• About Us
    • Simon
    • Sheldon
    • Kirk
    • Darren
  • Reviews
    • Advanced Reviews
    • Reviews
    • TOP 5 Comics
    • KirkFM’s Top 5
    • Antonio’s Top 5
  • Podcast
    • Pick Of The Week
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
    • Interviews
    • TV/Films
    • Color Commentary
    • Loikamania
  • Videos
    • Kirk FM’s Top 5
    • Did You Catch All That?
    • The Impact
    • Arc Reaction
    • New This Week
    • Impactful Origins
    • Throwback Thursday
    • Smash of the Month
    • Unboxing
    • Comics on Film
  • Features
    • Editorials
    • Artist Spotlight
    • Comics ‘N Coffee
    • Comic Elements
    • Horror on the 13th
    • Sequential Sunday
  • Cosplay
    • Cosplay Spotlight
    • Cosplay Girl of The Month
  • Interviews
    • Video Interviews

Sequential Sunday: Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #1& 2

John Mueller · July 18, 2010 · Sequential Sunday · 0 comments
0

When the first issue of Mouse Guard by David Petersen was published in February 2006 it was clear to see that this was the start of something special, a very singular creation that would find an audience amongst fantasy fans and comic art aficionados. In a post-Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings media world heavily saturated with images of high fantasy, even the most vibrant of magical imagery seems commonplace. This is why a comic series that depicts colonies of intelligent mice struggling to survive in their dark (and often highly dangerous) medieval world feels so grounded and appealing.

Published by Archaia, there have been to date two six issue mini-series with third (The Black Axe) set to debut in September 2010. A comic book title as tightly written and beautifully drawn as this (and all by a single creator) naturally takes a reasonable amount of time to produce. As admirers of this title includes many comics professionals, it is not surprising that other artists and writers would love to give their take on Petersen’s grand creation. This kind of collaboration is what makes Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard such an appealingly lavish endeavor.

Issue one of LOTG opens in the year 1154 in the June Alley Inn a place where both locals and travelers between the mouse territories gather for food and drink. The innkeeper, June, tired of the overdue bar tabs of her thirsty patrons, devises a contest to see who can spin the best tale with the winner newly free of their debt. The scenes at the inn (written and drawn by Petersen) become the bridging segments for the short tales that follow.

MouseGuardLegendsoftheGuard1

The first story of LOTG is then begins in an almost impossibly grand fashion with The Battle of the Hawk’s Mouse and the Fox’s Mouse by Jeremy Bastian. It depicts an earlier age when mice were protective servants to the larger creatures with whom they shared the lush European forests.

Bastian’s meticulously rendered art and complex layouts are astonishing to behold (it was easy for me to name his own title, Cursed Pirate Girl, as the best comic of 2009). This seven page story may well contain the very best art you’ll see in any comic this year.

A Bargain in the Dark by Ted (Courtney Crumrin) Naifeh follows in which a mouse aids an injured bat to the safety of his own kind. Normally sworn enemies, the two share this rare opportunity to learn more about the other.

Issue #1 closes with Oleg the Wise by Scott (Terminal) Keating. Here brave King Oleg chooses to part with his faithful pet and steed, a white weasel, upon the grave advice of a mystic. This story actually hits quite an emotional chord as almost anyone reading can identify the heartbreak or loneliness felt after losing a beloved pet.

The cover of issue #2 features another atmospheric, detail heavy wraparound cover by Petersen. Observant readers will discover that these images, which depict significant moments in mouse history, can be found in the inn segments as background paintings that adorn the tavern walls.

The first tale of #2 is Potential with art by Sean Rubin and a story by Alex Kain. The extremely high quality of the art found in the prior issue is certainly on display again here via Rubin’s near obsessive line work and cross-hatching. Here we see how noble and brave the Guard are as a single member of their league is willing to fight a huge bear to protect a nearby mouse settlement.

MouseGuardLegendsoftheGuard2

Next up is The Shrike and the Toad by acclaimed Strangers In Paradise creator Terry Moore. This particular story may be brief (2 pages), but goes a long way on charm as two mice, trapped in a field with a flock of predator birds overhead, use their ingenuity to get themselves out of a deadly situation.

This second issue of LOTG wraps up with Worley & the Mink featuring a story by Lowell Francis and art by popular DC and Marvel artist Gene Ha. Here we meet Worley, a stubby banker who seems unremarkable on the surface, but is as fearless as any Guard member when it comes to reclaiming what’s his. The quest for his stolen money leads him to the lair of a viscious mink who has been raiding fringe mouse outposts of their goods. Here is where Ha’s art really shines.

The pose of the creature, the details of his garb, and the blobs of ink flying through the air are so believably and dynamically rendered it brings the image near the realm of Photo-Realism. In contrast the forest background is very soft, almost Impressionistic, with warm, hazy sunlight filtering through the trees. This level of concept and execution is very telling of all the art you’ll find in the pages of LOTG.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of this mini-series is that these short stories flesh out Petersen’s already highly detailed and history rich world. This makes the fantastical elements all the more real and believable to the reader, not unlike the great Inn at the World’s End story arc from Gaiman’s Sandman. Yes, this mini-series is that good.

Stay tuned for a future installment of Sequential Sunday when we’ll take a look at the last half of this sterling title when the fourth and final issue hits the stands.

John Mueller

john@comicimpact.com

  Facebook   Pinterest   Twitter   Google+
Alex KainArchaiaDavid PetersenGene HaLowell FrancisMouse GuardMouse Guard Legend of the GuardScott KeatingSean RubinTed NaifehTerry Moore
  • New This Week: December 3rd 2014
    December 02, 2014 · 0 comments
    Do you know what time it is? That’s right, it's time for New This Week! This
    197
    0
    Read more
  • Interview: Christopher Ryder (WonderCon 2012)
    March 22, 2012 · 0 comments
    Susan is kind of awesome when it comes to supporting independent comics. She is
    347
    0
    Read more
  • Pick of The Week: December 10th 2014: Amazing Spider-Man #11
    December 16, 2014 · 0 comments
    Hello Impacters! It's a new week with new books on this Pick of the Week
    265
    0
    Read more

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts
  • test 1
  • TOP 5 Comics: September 16th 2015
  • Pick of the Week: September 9th 2015 Star Wars: Shattered Empire #1
  • Top 5 Comics: September 9th 2015
  • Pick of the Week: September 2nd 2015 Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham #1
Copyright © 2008-2015 ComicImpact.com. All Rights Reserved. Duplication of any material on this site consent and attribution is expressly prohibited.