silvestri
Publisher: Top Cow Productions

Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Betsy Gonia
Cover B: Stjepan Sejic
Cover C: Sumeyye Kesgin and Betsy Gonia
Cover D Retail Incentive BW: Marc Silvestri

On Sale: June 4, 2014
Pages: 32 Full Color
Price: $3.50

A small black sphere contains all the magic that exists past, present, and future. Without it, two worlds would not survive. The sphere has been protected for centuries by a spell that was believed unbreakable. A common man in the world of magic discovers the spell has been breeched and a small chip of the black sphere has been stolen.

It is thought a piece of sphere so small as to be unseen by the naked eye would be enough to crush all mankind. Someone has taken enough to fill the palm of one’s hand and fled from the world of magic into the world of man and only the very common Asa Stonethrow can find him. Asa thought saving two worlds was his great burden, until he meets a girl.

The world we know is at risk because the world we don’t see, the one that makes ours possible, is on the brink of destruction. Marc Silvestri, the co-creator of THE DARKNESS and WITCHBLADE and the creator of CYBER FORCE, presents a new fantasy adventure series set in both worlds in which we live. The Magi are awake and they are legion, and only seven magicians, sorcerers, thieves and killers can stop them. But as Asa Stone will soon find out, among thieves, there is no honor.

When I read the FCBD I was struck by how obvious it was that Marc Silvestri was enjoying writing this story, but that was just a teaser. The first official issue of this new series glows with the fun he is having. It’s in the little details sprinkled throughout this issue. Sadly for me to start talking about these would constitute spoilers, which you will not find here. Oh, wait there is one example I can give that is not a spoiler… the name Bloop, if that name doesn’t say ‘fun’ then I don’t know what name does.

The bonus for fans of Marc’s art was circumstances coming together in such a way to have Marc doing the interior art for the second chapter of this first issue. When I first heard that the art duties would be split in this issue between Sumeyye Kesgin, who impressed with how well her style fit in the FCBD issue and Marc I wondered if his art would overshadow hers. I am happy to say though it was easy for me to identify who drew which portion of the book, the hand off was not jarring at all. Not an easy thing to accomplish but very well done. I look forward to seeing more of Sumeyye’s art as she continues on with Rise of the Magi. As much as I might wish for Marc to continue doing interiors, I look forward to seeing where they do go with the art, whether Sumeyye will eventually take on doing the full book, or they manage to find an artist to split the art duties with her as well as Marc did. Regardless I am sure we will enjoy the ride.

There is one thing I will say, and I won’t tell you where in the book to find this, but you should know when you see it. There is one page that I encourage you to look at very carefully and closely to see how many of the fun things buried within the art you find.

Rise of the Magi is your opportunity to get in on a new Marc Silvestri series as it hit the stores. No need to know anything that’s gone before, no concern about how it fits with ongoing continuity. Just a fun story, beautiful art and Bloop! One that I highly recommend you pick up and tell your friends to check it out as well.

For story, for art, for the smiles and the fun this book deserves more than a 10/10 but even with magic on it’s side it doesn’t seem to be able to make math work differently (for now) so a 10/10 it shall be. This is yet another Top Cow title that belongs on the Must Read List.

I do wonder if Top Cow has managed to scrape a little bit of that magic and stash it in their vault as they seem to be coming up with quite a few amazing titles that end up on my Must Read list.