TITLE: MAGE: The Hero Discovered TPB – Book Two (Chapter 3 and 4)
YEAR: December 1998
COMPANY: Image Comics
Writer: Matt Wagner
Illustrator: Matt Wagner
Colored by Jeromy Cox and James Rochelle
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom Defalco
Matt Wagner is best known for creating “Grendel”, the popular series that was featured under the Comico comic book banner.
The character debuted in Comico’s “Primer” issue #2 and #5 (1982-1983).
While Matt would create three issues of “Grendel” from 1983-1984, he would then begin a 15-issue series titled “Mage: The Hero Discovered” (1984-1986) before going back to creating a second volume of “Grendel” (which lasted 40 issues from 1986-1990).
Unfortunately, Comico went bankrupt in 1990 and Wagner had to regain the rights to the series, which would be printed in TPB format courtesy of Image Comics.
The comic book would follow Kevin Matchstick, who meets a wizard known as Mirth. Kevin discovers that he possesses a magic baseball bat and also has superhuman abilities and are being pursued by Umbra Sprite.
In Book Two (which features issues #3 and #4), the Umbra Sprite are attacking a street smart girl and Kevin and Mirth are able to save her, but now gain a new ally.
Chapter 3 features the group saving the girl, Edsel, who joins them, while Umbra Sprite is planning a new attack.
For Chapter 4, the Umbra Sprite are able to revive a Marhault Ogre and the three must survive its attacks.
For the most part, “Mage: The Hero Discovered – Book Two” is an entertaining volume featuring Kevin and Mirth and their new ally, Edsel (who drives a 1959 Corsair Model Edsel) but now knowing the Umbra Sprite will do anything to defeat them.
Are the three ready to take on stronger, deadlier foes?
Overall, a wonderful reprint and this TPB features the original letters page from the comics plus extra freebee pages of behind-the-scenes of certain artwork and more!