The Mice Templar IV: Legend Review


Everybody loves anthropomorphic animals slaughtered in the most brutal way possible, right?  If you are itching to hear the tales of Ralph the motorcycle mouse, turn around now and never return.

The official description from Image:

 “A DANGEROUS FAITH”
Long ago, the valiant Templar destroyed themselves through a vicious civil war, allowing the bloodthirsty crusade of the tyrant king Icarus to destroy mouse culture. Yet the inspiring tale of the young mouse Karic promises to restore the fractured Templar and overthrow the mad king. But while some accept Karic as a prophecy for good, still others see his rising legend as an omen of evil.

Thus begins the climactic chapter in the epic saga of hope and despair, of tragedy and triumph, and where every secret will at last be revealed.

It’s not that the comic is bad. It’s that it’s trying too hard. Take a breath, slow down, and let the reader explore for a second. Maybe this was the wrong issue to start with, but ideally it should be rather easy to fall into a plot.

The writing, done by Bryan J. L. Glass and Michael Avon Oeming delivers a strong voice, but the short framing makes it easy to drift away from this comic rather quickly. And this, despite the heavy emotions found in the introduction, is a problem. So I can’t knock the writing entirely, the layout may be to blame on some level.  The story itself is labored with terms and minor plots. Yes, it’s trying to play catch up to possible new readers. Yes, you can argue that it’s entirely necessary. But no, the soap opera romance and deaths are lost upon a deaf ear when the audience has yet to make a connection with anything.

The art is done by Michael Avon Oeming and the comic is drawn relatively well. There are at times, however, where the impaled mouse in the background looks a little more Tom and Jerry than I would like. But other than the occasional childhood ruining horror, it easily achieves the portrayal of a dramatic and dark story.  Which, in the long run, is the point of the art in the first place. So, good show there.

The Mice Templar IV: Legend gets a three out of five from me; give the strip a little back reading and decide for yourself.

3/5

S#!T Talking Central

  • Steely Dan

    If you haven’t read the first three volumes (four, actually, since Volume 2 is divided into two physical books) then you really should start with them before reading this issue. There’s A LOT that you missed. “Mice Templar” is probably my favorite comic currently being published. I wish it got more attention.