For years comic creator and writer J.P. Roth has been trying to get her various series distributed by Diamond into stores. Her goal has come true as a Theory of Magic, issue 1, can be purchased in major comic shops across the US. The comic focuses on a faery, Selyara, who is turning 100 years old. Due to her age she is required to survive in the human world for 3 mortal days. If she does, she will become queen of her faery group. In those 3 days unexpected things await her as she navigates her way through her trail to become queen.
The Good:
The comic does an excellent job of capturing how magic can appear in the human world. We see this through Selyara’s character. When a faery reaches the age of 100 they are forced to survive in the mortal world for 3 days. In her case she is knocked out, only to awake as human with memories of a faery and a human, thus experiencing an element of magic. The comic, by setting up this situation, really captures what magic can be and Selyara is now experiencing what it is like to be fully human for the first time. Her experiences are hinted at the start of the comic. Selyara still has the ability to switch bodies and fuse with a new human as a means to survive, thus effectively using her magic to do it. In many ways the comic is expanding what magic can be and how it can be used in various situations. The other element of the comic that sets it apart is the amazing artwork done by Sabine Rich. In particular, the amount of details in both the faery’s world and the human world draws reader into the story, making them feel as if they are a part of it.
The Bad:
The comic’s major flaw is the lack of information surrounding the supposed villains. It is unclear who they are and what intentions they have, while they are chasing Selyara. Without knowing their intentions or any reasons, it is confusing for a reader to understand the dangers that faeries face in the human world. It is difficult for readers to connect with Selyara and the struggle she is undergoing, as in this issue threat appears non-existent.
The Verdict:
The comic is a unique story as it explores the idea of magic coming into the human world. This is done through a trail that faeries have to go through when they reach the age of 100, and survive for 3 days in the mortal world. Despite this appearing an easy task there are undisclosed forces that want to make these faeries fail and prevent Selyara from completing this trial. Yet very little information is revealed about who this group is and why they want to prevent her from completing her task. As a result, it is hard to become interested in the comic in certain ways, yet the comic draws a reader in with its unique story and artwork in other ways. This makes the comic difficult to judge as the art and the story are well done while the immediate threat and villains need to be established as the comic goes forward.
