Broken Frontier

Lockhaven is besieged by the forces of the Black Axe. Can the Guard stand against him and restore peace to the land?

The city of Lockhaven, headquarters of the Mouse Guard, is under siege by the traitorous Black Axe—now revealed as Midnight, a former member of the Guard. Midnight and his army hope to seize control of the city and wage proactive war against all predators and enemies, believing the Guard to be too weak and old-fashioned. Saxon and Kenzie, aided by the elderly mouse Celanawe (who is more than what he seems), must infiltrate the city, free their friends, and save Gwendolyn, Matriarch of the Guard.

Mouse Guard has been one of the biggest surprises of the past year, a beautifully illustrated and captivating fantasy with the unlikeliest, yet most charming of heroes. Issue #6 delivers the action-packed conclusion to the Guard’s first published adventure and creator David Petersen ensures that the first series ends with a bang. Cute as his protagonists may be, Petersen does not shy from violence in this tale and the savagery of the battle both shocks and engrosses the reader. The tension runs high and there are a number of twists and turns to keep fans turning the pages with anticipation. It’s a masterfully handled climax that manages to avoid the pitfall of some of the series’ other issues, that of seeming too quick a read. Here, the pacing seems more balanced and the story is both exciting and satisfying.

Artistically, the series has been strong from the start. Petersen’s art style continues to conjure the refined, detailed look of storybook illustration. The realism of the mice’s look aids in the suspension of disbelief and helps to ground the fantasy. The only downside of this approach is occasional confusion over who is who, as the mice have an almost uniform look save for the color of their fur and cloaks. This is a minor distraction however amid the dramatic angles and enchanting storytelling.

Mouse Guard was a wonderfully moody fantasy epic in miniature and I for one am anxiously anticipating the next series.