Review: Mouse Guard by David Petersen

Mouse Guard by David Petersen

Buy it now: at your local comic shop or bookstore.

Description: Life is hard for mice. Predators lurk outside the safety of town and the war with the weasels is still a recent memory. The Mouse Guard are a group of brave and adventurous mice who patrol the borders of the mouse territory, escort commoners between towns and fight to keep predators and other intruders out. Now a threat has come from within which threatens all they hold dear. It falls to brave Guardsmice Lieam, Kenzie and Saxon and their allies to uncover the plot that might destroy the Guard’s stronghold of Lockhaven.

This review was based on purchased comics (not the hardcover collections.)

WereGeek’s Rating:

Traitorous mice storm Lockhaven

WereGeek’s Review: I managed to pick up the first issue of the first series (Fall 1152) by chance in my local comic book shop. When I found it, it was already on its second printing. After one read, I was sure I’d never get a second printing issue again. It was love at first sight! The world in which these anthropomorphized mice live has a very early medieval feel and the Guardsmice themselves remind me of classic knights: strong, brave, skilled, maybe a little foolhardy and willing to die for their ideals. The artwork is absolutely beautiful and the storytelling has a depth and a pace that will hook you and not let go. Petersen’s artwork is so detailed, some backgrounds almost look traced (in the best sense of the word). One of the covers from the second miniseries (Winter 1152) shows Guardsmouse Saxon lying on a pile of mouse skeletons so detailed Petersen must have spent hours drawing mousie long bones and vertebrae.

There are currently twelve comic issues out, two series of six issues each (and a hardcover version of each series). A new anthology miniseries, Legends of the Guard, is due to begin in May 2010. Another series, The Black Axe, is due in September 2010. I can’t wait! When I collect my comics, I’m always disappointed if there’s not a Mouse Guard waiting for me and its always the first I read as soon as I get home. I really do love them that much. In fact, my only complaint is that the wait is so long between issues and even worse between series. If those long waits are what it takes to keep the quality as high as it has been though, I will more than gladly wait until the next installment. Just don’t begrudge me my antsiness waiting for the next chapter.

If you’re new to the world of Mouse Guard, you don’t have long to wait for a free introduction! There’s a special two-sided Mouse Guard comic paired with Fraggle Rock coming out for Free Comic Book Day May 1st! Visit www.freecomicbookday.com to find your local participating retailer!