Mister Magic by Kiersten White, Scott Peterson, Veronica & Andy Fish

Blurb:

Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this stunningly illustrated graphic novel adaptation of the thrilling national bestseller Mister Magic.

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.

But with no surviving videos or scripts, no evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former circle of friends has. In Val’s case, kidnapped by her father and in hiding ever since, she doesn’t even have those.

A surprise encounter with Val's old castmates brings them all together for a reunion. Back to the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Back among friends they haven’t seen for years, but who somehow understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as Val reclaims parts of her past, she wonders: Are they there by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

Because magic never forgets the taste of friendship. . . .

Rendered in striking full-color art by beloved comic artists Veronica Fish and Andy Fish, this gripping graphic adaptation of Mister Magic fully immerses you in the psychological thriller that PopSugar, CrimeReads, and the Chicago Public Library named a best book of the year.

Review:

A discontinued children’s show with a sinister secret, childhood amnesia suppressing traumatic memories, and a theme that’s been relevant for decades now, Mister Magic seemed like the perfect story for me. I didn’t realize until I started reading the graphic novel that it’s actually an adaptation of a popular novel of the same name. Regardless, I immersed myself in the story and illustrations without knowing too much about the book. What I got really did surprise me. 

Since I haven’t read the novel yet, my review will comment on the story and narrative as well. I don’t have a comparison to make, so that would make this review more unbiased than those that have read the novel, but it also lacks the context of the original narrative and changes demanded by the format. 

SPOILERS AHEAD!

What I liked:

Mister Magic hit home in many ways for me. As someone who’s grown up in a religious household, the trauma of imposed indoctrination is a subject I know way too much about personally. So naturally, I was inclined to root for Val right from the opening pages. While a lot of Val and her childhood friends—The Circle—have their history shrouded in mystery and amnesia—a possible suppression of memories—it isn’t all that undecipherable as to what might have happened. The familiarity of the narrative did lead to some tropey characters and settings, but that’s not to say that the story was lacking in any way. In fact, the myth and legend of ‘Mister Magic’ continues to loom around our main characters as they reunite and prepare to be interviewed for a reunion podcast. 

Now, the themes don’t make themselves apparent until the second half of the story as we learn more and more details of the town of Bliss, Mister Magic, and what it actually represents. SPOILERS: Mister Magic—in the fashion of It or The Shining—is an ancient force of nature that is incredibly powerful and hauntingly mesmerizing. Over the years, Mister Magic has been a prophet to the people of Bliss, teaching kids about life much like children’s shows of the 1900s, preparing them for the world at large. However, the sinister reality of Mister Magic is the undertones of submission that accompany his lessons. That is where the religious indoctrination themes begin to emerge loud and clear. 

Each character from the Circle, be it Val’s rebelliousness, Javi’s closeted homosexuality, or even Isaac’s grooming to become the ‘caretaker’ and the ‘next Mister Magic’, displays characteristic symptoms of a controlled childhood. While they seem to be dealing with forgotten/suppressed childhood trauma, the elders from their lives, particularly the elite and powerful of Bliss, are very much upset about the discontinuation of Mister Magic. Almost as if the temple of their belief that shaped their childhoods and lives has now become tainted because of one free-spirited child. While the first half of the story is a horror mystery, the second half is a nightmare unfolding with philosophical themes, putting into question the validity and relevance of the magical subjugation that these kids were put under. This slowly evolving narrative—except for the ‘interview’ segments—continued to grab my attention and pique my interest. Bliss is aptly named; their ignorance of the true human condition leaves them brainwashed and subjugated to a higher power without questioning. The only one who questioned them so drastically affected everything that the entire arcane system involving Mister Magic broke, leaving Bliss in a state of turmoil, like junkies facing withdrawal. 

In a setting and a plot like this, it’s easy to make the characters feel like one-dimensional caricatures. However, the characters have more depth than what we see illustrated on these pages. In my opinion, this is one aspect which I feel must have been explored better in prose. That being said, the characters’ behavior and actions throughout this story reflect the kind of mental scars that you’d expect from kids who’ve faced the demons that these kids from The Circle have. 

The illustrations felt perfect for the story at hand. The colors evoked a sense of nostalgia, whilst retaining a modern, realistic aesthetic. The absurd elements popped out of the pages in appropriately gaudy colors, balancing whimsy and horror in a way that perfectly encapsulates the perplexing magical setting of Mister Magic. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The illustrations elevated the already brilliant story. Again, I haven’t read the novel, so I can’t comment about that, but this graphic novel was certainly an intriguing read.

What I didn’t like:

Honestly, I found all the ‘interview’ segments pretty boring. While they did give insight into each character’s past and personality, they felt dull and repetitive. I don’t know how they play out in the novel, but here they felt pretty tedious to me in the graphic novel. 

The story really picked up around the time that the Circle finally watches that VHS tape of Mister Magic and goes on to remember suppressed memories. However, the way that finale concluded with—SPOILERS—Val taking on the mantle of Mister Magic didn’t sit well with me. There are two ways to interpret this story. The first is a criticism of religious indoctrination of kids that leads to trauma and lifelong turmoil, which makes the ending pretty bleak with its ‘acceptance of Mister Magic’ in an attempt to reshape the engines of your trauma into something more creative. 

The second is a disillusionment with religious identity, which is what Val feels, until she finally accepts that this part of herself is an important one, and she doesn’t need to subscribe to the same issues as her predecessors, leading her to take on the mantle in an attempt to update and continue on the tradition and heritage of Bliss and Mister Magic. In both cases, I find the conclusion to be in dissonance with the main plot, which left me confused and dissatisfied. If you’ve read this novel, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the ending, along with your interpretation. For me, it left me with a strangely negative feeling, taking away from some of the better aspects of this story and graphic novel. 

Conclusion:

A nightmarish exploration of religious indoctrination and resulting trauma that makes for a fascinating read. The artwork elevates an already solid story.

TL;DR:

WHAT I LIKED: The mystery, illustrations, horror elements, explored themes

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Some dull segments, the ending