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hopeys_journey's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
destdest's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read the first issue, and it held my interest enough that I got the full volume. I dig the art style and the black male magicians. The artwork is gorgeous, stylistic, and colorful. I could do without the N-word, but I enjoy the dialogue. The narrative boxes are a teensy-bit small, so I wish those were bigger. I like the quintessential underdog story, and this is no different though it can be confusing, at times.
The rivalry/connection/brotherhood between Spencer and Aaron, Overseer, the doggone daddy, and the corruption and secrecy of the Aegis is anchoring me to this story. I want more of Monique too.
The rivalry/connection/brotherhood between Spencer and Aaron, Overseer, the doggone daddy, and the corruption and secrecy of the Aegis is anchoring me to this story. I want more of Monique too.
meepelous's review
2.0
While there's an obvious colour scheme and style going through the book, I would not say that the volume is heavily stylised or anything. It does come across as a bit cold, but that does fit with the theme of estranged father son relationships I guess?
Gender was a pretty big theme in the book. As I said, the plot line is about an estranged father son relationship. Mother cares but is often pushed to the side because of "the blood line" overtones. While I certainly didn't hate the book for it, this ongoing very pseudo traditional idea of the chosen one, blood and father headship really did rub me the wrong way throughout. It also didn't help that I felt like these things were more told to me, rather then shown. Like how much longer it took Spencer to come into his own, for example, is apparently a huge rift between him and his father, but we jump right through that and only briefly reference it later. I guess in pursuit of the "big" plot points? I don't know.
Race is also an obvious point of focus for the book.
Class isn't really discussed, because everyone seems pretty well off. Not a chosen one story about a journey to the top, it's more about the risk that Spencer may be on a journey downward. But then he challenges the status quo.
Ability and disability is perhaps flirted with, given that Spender's potential to not have the magical ability his father is looking for would place him beneath perfectly able. But, as I said, that's brushed over somewhat inexplicably.
Couldn't help seeing all the connections between this and Monday's review, Bitter Root. Ultimately, Bitter Root was a bit more for me but there's plenty of people out there who also enjoy this title. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, do not hesitate to pick it up. Two out of five stars is pretty low for some people, but in my book OK is still a decent rating.
Gender was a pretty big theme in the book. As I said, the plot line is about an estranged father son relationship. Mother cares but is often pushed to the side because of "the blood line" overtones. While I certainly didn't hate the book for it, this ongoing very pseudo traditional idea of the chosen one, blood and father headship really did rub me the wrong way throughout. It also didn't help that I felt like these things were more told to me, rather then shown. Like how much longer it took Spencer to come into his own, for example, is apparently a huge rift between him and his father, but we jump right through that and only briefly reference it later. I guess in pursuit of the "big" plot points? I don't know.
Race is also an obvious point of focus for the book.
Class isn't really discussed, because everyone seems pretty well off. Not a chosen one story about a journey to the top, it's more about the risk that Spencer may be on a journey downward. But then he challenges the status quo.
Ability and disability is perhaps flirted with, given that Spender's potential to not have the magical ability his father is looking for would place him beneath perfectly able. But, as I said, that's brushed over somewhat inexplicably.
Couldn't help seeing all the connections between this and Monday's review, Bitter Root. Ultimately, Bitter Root was a bit more for me but there's plenty of people out there who also enjoy this title. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, do not hesitate to pick it up. Two out of five stars is pretty low for some people, but in my book OK is still a decent rating.
vermilious's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ruthsic's review
4.0
Warnings: violent physical assault, sick family member, child abuse
Rep: Black main characters
With the setting of a secret magicians' society, and a generation war with a young Black magician out to challenge the system, this book was already something I was quite excited to read. The story is about Spencer, who comes from one of the 10 elite families who make up the Aegis' tree of magicians; only the male members of the family are allowed to learn magic, and even then only for the purpose of approved causes. Each of the young men who advance are assigned a target - they are essentially unseen guardian angel magicians who make sure that these 'targets' have no speedbumps on their road to greatness. When Spencer wants to use the magic to instead help his ailing grandmother, he is punished by the Aegis and his father, until the time comes that he start to take matters into his own hands.
Spencer's arc is a complicated one, filled with insecurity, daddy issues and poor impulse control. His journey is shown through his childhood and teenage years, as he continues to labor under a demanding father who manipulates him because of the former being late to come into his power. With a burden of family name warring with the privilege it provides, Spencer walks a thin line between being cautious and impulsive. His even more complicated relationship with his father's protege, who should be like a brother to him, but was pitted against him, is a significant character arc that was explored quite well in this first volume.
The artwork is a vibrant chaos of colors, with dramatic lighting that sometimes helps and sometimes hinders the emotional value of the scene. The magic and action scenes, however, are perfect in their composition and coloring! The expansive world constructed into this story is shown splendidly by the art, and character design is so cool, I'm quite in love with the style!
Overall - an expansive story with attention to character arcs, combined with eye-catching artwork.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Image Comics, via Edelweiss.
Rep: Black main characters
With the setting of a secret magicians' society, and a generation war with a young Black magician out to challenge the system, this book was already something I was quite excited to read. The story is about Spencer, who comes from one of the 10 elite families who make up the Aegis' tree of magicians; only the male members of the family are allowed to learn magic, and even then only for the purpose of approved causes. Each of the young men who advance are assigned a target - they are essentially unseen guardian angel magicians who make sure that these 'targets' have no speedbumps on their road to greatness. When Spencer wants to use the magic to instead help his ailing grandmother, he is punished by the Aegis and his father, until the time comes that he start to take matters into his own hands.
Spencer's arc is a complicated one, filled with insecurity, daddy issues and poor impulse control. His journey is shown through his childhood and teenage years, as he continues to labor under a demanding father who manipulates him because of the former being late to come into his power. With a burden of family name warring with the privilege it provides, Spencer walks a thin line between being cautious and impulsive. His even more complicated relationship with his father's protege, who should be like a brother to him, but was pitted against him, is a significant character arc that was explored quite well in this first volume.
The artwork is a vibrant chaos of colors, with dramatic lighting that sometimes helps and sometimes hinders the emotional value of the scene. The magic and action scenes, however, are perfect in their composition and coloring! The expansive world constructed into this story is shown splendidly by the art, and character design is so cool, I'm quite in love with the style!
Overall - an expansive story with attention to character arcs, combined with eye-catching artwork.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Image Comics, via Edelweiss.
perusing_panels's review
4.0
Promising start, with some very intriguing world building and interesting characters, this volume very much felt like and intro / prologue and I look forward to seeing where they take the story next.
yonnyan's review
2.0
There were a lot of things I liked about this. The stunning and vibrant artwork, the allegory of how Black people are always forced to stay down and to always be abused. If they work hard to better themselves and become equals to White people, then there’s always something lurking in the shadows to keep them oppressed. The themes and commentary on a society hellbent on maintaining the status quo of supremacy was super intriguing and the best part of story. However, so much of the potential that this narrative has in becoming outstandingly contemplative is lost in the jumbled mess that is the plot execution.
The first half, even with it being non-linear, did a good job of establishing a foundation for the characters to grow and a cool magical world set in an urban atmosphere. But as it progressed, it became more and more focused on the inner monologues of one of the protagonists, which didn’t mesh cohesively at all in certain sections. It became painfully confusing and almost indecipherable with relation to the goal or ultimate endgame of what the characters wanted/needed.
So, while Excellence was quite promising, it definitely could’ve used more polishing in terms of the narrative structure, particularly with pairing it to the artwork. The tricky thing about comics is that the art is 50% or more of the story and when the dialogue or words don’t compliment it or even reference it (so to speak), it won’t tell the story well at all, which is what happened here.
The first half, even with it being non-linear, did a good job of establishing a foundation for the characters to grow and a cool magical world set in an urban atmosphere. But as it progressed, it became more and more focused on the inner monologues of one of the protagonists, which didn’t mesh cohesively at all in certain sections. It became painfully confusing and almost indecipherable with relation to the goal or ultimate endgame of what the characters wanted/needed.
So, while Excellence was quite promising, it definitely could’ve used more polishing in terms of the narrative structure, particularly with pairing it to the artwork. The tricky thing about comics is that the art is 50% or more of the story and when the dialogue or words don’t compliment it or even reference it (so to speak), it won’t tell the story well at all, which is what happened here.
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