Petersen! Petersen and not Peterson! I’ve really enjoyed this series, but I have only now realized that I have been misspelling the creator’s name. So, first off, my apologies to David Petersen. It won’t happen again.
The first Mouse Guard mini ends with a bang as everyone converges on Lockhaven, home of the Mouse Guard. An army of mice, believing the Guard to be a pale imitation of what it once was, and what it could be, have rallied behind their leader, the new Black Axe. They are intent on overthrowing the Guard’s matriarch, Gwendolyn, and establishing a new order. On their heels are our heroes, Saxon and Kenzie – Lieam has been captured – and with them is the original Black Axe, Celanawe. He wants to both save the Guard and strike down the mouse that is using his reputation against it. Sadie, from issue two, arrived in time to give Lockhaven warning, but it’s still a cover to cover battle.
Mouse Guard has proven to be a first rate adventure story, garnering so much praise that people are beginning to wonder if it’s as good as we fans say. That’s a fair question. I have heard from one person, around the time of issue three’s release, who was disappointed. We had raised his expectations so high. This title isn’t the new Watchmen for all ages comics (though Petersen references Watchmen in this issue). What it is is an excellent adventure story that finds just the right balance between anthropomorphizing its characters and creating a believable medieval world. He also does a good job of establishing the individual mice, in spite of keeping his focus on the adventure, not characterization, and in spite of the fact that so many look alike. Throughout Petersen pays attention to how his Guards mice should behave, giving them a weight and credibility as soldiers as well as mice. In the end I think those are reasons enough to be excited about this new series. Most comics remain within tightly defined genre formulas. When someone does something unusual, and does it skillfully, it’s worth trying. |
