The Books of Magic

* * * * * CONTENTS AND OVERVIEW * * * * * This over-sized hardcover collects The Books Of Magic #1 to 4, which were originally published as a miniseries consisting of four double-sized prestige-format issues back in the early nineties. Written by Neil Gaiman, this series features Timothy Hunter, who becomes a magician apprentice under the wing of occult powerhouses of the Vertigo/DC Universe, such as John Constantine, Phantom Stranger, Doctor Occult and Mister E. The plot revolves around Tim Hunter having the potential to become the greatest mage of this age and the forces of good and evil disputing the young boy to attract him to their side. This series presents a journey to the present, the past and the future of the Vertigo/DC magical universe, visiting distant realms such as Faerie, Camelot and Hell among others. If you are familiar with DC history, you'll love to to travel through and relive all of its magical glory. If you are new to it, you'll be inebriated with infinite realms of posibilities and at the end of the tale you'll want more. Neil Gaiman makes and excellent work condensing decades worth of occult DC history into a compelling story appealing to a wide audience. * * * * * ABOUT THE ART * * * * * Each one of the four chapters is gorgeously illustrated by a roster of top artits consisting of John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Charles Vess and Paul Johnson. The art is truly amazing, fully hand-painted, with a scope of ambition that matches the grandeur of the tale at hand. Each artist has a very distinctive style ad vision but they all work perfectly when put together into this epic tale. * * * * * ABOUT THE EDITION * * * * * This is a very handsome, high quality book. I'm glad to see that DC/Vertigo is putting a serious effort into improving its Deluxe editions line. - The paper stock is glossy and heavy weight - The printing quality is great, with sharp and accurate art reproduction. - The book features a fully printed hardback under the dustjacket (unlike many of DC/Vertigo HCs that sport an awfully cheap black cardboard presentation). - It's a solid glued-binding volume. Of course a sewn one would have been better, but there's very little gutter loss, so it's fine. - The extras consist of 8 pages of Charles Vess and Paul Johnson art and sketches as well as Neil Gaiman's outline of issue 3. - The book includes a 2-pages intro by fantasy and science fiction writer Roger Zelazny from 1993. * * * * * CONCLUSION * * * * * Great story, beautiful art, high quality edition, a book definitely worth of your money. And if you are into the DC's New 52, you will be amazed to see how relevant this series still is in DC's current continuity, as Jeff Lemire's Justice League Dark draws many elements from it.

A very complex and sophisticated argument followed by great drawings. It is not only a graphic novel, but a beautifully designed way for esoteric initiation

In the Books of Magic, Neil Gaiman integrates every important mystical character and concept from the DC comics Universe into an introductory course for one boy, a boy who has the potential to be the most powerful magician of the day, a 'chosen one' if you will. He defines just what magic is, what you can use it for, and what using it may cost you in the end. The artwork in this book is incredible, richly detailed and vibrantly colored by each of the four artists. And the writing itself, being done by Neil Gaiman, is of course exceptional. If I have one complaint about the book, it's that it spends too much time discussing the dangers of magic, and too little seeing the benefits. The story is about offering Tim Hunter a choice about whether he wants to become a magician, and with all the doom and gloom he runs into it seems like a loaded choice. Still, this was a fun journey through time and space, that I can recommend to anyone.

As all things Neil Gaiman, this was a treat to read. There aren't words for me to explain the dark beauty & truth he captures & conveys in every story he creates. Many familiar faces from Sandman & the rest of the DC pantheon appear in the Books of Magic, but you need no prior knowledge to read this story that ultimately stands alone. My only complaint is that I didn't find it sooner... but everything "new" I discover of Neil Gaiman's work is a cause for joy. Long story short, read the damn thing. What's not to like?

Neil Gaiman is one of those authors who just draws you into the worlds he creates. Best known in the comic world for his work on the Sandman this is another series of his that just has to be experienced and enjoyed. Welcome to the world of Tim Hunter. Tim is nothing special at first glance. He is just a boy trying to make his way in the world but he doesn't know what his future holds for him. Enter "The Trenchcoat Brigade" - The Phantom Stranger, Mister E, John Constantine, and Dr. Occult. These four members of the world of Magic in DC take Tim on a tour throughout the DC Universe. Tim will travel with his various guides from the beginning of time to the end meeting some of the most powerful and important characters of magic and mystery. Before all is said and done Tim will even spend some time with Death from the Sandman series. I hate reading reviews that tell you everything so I won't do it here. Just remember when you enter a world by Gaiman as soon as you say yes you are have given yourself over to the world he has created for you. If you read and enjoy this book there are other graphic novels from the series that was launched from this book. If you are a fan of Neil Gaiman it is just something you have to have. Enjoy.

If you have not read this comic book series yet there are two words you need to know. Neil Gaiman. He is a master storyteller and it is nowhere more evident than here. Take a boy, tell him he is destined to be the next big thing in magic and have it not be Harry Potter. A guided tour of magic in the DC universe this book hits on the past, present and future in ways that are just stunning. The art is incredible as well with each issue taking on a life of it's own, a must have for any Gaiman fan, a great read for everyone else.

Very difficult to read on Kindle

Magic, Owls, good vs. Evil. I reread this recently, it was so good! Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller, and clearly a gentleman. Many of the topics are cherry picked from this series and later appear in Harry Potter, did Neil complain? Nope, he went on and kept creating. And his works continue to enthrall. Truly a well of ideas. British writing at its finest. The illustrator did a great job, and I wish this had been more than a four issue mini series. Neil, since you are revisiting Sandman, how about some more tales of Tim Drake too?

La historia y el arte son hermosos y funcionan como una buena introducción para muchos de los personajes mágicos de DC comics: Constantine, Mr E, Dr Occult, Zatanna, los Eternos, etc. lo recomendaria para los que apenas van comenzando. Por cierto una adaptación de esta historia en Netflix como respuesta a las peliculas de HP seria maravillosa, tiene muchas similitudes con esa franquicia a pesar de que el comic saliera años antes que los libros

What can I say about this anthology of the four Books of Magic? Nothing negative that is certain. Neil Gaiman’s imagination is boundless, here he has taken four iconic figures in John Constantine, Mister E, et al who take a twelve year old boy,Timothy (Tim) Hunter, on a series of adventures into the past, the future and to worlds and places both alongside and tangential to our own. Their purpose is to show him magic with all its concomitant elements both for good and evil. Ultimately Tim has the choice as to whether he will accept magic or deny it.

Neil Gailman escreve histórias com um nível de profundidade e com leveza sem igual. Todo fã de HQs deveria ler.

Maravilhosa toda a trama. E ver 4 grandes desenhistas e coloristas interpretarem do seu jeito foi muito bom também. Recomendo; e aguardo os outros volumes em capa dura serem lançados.

Read it years ago and couldn't resist getting the hardback. Okay, at first glance the story from the early 90's (bespectacled, pre-teen boy whose last name ends in '-er,' discovers he has incredible magic abilities and during the course of the story gets himself a pet owl) makes you think that Neil Gaiman should have sued the arse off J.K Rowling. However, even if she did (emphasis on 'if') nick the basic set up it's no matter as there is no other resemblance between the two stories. BoM would make a great tv series but the superficial similarities between Timothy Hunter and Harry Potter probably makes it almost impossible.