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Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel
Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this stunningly illustrated graphic novel adaptation of the thrilling national bestseller Mister Magic.
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving videos or scripts, no evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former circle of friends has. In Val’s case, kidnapped by her father and in hiding ever since, she doesn’t even have those.
A surprise encounter with Val's old castmates brings them all together for a reunion. Back to the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Back among friends they haven’t seen for years, but who somehow understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as Val reclaims parts of her past, she Are they there by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of friendship. . . .
Rendered in striking full-color art by beloved comic artists Veronica Fish and Andy Fish, this gripping graphic adaptation of Mister Magic fully immerses you in the psychological thriller that PopSugar, CrimeReads, and the Chicago Public Library named a best book of the year.
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving videos or scripts, no evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former circle of friends has. In Val’s case, kidnapped by her father and in hiding ever since, she doesn’t even have those.
A surprise encounter with Val's old castmates brings them all together for a reunion. Back to the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Back among friends they haven’t seen for years, but who somehow understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as Val reclaims parts of her past, she Are they there by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of friendship. . . .
Rendered in striking full-color art by beloved comic artists Veronica Fish and Andy Fish, this gripping graphic adaptation of Mister Magic fully immerses you in the psychological thriller that PopSugar, CrimeReads, and the Chicago Public Library named a best book of the year.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Kiersten White
76 books14.1k followersKiersten White is the #1 New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning, and critically acclaimed author of many books for readers of all ages, including the And I Darken trilogy, the Sinister Summer series, the Camelot Rising trilogy, Star Wars: Padawan, Hide, Mister Magic, and Lucy Undying. She also has a very large tortoise named Kimberly, which isn't relevant, but she wanted you to know.
Visit her online at kierstenwhite.com.
Visit her online at kierstenwhite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm always surprised when I see a random book getting a graphic novel adaptation. I'm not complaining about that, but I certainly don't understand it either. Because I basically see no reason for this graphic novel of "Mister Magic" existing and I say that as someone who actually quite liked the novel. I've only read it last year and I enjoyed it way more than I expected based on the mediocre average rating of the book. The plot about this long-running children's tv show that everyone remembers differently and that may or may not has ended in tragedy with no information to be found online was just so intriguing to me and there was some cool mixed media too. The graphic novel of course tells the same story while also providing visualization. The thing is: the majority of this story is people talking to each other. So there is still a lot of text and the pretty art is only used to show the characters from different angles while they are talking. There are some nice spreads that picture the tv show and they were really good, but they were few and far between all the visually unexciting talks. I guess it's a faithful adaptation of the novel, but I just don't see any necessity for it. I also don't know who to recommend it to. Those who have already read the novel will get nothing new here. I read the novel like half a year ago and I found it to be repetitive even. But those who haven't read the novel will struggle too. From the whole structure it's very clear that this story was not designed to be a graphic novel. The paranormal element unfolds only slowly, there is nothing that hooks the reader in the beginning and the art is only really worth it near the end of the book. I guess it might work for readers who enjoyed the novel before, but can't remember it all that well and don't want to re-read the whole book. And that is a bit too much of a niche audience if you ask me. 2.5 stars.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter / Ten Speed Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter / Ten Speed Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2026
I was wondering if I would cry again and I did 🫠
I wasn’t sure if the graphic novel would hit the same as the book but it absolutely does! I might even like it, dare I say, better than the book? The illustrations were incredible, especially when depicting the show. Somehow the colors and imagery really captures the feeling of watching a show from the 90s that you loved. Witchcraft! I haven’t read Mister Magic since it came out but I had a really good time slowly remembering the details of the plot as I went.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t sure if the graphic novel would hit the same as the book but it absolutely does! I might even like it, dare I say, better than the book? The illustrations were incredible, especially when depicting the show. Somehow the colors and imagery really captures the feeling of watching a show from the 90s that you loved. Witchcraft! I haven’t read Mister Magic since it came out but I had a really good time slowly remembering the details of the plot as I went.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2026
Val has no memories from early childhood. The only life she’s known for the past 30 years is living on the secluded ranch where her dad brought her as an eight-year-old. She’d always had the sense that they were on the run from something…or someone. But after her dad’s death, a group of people who knew her before the ranch track her down. They say she starred alongside them on a children’s TV show, and they convince her to join them for a reunion that will be featured on a podcast. But a sense of unease permeates the weekend, and Val begins to suspect she’s not the only one with hazy memories. Something much bigger than a nostalgia podcast is happening—something that could shake the very foundation of Val’s life.
I read and enjoyed the original Mister Magic novel, so I was delighted to see it adapted into the graphic novel form. I would love to see other modern horror novels get this treatment! The illustrations were great and really complement the story, and the book moves at a fast pace while still giving readers all the context they need. This was a fun one!
I read and enjoyed the original Mister Magic novel, so I was delighted to see it adapted into the graphic novel form. I would love to see other modern horror novels get this treatment! The illustrations were great and really complement the story, and the book moves at a fast pace while still giving readers all the context they need. This was a fun one!
October 26, 2026
this story means so, so much to me.
Mister Magic is one of my favorite books and I somehow missed the fact it was getting a graphic novel adaptation, which created a pretty special experience of stumbling upon it in the library.
This was a fantastic adaptation; allowing me to experience the story in a new way and also making me want to revisit the book again.
I stand by the fact that Mister Magic is not for everyone; but gosh, do I feel like it was created exactly for me.
Mister Magic is one of my favorite books and I somehow missed the fact it was getting a graphic novel adaptation, which created a pretty special experience of stumbling upon it in the library.
This was a fantastic adaptation; allowing me to experience the story in a new way and also making me want to revisit the book again.
I stand by the fact that Mister Magic is not for everyone; but gosh, do I feel like it was created exactly for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The graphic novel of Mister Magic was great. I read the book when it came out and enjoyed it and this graphic novel helps me visualize the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐
I've always been vaguely interested in the Mister Magic novel, but never thought I'd ever get to it. So, as soon as I saw this graphic novel adaptation available on Netgalley, I instantly requested it.
I really like the concept behind this story, and I loved the mixed-media elements introduced in this graphic novel. I was genuinely interested in what the story was behind this children TV show. Sadly, the reveal wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping it would be... I think a lot more could have been done with this concept.
I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of the comic-book art style, but there were a couple of really good illustrations in this. If you are interested in the concept, but you don't necessarily want to invest in an entire novel, this is a good alternative.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I've always been vaguely interested in the Mister Magic novel, but never thought I'd ever get to it. So, as soon as I saw this graphic novel adaptation available on Netgalley, I instantly requested it.
I really like the concept behind this story, and I loved the mixed-media elements introduced in this graphic novel. I was genuinely interested in what the story was behind this children TV show. Sadly, the reveal wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping it would be... I think a lot more could have been done with this concept.
I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of the comic-book art style, but there were a couple of really good illustrations in this. If you are interested in the concept, but you don't necessarily want to invest in an entire novel, this is a good alternative.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
January 7, 2026
Mister Magic is such a great book and this graphic novel really did the original justice!
Pre read: GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWWWWWWWW
Pre read: GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWWWWWWWW
August 12, 2026
Would you like to read a horror book that combines 90s TV and creepypasta? PSYCH you get a Mormon allegory haha
July 22, 2026
I'm really not sure how to rate this. The story is really interesting, and the illustrations were really well done... but I found it incredibly fast-paced and rushed, which doesn't match well with the horror vibes. Interestingly, the graphic novel has higher reviews than the original novel it is based on, but I finished it wishing I had read the original novel instead. (I will probably also give the regular novel a go.)
Overall I'd give it 2.75 stars. It wasn't bad, but it felt like it was just starting to capture my interest when it ended. Had it been more fleshed out, I would have enjoyed it more.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Overall I'd give it 2.75 stars. It wasn't bad, but it felt like it was just starting to capture my interest when it ended. Had it been more fleshed out, I would have enjoyed it more.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2026
I really dug the themes and message the author was saying with this book. Childhood nostalgia as a trap!! And what really makes a ‘good kid’ anyway?
I thought the art was nice too, it really captured the feeling of a children’s show.
I do wish now I could’ve read the original novel first, because this felt too quick for me after a slower start. The horror finally got started then immediately escalated and ended. I think it would’ve hit harder emotionally with buildup and a stronger understanding. I wish mister magic and other villains could’ve been on page more, and added more tension. I still mostly liked it and recommend.
I thought the art was nice too, it really captured the feeling of a children’s show.
I do wish now I could’ve read the original novel first, because this felt too quick for me after a slower start. The horror finally got started then immediately escalated and ended. I think it would’ve hit harder emotionally with buildup and a stronger understanding. I wish mister magic and other villains could’ve been on page more, and added more tension. I still mostly liked it and recommend.
July 18, 2026
It was so much fun re-reading this story again! I read the novel version of this and when I saw that it was getting a graphic novel, I was ecstatic! The novel was really well written and I was immersed in the story and this graphic novel is the same. The illustrations really help bring the story to life and are fantastic! I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Kiersten White,Clarkson Potter/Tan Speed Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2026
I really loved this adaptation. For me it really worked because I've already read the novel, I'm curious how this works on its own. Still love the gang with all my heart. The illustrations were pulled straight from my brain, which, weird considering.
September 23, 2026
Gorgeously illustrated but with a plot that has potential and fails to deliver. I haven’t read the original and now I don’t plan to. :(
October 25, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
A mixed media horror graphic novel about escaping religious programming that seems like a certified banger until its completely tone deaf ending.
Pre-reading:
Kiersten White wrote Lucy Undying which I think has one of the best horror covers I’ve ever seen, but then has one of the worst Dracula retellings ever inside. So my expectations for this? Not super high!
⚠️(potential spoilers from here on)⚠️
Thick of it:
You know, I may have been cranky for no reason. The art in this is already good. I like the balancing of the pages, very good computah.
OK, I was just making a chronically online TikTok sound joke, but now that there’s mixed media on a computer too… this is good, man!
This is why I hate Kiersten White’s writing because what do you mean you’re 30 and just accepted no as an answer to your questions? That’s bullshit. It doesn’t work.
If this is some extended, bought the farm metaphor-
Girlypop doesn’t have a single survival instinct. White and Rachel Harrison both write the same type of stupid popcorn thriller horror that think they're mic-dropping with their social commentaries, but they're always patronizing and shallow.
I am LOVING the mixed media in this. The Wikipedia page is too good!
This graphic novel is so well done. It’s so cinematic. I’m so impressed.
Do you want the house tour?🎶
Literally no one is surprised that Samantha likes the snarky, flirty lawyer.
God, the art in this! They did not need to go this hard, but I’m so glad that they did!
This is very Stephen King IT with the ragtag group reunion.
God, this ‘I don't remember’ refrain backended by everyone being unnecessarily cryptic is annoying. I’m sure it’s White’s narrative that's responsible for continuously checking the pace. I don't think it’s the adaptation’s fault.
I’m sure the sister is in the TV, but I’m not sure why. I feel like they’re trying to summon him back to the real world and obviously the TV was just their imagination. (All correct.)
This is good, man. I like the social commentary on behave and conform vs imagination and free will. I like that the idea is to make a safe chamber for kids to grow into ‘perfect’ adults.
The lack of partners is so weird. Like they’re not parthenogenesising or doing a reincarnation of the same kids over and over again, are they?
I wonder if these posts are in the original book or if they were created for the graphic novel. If they were created for this, it’s excellent satire with some toothy feminist commentary lurking underneath. If it’s from White, I'll give her the dang flowers for this bit.
OK, we’re missing a transition between her seeing her sister on the TV and then getting into Gary Stu’s bed. Have I mentioned how much I hate the horror script of walls up “virgin” meets tortured everyman? He's a mopey loser, and she's borderline getting manic pixie treatment. Knock it off.
Did not have this pegged for so much double standard feminism. I’m into it!
I was waiting for this to go Mormon since they mentioned Utah lol! So it’s escaping religion too.
Oh, I loveeee the religious media is evil push. Fuck Veggie Tales.
I don’t know what this recent push is that Delaware isn’t real, but it feels so correct haha. The most liminal space coded state.
I’d be so curious to know the differences between this and the original novel.
What’s up with this Mona Lisa blanket? It feels so random. And it's never, and I do mean never, plot-relevant.
Wait, I think this is so good. They’re stifling childhood creativity, so the solution was parentified eldest daughter haha. She became the parental figure, and she had to leave the circle because she grew up to let her friends have a childhood.
Who’s the lady who gave them the videotape? I’m so curious. (Poor and lazy explanation.)
Are we doing a play on Kitty as kiddy? Is it actually a sister or is it Val‘s split childhood half?
Lmao the everyone’s actually gay cliché.
This definitely works better as a graphic novel because I can just see White overwriting this and lingering, and then we’re slogging to the end when we already figured out the plot. If you're aiming for any bit of tension, your plot should not be even roughly guessable within the first third. Since this is a graphic novel, it doesn't have the same investment of time, so it’s like okay, I know what's going to happen, but I'm not gonna have to wait all that long for the resolution. It's a lot more forgiving with predictability frustration. I know, I know I'd be clawing the walls in the novel version of this.
I LOVE BUNNICULA.
LOVE the Lost Boys homage.
Oh, I HATE the child-free woman redeemed by wanting to have babies as character growth. That’s so shit.
…the message is give up your freedom and autonomy as a woman and clean up everyone else’s mess and have kids??? Surely not. Surely fucking not. You just had one character pulled out of that mindset. Surely you're not shoving your FMC into that role now like it's heroic.
The anti-religious bullhorn in this though-very good. She said fuck original sin with a bullhorn.
How do you car crash an ending this badly? Oh wait, it’s Kiersten White. She’s been tone deaf every single time. Oh my godddddd.
The construction of the graphic novel is 11 out of 10.
The story, probably owing to the fact that it was written by White, I want to burn it. Very all that for what, man?
Post-reading:
The talent in this is *disrespectful.* Do you know how irritated I am that I can't give the art team’s work five stars because they got stuck adapting White? Lemme gush, then we’ll get to the ranting.
The art in this? 11/10, no notes. The art style’s appealing. The colorwork is masterful. It mood lights like a TV show. The whole thing is so cinematic from the storyboarding, to the angles, to how the panels balance. There's literally nothing I could complain about. It's that well done.
I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here because I haven't read the actual Mister Magic novel that they're adapting, so I can only guess from my experience with White’s other work. The graphic novel is perfectly paced. There's really only two wobbles in it, and I highly suspect they're due to staying true to the source material. It’s a hard, hard sell that this thirty-repeat, thirty-year-old woman went along so unquestioningly for that many years. There’s horror fugue states and then there’s I don't think this character has a pulse because no person in the history of ever would react this way. I was raised on a first-grade diet of Nancy Drew and Scooby-Doo. I am a meddling kid to my core. I am not resting until my questions get answered. Any time a horror tries to get its audience to believe that a main character simply contents themselves with being stonewalled, I rage. I don't believe it. I will never believe it. I’d imagine the novel’s narrative for at least the first hundred pages is nothing but tedious internal monologuing. A graphic novel handily sidesteps that. You have to cut to the chase and make the limited dialogue work overtime. Trimming the fat from the openers of some of these horrors would save them a full star.
The other pacing blip in this is the missing transition between Kitty appearing on the TV and Val winding up in every popcorn horror’s requisite moping loser’s bed. I'm assuming the graphic novel took out an unneccesseyhurt/comfort sex scene. I could very well be wrong, but that was my impression.
And that snark is the beginning of my problems with White’s story. I don't know why the horror genre is so addicted to the Stephen King style ragtag group of archetypes that-and this is key- never expand beyond their archetypes. No, the spontaneous homosexuality does not count as character development. The being gay is okay refrain is fucking lazy. Also pairing off within your childhood friend group? It’s just icky to me. Like no one can grow and meet new people? It all just reeks of trauma bonding.
I think the religious commentary in this is pretty good. I think the Utah Mormon crossover works well with that. I like the idea of a father sacrificed to the religion to the point that he's not your father anymore. I like that the book rails against the idea of original sin. Children aren't born broken.
I was applauding the book’s feminist messaging up until the end where it falls flat on its face. What do you mean the intentionally childfree character “heals” enough to start fantasizing about having her own children and then ultimately sacrifices her own agency to steward a bunch of kids? That's so shit! That's book ruining! And it shoots down the book’s other message that kids should be free to explore and imagine and develop into whatever they want to be. Those kids can't move on. They're dead. Their consciousnesses are stuck looping. That's not warped heaven, that's torture lol!
I think the book’s short-sighted for not including the partners. Like healthy coparenting does not exist in this universe. They're all namelessly divorced. Maybe that's expanded on more in the original-highly fucking doubt it-but it feels like a pretty big hole in the narrative.
The mixed media element of this was banging. I liked all the nostalgic homages to other kids' shows that the book made. I liked the smidge of commentary we got from the digs taken at TMNT and the Smurfs and My Little Pony. That all felt appropriate and rightfully inflammatory.
So it's a total mixed bag. I think it's worth the read just for the art if you like horror stories that dig into social commentary. I think if you're a fan of IT or similar works, you'll vibe heavy with this. I think White’s the weak link in the storytelling here. I'd love to see this team work together again on a horror plot worthy of their talent.
Who should read this:
Horror graphic novel fans
Stephen King fans
Religious commentary fans
90s and early 2000s kids looking for nostalgia
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
Yes
Would I buy this:
Yes
Similar books:
* When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy-same book, different font. Magical realism, campy horror, family drama, social commentary
* Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison-paranormal horror, family drama, revenge thriller, cults, religious commentary
* Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin-horror retelling, paranormal, queer, trans, religious commentary, cults
* Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey-mommy horror, family drama, queer, religious commentary, cults
* Mary by Nat Cassidy-horror retelling, revenge thriller, paranormal, family drama, cults
* Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle-paranormal horror, queer, religious commentary
* Look Into My Eyes by Rubine-graphic novel, mixed media, horror
* It Killed Everyone But Me by Ryan Parrott-graphic novel, paranormal horror, revenge thriller
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A mixed media horror graphic novel about escaping religious programming that seems like a certified banger until its completely tone deaf ending.
Pre-reading:
Kiersten White wrote Lucy Undying which I think has one of the best horror covers I’ve ever seen, but then has one of the worst Dracula retellings ever inside. So my expectations for this? Not super high!
⚠️(potential spoilers from here on)⚠️
Thick of it:
You know, I may have been cranky for no reason. The art in this is already good. I like the balancing of the pages, very good computah.
OK, I was just making a chronically online TikTok sound joke, but now that there’s mixed media on a computer too… this is good, man!
This is why I hate Kiersten White’s writing because what do you mean you’re 30 and just accepted no as an answer to your questions? That’s bullshit. It doesn’t work.
If this is some extended, bought the farm metaphor-
Girlypop doesn’t have a single survival instinct. White and Rachel Harrison both write the same type of stupid popcorn thriller horror that think they're mic-dropping with their social commentaries, but they're always patronizing and shallow.
I am LOVING the mixed media in this. The Wikipedia page is too good!
This graphic novel is so well done. It’s so cinematic. I’m so impressed.
Do you want the house tour?🎶
Literally no one is surprised that Samantha likes the snarky, flirty lawyer.
God, the art in this! They did not need to go this hard, but I’m so glad that they did!
This is very Stephen King IT with the ragtag group reunion.
God, this ‘I don't remember’ refrain backended by everyone being unnecessarily cryptic is annoying. I’m sure it’s White’s narrative that's responsible for continuously checking the pace. I don't think it’s the adaptation’s fault.
I’m sure the sister is in the TV, but I’m not sure why. I feel like they’re trying to summon him back to the real world and obviously the TV was just their imagination. (All correct.)
This is good, man. I like the social commentary on behave and conform vs imagination and free will. I like that the idea is to make a safe chamber for kids to grow into ‘perfect’ adults.
The lack of partners is so weird. Like they’re not parthenogenesising or doing a reincarnation of the same kids over and over again, are they?
I wonder if these posts are in the original book or if they were created for the graphic novel. If they were created for this, it’s excellent satire with some toothy feminist commentary lurking underneath. If it’s from White, I'll give her the dang flowers for this bit.
OK, we’re missing a transition between her seeing her sister on the TV and then getting into Gary Stu’s bed. Have I mentioned how much I hate the horror script of walls up “virgin” meets tortured everyman? He's a mopey loser, and she's borderline getting manic pixie treatment. Knock it off.
Did not have this pegged for so much double standard feminism. I’m into it!
I was waiting for this to go Mormon since they mentioned Utah lol! So it’s escaping religion too.
Oh, I loveeee the religious media is evil push. Fuck Veggie Tales.
I don’t know what this recent push is that Delaware isn’t real, but it feels so correct haha. The most liminal space coded state.
I’d be so curious to know the differences between this and the original novel.
What’s up with this Mona Lisa blanket? It feels so random. And it's never, and I do mean never, plot-relevant.
Wait, I think this is so good. They’re stifling childhood creativity, so the solution was parentified eldest daughter haha. She became the parental figure, and she had to leave the circle because she grew up to let her friends have a childhood.
Who’s the lady who gave them the videotape? I’m so curious. (Poor and lazy explanation.)
Are we doing a play on Kitty as kiddy? Is it actually a sister or is it Val‘s split childhood half?
Lmao the everyone’s actually gay cliché.
This definitely works better as a graphic novel because I can just see White overwriting this and lingering, and then we’re slogging to the end when we already figured out the plot. If you're aiming for any bit of tension, your plot should not be even roughly guessable within the first third. Since this is a graphic novel, it doesn't have the same investment of time, so it’s like okay, I know what's going to happen, but I'm not gonna have to wait all that long for the resolution. It's a lot more forgiving with predictability frustration. I know, I know I'd be clawing the walls in the novel version of this.
I LOVE BUNNICULA.
LOVE the Lost Boys homage.
Oh, I HATE the child-free woman redeemed by wanting to have babies as character growth. That’s so shit.
…the message is give up your freedom and autonomy as a woman and clean up everyone else’s mess and have kids??? Surely not. Surely fucking not. You just had one character pulled out of that mindset. Surely you're not shoving your FMC into that role now like it's heroic.
The anti-religious bullhorn in this though-very good. She said fuck original sin with a bullhorn.
How do you car crash an ending this badly? Oh wait, it’s Kiersten White. She’s been tone deaf every single time. Oh my godddddd.
The construction of the graphic novel is 11 out of 10.
The story, probably owing to the fact that it was written by White, I want to burn it. Very all that for what, man?
Post-reading:
The talent in this is *disrespectful.* Do you know how irritated I am that I can't give the art team’s work five stars because they got stuck adapting White? Lemme gush, then we’ll get to the ranting.
The art in this? 11/10, no notes. The art style’s appealing. The colorwork is masterful. It mood lights like a TV show. The whole thing is so cinematic from the storyboarding, to the angles, to how the panels balance. There's literally nothing I could complain about. It's that well done.
I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here because I haven't read the actual Mister Magic novel that they're adapting, so I can only guess from my experience with White’s other work. The graphic novel is perfectly paced. There's really only two wobbles in it, and I highly suspect they're due to staying true to the source material. It’s a hard, hard sell that this thirty-repeat, thirty-year-old woman went along so unquestioningly for that many years. There’s horror fugue states and then there’s I don't think this character has a pulse because no person in the history of ever would react this way. I was raised on a first-grade diet of Nancy Drew and Scooby-Doo. I am a meddling kid to my core. I am not resting until my questions get answered. Any time a horror tries to get its audience to believe that a main character simply contents themselves with being stonewalled, I rage. I don't believe it. I will never believe it. I’d imagine the novel’s narrative for at least the first hundred pages is nothing but tedious internal monologuing. A graphic novel handily sidesteps that. You have to cut to the chase and make the limited dialogue work overtime. Trimming the fat from the openers of some of these horrors would save them a full star.
The other pacing blip in this is the missing transition between Kitty appearing on the TV and Val winding up in every popcorn horror’s requisite moping loser’s bed. I'm assuming the graphic novel took out an unneccesseyhurt/comfort sex scene. I could very well be wrong, but that was my impression.
And that snark is the beginning of my problems with White’s story. I don't know why the horror genre is so addicted to the Stephen King style ragtag group of archetypes that-and this is key- never expand beyond their archetypes. No, the spontaneous homosexuality does not count as character development. The being gay is okay refrain is fucking lazy. Also pairing off within your childhood friend group? It’s just icky to me. Like no one can grow and meet new people? It all just reeks of trauma bonding.
I think the religious commentary in this is pretty good. I think the Utah Mormon crossover works well with that. I like the idea of a father sacrificed to the religion to the point that he's not your father anymore. I like that the book rails against the idea of original sin. Children aren't born broken.
I was applauding the book’s feminist messaging up until the end where it falls flat on its face. What do you mean the intentionally childfree character “heals” enough to start fantasizing about having her own children and then ultimately sacrifices her own agency to steward a bunch of kids? That's so shit! That's book ruining! And it shoots down the book’s other message that kids should be free to explore and imagine and develop into whatever they want to be. Those kids can't move on. They're dead. Their consciousnesses are stuck looping. That's not warped heaven, that's torture lol!
I think the book’s short-sighted for not including the partners. Like healthy coparenting does not exist in this universe. They're all namelessly divorced. Maybe that's expanded on more in the original-highly fucking doubt it-but it feels like a pretty big hole in the narrative.
The mixed media element of this was banging. I liked all the nostalgic homages to other kids' shows that the book made. I liked the smidge of commentary we got from the digs taken at TMNT and the Smurfs and My Little Pony. That all felt appropriate and rightfully inflammatory.
So it's a total mixed bag. I think it's worth the read just for the art if you like horror stories that dig into social commentary. I think if you're a fan of IT or similar works, you'll vibe heavy with this. I think White’s the weak link in the storytelling here. I'd love to see this team work together again on a horror plot worthy of their talent.
Who should read this:
Horror graphic novel fans
Stephen King fans
Religious commentary fans
90s and early 2000s kids looking for nostalgia
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
Yes
Would I buy this:
Yes
Similar books:
* When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy-same book, different font. Magical realism, campy horror, family drama, social commentary
* Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison-paranormal horror, family drama, revenge thriller, cults, religious commentary
* Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin-horror retelling, paranormal, queer, trans, religious commentary, cults
* Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey-mommy horror, family drama, queer, religious commentary, cults
* Mary by Nat Cassidy-horror retelling, revenge thriller, paranormal, family drama, cults
* Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle-paranormal horror, queer, religious commentary
* Look Into My Eyes by Rubine-graphic novel, mixed media, horror
* It Killed Everyone But Me by Ryan Parrott-graphic novel, paranormal horror, revenge thriller
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2026
3.5⭐
Es probable que casi todos hayamos tenido un programa infantil favorito. Ese que esperábamos con emoción al salir de la escuela y cuyos personajes nos enseñaban valores, modales o palabras nuevas. En el universo creado por Kiersten White existe Mister Magic, un programa que marcó la infancia de millones de personas antes de ser cancelado tras un misterioso accidente.
Años después, quienes fueron los protagonistas del programa se reúnen para una entrevista que poco a poco desentierra recuerdos reprimidos y revela la inquietante verdad detrás de Mister Magic y de la figura que le da nombre.
Es importante tener en cuenta que esta novela gráfica funciona como un complemento de la novela original. La adaptación condensa gran parte de la historia para centrarse en los momentos clave, lo que, desde mi experiencia como alguien que no ha leído la novela, hace que varios personajes se sientan poco desarrollados y que algunos acontecimientos pierdan impacto emocional. En más de una ocasión tuve la sensación de que se asumía un conocimiento previo de la historia.
Aun así, la premisa me pareció fascinante. La idea de convertir la nostalgia por los programas infantiles en una fuente de horror resulta muy original y me dejó con muchas ganas de leer la novela para conocer la historia en toda su amplitud.
En el apartado gráfico no tengo ninguna queja: las ilustraciones son excelentes y consiguen transmitir muy bien la atmósfera inquietante que propone la historia.
Gracias a la editorial y a NetGalley por el ARC.
Es probable que casi todos hayamos tenido un programa infantil favorito. Ese que esperábamos con emoción al salir de la escuela y cuyos personajes nos enseñaban valores, modales o palabras nuevas. En el universo creado por Kiersten White existe Mister Magic, un programa que marcó la infancia de millones de personas antes de ser cancelado tras un misterioso accidente.
Años después, quienes fueron los protagonistas del programa se reúnen para una entrevista que poco a poco desentierra recuerdos reprimidos y revela la inquietante verdad detrás de Mister Magic y de la figura que le da nombre.
Es importante tener en cuenta que esta novela gráfica funciona como un complemento de la novela original. La adaptación condensa gran parte de la historia para centrarse en los momentos clave, lo que, desde mi experiencia como alguien que no ha leído la novela, hace que varios personajes se sientan poco desarrollados y que algunos acontecimientos pierdan impacto emocional. En más de una ocasión tuve la sensación de que se asumía un conocimiento previo de la historia.
Aun así, la premisa me pareció fascinante. La idea de convertir la nostalgia por los programas infantiles en una fuente de horror resulta muy original y me dejó con muchas ganas de leer la novela para conocer la historia en toda su amplitud.
En el apartado gráfico no tengo ninguna queja: las ilustraciones son excelentes y consiguen transmitir muy bien la atmósfera inquietante que propone la historia.
Gracias a la editorial y a NetGalley por el ARC.
May 17, 2026
It's an amazing sight to see when a great prose novel gets a graphic novel adaptation. Scott Peterson expertly adapts Kiersten White's
Mister Magic
with artists Veronica Fish & Andy Fish in
Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel
. The end result is a visually stunning, yet still unsettling, version of an impressive story for a whole new set of readers.
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving videos or scripts, no evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former circle of friends has. In Val’s case, kidnapped by her father and in hiding ever since, she doesn’t even have those.
A surprise encounter with Val's old castmates brings them all together for a reunion. Back to the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Back among friends they haven’t seen for years, but who somehow understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as Val reclaims parts of her past, she wonders: Are they there by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of friendship...
In the prose novel, White crafts a visually stunning book without imagery, but with her words on the page. Did the original story need a graphic novel adaptation, no, are we all the better for it existing, yes. While Kiersten's writing allowed for an immersive reading experience, the creative team behind the graphic novel gives us the actual visuals.
The premise of a children's television program everyone knows about, can sing the song from, or at least have some sort of memory about, but no one can prove existed. What a fantastic hook to this story, which goes in directions I hadn't expected.
The characters are slowly built throughout the story led by our narrator, who comes in nearly blind to the situation having forgotten what happened in her life as a child. After the death of her father things from the outside world start to penetrate her mind and opens her up to these horrors of her childhood.
I loved how this story progressed, but funny enough laying the foundation of whether or not a specific children's program ever really existed could be a fantastic beginning to a lot of horror stories. This is a fictional horror story that is built on truths of the life White lived as a child as part of the Mormon Church. Yes, this is of course a work of fiction, but White builds this story using her experiences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both as a member and her choice to leave.
The great thing about graphic novels and even more so with adaptations in this form is the team working together to bring this story to life visually on the page. The artwork by Veronica and Andy is just what I had hoped for when seeing this story in my mind. Each page is visually stunning with the unsettling vibes of the story popping from the page. The art behind this story does the original material justice, adding to the tale without taking away anything that came before it.
Like the prose novel, Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel is an emotional and unsettling horror tale that hits hard. Kiersten White crafts a premise that is deeply personal about childhood, belonging, and belief that Scott Peterson takes to the world of comics. The artwork by Veronica Fish & Andy Fish bring this story to eerie life to complete the mind-bending horror story that turns nostalgic children's programing into a pure nightmare.
Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel hits local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on June 9, 2026 from Ten Speed Graphic.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving videos or scripts, no evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former circle of friends has. In Val’s case, kidnapped by her father and in hiding ever since, she doesn’t even have those.
A surprise encounter with Val's old castmates brings them all together for a reunion. Back to the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Back among friends they haven’t seen for years, but who somehow understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as Val reclaims parts of her past, she wonders: Are they there by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of friendship...
In the prose novel, White crafts a visually stunning book without imagery, but with her words on the page. Did the original story need a graphic novel adaptation, no, are we all the better for it existing, yes. While Kiersten's writing allowed for an immersive reading experience, the creative team behind the graphic novel gives us the actual visuals.
The premise of a children's television program everyone knows about, can sing the song from, or at least have some sort of memory about, but no one can prove existed. What a fantastic hook to this story, which goes in directions I hadn't expected.
The characters are slowly built throughout the story led by our narrator, who comes in nearly blind to the situation having forgotten what happened in her life as a child. After the death of her father things from the outside world start to penetrate her mind and opens her up to these horrors of her childhood.
I loved how this story progressed, but funny enough laying the foundation of whether or not a specific children's program ever really existed could be a fantastic beginning to a lot of horror stories. This is a fictional horror story that is built on truths of the life White lived as a child as part of the Mormon Church. Yes, this is of course a work of fiction, but White builds this story using her experiences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both as a member and her choice to leave.
The great thing about graphic novels and even more so with adaptations in this form is the team working together to bring this story to life visually on the page. The artwork by Veronica and Andy is just what I had hoped for when seeing this story in my mind. Each page is visually stunning with the unsettling vibes of the story popping from the page. The art behind this story does the original material justice, adding to the tale without taking away anything that came before it.
Like the prose novel, Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel is an emotional and unsettling horror tale that hits hard. Kiersten White crafts a premise that is deeply personal about childhood, belonging, and belief that Scott Peterson takes to the world of comics. The artwork by Veronica Fish & Andy Fish bring this story to eerie life to complete the mind-bending horror story that turns nostalgic children's programing into a pure nightmare.
Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel hits local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on June 9, 2026 from Ten Speed Graphic.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 Stars
A highly addictive read. It should be noted that I picked this up without previous knowledge of the novel's plot. So I don't know how great of an adaption it was, but as its own thing, it was really, really good. I can say for certain I definitely will pick up the novel because it made me wanting more. There are a few details I'm wondering got cut out from the adaptation process. But on to my review of this Graphic Novel.
Mister Magic is a epistolary horror graphic novel about a group of adults reuniting for a podcast special about the children's TV show they were on. The problem is, no one can quite remember the details of the episodes, there are no recordings anywhere or what actual disaster that caused the show to be canceled. For the most part, we follow Val who blocked out the whole ordeal, and is trying to figure out why her father took her away from the show.
Where to start? Firstly, I would say it is more mystery, than horror, though it did have its share of creepy moments. The nursery rhymes in particular translated really well in graphic novel format. Despite it being short, it covered a lot of topics (difficulties of child rasing, warped nostalgia & childhood trauma) but it all stemmed back to the influence the TV show had on them. The plot itself had me hooked, asking so many questions as no one's story seemed to quite align. Like who/what is Mister Magic? what happened to the sixth cast member? and why are there no recordings left?
The art was fantastic. It captured everyone's emotions, differences between flashbacks & present day and creepy moments really well. You can tell it was a labor of love.
I do believe fans of Mister Magic will love this and anyone who wants a fast-paced, creepy story about a canceled children's TV show, this might be your cup of tea.
A highly addictive read. It should be noted that I picked this up without previous knowledge of the novel's plot. So I don't know how great of an adaption it was, but as its own thing, it was really, really good. I can say for certain I definitely will pick up the novel because it made me wanting more. There are a few details I'm wondering got cut out from the adaptation process. But on to my review of this Graphic Novel.
Mister Magic is a epistolary horror graphic novel about a group of adults reuniting for a podcast special about the children's TV show they were on. The problem is, no one can quite remember the details of the episodes, there are no recordings anywhere or what actual disaster that caused the show to be canceled. For the most part, we follow Val who blocked out the whole ordeal, and is trying to figure out why her father took her away from the show.
Where to start? Firstly, I would say it is more mystery, than horror, though it did have its share of creepy moments. The nursery rhymes in particular translated really well in graphic novel format. Despite it being short, it covered a lot of topics (difficulties of child rasing, warped nostalgia & childhood trauma) but it all stemmed back to the influence the TV show had on them. The plot itself had me hooked, asking so many questions as no one's story seemed to quite align. Like who/what is Mister Magic? what happened to the sixth cast member? and why are there no recordings left?
The art was fantastic. It captured everyone's emotions, differences between flashbacks & present day and creepy moments really well. You can tell it was a labor of love.
I do believe fans of Mister Magic will love this and anyone who wants a fast-paced, creepy story about a canceled children's TV show, this might be your cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I didn’t even know Mr. Magic existed back when it was published as a novel, so this graphic novel was my first introduction to the story. I was already familiar with Kiersten White as a name and had been meaning to read something by her for a while. This definitely pushed me closer to that.
What really pulled me in was the art style, which is always the first thing I look at in graphic novels. If I like the art, I’m instantly more invested in the story, and that was absolutely the case here.
Thankfully, the plot held up, too. It starts off with mild Scooby-Doo vibes, not ghosts and hauntings, but it definitely has an eerie atmosphere. I won’t say much more about the plot because spoilers are way too easy here. I also can’t judge how faithful this is as an adaptation, since I haven’t read the original novel, but I do feel like I might have connected more deeply with the characters in prose form. I wanted to sit a bit longer with their confusion, their desperation, and that constant question of what’s real, what’s remembered, and what’s missing.
Still, I’m glad I picked this up. It was a fun, atmospheric read, and it definitely made me want to explore more of Kiersten White’s work.
What really pulled me in was the art style, which is always the first thing I look at in graphic novels. If I like the art, I’m instantly more invested in the story, and that was absolutely the case here.
Thankfully, the plot held up, too. It starts off with mild Scooby-Doo vibes, not ghosts and hauntings, but it definitely has an eerie atmosphere. I won’t say much more about the plot because spoilers are way too easy here. I also can’t judge how faithful this is as an adaptation, since I haven’t read the original novel, but I do feel like I might have connected more deeply with the characters in prose form. I wanted to sit a bit longer with their confusion, their desperation, and that constant question of what’s real, what’s remembered, and what’s missing.
Still, I’m glad I picked this up. It was a fun, atmospheric read, and it definitely made me want to explore more of Kiersten White’s work.
May 24, 2026
the perfect adaption of the book <33 i loved this so much and the artwork was so beautiful ugh
Read
March 20, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel by Kiersten White and adapted by Scott Peterson, illustrated by Veronica and Andy Fish is a speculative horror graphic novel about a group of thirty-something adults who were on the popular program Mister Magic, but lost contact with each other more than a decade ago when the shoe abruptly ended. They never say Mister Magic's name because Val made a rule not to, but when the others find Val to take her to the reunion, they learn that she has forgotten a lot about her time on set. And Val agrees so she can find her sister Kitty, who has been presumed dead due to an incident on the show.
This feels very timely as more and more, what was on TV when Millennials were growing up is getting examined and the terrible conditions for children and teens to people in their early twenties are becoming exposed. America’s Next Top Model, Nickelodeon, Disney, more and more is coming out about how children were not protected and the ways that being a child star impacted them. Mister Magic also discusses conversion therapy and the ‘at risk teen’ youth camps we now know were extremely harmful to teens. Because this is set in Utah and it does discuss Brigham Young, it's impossible not to draw links to how one of the characters, Jenny, talks about modesty and how she has a bunch of kids so she'll never feel alone. In other words, this is very thematically packed.
The art does not shy away from color, with the Mister Magic show being the brightest and a bit more of a somber tone in a lot of the present day scenes. Because of this, you can really feel the atmospheric shift in the darker moments and the juxtaposition of the brightness of the show from the horrors within.
The thing that really stuck out to me was how all the leads’ perception of the show was shrouded in what they wanted to remember or what would be the least painful for them to remember. For Val, it was essentially locking everything about the show away, for Jenny, she kept most of her memories, and all of them remembered something happened to Kitty and Val was not there. Trauma affects everyone differently and it makes sense that Jenny, who was desperate for approval, would be the one to hang onto it the most while Val remembered the least. Isaac, Javi, and Marcus all remembered a roughly equal amount, but even their memories were not intact. Memories are not stagnant and trauma can make our brains hide things away until we're ready to process them, so it made a lot of sense to me that there would be these discrepancies between them.
Content warning for mentions of homophobia and depictions of conversion therapy
I would recommend this to fans of media analyzing children's programming and the Millennials looking to process the truth of what we grew up with on TV
Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel by Kiersten White and adapted by Scott Peterson, illustrated by Veronica and Andy Fish is a speculative horror graphic novel about a group of thirty-something adults who were on the popular program Mister Magic, but lost contact with each other more than a decade ago when the shoe abruptly ended. They never say Mister Magic's name because Val made a rule not to, but when the others find Val to take her to the reunion, they learn that she has forgotten a lot about her time on set. And Val agrees so she can find her sister Kitty, who has been presumed dead due to an incident on the show.
This feels very timely as more and more, what was on TV when Millennials were growing up is getting examined and the terrible conditions for children and teens to people in their early twenties are becoming exposed. America’s Next Top Model, Nickelodeon, Disney, more and more is coming out about how children were not protected and the ways that being a child star impacted them. Mister Magic also discusses conversion therapy and the ‘at risk teen’ youth camps we now know were extremely harmful to teens. Because this is set in Utah and it does discuss Brigham Young, it's impossible not to draw links to how one of the characters, Jenny, talks about modesty and how she has a bunch of kids so she'll never feel alone. In other words, this is very thematically packed.
The art does not shy away from color, with the Mister Magic show being the brightest and a bit more of a somber tone in a lot of the present day scenes. Because of this, you can really feel the atmospheric shift in the darker moments and the juxtaposition of the brightness of the show from the horrors within.
The thing that really stuck out to me was how all the leads’ perception of the show was shrouded in what they wanted to remember or what would be the least painful for them to remember. For Val, it was essentially locking everything about the show away, for Jenny, she kept most of her memories, and all of them remembered something happened to Kitty and Val was not there. Trauma affects everyone differently and it makes sense that Jenny, who was desperate for approval, would be the one to hang onto it the most while Val remembered the least. Isaac, Javi, and Marcus all remembered a roughly equal amount, but even their memories were not intact. Memories are not stagnant and trauma can make our brains hide things away until we're ready to process them, so it made a lot of sense to me that there would be these discrepancies between them.
Content warning for mentions of homophobia and depictions of conversion therapy
I would recommend this to fans of media analyzing children's programming and the Millennials looking to process the truth of what we grew up with on TV
Read
July 16, 2026Oof.
I tried reading the text version of this and had to stop because there was a passage in Jenny's words that was so me, it was too vulnerable and rough and painful. I'm kinda glad I stopped because I don't think I could have handled this story about love and childhood and parenting and what we need in a prose format. The quicker pace of a graphic novel helped me push through to learn the whole plot, which I had wanted to know.
Having read both Hide and Hide: The Graphic Novel, I knew that a lot of the text would be preserved, and you definitely can linger on the parts that move you and you need to sit with. The passage that destroyed me is preserved. I still identify strongly with Jenny . I still wonder what words were used to describe some of the more dynamic full page movement art, but unlike Hide, there isn't a creature that very much needs to not be seen to preserve as much tension as possible.
The use of comment boards and emails were done very well, not too many but useful for a broad context when the story mostly remains with a tight cast of characters. Overall a strong story and from what I did read of the standard version, a good adaptation. Still very wordy for a fully reluctant reader, but maybe a good transition piece for someone getting back into reading as an adult.
I tried reading the text version of this and had to stop because there was a passage in Jenny's words that was so me, it was too vulnerable and rough and painful. I'm kinda glad I stopped because I don't think I could have handled this story about love and childhood and parenting and what we need in a prose format. The quicker pace of a graphic novel helped me push through to learn the whole plot, which I had wanted to know.
Having read both Hide and Hide: The Graphic Novel, I knew that a lot of the text would be preserved, and you definitely can linger on the parts that move you and you need to sit with. The passage that destroyed me is preserved. I still identify strongly with Jenny . I still wonder what words were used to describe some of the more dynamic full page movement art, but unlike Hide, there isn't a creature that very much needs to not be seen to preserve as much tension as possible.
The use of comment boards and emails were done very well, not too many but useful for a broad context when the story mostly remains with a tight cast of characters. Overall a strong story and from what I did read of the standard version, a good adaptation. Still very wordy for a fully reluctant reader, but maybe a good transition piece for someone getting back into reading as an adult.
October 9, 2026
"Maybe you were given a god who watched everything from a distance. A god you loved, who gave you rules and condemnation in exchange. A magic man demanding perfect obedience, and the performance of a life, instead of the living of one. The rules told you that you deserved to be broken -- that you should be grateful to be broken, and ashamed of it. Mister Magic doesn't think you're broken at all."
Mister Magic follows the now grown child stars of a TV show everyone remembers but that doesn't have any record remaining. There's no YouTube clips, no recordings, nothing. Val, our main character, has been living on a ranch for 30 years but doesn't remember what she and her dad were running from. Her friends show up to find her for a podcast reunion that will interview them about their time on Mister Magic. As the book progresses, Val starts to regain her memories and figure out how to fix what was "broken."
I think this book particularly hits for me because I deconstructed from a "religion" that was similar to the one White was deconstructing when she wrote the original book. I read that one shortly after it came out and loved it. I think the graphic novel is even better. It's able to get all of the points across without the slow start I remember from the prose novel. Particularly if you are deconstructing or have deconstructed from an high control group or evangelical group, I think this one will be one you'd like. There are moments of the story that are creepier for the fact that it is a graphic novel, which makes the horror elements more visual instead of cerebral when you read the prose. I highly recommend this one. It has a special place for me.
Mister Magic follows the now grown child stars of a TV show everyone remembers but that doesn't have any record remaining. There's no YouTube clips, no recordings, nothing. Val, our main character, has been living on a ranch for 30 years but doesn't remember what she and her dad were running from. Her friends show up to find her for a podcast reunion that will interview them about their time on Mister Magic. As the book progresses, Val starts to regain her memories and figure out how to fix what was "broken."
I think this book particularly hits for me because I deconstructed from a "religion" that was similar to the one White was deconstructing when she wrote the original book. I read that one shortly after it came out and loved it. I think the graphic novel is even better. It's able to get all of the points across without the slow start I remember from the prose novel. Particularly if you are deconstructing or have deconstructed from an high control group or evangelical group, I think this one will be one you'd like. There are moments of the story that are creepier for the fact that it is a graphic novel, which makes the horror elements more visual instead of cerebral when you read the prose. I highly recommend this one. It has a special place for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
visually, this graphic novel is absolutely stunning. the artwork does a tremendous amount of heavy lifting, especially for readers who, like me, have already read the original novel but felt unsure about certain elements of the story. seeing the characters, settings, and tonal shifts on the page helped jog my memory and clarify moments that felt vague or slippery in prose form.
i’m genuinely glad i had the chance to read an advance copy of this adaptation. the graphic format makes the story more accessible and cohesive, and in that sense, i do prefer the graphic novel over the original novel. the imagery reinforces the cult-like atmosphere, and the emotional bonds between the former child actors in a way that feels more immediate and immersive.
however, my feelings about the plot itself remain largely unchanged. while the premise promises horror, what unfolds feels more like an eerie idea that came from pure imagination lack of logic. the mystery surrounding Mister Magic and the show’s legacy is intriguing on the surface, but the payoff still feels muddled.
if you struggled with the novel, this adaptation may help things click into place visually. if you’re hoping the format will fundamentally sharpen the plotline, it may still feel unsatisfying.
-------
to-read:
aaah! the graphic novel of this creepy tale. i'm so excited!
*thank you to Ten Speed Graphic for the ARC*
i’m genuinely glad i had the chance to read an advance copy of this adaptation. the graphic format makes the story more accessible and cohesive, and in that sense, i do prefer the graphic novel over the original novel. the imagery reinforces the cult-like atmosphere, and the emotional bonds between the former child actors in a way that feels more immediate and immersive.
however, my feelings about the plot itself remain largely unchanged. while the premise promises horror, what unfolds feels more like an eerie idea that came from pure imagination lack of logic. the mystery surrounding Mister Magic and the show’s legacy is intriguing on the surface, but the payoff still feels muddled.
if you struggled with the novel, this adaptation may help things click into place visually. if you’re hoping the format will fundamentally sharpen the plotline, it may still feel unsatisfying.
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to-read:
aaah! the graphic novel of this creepy tale. i'm so excited!
*thank you to Ten Speed Graphic for the ARC*
January 18, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thirty years ago, Mister Magic, a popular children's television show was cancelled after a tragic event occurred. After our main character's, Val, father died, she discovered that she had a whole different life as a child and was forced to forget what happened while being on Mister Magic. She reunites with her four other friends, who she doesn't remember, that accompanied her on Mister Magic and decides to participate in a podcast about the show. What she doesn't expect is finding out what happened when she disappeared from the show and the tragic events that led to the show's demise.
This was way darker and deeper than I anticipated it to be, which made it all the more exciting. I absolutely loved the artwork and the motifs surrounding childhood trauma, forgiveness, and grief. This graphic novel investigates parenting styles and how they impact a child's development leading into adulthood.
If you're looking for some great artwork along with a terrific story and plot, this is a book for you.
Thirty years ago, Mister Magic, a popular children's television show was cancelled after a tragic event occurred. After our main character's, Val, father died, she discovered that she had a whole different life as a child and was forced to forget what happened while being on Mister Magic. She reunites with her four other friends, who she doesn't remember, that accompanied her on Mister Magic and decides to participate in a podcast about the show. What she doesn't expect is finding out what happened when she disappeared from the show and the tragic events that led to the show's demise.
This was way darker and deeper than I anticipated it to be, which made it all the more exciting. I absolutely loved the artwork and the motifs surrounding childhood trauma, forgiveness, and grief. This graphic novel investigates parenting styles and how they impact a child's development leading into adulthood.
If you're looking for some great artwork along with a terrific story and plot, this is a book for you.
June 18, 2026
This graphic novel is visually stunning, and easy to read. The story was clever in concept, if a teensy bit young or patronising, depending on how it’s read.
I very much enjoyed the visuals as I said (especially the sparkles), and some of the scenes were pretty creepy (no spoilers here, but the interviewer reveal? That was a highlight for me!)
I did find the narrative a little disjointed, like I was left out of, or was skipping, parts of the story somewhere. The underlying “point” of the story was lost to me as a side effect.
I did enjoy my time with this novel, overall! And please keep in mind that I have yet to read the original novel of the same name, of which this was a graphic novel adaption. I may feel differently (maybe more “clued in” to the plot) once I have (and I plan to)!
Thanks so much to NetGalley, and to TEN SPEED GRAPHIC/Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book early!
I very much enjoyed the visuals as I said (especially the sparkles), and some of the scenes were pretty creepy (no spoilers here, but the interviewer reveal? That was a highlight for me!)
I did find the narrative a little disjointed, like I was left out of, or was skipping, parts of the story somewhere. The underlying “point” of the story was lost to me as a side effect.
I did enjoy my time with this novel, overall! And please keep in mind that I have yet to read the original novel of the same name, of which this was a graphic novel adaption. I may feel differently (maybe more “clued in” to the plot) once I have (and I plan to)!
Thanks so much to NetGalley, and to TEN SPEED GRAPHIC/Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book early!
June 14, 2026
This book follows the reunion of a group of child stars of a popular TV-Show who want to uncover the secrets behind the tragedy that ended the show.
I want to begin this review with saying, that I never read the original book, so I was very lucky that I got to experience it as this really beautifully illustrated version. The mixed-media used in this book was one of my favorite aspects of it. It was very ominous and eerie and I was completely engaged with the story. With that being said, this isn’t a typical horror story and also deals with a lot of trauma in a very different way. The reveal at the end was not very satisfying for me, but this is still a very unique story that deserves its place, especially since the illustrations in this book are stunning!
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the Arc.
I want to begin this review with saying, that I never read the original book, so I was very lucky that I got to experience it as this really beautifully illustrated version. The mixed-media used in this book was one of my favorite aspects of it. It was very ominous and eerie and I was completely engaged with the story. With that being said, this isn’t a typical horror story and also deals with a lot of trauma in a very different way. The reveal at the end was not very satisfying for me, but this is still a very unique story that deserves its place, especially since the illustrations in this book are stunning!
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the Arc.
November 7, 2026
Starts with Late Night with the Devil vibes, a mystery about an event that ended the show thirty years ago, and the life of fear and hiding one of its child star’s has lived ever since. A road trip, a long lost mother, and a spooky house follows. A group of original cast members on the show Mr. Magic gather in the house where it all started for a reunion podcast. But something’s off, and Val, a cast member that went missing after the show ended, can’t remember anything. She senses something is off, but putting the pieces of her childhood back together compel her forward. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster exploring the plight of growing up and losing your innocent wonder, the feeling of failure in adulthood no matter where you end up, and the nostalgic white washing of the past. Fans of X Files, Twin Peaks, and The Twilight Zone will absolutely love Mr. Magic.
May 12, 2026
I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had previously read the novel version of Mister Magic when it first came out, and when I saw the graphic novel version was available, I had to read it.
I think this story really works as a graphic novel! Obviously, some things are shortened or removed from the original novel, but I think the story itself is still strong. There were some great visuals for the television realm, and I think the graphic novel still hits the moral of the story in terms of messaging about cults and religious indoctrination.
I think the novel or the graphic novel version are both good reads with important messaging inside.
I had previously read the novel version of Mister Magic when it first came out, and when I saw the graphic novel version was available, I had to read it.
I think this story really works as a graphic novel! Obviously, some things are shortened or removed from the original novel, but I think the story itself is still strong. There were some great visuals for the television realm, and I think the graphic novel still hits the moral of the story in terms of messaging about cults and religious indoctrination.
I think the novel or the graphic novel version are both good reads with important messaging inside.
February 25, 2026
While I did enjoy this, it mostly made me want to read the novel even more. The graphic novel was fun, but I felt like I needed more, and I think the novel would give me that.
That being said, I do love the story premise and will definitely be picking up the book in the future.
This would be a good addition for those who have already read the novel, or for readers who are less likely to pick up the full book but still want to experience part of this fun and interesting story.
The art was fantastic, but I felt the storyline needed more development and the characters were lacking depth. That is somewhat what I expect from a graphic novel format, which is also why it makes me want to go out and grab the actual novel. I am still unsure if this fully works as a graphic novel. Knowing there is a novel out there makes me aware that I could probably get what I am looking for from that version instead.
Personally, I would likely skip the graphic novel and grab the novel instead, though that is coming from someone who has not read it yet. I just hope it would give me more. I may be wrong.
3 stars.
That being said, I do love the story premise and will definitely be picking up the book in the future.
This would be a good addition for those who have already read the novel, or for readers who are less likely to pick up the full book but still want to experience part of this fun and interesting story.
The art was fantastic, but I felt the storyline needed more development and the characters were lacking depth. That is somewhat what I expect from a graphic novel format, which is also why it makes me want to go out and grab the actual novel. I am still unsure if this fully works as a graphic novel. Knowing there is a novel out there makes me aware that I could probably get what I am looking for from that version instead.
Personally, I would likely skip the graphic novel and grab the novel instead, though that is coming from someone who has not read it yet. I just hope it would give me more. I may be wrong.
3 stars.
April 21, 2026
Czy ja właśnie zażyłam jakieś mocne lsd wyciągnięte z gówna twojego byłego na wakacjach w Meksyku?
Co
Nie wiem I nie rozumiem
Ja myślałam że to będzie horror o magiku
Ale to Nie jest horror o magiku
Tu nawet fabuły nie ma ja nie jestem w stanie powiedzieć i co tu się stało bo tego kurwa nie rozumiem. I jestem zła że nie było tu kart magii is królika z kapelusza😤
Co
Co
Nie wiem I nie rozumiem
Ja myślałam że to będzie horror o magiku
Ale to Nie jest horror o magiku
Tu nawet fabuły nie ma ja nie jestem w stanie powiedzieć i co tu się stało bo tego kurwa nie rozumiem. I jestem zła że nie było tu kart magii is królika z kapelusza😤
Co
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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