Mar has a secret. Sometimes, without warning, he falls out of the world. This would be an inconvenience if his life wasn’t already such a drag. When he’s gone, he finds himself in an extraordinary city. A city which is also a machine, endlessly crossing a shoreless ocean. A city of two halves: the bright, bustling spires above the waves, and the beast-haunted twilight halls below. And between, clowning along the rusting beach, a troupe of anarchic magpies with all the answers but none of the questions. A Mischief Of Magpies #1 kicks off a magical story that evokes the feeling of the classics of the 80s.

There’s those films from when you few up that stick with you well into adulthood. Jim Henson, Steven Spielberg, Don Bluth, and so many more were able to deliver these types of movies and experiences like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, ET, The Secret of NIMH, Time Bandits, The Never Ending Story… the list is long. All of those magical movies hit you in an emotional way, delivering awe and beauty in their visuals but also getting viewers to laugh, cry, fear, feel tension, and some of those at the same time. A Mischief Of Magpies #1 is a comic that evokes that experience with a story full of heartbreak, adventure, mystery, and excitement.

Written by Simpn Spurrier, A Mischief Of Magpies #1 is an intriguing debut, part comic, part picture book, part journal, telling the story of Mar whose home life is full of chaos but he’s able to escape into a magical world. Is it real? Is it his way to cope with the trauma he’s experiencing?

The comic is broken out into three distinct narrative experiences. Towards the beginning, Mar acts as our guide, introducing the reader to his life and family, teasing that there might be something more. But, Mar’s life spirals with family crisis and we get his thoughts as penned through a journal where he shares his thoughts and experiences. Finally, there’s the magical world of the Wandering City where things shift to a more traditional comic. It’s an interesting reading experience that is engaging and stands out from everything else being released.

What helps it stand out is the art of Matías Bergara who handles colors along Kike J. Díaz and lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The comic is gorgeous. Spurrier and Bergara have previously worked together on Coda, and while that was a fantasy series, the two projects are worlds apart. Bergara’s art emphasizes not just the dreamlike nature of Mar’s experience but also the tragedy and sadness of his home life. The story shifts from a “graphic journal” to more traditional comic seamlessly creating a flow that’s almost poetic. The worlds go from grounded reality to magical with floating cities, talking birds, rusted technology, and beings whose clothing and body language is otherworldly. Each page and panel begs readers to linger to catch every detail even if it’s just the flow of the narrative.

A Mischief Of Magpies #1 is perfection. The story feels like a childhood classic while the art is hauntingly beautiful. It’s a comic that sticks with you and you immediately want to read again while also wanting to find out what happens next. We’re halfway through the year and this debut sticks out as one of the best so far.

Final Order Cutoff: 5/25/26 Out in shops: July 15, 2026.

Story: Simon Spurrier Art: Matías Bergara
Color: Matías Bergara, Kike J. Díaz Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DSTLRY provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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