Mystic. Volume 1: Rite of Passage

Mystic #1

by Ron Marz (Writer), Brandon Peterson, Tony Bedard

Ciress is a world that runs on magic, and those with the most magic run the world. Genevieve Villard was in line to become a great leader, but during her Rite of Ascension something went horribly wrong. Her sister Giselle, a flibbertigibbet society girl, was conferred not only the power that was rightly Genevieve’s but that of every other Guild Master on Ciress. Now Giselle must come to terms with being the magical protector of her entire planet – if the Guild Masters let her live that long. Vibrant color and lush detail brings the magic of MYSTIC to life each month, as Giselle learns to live with her strange new power and the responsibility that goes with it.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Magic, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Marz is well known for his work on Silver Surfer and Green Lantern, as well as the Marvel vs DC crossover and Batman/Aliens. He also worked on the CrossGen Comics series Scion, Mystic, Sojourn, and The Path. At Dark Horse Comics he created Samurai: Heaven and Earth and various Star Wars comics. He has also done work for Devil’s Due Publishing’s Aftermath line, namely Blade of Kumori. In 1995, he had a brief run on XO-Manowar, for Valiant Comics.

Marz’s more recent works includes a number of Top Cow books including Witchblade and a Cyberforce relaunch. For DC Comics, he has written Ion, a 12 part comic book miniseries that followed the Kyle Rayner character after the One Year Later event, and Tales of the Sinistro Corps Presents: Parallax and Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents: Ion, two one-shot tie-ins to the Green Lantern crossover, The Sinestro Corps War.

His current creator owned projects include “Dragon Prince” (Top Cow) and “Samurai : Heaven and Earth” (Dark Horse).

Photo by Luigi Novi.

Reviews

[C.J. Edmunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across this title when I browsed Book Sale stores in the late 90’s to early 2000’s. Having nothing better to read, I figured to try out a magical looking and gorgeous to boot, female character which costs just P50. And having 3 consecutive issues on hand, it wasn’t a bad deal at all.

The title being new was released by a new Comic book company then called, CrossGen Comics. It was relatively a spec in the arena dominated by Marvel and DC. So were they in their right minds to go after the big guys and take a slice of the pie? Well, they have their hearts in the right place and by issue 3, I was won over.

Here was a new character that magically could rival my favorite Dr. Strange and upseat Dr. Fate in a place in his Salem home. With no other info available to me about the style, and theme of the comic then, only the story as well as the sharp and colourful rendering of the character and her magical surroundings were the only things to draw me in. It was only getting this collected trade paperback collecting the first 7 issues did I know the inspiration behind the title.

The setting is in the magical planet of Ciress where magic is commonplace and the only way of life for the populace. The citizenry are governed by 7 ruling Guilds of magic each with its own master and own set of discipline, not to mention disciples. At the heart of the story is the Noveau Guild currently being groomed to receive its new master by way of Genevieve Villard. The other Guild Masters were there to bear witness to this ceremony and consisted of Magus, the Master of the Dark Magi Guild; Vashua, Master of the Tantric Guild; Atyaah, Master of the Djinn Guild; Mondru, Master of the Astral Guild; Zai, Master of the Shaman Guild and Yinma, Master of the Enchantress Guild.
On hand to bear witness and to muck everything up is Genevieve’s younger and happy go lucky sister, Giselle Villard who knew nothing of responsibility let alone living the life that her sister had for her. Who would have known that in a flash, Giselle’s life would be turned upside down and inside out when during the ritual, the residing spirit of the previous Masters currently in the bodies of each incumbent Guild head along with the one that Genevieve is to receive in order to mark the transfer of power, all are siphon and mysteriously finds its way into Giselle, zapping her right there and then outside the Noveau Guild courtyard which by the drawing alone, has made me a fan.

Giselle during the course of this first compilation denies the power that she somehow obtained and only wishes to go back to her old partying life with her elder sister, taking the mantle and full responsibility of the Guild. In her own defense, Giselle who has no knowledge or interest in magic, explains that right before the ceremony a friendly old man shakes her hand and a sigil or mark appears in her palm. She suggests, albeit weakly, that it is because of the presence of this mark, also unfamiliar to the Guild Masters, that caused her to take in all other Spiritual masters of each of the Guild Houses.

The compilation shows Giselle’s gradual transformation from bratty socialite to a loving and protective sister who would now have to grow up, find a way how to remove the magic that she didn’t need and how to deal diplomatically if not magically with 6 resentful Masters determined to getting back what was theirs regardless of the cost.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Tabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this series up at a comic book sale. The store was clearing out their old stock and I grabbed up a number of titles I had never heard of but were cheap so I went for it. Thus I was introduced to both CrossGen and Mystic, I'm now sad both are no more.

The art is beautiful and the colors vibrant, which in my opinion is necessary for a good comic. I'm intrigued by the story so far, how the magic system works as well as the Sigil. I wasn't able to pick up the whole series but I think I'll be able to track it down fairly easily.

[Dannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the anatomy isn't quite right and there are a few plot hole's, I really love the art and premise of the entire thing.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first volume introduces an intriguing plot and magic system, but I disliked how skilled Giselle became right after getting powers and the drastic art changes from issues 1 through 7 (a problem I also had with Meridian). Giselle looks like she is 40 in the beginning and then mid-20's by the end.

[Daryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read with nice art. But like a lot of comics involving magic, the magic is pretty undefined; it mostly revolves around being able to do whatever you need to when you want. And like most of CrossGen's books, Mystic takes a nice, slow developmental approach, but gets a bit derailed by the appearance and interference of the First, CrossGen's godlike race. A couple of interesting points from the introductory bits (there's one for each chapter): at one point, it's discussed how the creative team wanted to make their main character, Giselle, not "just a swimsuit model" but a powerful character, "strong of will and intent." And yet they chose to draw her in a skimpy, revealing outfit, though I imagine that they felt that by having her mention that fact (repeatedly), they were being less sexist. Sorry, no. A sad point from the foreword to the book by CrossGen publisher Mark Alessi: "Would CrossGen just wind up another footnote of a dying genre, or take its place in the lexicon of longer term players?" Sadly, CrossGen wasn't able to survive, though I'm not sure what genre Alessi feels might be dying. In another intro, the creative team claims to be "literally turning the world on its ear." Literally? Really?

[Kay Mcgriff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story in this graphic novel, first published in a series of comic books. Two sisters--one responsible and one not--find their lives turned upside down. Just as the responsible Genevieve is about to be accepted as Guild Master of one of the magic guilds on Ciress, the rite goes horrible wrong. Party girl Giselle finds that she is now host to all seven of the magic guild spirits. Whether she likes it or not, she is now the most powerful magician on the planet. It's too bad she hasn't prepared for it at all. With a talking squit (looks like a shaggy puppy) as her only ally, will Giselle survive the magic that now possesses her and those angry magicians who want it back? For once, the artwork caught my eye as much as the words. These color illustrations burst off the page. I just might be getting the hang of these graphic novels.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Plot: Giselle comes to terms with power that wasn't meant to be hers, but is in her hands nonetheless.

Solid plot, beautiful art, fun characters, and good pacing. Published originally by CrossGen comics (an alternative to Marvel or DC), this was a fun read. There is the CrossGen connection to the First here, which brings this book into the bigger picture of the CrossGen universe. One of the things I really like about the GrossGen books is their focus on telling new, fully developed stories.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reprints Mystic #1-7 and the Mystic story from Crossgen Chronicles #1. Giselle Villard gains the spirits of all the Guild Masters when a mysterious sigil appears on her hand during her sister's ceremony and has to battle the Guild Masters to maintain control. This is one of the weaker Crossgen titles. It isn't horrible, but the characters are flimsy, and the story is too drawn out.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I havent read a lot of graphic novels and didnt realize that was what this was until I got it in the mail. I liked the storyline, the illustrations/art was really good and really helped me understand what was going on within the story itself.

[Emily Rabecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting and I can't wait to pick up volume two!

[Caleb Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pure nostalgia - Crossgen was the biggest thing to happen to comics when I was in high school and Mystic was my gay teen fantasy. 20 years later this book holds up.