REVIEW: Enter the Underworld of Magic in The Magic Order #1
The Magic Order #1 feels much more substantial than Millar’s previous projects. It’s no doubt this is his best work in recent memory.
Netflix officially enters the comic book industry with its acquisition of Mark Millar’s Millarworld imprint. The result The Magic Order #1 by Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel, a strong debut following a secret society of wizards.
Millar pulls no punches in the opening scene – an assassination, through interesting means, of a really important wizard in the order I presume. We are then introduced to the Leonard Moonstone and his family of magicians. A long standing member of a Millar gives ample background and development to each family member without compromising the pace and plot, something that I find lacking in his previous efforts.
Although the Moonstone family ticks off every archetype in the “family business” trope, seeing them interact with each other and the rest of the wizard society makes me think there’s more to them than they let on. And of course, having a secret society of magicians means there are some bad apples here and there. Millar wastes no time giving us a taste of the villains to comes, and what they’re willing to do. It’s Harry Potter mixed with the mob, after all.
No new Millar title would be complete without a collaboration with a superstar artist, and this time, it’s Olivier Coipel. Fans of his work know of his flawless and expressive art, and it’s no different in this one. It’s refreshing to see his pencils in a non-superhero genre where we can see go him go to new heights. Dave Stewart’s colors bring out the nitty gritty in Coipel’s line work. The Magic Order #1 is a dark story, and Coipel and Stewarts’ art perfectly captures the unapologetic seedy vibe it’s going for.
The Magic Order #1 feels much more substantial than Millar’s previous projects. It’s no doubt this is his best work in recent memory. And with Coipel and Stewart on board, The Magic Order #1 is a solid debut for Netflix’s foray into comics.
Drew Bagay
