Comic Info
Comic Name: Mouse Guard: Winter 1152
Publisher: Arcadia
Writer: David Petersen
Artist: David Petersen
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2009
Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 #4
Reprints Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 #1-6 (July 2007-May 2009). The battle with Midnight has put the Mouse Guard in extreme jeopardy as winter approaches. With supplies running low, Saxon, Kenzie, Lieam, Sadie, and Celanawe have been sent out into the frigid land to rally help from mice under their protection. When Saxon, Kenzie, and Sadie are separated, they find themselves in an underground kingdom of unknown origin. Celanawe and Lieam fight their way through the snow while being hunted, and the fate of the Mouse Guard could hang in the balance.
Written and illustrated by David Petersen, Mouse Guard Volume 2: Winter 1152 is a fantasy graphic novel. Following Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152, the series was released to critical acclaim.
Mouse Guard is a hard sell…literally. It isn’t because it is bad, and it isn’t because it is universal, but it literally is that it is hard to sell. The comic sporadically comes out and isn’t the same format as standard comics so it is often difficult to place and sell. It does not fit in with Marvel and DC Comics, but it also does not fit in with manga or titles for young readers. This is too bad because not only does Mouse Guard have universal appeal, but it is a solid and interesting story.
Mouse Guard: Winter 1152 #5
As the name implies, mice are the star. That isn’t always going to go over with people in the big world of superheroes, capes, and villains, but Mouse Guard has a lot of those qualities within a story that is more Game of Thrones than Avengers. The story feels big and epic and this is a fun contrast to the fact that small mice are the leads…it is part of the joy of Mouse Guard.
I love the art of Mouse Guard. Petersen breathes life into the little mice and seems to give them a lot of heart and even sadness as they face their struggles largely brought on by their own kind. Some of the best parts of Mouse Guard are the incorporation of other animals (in this volume namely bats, a very persistent owl, and rabbits). I concede thought that it takes a while to differentiate the mice and only when they get split up does it become easier.
Mouse Guard is a series that can be enjoyed by adults, but also can be enjoyed by kids who can take a few ups and downs. The series is about animals and the animals are portrayed in a way that is halfway realistic (aka characters can and do die). Having met Petersen at conventions, he seems like a good guy, and I wish him the best with the comic in a tough comic book market. If you want a unique adventure, check out the series and enjoy the style and visuals that aren’t common in many comic books. Mouse Guard 2: Winter 1152 is followed by Mouse Guard 3: The Black Axe.
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