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MYSTIC TRAVELER EDITION: RITE OF PASSAGE VOL. 1
Mildly Recommended (5/10)
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CG Entertainment
Writer: Ron Marz
Pencils: Brandon Peterson, Claudio Castellini & Steve McNiven
Inks: John Dell, Mark Lipka, Caesar Rodriguez & Andrew Crossley
Colors: Andrew Crossley, JD Smith & Michael Atiyeh
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Price: $9.95 US |
As I've pored through each Crossgen Traveler, I've mostly been struck by the realization that my initial take on most of these books was off-base, but the Mystic Traveler didn't really do much to change my opinion that Mystic just isn't for me. To be sure, Marz has an interesting backdrop here, a world of magic and guilds blended with technology, and the artwork by Brandon Peterson is often just gorgeous, if a little heavy on the cheesecake now and then for my taste. Unfortunately, even in this collection of seven issues, I felt like the story was pretty much standing still, and the characters just didn't develop into anything terribly interesting to me.
Mystic seems like a book without a clear conflict, at least when compared to the strong central stories in some of Marz's other books like Sojourn or Scion. Oh, the intended conflict of this first volume is clear enough, as it pits Giselle and her sister not only against each other but against a long-standing order unwilling to accept change... it's just that this conflict lacks the epic scope that would seem to indicate an ongoing series. Perhaps because of the lack of a larger supporting cast or just my failure to connect with Giselle and Genevieve, I never get the sense that the lead characters are in any physical danger or even in danger of failing at their goals, and the lack of tension hurts the book. It might also be that I felt like the Guild masters aren't really developed much beyond a couple of cliched traits, making them less-than-interesting foes.
As with the other three launch titles from Crossgen, one of the central themes of the story seems to be that the lead is a pawn in a battle between godlike forces. And as with Scion, Giselle's aid from one of these forces comes in the form of an unassuming being in her life. Unfortunately, while Skink in Scion carries a sort of detached nobility and loyalty (not to mention a logical tie to the lead character), Giselle's pet Skitter is a somewhat random introduction and his personality and look reminds me more than anything else of the annoying Snarf from Thundercats. The comic relief of the book just annoys the hell out of me, in other words, or what is known in some fan circles as the "Jar Jar Binks Effect."
Mostly, though, it's just a matter of the story being told in Mystic not having much interest for me. Marz has a fascinating setting here, with magic and technology blending (similar to Scion) in a modern setting (very different). Unfortunately, beyond the Guilds, there's not much exploration of the setting, and so things like flying taxicabs and business cards popping up from thin air become little more than special effects. Which leaves me with a story that doesn't convey a sense of danger to me and features what seems like stilted, false attempts at romantic subplots.
One thing I can't complain about, though, is the artwork, which is gorgeous. Brandon Peterson is currently showing off a new and very impressive art style on Chimera, but the Mystic Traveler shows that he had already stepped up his game when he first came to Crossgen. Peterson and Dell turn in an art style that looks like a blend of George Perez, Adam Hughes and Art Adams, with amazing colors by Andrew Crossley, and guest art by Steve McNiven and Mark Lipka makes for a strong introduction to the well-liked penciller of later issues of Meridian.
This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
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