Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 isn’t just a wonderful comic composed of a solid story and rich artwork—it’s a labor of love. Creator David Petersen’s passion for his story and characters glows from page to page, carrying readers along for the ride. I wasn’t simply reading a great story; I felt that Petersen was sharing with me an authentic piece of his creativity, yearning for me to understand and enjoy it as much as he does. And I did.
Winter 1152 continues where the saga left off in the first trade collection, Mouse Guard: Fall 1152. Saxon, Sadie, Kenzie, Leiam, and Celanawe all return to battle the harsh winter that has settled over the Mouse Territories in order to gather supplies for their ill-stocked home of Lockhaven. And if the pressure of braving the harsh winter wasn’t enough, the Mouse Guard’s comrade, Rand, is desperately ill and in need of immediate medical care. But the guard’s journey is hindered when the group is split: Saxon, Sadie, and Kenzie must detour through the subterranean kingdom of Darkheather while Celanawe and Leiam continue forward through rain and snow to deliver the needed medical supplies to their ailing home and friends.
Mouse Guard establishes itself as the next generation of fables and Petersen an unparalleled fabulist of superior talent. The frailty of mice as creatures only adds to the successes and victories of Petersen’s characters when they triumph over their obstacles. And these are mice that anyone would cheer for. Some are brash while others wise, but all of the warrior mice are good souls fighting for the honor, virtue, and ultimate wellbeing of their home and brethren. The relationship between Leiam and Celanawe is particularly engaging, due to the archetypal relationship they share as apprentice and mentor, which comes full circle as the book draws to a close.
The high quality of both the writing and the artwork in Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 remained strong from beginning to end, relentlessly enchanting me. The dialogue of the characters is rich and meaningful, while also maintaining a subtly quaint tone that’s referential of the medieval backdrop the story works against. And Petersen’s pages are visually bold, depicting moving scenes and vivid battles, while also working on a subtle level. Though mice as creatures have expressionless faces, Petersen is fully capable of writing and illustrating the emotions of his characters time and again.
In the end, Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 is another home run for David Petersen, who has once again proven himself to be a unique talent that needs to continue creating in order to raise the standards of art and literature alike. For anyone who has not read any of the Mouse Guard books, start with Fall 1152 and then move on to Winter 1152, which is due out in book stores and comic shops this July. It’s a story for all ages that’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for. I certainly know I will be.
This comic book review originally appeared on Comic News on 19 June 2009.
