Smoke and Mirrors #3
Script by Mike Costa
Art by Ryan Browne
Illusions by Jon Armstrong
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Color Assists by Aaron Daly
Covers by Ryan Browne, Francesco Francavilla
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Imagine, if you will, a world where magic is not just present, but is the primary means by which things are accomplished. Spells are used to make cars move, light up homes, and do pretty much everything for everyone. And like the oil companies of today, this world has its own businesses that enjoy the benefits of being on top and have no interest in changing the status quo. Smoke and Mirrors #3 gives us a bit of insight into the life of someone ripped from our world and suddenly dropped into this other, more magical, one.

Terry Ward is that tragic individual. A stage magician by trade, he is flabbergasted by the way things function in this new place. But as any good performer does, he manages to quickly adapt to the environment and begins to ply his trade. He spends his days in an out of the way marketplace pandering to the crowds. Things that we take for granted, such as the cup and ball trick or hidden coins, are wondrous to these strangers. Earning just enough to stay alive, he spends his time trying to stay under the radar, so to speak. That is, until a young boy named Ethan sees him perform.

Smoke And Mirrors #1
Script by Mike Costa
Art by Ryan Browne
Illusions by Jon Armstrong
Letters by Robbie Robbins
Color Assists by Aaron Daly
Covers by Ryan Browne, Fiona Staples
IDW Publishing
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Who needs electricity when you can have magic?! The first few pages of Smoke And Mirrors #1 takes everyday knowledge and turns it upside down. Suddenly, science is pointless and magical charms are all the rage! But is something more sinister going on here? The game is afoot!

We open to see the spokesman for The Trade Circle giving a speech to a visiting class of children. It enables the reader to become quickly oriented into this altered world that exists with magic as its primary power source. The brief explanation jump starts the story and we watch as one of the students, Ethan, rocks the boat, so to speak. Prying too deeply into the business of The Trade Circle, he quickly finds himself in trouble. But it also ignites the spark that all children have, the spark of curiosity.