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MICE TEMPLAR VOLUME 3 #8
story BRYAN J.L. GLASS & MICHAEL AVON OEMING
art VICTOR SANTOS & OEMING!
color by SERENA GUERRA & VERONICA GANDINI
cover a MICHAEL AVON OEMING
cover b VICTOR SANTOS & GANDINI

"The Dream of A Midwinter's Night"
The stunning double-size finale of the penultimate arc! Karic has lain comatose for an entire season...yet the realm of dreams is a portal to the Outer Darkness where Donas rules. Cut off from the physical world, Karic wages a desperate battle for his very soul against overwhelming forces of ancient evil. Meanwhile, the druids confront the Readers of the Wheat, and the priesthood doesn't stand a chance against the dark powers of Black Anaius, the fearsome druid-witch of Kildre Hill!


In stores, Wednesday, March 07

I have been a fan of Mice Templar sense almost before the first issue of volume 1 came out. I've made many bold, albeit incorrect, predictions about the book based on tried and true fantasy formulas. The Templar creative team have been outstanding in making at least me think one thing, but then presenting something completely different in a manner that makes complete sense in the story. Sometimes it isn't until later issues that everything clicks and the pieces fall in to place and your left there looking at the book and doing the mental head slap as you realize you were going down a path the whole time thinking you were somewhere else.

As this is an advance review I will keep this spoiler free (mostly), but I do want to say some things about the latest issue. Issue 8 is the final issue in volume three and for me it was possibly one of the best issues of the series to date. The blending of the real world with the dream world that holds Karic hostage sense he was scratched by the diabluhn cat is for lack of a better term a nice piece of art. The way Santos' normal pages blend with Oeming's water colors and they weave a dance that has to be admired. For me this issue showed what a great comic book could and should be art wise.

The story itself follows paths as it skips towards the conclusion that aren't jarring in the least. It reminded me of a dance of two very talented artists. There was a lead story of what was going on in the real world, but the dream world was just as strong and moved within the lead story perfectly. A little bit of the history of Karic's journey with Wotan is revealed while allies and enemies alike, that may have been forgotten during the excitement and adventure of the last few issues, are brought to the front and shown to be very capable of handling themselves. The story reads like a great classical song, starting quietly then building to a crescendo and moving back down only to build again to another crescendo. By the last page of the main story I had been moved to great heights and valleys low. But the final page had me wanting to jump for joy and cry all at the same time.

Again, as a long time reader of the series I believe this issue was one of, if not the best issue of Mice Templar to date.


More spoilery talk to come soon!!!

Are you one of those fans who enjoy hitching a soundtrack to your comic reading experience?

This is the creative inspiration to issue #8, the finale of A Midwinter Night's Dream!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtQpM6MTugE

Read the issue...or re-read it...with this musical track underscoring the experience, and then let us know what you thought!


NEW INFO:
Poop! Just learned this incredible Dead Can Dance track was also featured in the film LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS. We never saw the film, nor read the novels it was based upon, but I've been told the beginning was just like the beginning of MT Volume I. Obviously, if you've been reading the series, the comparisons vanish quickly. But still...damn, I really, really love this track, and I don't need any more points of false correlation.

Still, have at it...because the track still works for us!