Charismagic #5
Publisher: Aspen
Writer: Vince Hernandez
Artist: Khary Randolph (cover by Khary Randolph & Emilio Lopez)
Colorist: Emilio Lopez
Letters: Josh Reed
When this book first came out, it was a solid read with great artwork. But now it has turned into much more. After five issues, we’ve been introduced to Hank the magician, his mentor Hector, his girlfriend Allie, his talking cat Sparkles, and his new love interest, the beautiful druid Sudana. You see, she’s here to show Hank what needs to be done in the coming onslaught of magical warfare. The war began with a renegade wizard named Sansun. This monarch of evil’s first move was to imprison the one being that could stop him. After doing that with the aid of three sorceresses, he then turned his attention to Hank and his cat, knowing that he was a very powerful magician (even though Hank didn’t even know it yet). Luckily, Sudan got to Hank in time, and has since been showing him the ways to fully realize his magical potential.
With only one issue left, Vince Hernandez really doesn’t have anything left to prove. He’s given the reader romance, intrigue, magic, action, and a talking cat for crying out loud! And let me tell you, Sparkles was a really good character, too! The writing isn’t cerebral like Brubaker or in your face like Remender, but has a style all its own. It keeps you reading and makes you care about Hank and even his cat. It makes you want to see Hank and Sudana kiss with all their pent up frustration. They have a chemistry that really blends well throughout the entire series. If you try to find a series you’ve read to compare with this one, and can actually come up with one, let me know. I’m sure the last issue will bring all sorts of action and maybe even a surprise or two, but the story has been great up until now, so there won’t be any let down from this creative team.
Khary Randolph came out of nowhere to draw one of the best books in recent memory. He has brought a unique take on a magical universe with multiple dimensions and a plethora of characters. The settings and animals are definitely top notch, but the characters Hank and Sudana are the most impressive parts of his work for sure. His covers are pretty good, too, and can be stared at them all day. The alternate cover by Siya Oum (below) isn’t lacking, either. All series long they have been impressive, to say the least. It’s really a treat to have such a good choice when buying a comic with a couple of different covers of that quality. From covers to dialog, romantic moments to a magical battle, this book has it all. If you’re looking for a title that has all of the above, don’t hesitate, pull the trigger at your next visit to the comic shop. You wont be disappointed. Rating 4/5
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
