Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: JC De La Torre
Artist: Franco Cespedes
Release Date: 21st May 2014

It’s been an odd day for Darrien Connors. A few hours ago he was at the mercy of a bunch of high school bullies now he’s traversing the universe as a Star Mage. He’s got a lot to learn but his teacher, the ever remarkable Arylos, is on hand to fill in the blanks. Arylos a passionate and very serious mage who clenches his fist when whenever he speaks. The guy is a champion.

Cespedes has confidently taken over art duties. Some of the alien characters look awesome with some terrific beards and species on show. Space looks fantastically psychedelic with washed out colours as opposed to the typical sharp and distant look I’m used to. The same can be said of the alien worlds which are full of golden castles and glistening pillars. The alien vessels look simple and blocky, powered by magic as opposed to our complicated science. Their night sky is also full of colour. Everything seems to glow.

The writing is a lot of fun. Whenever Arylos (Third Scepter, Et Lu Necromancer Star Mage of the Sarru Kishpu) opens his mouth it’s enough to draw a grin. The book is also big enough to laugh at its own similarities with that other famous boy wizard. Darrien himself is also beginning to come out of his shell which is just as well as things on Planet Eridu are much worse than first thought.

There’s a lot to like about this book and it’s only getting started. School seemed hard enough but the challenges are mounting for poor Darrien.

Rating: 4/5.

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The writer of this piece was: James McQueen
You can also find James on Twitter.