Archaia's Mouse Guard: The Black Axe #5
Check out the new preview pages of Mouse Guard: The Black Axe #5, the penultimate issue in David Petersen’s third Mouse Guard series, which goes on sale in comic book shops on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
MOUSE GUARD: THE BLACK AXE #5 (OF 6)
Retail Price: $3.50 U.S.
Page Count: 24 pages
Format: staple bound, 8” x 8”, full color
Genre: Fantasy
On-sale Date: August 8, 2012
UPC: 811514010733 00511
Country: U.S.
Written by David Petersen
Illustrated by David Petersen
Cover by David Petersen
Rating: E – EVERYONE (all ages, may contain minimal violence)
It's the next-to-last issue of this compelling Mouse Guard volume, but so much has happened before this one even begins.
Em, the elder mouse who found the last of her line, of the Farrer's line, Celanawe, and brought him onto the quest for the Axe, is no more. Em, Celanawe and Conrad had sailed across a tumultuous sea, and discovered the mythic axe that they had been searching for in the court of the ferret king.
To get the axe, Celanawe was forced to root out the killer of the king's son, and deliver proof. By Em's insistence she became the king's prisoner so that Celanawe would have the axe in his hunt. And hunt he did, not knowing he would never see Em alive again.
Beginning the fifth chapter with the story of Em's death, is heart breaking. The ferret king was unable to live up to his word, and nothing can be done to right the wrong.
The Black Axe's long history of loss continues, and Em's death propels Celanawe and Conrad forward. With Em's final words Celanawe and Conrad return to the Mouse Territories. Celanawe returns back to his precious Mouse Guard. And Conrad goes to try and gain the seat of Captain’s Captain in Port Sumac.
From the scrolling letters to the beautiful artwork this one is a delight to behold. The Mouse Guard continues to be gripping, and enrapturing, without having to resort to bloody violence to capture the audience. It remains one of the purest and best storytelling there is out there.
The fifth installment delivers so many impactful events, that I absolutely cannot wait to see how this one ends.
If you're not reading Mouse Guard: the Black Axe you're definitely missing out on one of the finest crafted stories out there.
Includes a pin-up by Shane Michael Vidaurri, creator of the upcoming Archaia title, Iron: Or, the War After.
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