Just got through the second volume of this and as far as the plot goes you couldn't really award it too many points in the originality stakes, it's pretty much fantasy-by-numbers. The bats are probably the most interesting thing I've seen so far, the idea of this embittered species that offered loyalty to all sides and got turned down by everyone. Mostly though I still think these books are pretty fucking rad because of the artwork. Sadly I lack an artistic background to talk about this at lenght, so, uh, imagegrabs it is?
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/Petersen%20Mouse%20Guard%20Fall%20gate%20breach.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_371L1X49lIw/RvrUwAThlOI/AAAAAAAAB-M/Rr7pj4nKNto/s400/Petersen+Mouse+Guard+crab+fighting.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dv_tXOZgd3Y/SSuvgG4HTAI/AAAAAAAABbU/3CtH-qKG0JQ/s400/David+Petersen+Mouse+Guard+4.jpg
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 13:49 (fifteen years ago)
Sorry about that.
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 13:50 (fifteen years ago)
Beautiful nothing. Couldn't make it through volume one. Flipped through the pages after I quit reading to look at the pretty pictures. A lesser Redwall, which is saying something.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 14:21 (fifteen years ago)
But isn't art 50% of what comics are "about"? I wouldn't call anything entirely successful if it fails in either the writing or art departments, but there's enough stuff I love that has mediocre to straight up bad art that I wouldn't feel comfortable calling the reverse a "beautiful nothing".
I suppose there's also the issue that these are supposed to be children's books.
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 15:05 (fifteen years ago)
I have the hardback of book one and the issues of volume 2. Not really read them yet, but the mice look lovely.
also, why are there so many comics about fierce soldier mice?
― The Real Dirty Vicar, Friday, 14 August 2009 12:11 (fifteen years ago)
Didn't realize I hadn't responded. Mouse Guard, to me, is an example of bad comics. It is horribly written. The artwork is merely illustrative; it carries none of the narrative weight. Thus the flippant (and obviously too shorthand) "beautiful nothing."
The illustrations are wonderful; paired with a decent kids book, I'd probably be blown away.
― EZ Snappin, Friday, 14 August 2009 13:20 (fifteen years ago)
wow, it turns out there is a roleplaying game based on Mouse Guard.
― The Real Dirty Vicar, Friday, 14 August 2009 13:39 (fifteen years ago)