The Magic Order, Vol. 3

The Magic Order #3

by Mark Millar (Writer), Gigi Cavenago (Illustrator), Valentina Napolitano (Colorist)

Superstar writer MARK MILLAR presents the third volume of his smash-hit horror series with Italian genius GIGI CAVENAGO (Batman) on art. We've met the American and British members of the Magic Order. Now it's time to meet the Asian chapter—and a group of wizards using their powers to live a life of total luxury.

HOLLYWOOD BURST: Soon to be a major live-action Netflix show.

Collects THE MAGIC ORDER 3 #1-6

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Comic Book, Magic

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2023

About the author

Mark Millar is the New York Times best-selling writer of Wanted, the Kick-Ass series, The Secret Service, Jupiter’s Legacy, Jupiter’s Circle, Nemesis, Superior, Super Crooks, American Jesus, MPH, Starlight, and Chrononauts. Wanted, Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2, and The Secret Service (as Kingsman: The Secret Service) have been adapted into feature films, and Nemesis, Superior, Starlight, War Heroes, Jupiter’s Legacy and Chrononauts are in development at major studios.

His DC Comics work includes the seminal Superman: Red Son, and at Marvel Comics he created The Ultimates – selected by Time magazine as the comic book of the decade, Wolverine: Old Man Logan, and Civil War – the industry’s biggest-selling superhero series in almost two decades.

Mark has been an Executive Producer on all his movie adaptations and is currently creative consultant to Fox Studios on their Marvel slate of movies.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Magic's markedly metaphysical, moreover, mob movie moods make merciless moments much more mentally meaty.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-3 ◦ Issues #3-6

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! Hey!
All of a sudden this title is starting to pick up and get a bit exciting.



Dude, there were so many twists in this one! It was nice to read a comic by Millar and get a volume that feels like he actually tried with it. And I say that as someone who truly likes his comics. He's got talent and when he isn't phoning it in, I'm always blown away.



And this was FUN! And shocking!
It turned everything on its head and I loved it.
If you've been following this, I think you're going to enjoy all the gasp! moments. If you've not been reading this but you're a fan of magic user comics, then you might want to give it a shot.



Recommended.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a series with diminishing returns. Mark Millar teases all these wonderful monsters and parallel universes, but instead of doing anything with them to further the plot or mythology of the Magic Order, he falls back on having the calls come from inside the house, as once again, the Magic Order's biggest enemy is . . . itself.

It doesn't help that the artist this time around, Gigi Cavenago, is the least impressive of the three who have taken a turn at illuminating this world. More diminishing returns . . .

I see the TV show may be back in line for production after being canceled once already, and a fourth comic series is underway with a better artist. I'll probably try both, but with lowered expectations.

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This vol feels like it's all setup setup setup and more setup for the next vol. There isn't a real central story, more a collection of incidents. That's what they feel like; incidents.

The art in previous vols (I am already annoying myself with the vol/vols thing) was good, I feel Gigi Cavenago's art really steps it up a notch in this one. (Different artist in the next.. book yet again)

I like it that Millar tries to shove in a couple of twists, although they do tend to feel like they're just there to suprise.

[Marpapad · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5]

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as outrageous and fast-paced and beautifully illustrated as the previous volumes in the "series." I add quotes because each time a new volume comes out, I'm shocked. None of The Magic Order seems planned out in advance, each page drawn from whole cloth, much less each volume. Perhaps that's the true magic trick here?

In this third volume, we find Cordelia and Regan Moonstone in charge with an Asian member of the Order chaffing against the magical rules. Meanwhile, Regan's young ward, Rosie, demonstrates powers far beyond her years, and Leonard Moonstone searches for his wife so they can live out their remaining years in reunited bliss.

Unpredictable events occur, basically on every page, so many of them it's hard to keep track. Even if the plot(s) are a mess, you'll be hard-pressed to look away. As with many of Millar's hits, this is the reading equivalent of a sugar high. Bring on the next volume.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow a plot with a classic twist, stretched out over at least 2 issues with skits full of magic - 'course - but with no connection to the main arc, just to get to the 6 issues needed for the TPB. Which takes one * off my rating because I'm sick of reading artificially decompressed stories.

Otherwise, it's pretty good. There's tension, action, some gratuitous shock scenes because Millar, good dialogue and a bit of lore to tie it all together.

I love Gigi Cavenago’s drawings. His style is fairly typical of some modern Italian fumetti, dynamic and very fluid, bordering on sketchy, but totally masterful, and perfectly suited to the magical and colourful world he illustrates.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vou ser rapidinho nessa, porque praticamente não entendi direito a trama do Millar nesse volume aqui. A Ordem Mágica começou muito bem, depois melhorou ainda e neste terceiro volume, que não acaba aqui, mas que para mim acabou de vez a vontade de continuar lendo, piorou imensamente. Engraçado que logo no volume que temos a arte mais incrível e maravilhosa do italizano Gigi Gavenago, o roteiro é o mais desinteresante e menos convidativo. Assim, junto com A Ordem Mágica, resolvi desovar outros quadrinhos do MillarWorld que não faziam diferença eu manter na coleção. É isso.

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back cover advertisement on Issue #1 of MAGIC ORDER, VOLUME 3 states: "There's a reason you've never seen a ghost . . . . . it's called THE MAGIC ORDER.
Five families of wizards from all around the world, living among us as teachers and paramedics, cab drivers and checkout assistants. By day they hold down regular jobs. By night they secretly protect us from what's lurking under our beds."

That, in a nutshell, is the premise behind this series - - and what attracted me to the first volume:
a secret order of select families that protect Earth from various threats through the utilization of magical abilities and spells. Their lifelong mission is to keep a dangerous spell book from getting into the wrong hands and ending the world.

Volume One was about the internal battles between several family members to gain possession of the book. The fascinating characters and compelling story were enhanced by the amazing art of Olivier Copiel, whose ability to convey various emotions through facial expressions and body language is brilliant, as well as his high-powered action scenes.

Stuart Immonen took over on art for Volume Two, and did an equally great job. Volume Two introduced new characters and new settings, with the main conflict being an Eastern European family of magicians/warlocks/wizards intent on stealing artifacts from The Magic Order and using them to resurrect a Lovecraftian behemoth. Cordelia (my favorite character) and the London chapter were successful in beating down the threat.

Volume Three has not received as many favorable reviews as the other chapters, perhaps because of its' differences. Gigi Cavenago is the new artist, and the work is not equal to Copiel and Immonen. It's a different style that has its merits and moments, but seems more suited to science-fiction fare. The color choices and shading are also odd for some of the scenes.

There's also not a central plot or conflict in Volume Three and no world-wide threats that the family has to suppress. It's much more episodic with side stories, all focused on internal conflicts within the family, discovery, and then discipline. In many places, it feels like a set-up for Volume Four. Talk about a dysfunctional family! The storylines involve deception, theft, back-stabbing, misuse of magic for personal gain, politics, manipulation, betrayal, and a budding internal threat that promises to reach bloom in the next volume. Cordelia is still my favorite, although we see how cruelly impartial and decisive she can be when it involves family members breaking the rules.

I actually enjoyed all the conflicts. I had put off reading Volume Three, wondering if it would just be a rehash of Volumes One and Two, with similar threats/conflicts - just in new dressings. I read Volume Three in the single monthly issues. Now, I'll need to seek out and order Volume Four. I've decided to see this one through.

To be fair, Volume Three deserves more of a 3.5 star rating compared to the others.
.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took 3 volumes for this series to find it's footing but it really is starting to come together now. I didn't find myself feeling meh about any of the issues in this volume and now I'm more invested in these characters now that we've been with them for a little while. I can't wait to read vol 4.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of diminishing returns with each volume but it’s still an entertaining and binge-worthy read. Enjoying the different art styles between each volume, and there’s some shocking moments of sudden violence that kept me on edge throughout. Millar has created a fun playground world and I hope the stories can stay fresh.

[Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

BUENO, la cosa va evolucionando. Acá en lugar de hacer un treatment para una peli con todos los actos armaditos y una historia autocontenida y redondita, Millar se pone a escribir un cómic y a pensar en long term. Se ve que la serie pegó y ahora sobrepasó su mera existencia como posible serie de Netflix. Este volumen es todo world building y expansión violenta. Se abren un montón de subplots, algunos se cierran pero otros siguen, les pasan cosas a varios personajes y se sientan las bases para que la serie se siga expandiendo. Mucho lore, mucho universo y mucho quilombo. Me parece que esta serie tiene largo aliento, eh.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millar goes back to caring about this series with a great volume after the clustered story that was the last volume. This one had some shocking twists and story elements that will provide quite the challenge for these characters in the future. Hoping the following volumes have been/will be written with characters as compelling as this volume showed.

[Colin Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the art by Gigi Cavenago; he produces some incredible vistas with a Doctor Strange vibe. The story was a bit flat, and once again one has to wonder about how exactly powers work, and why some people are better than others? Also why don't people keep an eye things that are a bit suspicious before those things turn around and bite someone's head off? It's a mystery.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot twist!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I am a bit mixed on the series: it is unique and multifaceted but at the same time, I guess I still want a character to actually like. As with the Watchmen series (which feels like a spiritual predecessor), there are lots of twists and turns, betrayals, and people being their own worst and very flawed enemy.

Story: There is a new moonstone in training and she looks to be incredibly talented - if a bit young since she is in elementary school. But one Moonstone sees something dangerous in Rosy - something he feels he has to snuff out immediately. The Moonstones always rally around their own, until members start breaking their own rules.

The running theme is the Moonstone's matriarch precognition of her own children's deaths by the age of 40 - and how it caused her to withdraw from the family altogether/affected terribly her children. But even that is only the tip of the iceberg as several main characters' lives begin to spiral out of control.

The artwork here is solid and there were only a few panels where I had no idea what was happening. They certainly had distinct and original illustration work that made the story move.

In all, a fascinating and very adult series. The back blurb mentions this is a good starting point for those new to the series; I may not agree with that sentiment but it shouldn't be too confusing, either. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Camilo Guerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cordelia Moonstone sigue a cargo de THE MAGIC ORDER, pero este trabajo es jodido, tiene un montón de cosas peligrosas y estresantes, entre lidiar con la familia, con monstruos que quieren comer humanos por deporte, y traiciones y problemas internos, es que eso de trabajar con gente cercana a uno es muy fregado...

LO BUENO: Millar toma lo que paso en los dos tomos anteriores y toda esa información sueltica y se construye una trama que te toma del cuello y no te deja respirar: parientes de los que no sabíamos, una guerra que trajo mas que muertos, treguas jodidas, y reglas y conceptos del mundo mágico que tienen mucha razón y te dejan expectante, además, un concepto del multiverso genial, en el que las historias de libros y cuentos que conocemos siguen existiendo y se puede acudir a ellos en cualquier momento, y un final que te deja pidiendo los nuevos números los mas pronto posible.

LO MALO: El arte de Gigi Cavenago no es malo, es hermoso, tiene diseños llamativos, con terror, con ganas de sangre, pero...pero...el tomo 01 estaba ilustrado hermosamente por Olivier Coipel y el 02 por ese genio llamado Stuart Immonem ,y acá, el tipo no mantiene el nivel, y hay paginas en que se nota que estaba algo apurado, y sus peleas son rayitos y ya, cuando tiene que desmembrar un cuerpo , se ve muy...mehhh, y esto afecta la obra .

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume feels like it's setting the stage for a bigger follow-up, although a lot of stuff does happen here too. Cordelia and Regan are dealing with people breaking the magic order's biggest rule, and also handling the ramifications of the last volume, most specifically in the form of Rosie. Meanwhile, Leonard is tracking down his wife to relay some news and follow up on an old promise, and Uncle Edgar's starting to remember things he shouldn't. There's a lot of slow boiling of plot elements going on here, but there are some pretty explosive moments in the final issue or two, none of which leave things in a particularly great place for the order. There are also a few interesting concepts introduced and exploited, and a fair bit of lying, cheating and double-crossing. All of it pays off a bit here, but again, feels like it's setting the stage for the next volume. It does a good job of balancing short term and long term story, and introduces (and occasionally dispatches) some interesting new and old characters. I definitely enjoyed this volume more than I did the second. And it did leave me wondering what's going to happen next.

[Sebastian M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, magical action and intrigue rooted in duplicitous family drama.

I enjoy the world of The Magic Order for it's balance of realism and magical elements, the fun it has with genre and storytelling, and it's conniving cast of characters. This volume delivers more of all of that, all while planting some compelling seeds for what's to come. Also, Cavenago's artwork is great and realizes all the big, imaginative, magical elements of this story really well!
My biggest criticism of Millar's stuff sometimes, as is the case with this series, is that the concepts he comes up with are really interesting (the approach to magic and the whole system surrounding it here is really cool), yet they never have time to breathe. Instead we jump from one plot point to another without getting a chance to dwell on anything meaningfully.
I'm along for the ride but I wish it'd last a little longer.

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este tercer volumen atrapó mi interés en mucho mayor medida que el anterior. Aunque la trama es un poco más enrevesada, logra transmitir mejor el riesgo de que las cosas no se resuelvan. No porque el mundo entero está en peligro, como en el volumen anterior, sino que lo que peligra son los personajes. Todas las desgracias o vicisitudes que ahora sufren los protagonistas, las sentimos un poco más, y ya deja de molestar que la magia sea tan grandiosa, porque ya no es cosa de quién hace el conjuro más fantástico, sino de cómo afecta emocionalmente a los involucrados. Muy recomendado.

[Allen Setzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still loving The Magic Order. This volume didn’t have a noticeable cohesive story in my first read. I’d like to re-read this again with all four volumes because there’s so much involved and things going on. I can’t imagine not seeing the side plots building if I read the whole series in one go. If you like the world from the first two, you’ll like this. This feels like its purpose is to start tying ends from the previous books to what will happen in volume 4. A lot of information comes out and a lot of things happen you will never see coming.

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is a near flawless affair that clearly shows Millar's mastery over this secret world of magic he has created. It is in my opinion his best work with an excellent attention to detail and magnificent art on every single page from Cavenago and the art team that continues to be a hallmark of this series three volumes in. The fact that the art is absolutely flawless in its execution makes the gut punches the script delivers hit home that much harder. A superb way to finish and set up the next series.

[Chad Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the big things I liked about the first two volumes of The Magic Order was the seeming lack of that certain Mark Millar trademark cynical nastiness that shows up in a lot of his work. Sure, some bad stuff happened, but it happened in an organic way and there was hope and magic to balance it out.

Not the case with this volume. This volume embraces that cynicism. Kinda bummed about that.

The story is good and the art is beautiful. Too bad the fun went away.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 3 of the series deals with a bunch of smaller plots. The patriarch of the family finally finds his estranged wife and we find out the deal between the two. Rosie's powers continue to grow, causing problems. Meanwhile her uncle has some problems of his own. Volume 3 seems to be all set up for the future. It also has the weakest art as some Italian artist I wasn't familiar with takes over. Millar typically brings in A list artistic talent and this lesser artist really hurt the story.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume three of the series finds the family in Asia with more secrets revealed, betrayals, and additional story about Salome the mother to most of the Moonstone children. The art in this volume by Gigi Cavenago. Of the three volumes I found this one to be the weakest, but still an overall entertaining enough read. Rosie’s growing powers are the focus and Millar always has curves to throw at you or in this case tricks.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book that doesn't seem to get enough pub. Millar creates such a cool world of magic without seeming cliched, repetitive, or boring. Here, we get some more Moonstone family history and its a doozy. There was some timeline/multiversal wackiness that made me scratch my head but the overall story was full of twists and delivered. The art in this volume was good but a step back from the previous two. Overall, another very good read in an amazing world.

[Ricardo Noronha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Millar doesn't disappoint and "The Magic Order" is a fantastic series.

I do, however, miss Coipel's art, though. Narratively, I believe Volume 3's plot is more interesting than Volume 2, probably because it ties to the original volume, which up until know remains the best, in my humble opinion.

[David Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another artist change, the art is flat, doesn't pop like earlier volumes. Story take us to meet some of the Asian members of the order. Sacha was a cool new character. Also liked the Edgar reveal. Somehow the dead former patriarch and matriarch of the order are heavily involved in this arc as a flashback, I guess. The first volume is still the best story and art.

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

The plot thickens!

This third volume is a good starting point for anyone that doesn't want to bother with the two previous ones, even though they are still pretty fun, so why would you do that?

The art is good, and the plot is just slightly over average, but still a good read, with lots of betrayals, family issues, and magic.

Once again, not revolutionary, but fun.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first volume was about an attempted coup in the Order.
The second volume was about and uprising of magic users who were policed by the Order.
This volume is pretty much just a setup for the next volume.
There are some bad apples in the Order, creating disorder, and leaving room for the next threat to step in and try to take control.