The Magicians

Curious activity is taking place in a long-abandoned house that once belonged to a trio of magicians: a backpack-toting elephant emerges from a teapot, a blackbird bursts from a picture frame, and a girl with red hair appears from behind a screen. Succinct omniscient narration identifies the three as the aforementioned magicians, who each separately descend upon the nearby village. There, they wreak havoc that includes tricking children into giving up their food and turning an elderly man’s homely garden into an impenetrable jungle. But the huntress Aisha and her fearsome lion-dragon companion Clinker, which resembles a Chinese guardian lion, are on the tricksters’ tails. In a fast-paced, action-packed chase that traverses time and space, the huntress and the magicians take turns gaining the upper hand, until an even more treacherous party enters the fold. Via expressive text, artist Blexbolex (Vacation) presents a dreamlike fantasy graphic novel adventure that celebrates creativity, imagination, and magic. The silkscreen-style illustrations are awash in a vivid palette of mostly primary colors, giving this visually stunning work a vintage vibe. Most human characters are depicted with pale skin. Ages 9–up. (Nov.)