DSTLRY has a lot going for it as a relatively new comics publisher, from the oversized perfect-bound format to a library of comics by creators most would be jealous of. Enter Mischief of Magpies #1, by Si Spurrier and Matías Bergara, who have already dazzled us by pushing the comics format further with Step by Bloody Step, for a story that mixes dreaming, growing up, and a world of imagination. Kicking off its first issue on July 15th, it’s a comic that not only maximizes the larger format, but pushes the comics format into something entirely new.
One of the most fascinating elements of Mischief of Magpies #1 is how it integrates prose with the art. It doesn’t diminish what Bergara is doing, but enhances it, giving his radical design and style tone and atmosphere to work with. The very first page features a mapie flying across a handwritten journal, written by the protagonist’s mother. After a page turn, we see the journaling continue on a double-page splash of a dark beach with an even darker sky, lit up in watercolors. There’s a push-and-pull here that is unmistakable.
Once Mar is born, the story is told exclusively from Mar’s point of view in a variety of formats. First, as a six-year-old’s journal, with his text barely written on a line and dicey letters since he’s yet to master writing. As he ages, the writing evolves over the issue, with neater penmanship and eventually journal entries on a computer. Matching the feel, Bergara draws panels amongst the writing, with one even being taped into the comic as if it’s a scrapbook. The thought that went into how the art rests among these text-heavy sections is evident.
Credit: DSTLRY
The book isn’t all prose mixed with art; sequential storytelling kicks in after the prose sets up short chapters. Amongst the art are handwritten captions giving us Mar’s perspective, further integrating the writing with the art. Ultimately, it creates an experience I’d like to see in animated feature films.
As far as the story goes, we meet Mar at a difficult birth, growing up with hard feelings, especially when a sister comes into the picture. To escape these feelings, he dreams up a magical world, but is it really a dream? One can see the story is built on being a coming-of-age sort of tale, which will resonate with younger readers, or the Peter Pan inside all of us semi-broken adults.
This world is fantastical, like something out of Laika Studios, with a great mechanical boat floating atop freaky giant crabs, and deeper into the ocean, a creature that’s all sharp, shadowy bits. Between the world above on the ship and the shadow realm deep in the ocean, the worldbuilding is vivid and will immediately capture your attention.
It’s no surprise Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou letters this issue, as the creativity found in the variety of lettering styles has a life of its own. Take, for instance, word balloon tails, which have a tale that’s part white and part black, whereas sometimes there are no word balloons with text floating and just a black line leading to the character speaking. Later in the issue, Mar uses a magical element that requires writing to cast its spell, and the text has a different look, with a bit of shading to make it stand out against the art.
Credit: DSTLRY
Mischief of Magpies #1 is a bold, inventive comic that fully embraces the strengths of the medium. Si Spurrier and Matías Bergara craft a reading experience that feels alive on the page, blending prose, visual storytelling, and design in a way that constantly surprises. It asks more from the reader than most comics, but the payoff is a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant start to what feels like a special series. A fearless swing that proves comics can still surprise you.
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