The world of Mouse Guard is so magical it’s a comic book I have no problem recommending to adults and children alike.  Mouse Guard: The Black Axe #1 is another entry in the world from David Petersen that keeps up the quality and excellence I’ve come to expect.

The Eisner Award-winning MOUSE GUARD returns with THE BLACK AXE, a third volume of the critically acclaimed series. Set in 1115, this prequel to MOUSE GUARD: FALL 1152 fulfills the promise the wise oldfur Celanawe made to Lieam the day his paw first touched the Black Axe: to tell the young warrior about the mouse who first wielded the deadly weapon. The arrival of distant kin takes Celanawe on an adventure that will carry him across the sea to uncharted waters and lands, all while unraveling the legend of Farrer, the blacksmith who forged the mythic Black Axe.

While I’m not familiar with the entire background of this comic, it’s easy to get into and you don’t need to know a lot about the world it takes place in.  It’s magical and just amazing to read about.  Action packed and entertaining and so cute at the same time.  The entire series should go down as a literary classic.

Plot: David Petersen always tells entertaining stories and his world is magical and entertaining.  There’s a classic feel to his stories and they’re appropriate for adults and children alike.  Rating: 9

Art: Along with the fantastic stories Petersen does double duty with fantastic art.  The world, characters, everything is just amazing and beyond solid.  Rating: 9

Overall: Petersen’s Mouse Guard series of comics are amazing and perfect for both adults and kids.  The world is amazing, stories entertaining and art is beautiful.  I can’t recommend any of them enough.  Overall rating: 9

Recommendation: Buy

Page count: 24 pages    Price: $3.50     Release: 12/15/2010

Archaia provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.