Everyone who loves music needs to buy Phonogram. Even if the music you love isn’t Brit Pop.

The central conceit of Phonogram is that music actually IS magic. Phonomancers use music to do powerful magic that shapes their lives and sometimes shapes reality beyond them. The new and final story arc in this episodic series tells the story of Emily Aster and how the too cool to be kind, all angles and snark queen bee of the local coven got that way. Her past is now literally catching up with her.

The series began in 2006 and was the first major collaboration between Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, the team behind beloved series The Young Avengers and The Wicked + The Divine. The first two volumes of Phonogram are among the most emotionally resonant and beautiful to behold comics I own. You should go and get them right now.

The first issue of volume 3 is coming out on Wednesday and I while it benefits from your reading the earlier two books I don’t think you’d be completely lost starting from here if you absolutely need to.

The cover harks back to the work of 80’s pop artist Nagel, famous for his art deco inspired, utterly flat graphic art of sexy black haired women often with cold or distant expressions. You probably recognize his art from the cover of Duran Duran’s album Rio.

McKelvie’s art bares similarity to Nagel’s style already so the reference has been there all along. For the first time the series also has two back-up shorts from guest artists. In the first issue they are Sarah Gordon and then Clayton Cowles. It’s a real treat to see additional artists creating comics in the Phonogram world.

It’s a world I’d like to spend more time in. I’ll have an essay taking a deeper look at the series coming out soon.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Jamie McKelvie Color: Clayton Cowles
Additional Art: Sarah Gordon and Clayton Cowles
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation Buy!

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review