I may not have reviewed the last issue of this series but by golly I did read it and it wasn’t too bad. So far this series has delivered two new stories that are fresh and interesting, but how does the third play out? Is it good?
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Witches #3 (of 4) (BOOM! Studios)
This month’s Storyteller: Witches is written and drawn by Matthew Dow Smith. So far this series has done one thing very well and that’s break away from your stereotypical witch story and offer surprise after glorious surprise. These aren’t witches that stir a pot and cackle, but rather are of a different sort. Smith offers up a tale here about a magical island of witches complete with an interesting hook into the Storytellers vein of incorporating storytelling into the story itself. Now, the lead narrator doesn’t make an appearance like he has done in episodes of the show, but it’s a nice reminder that sometimes the storyteller lives the story themselves.
Familiar fellows.
This is one of those stories that doesn’t blow you away page by page or offer some new twist or turn to make you rabid to finish it. No, instead it’s a story one might imagine would suit the prose format. It keeps you interested, but it needs to be told from beginning to end to have an impact. The story opens with a man telling a tale to some boys in a tavern. The story is about a boy who’s also a sailor, who loves to tell stories. His boat hit a reef off the coast of Cork and instead of finding himself dead from the icy waters, he wakes on an island where no island should be.
It’s here where the comic gets interesting as we learn of the island and its witch inhabitants. It’s here he stays, telling stories, and we learn a valuable lesson about storytelling itself: one can’t just tell stories, as one must live to acquire them. It’s a nice message and one that suits this series.
Interesting.
Smith’s art is good, although not the most riveting of styles for this type of story. It’s thick with ink and a bit simple in its rendering. The color choices are very dark and gloomy which gives the tale a morose and haunted feel which I’m not so sure fits the story. There’s nothing haunting in the tale, especially when life is good on the island and yet the look makes everything feel downtrodden and sad.
The story is also a bit slow when it comes to pacing. When I think back to all the events within I was at a loss at coming up with a long list of events. That’s partially because it’s driven by the narration as the main story is told by the opening narrator. It is however a great story in celebration of stories which is a fine thing indeed.
Well that’s why we bought this book isn’t it?!
Is It Good?
This was a good done in one story that should tickle the fancy of those who love storytelling. It feels like a complete story. It’s a bit slow, but well worth a look.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login