Rise of the Magi #1
Written by Marc Silvestri
Art by Sumeyye Kesgin and Marc Silvestri
Colors by Betsy Gonia
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Marc Silvestri
Image Comics | Top Cow Productions, Inc.
Release Date: June 4, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50 (Digital $2.99)

Think back to when you were a kid and saw The Dark Crystal, or read The Hobbit for the first time. Can you recall that thrill of adventure? Do you remember the electric buzz of excitement you got as these fantastical worlds filled your imagination? If you’re looking for a way to capture the pure joy of wild, magical adventures once again, get yourself a copy of Rise of the Magi #1.

Our story begins with a young Asa Stone, who leads a quiet life in the world of Rune, where everyone has magic powers. Even Asa, though his only ability is fixing magic carpets. Not quite the skill set needed for a life of high adventure.

Asa’s brother on the other hand, Raye, is a Spellguard in the Crystal City, where the mysterious and powerful Orb is held. The Orb is the “condensed source of all magic in existence.” When The Orb falls into the hands of a traitor to the Spellguard, Asa is commanded by his brother to keep a small piece of The Orb safe. He does this by having Asa sent, Orb chunk in pocket, to another time and place, far from the magical world of Rune.

Rise of the Magi #1 hits all the right notes of adventurous, spell-casting goodness. It evokes the feel of the great sword-and-sorcery stories, without feeling dated or musty.

The writing by Marc Silvestri, and the art by Sumeyye Kesgin and Silvestri, is witty and energetic. Together they turn what could be an average fantasy story into a real page-turner.

The book does suffer a bit from some jokes that fall flat, and the pacing in the beginning isn’t as taut as it is later on in the story, but those are minor quibbles on what turns out to be an incredibly fun read.