In reading The Magic If, I was reminded of The Fall, the Drawn & Quarterly one shot by Ed Brubaker and Jason Lutes. Not because there's any similarity of plot or subject matter, but because like The Fall, The Magic If is a perfect example of how the single issue can still be used to tell a deep and engaging story. McKenney's tale centers on an amateur magician with jealousy toward a David Blaine analogue, but as the story goes on, it's clear that it's less about the world of magic and more about the relationship between the magician and his assistant. Basically, it's a slice-of-life tale about the difficulties of love and believing in yourself set in an unusual venue, the world of stage magic. The art, by Gervasio and Estudio Haus, is simple, stylish and ideal for the story.
One of the benefits of small press stuff is that I often go in knowing nothing at all about what to expect. No solicitations, no dozens of news stories and interviews, no spoilers, basically. The downside of that is that not enough people know about these books, but the upsides for the lucky readers are considerable. As I started on The Magic If, I thought we might be getting something of a whimsical story of the world of amateur magicians and maybe a critique of how flashy, non-magicians like David Blaine have taken over what used to be a more classy, old-fashioned sort of entertainment. So I was kind of surprised when the story instead became a gay romance drama, and that surprising shift into more serious territory helped to hook me into these characters more.
McKenney writes a great relationship between Wynter and Daniel, and it was easy to relate to these two characters. We've all been the one who is more stressed in a relationship, and we've probably all been the one who had to deal with prickly feelings from a stressed-out partner as well. Despite their different personalities, Daniel being more laid back than Wynter in general, there's definitely a sense that these two belong together, and McKenney does a great job of giving them a sense of history, all without relying on tricks like flashbacks or long talks about their past.
Instead, McKenney's story is set very much in the now, exploring specific moments in time and how they affect the relationship. The Magic If is broken up into four seasons, each season being a short story segment, and each story also features a significant event that shows trouble in the relationship between Wynter and Daniel. There's a lovely subtlety to McKenney's writing, as he knows that sometimes a fight is less about what seems to be upsetting someone (Wynter's obsession with Blaine Danvers) and more about what is unspoken.
Behind the cover, which is by Comic Book Idol finalist Martin Redmond, the art is by Gervasio and Estudio Haus. Gervasio's work reminds me somewhat of a slightly less polished Cliff Chiang, with stylized characters and beautifully detailed backgrounds and a look that maintains the simple flow of "animated" storytelling with the ability to handle more mature subject matter. Despite what could be called a minimalist style in regards to the characters, Gervasio manages to convey a lot of emotion with his characters, whether it's the smarmy attitude of Danvers, the anger between Wynter and Daniel at key moments or the quiet comfort that the two men take in each other's company. Like McKenney, I'd be surprised if we don't see more of Gervasio in the future.
