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elinahe's review against another edition
3.0
Estoy sumamente preocupada por tantas cosas similares qué tiene harry potter con este comic...... Pero dejando eso de lado, es muy lento, demasiado introductorio aunque es entretenido en cierta manera.
levibaus's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this one was pretty good. At times, it seemed a little run-of-the-mill or standard. Though, at other times, I appreciated how Gaiman brought some various characters together. I really like that some of the Sandman characters that I am getting to know in that series showed up in here as well. Overall, I liked this book, but it wasn't quite as engrossing as his other work.
ALSO, Charles Vess is a fantastic artist!! Incredible!
ALSO, Charles Vess is a fantastic artist!! Incredible!
coboshimself_'s review against another edition
4.0
“Science is a way of talking about the universe in words that bind it to a common reality.
Magic is a method of talking to the universe in words that it cannot ignore.
The two are rarely compatible.”
An ode to DC's and Vertigo's world of magic. Neil Gaiman's love for myth and stories come through in this tale about a twelve year old boy, exploring what magic is and what it represents with the help of four trench coated men.
Written before Harry Potter was a thing, the story is reminiscent of Harry's tale. In this case, Tim, our protagonist, most make his choice regarding whether he wants to involve himself with the occult or if he thinks it to be too much for him. Characters like John Constantine, the Phantom Stranger, Doctor Fate and more will show Tim the wonders of magic, what it can do and the cost it has on a person.
Travelling from England to America, from the Big Bang to the end of Time and from Hell to Faerie this story has a sense of wonder for what lives underneath out feet. I had not experienced this in quite some time. With help of the stunning art in the book, Gaiman is able to marvel me once more.
Magic is a method of talking to the universe in words that it cannot ignore.
The two are rarely compatible.”
An ode to DC's and Vertigo's world of magic. Neil Gaiman's love for myth and stories come through in this tale about a twelve year old boy, exploring what magic is and what it represents with the help of four trench coated men.
Written before Harry Potter was a thing, the story is reminiscent of Harry's tale. In this case, Tim, our protagonist, most make his choice regarding whether he wants to involve himself with the occult or if he thinks it to be too much for him. Characters like John Constantine, the Phantom Stranger, Doctor Fate and more will show Tim the wonders of magic, what it can do and the cost it has on a person.
Travelling from England to America, from the Big Bang to the end of Time and from Hell to Faerie this story has a sense of wonder for what lives underneath out feet. I had not experienced this in quite some time. With help of the stunning art in the book, Gaiman is able to marvel me once more.
frosthetix's review against another edition
I must admit at first I was a bit confused by it all but I thought the world building is absolutely fantastic!! The art is really stunning, and the way different artists illustrated each book gives the chapters different vibes as well. I really enjoyed the story, and since I didn't know what universe this was set in when I picked up this book, Yay, another Neil book finished!! (when will I complete his bibliography)
Spoiler
Morpheus and Death's appearances really surprised me!! They're my absolute favorite Sandman characters so it was such a delight just to see them (I know I should have saw it coming when John Constantine appeared but I don't know why I didn't make the connection). I'm interested to continue reading the Books of Magic comics and to see how they're connected to the Sandman universe (it's DC but you know what I mean).factolvictor's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing, amazing... Reading this book after having read almost all other books by Neil Gaiman was quite invigorating. I definitely prefer Gaiman's graphic novels (Sandman, Death and The Books of Magic, etc) than his books, especially because of the difference in format, besides, of course, the narrative combined with great artists. John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Charles Vess and Paul Johnson elevate this graphic novel to a new level, transforming it into a must-read fpor everyone who loves Comics.
I can easily remember Rowling's Harry Potter and Le Guin's Sparrowhawk when learning magic, but it's Timothy Hunter who comes close to our mundane reality. It is precisely our proximity to Hunter which gives the book one of the best qualities of the Fantasy genre, which is to establish a dialectical and quite interesting relationship between the reader and the main character when dealing with the fantastic. The Books of Magic is a masterpiece after all, easily getting alongside Sandman (unfortunately I can not say the same about the author's books).
I can easily remember Rowling's Harry Potter and Le Guin's Sparrowhawk when learning magic, but it's Timothy Hunter who comes close to our mundane reality. It is precisely our proximity to Hunter which gives the book one of the best qualities of the Fantasy genre, which is to establish a dialectical and quite interesting relationship between the reader and the main character when dealing with the fantastic. The Books of Magic is a masterpiece after all, easily getting alongside Sandman (unfortunately I can not say the same about the author's books).
graewood's review against another edition
2.0
Yee. This was... weird?
*scratches head*
I think you need you know the backstories of specific comic book characters to appreciate the quick intro/cameo and references. since, I'm not, I was overwhelmed.
Nothing really happens. some random english kid gets told he was magic and then went on an interdimensional road trip across time and space with each of these four trenchcoat dudes who are the same dude just with slightly different coats. and they just meandered through every nooks and crannies of the magical side of DCU. that's it. pretty boring. not a good story. The third issue, on the world of faerie, was great tho.
*scratches head*
I think you need you know the backstories of specific comic book characters to appreciate the quick intro/cameo and references. since, I'm not, I was overwhelmed.
Nothing really happens. some random english kid gets told he was magic and then went on an interdimensional road trip across time and space with each of these four trenchcoat dudes who are the same dude just with slightly different coats. and they just meandered through every nooks and crannies of the magical side of DCU. that's it. pretty boring. not a good story. The third issue, on the world of faerie, was great tho.
carroq's review against another edition
4.0
I tend to like Gaiman's writing, so it isn't a surprise that I enjoyed this book. It fits neatly between the greater DC Universe and Gaiman's Sandman series, drawing in characters from both to tell the story of a young man that might be able to learn magic. Four magicians come together to act as guides for Hunter to introduce him to the world of magic. I was familiar with two of the four guides prior to reading this book and didn't bother looking up anything about the other two.
The characters that I knew before picking this up were presented well. Their personalities definitely come through. I loved the different landscapes that Hunter is taken through. Each one is distinct and the art is fantastic in showing that. Is there much of a point to this story? Not really. Maybe something comes of Hunter's journey in another book, I'm not sure. But it is the journey itself that makes this book worth reading. It gives more substance to the worlds and characters that are presented and made me want to read more about them.
The characters that I knew before picking this up were presented well. Their personalities definitely come through. I loved the different landscapes that Hunter is taken through. Each one is distinct and the art is fantastic in showing that. Is there much of a point to this story? Not really. Maybe something comes of Hunter's journey in another book, I'm not sure. But it is the journey itself that makes this book worth reading. It gives more substance to the worlds and characters that are presented and made me want to read more about them.
jayspa65's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As all things Neil Gaiman, this was a treat to read. There aren't words for me to explain the dark beauty and truth he captures and conveys in every story he creates. Many familiar faces from Sandman and the rest of the DC pantheon appear in the Books of Magic, but you need no prior knowledge to read this story that ultimately stands alone. My only complaint is that I didn't find it sooner... but everything "new" I discover of Neil Gaiman's work is a cause for joy. Long story short, read the damn thing. What's not to like?