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virginiacjacobs's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this book because I had read somewhere, that before the Harry Potter series was published, Neil Gaiman wrote this book about a boy with glasses who was guided through a magical world, and even had an owl. That's about where the similarities ended, but that's not why I'm giving this book two stars. Graphic novels don't really do much for me--I can't connect with the characters, and unlike picture books for kids, I usually don't find that the illustrations add much to the story.
wheresthebirds's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
megb64's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
vanquishingvolumes's review against another edition
3.0
This would probably be more of a hit for those who are more fully immersed in the DC Comic world - specifically Constantine and Sandman. I knew enough based on movies and general pop culture knowledge to sort of understand who these characters were, but I definitely felt disconnected from the world as we meet a plethora of DC Comic characters as well as legendary characters of myth. It wasn’t a bad read, I just felt lost.
panelparty's review against another edition
2.0
Wow, I did not enjoy this at all. Maybe I'm just not well-versed enough in DC to get all the references, but this was annoying to read. I found the plot pointless, the art all over the place, and the characters pretty universally unlikable (other than Yo-Yo the owl). I'm beginning to think that while I love his prose, I really don't like Neil Gaiman as a comics author - I've yet to be impressed with anything of his in comic form.
lookhome's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely introduction into Gaiman's world of magic.
This book provides peak into time, place and the ever present potential and possibilities of choice.
Overall a seductive read and a very strong graphic novel.
Strongly recommended to those that enjoyed The Sandman, The Prestige and Hellblazer
This book provides peak into time, place and the ever present potential and possibilities of choice.
Overall a seductive read and a very strong graphic novel.
Strongly recommended to those that enjoyed The Sandman, The Prestige and Hellblazer
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
2.0
I'm a long-time fan of Gaiman's work, and "Books Of Magic" has long been praised by my friends who doused themselves in Vertigo books in the last century. I've been told that the series goes well-down hill after Gaiman's original run, but I'm finding that hard to believe.
This is a very pretty book by a series of interesting artists that fails to tell a story. It's a premise. It's a premise about magic that gets its head entirely up its own ass while trying to establish a character. But instead of characters with personality, we just get explanations for what magic is and a very cursory introduction to a slew of DC Universe magic characters such as Doctor Fate, Deadman, and The Spectre, while a bunch of personalitiless Mystery Magic characters (one of them named Mister E...ugh), and a barely recognizable John Constantine try and get the blank slate kid to either accept magic or deny its powers. That's the book. It's a one-issue lead in to a larger story, except that it's four long issues.
It's weird to think that this is the same person who was simultaneously working on Sandman. Whereas that book plunged you into an intricate story, and made magic and myths seem effortless, this book is more like being dragged behind a tour bus where the world's dullest narrator fails to make you appreciate the beautiful landscape you're being dragged through.
I can't really recommend this book, which is a bummer. I'm making a continuity of books worth reading from The Sandman Universe, and including the introduction of Tim Hunter, as written by Neil Gaiman, seems like a necessary entry. But I can't recommend this. It's mind numbingly dull.
This is a very pretty book by a series of interesting artists that fails to tell a story. It's a premise. It's a premise about magic that gets its head entirely up its own ass while trying to establish a character. But instead of characters with personality, we just get explanations for what magic is and a very cursory introduction to a slew of DC Universe magic characters such as Doctor Fate, Deadman, and The Spectre, while a bunch of personalitiless Mystery Magic characters (one of them named Mister E...ugh), and a barely recognizable John Constantine try and get the blank slate kid to either accept magic or deny its powers. That's the book. It's a one-issue lead in to a larger story, except that it's four long issues.
It's weird to think that this is the same person who was simultaneously working on Sandman. Whereas that book plunged you into an intricate story, and made magic and myths seem effortless, this book is more like being dragged behind a tour bus where the world's dullest narrator fails to make you appreciate the beautiful landscape you're being dragged through.
I can't really recommend this book, which is a bummer. I'm making a continuity of books worth reading from The Sandman Universe, and including the introduction of Tim Hunter, as written by Neil Gaiman, seems like a necessary entry. But I can't recommend this. It's mind numbingly dull.
kellylynnthomas's review against another edition
4.0
There are those who claim J.K. Rowling based Harry Potter on Tim Hunter and the books of magic. Yes, they look similar, but really, that's it. Well I guess they both find out they have magical powers when they're young and then have to deal with that, but these books actually have some depth (sorry J.K., I do like Harry Potter, too!).
And you know what they say, there's no such thing as an original idea!
And you know what they say, there's no such thing as an original idea!
saltcity's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0