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The Books of Magic #4
The Books of Magic, Volume 4: Transformations
Tim Hunter, teenaged sorcerer in training, turns 14, becomes a cat, finds himself transformed back to normal (with the addition of a magical tattoo) and encounters Death of the Endless in this latest Books of Magic collection.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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446 people want to read
About the author
John Ney Rieber
306 books23 followersJohn Ney Rieber is an American comic book writer. He has written for the comics The Books of Magic, Captain America, G.I. Joe and Tomb Raider.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 1, 2023
The Books of Magic series rolls on and into some fun territory.
In the previous collection, we discovered a six issue series called Playgrounds that expanded the world building into some very cool fantasy. This time around the creators have worked more to develop an episodic story that has many moving parts and can be a vehicle with which to explore many concurrent ideas.
Similar to the John Constantine stories, and thus by extension also the Swamp Thing universe, these stories revolve around the central world building and can include all sorts of fun elements, like fairies, demons, and all sorts of magic users.
Issue #24 was easily my favorite because it highlighted and focused on Molly and she continues to be a wonderful addition to this already cool story.
This is an underrated gem from the 90s, Neil Gaiman fans should jump on board if they have not read already.
In the previous collection, we discovered a six issue series called Playgrounds that expanded the world building into some very cool fantasy. This time around the creators have worked more to develop an episodic story that has many moving parts and can be a vehicle with which to explore many concurrent ideas.
Similar to the John Constantine stories, and thus by extension also the Swamp Thing universe, these stories revolve around the central world building and can include all sorts of fun elements, like fairies, demons, and all sorts of magic users.
Issue #24 was easily my favorite because it highlighted and focused on Molly and she continues to be a wonderful addition to this already cool story.
This is an underrated gem from the 90s, Neil Gaiman fans should jump on board if they have not read already.
April 19, 2015
After the whole being kidnapped and going to hell thing, Tim and Molly get grounded by their parents who think they tried to run away. Being apart proves too burdensome for Tim and he decides to shapeshift into a cat and go see Molly. Only, when he gets to Molly's, she's not in, she's snuck out and gone to the Hyde Park to meet Marya, they're later joined by a mysterious lady in red. Tim, flies over to the park, and is captured and shapebound by this mysterious woman in red. who turns out to be a Body Artist. She is frightened of Tim coz of the stuff Molly said he'd become and tries to purge Tim of his dark self. which leads to Tim getting a big winged scorpion tattoo on his chest. Oh, and having no more magic.
On Tim's birthday, he finds out that Gwendolyn's leaving, and Mr. Hunter is kinda dating again. Tim decides to leave home.
VERDICT: Not as strong as Volume 3. But it still worth the read, I mean, I'd not for anything else read it coz Peter Gross is inking the whole volume.
On Tim's birthday, he finds out that Gwendolyn's leaving, and Mr. Hunter is kinda dating again. Tim decides to leave home.
VERDICT: Not as strong as Volume 3. But it still worth the read, I mean, I'd not for anything else read it coz Peter Gross is inking the whole volume.
July 16, 2012
What I like most about THE BOOKS OF MAGIC Book 4: “Transformations”, is the beginning. In a lot of instances, you’d expect the aftermath of being kidnapped and taken to Hell to be minimal. The hero and his best girl escape the monsters and go on to live happy lives and when we see them next, it’s business as usual.
But writer John Ney Rieber didn’t fall into that trap. The next time we see our 13-year-old hero and his equally young girlfriend, she’s grounded and Tim isn’t allowed to see her. I think it was this detail more than any other that drove home for me how serious Rieber was taking the story and the characters, because it would have been so easy to forget the fact they’re only in the 8th grade and adopt the attitude that, well, Tim’s the hero of the story, real life consequences don’t apply to him.
Except they do.
As the story opens, Tim wants to see Molly, but can’t. So he changes himself into a cat and goes in through the pet door around back. But when we gets up to her room, he finds Molly has already snuck out, possibly to look for him. He tracks her down to a field where he finds her hanging out with Marya and talking about what the dragon told her at the end of “Reckonings”; that he was the adult Tim and that he would grow up to hurt Molly, but that he’d always regret it. However, the adult Tim/dragon told her, her Tim Hunter doesn’t HAVE to grow up to be that person. Before Tim can say anything to Molly, however, he’s captured by a mysterious woman who seems to know an awful lot about him.
She takes Tim back to her tattoo shop where she decides to look inside his heart and, finding the animal inside him, extract it so Tim grows up to be a good person. But when she looks into him, she sees there is no animal in him. He’s not a bad person. So she turns him back into a boy and lets him go. But before heading home, Tim has one request.
“Could you have…done something to me? To make sure I’d never hurt Molly?”
“Any number of things.”
“Then do it. I consent.”
The woman’s answer is to tattoo a scorpion and a moth onto Tim’s chest, and any time he reacts out of anger, the scorpion stabs him in the chest.
Meanwhile, back in the Hunter house, Tim’s father, having recovered remarkably well from being burned alive, has met a woman and is getting pretty serious. But the woman’s son, Cyril, is very jealous of Tim Hunter and the attention his mother is showing to Mr. Hunter, and he runs off, only to be met by an evil creature called the Margrave, that wants to pin a special button to Cyril’s chest that will make him explode, killing everyone in the vicinity: namely Tim Hunter. Tim intervenes and saves Cyril and himself, dispatching the Margrave, but also making a bold choice for such a young boy.
“I’m sick of you things mucking about with my family and my friends, so I’ve decided not to have either. Now if you don’t mind, I’m tired and I’ve packing to do.”
And with that, Tim Hunter turns his back on his life, his family, his friends, his home, and magic.
As the book continues, we catch up with Molly who, a few weeks after Tim’s departure, is staying with her grandmother in Ireland. One day a letter arrives from Gwen, detailing what’s happened to Tim and how he’s left home. Gwen doesn’t want anything from Molly, it’s just a letter to keep her up to date and to say hello, but Molly decides this just won’t do, so she enlists the help of the fairy Amadan, jester to the Queen of the Fairies, Titania, who challenges her. Prove that Molly is the bigger fool, more fool than Amadan, and she’ll have her heart’s desire (to be reunited with Tim).
Meanwhile, in the last chapter, we catch up with Tim once more, who has been gone from home for a while now, and is just kicking around the oceanside at an old amusement park he’d gone to as a kid. He’s considering finding John Constantine, his mentor in magic, and asking for his help in understanding his powers when he meets up once again with Death who helps Tim understand that magic isn’t always about spells and flashes of light and sometimes you can WORK magic without USING magic.
“Transformations” is a very quick read, spanning only five issues (21-25), but it’s by far the most complete story arc so far, really encompassing the many interpretations of the title: physical, mental, emotional. Tim truly does some serious growing up in this arc and it’s good to see him taking charge, even if he’s not entirely sure what it is he’s taking charge of.
Rieber said from the beginning that his intention was to place Tim Hunter firmly in a world we’re all familiar with, “adolescence”, and I believe with this arc, he’s finally done just that.
Peter Gross served as artist for the entire arc, and for me it was back and forth, mostly. He had some really stellar panels that shone with brilliance and class, but then he’d turn a corner and several pages in a row would be sloppy and amateurish. I don’t know if it was because he was inking his own pencils or maybe he wasn’t used to the load of carrying the entire arc, who’s to say. Whatever the problem, a little consistency would have been nice, because for me every time the quality of the art changed, I kept going back to the title page and seeing if I’d missed the “guest artist” credit. I swear I kept seeing hints of Chris Wozniak in there, sometimes Sal Buscema (and just going by Buscema’s work on THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN in the 80s and 90s, that’s not a compliment).
Inconsistent art aside, though, “Transformations” was a very good book, the most solid of the series so far. I have a feeling that from this point on, things are going to get very different, most likely even more complicated, for Tim Hunter, as there’s a definite change coming in the air. I’m just hoping it’s a good change, and not a silly one that takes the story down paths it’s not meant to travel, because so far I like THE BOOKS OF MAGIC. Too drastic a change in the status quo at this point could ruin things. But I guess there’s no way to find out but to keep reading, right?
But writer John Ney Rieber didn’t fall into that trap. The next time we see our 13-year-old hero and his equally young girlfriend, she’s grounded and Tim isn’t allowed to see her. I think it was this detail more than any other that drove home for me how serious Rieber was taking the story and the characters, because it would have been so easy to forget the fact they’re only in the 8th grade and adopt the attitude that, well, Tim’s the hero of the story, real life consequences don’t apply to him.
Except they do.
As the story opens, Tim wants to see Molly, but can’t. So he changes himself into a cat and goes in through the pet door around back. But when we gets up to her room, he finds Molly has already snuck out, possibly to look for him. He tracks her down to a field where he finds her hanging out with Marya and talking about what the dragon told her at the end of “Reckonings”; that he was the adult Tim and that he would grow up to hurt Molly, but that he’d always regret it. However, the adult Tim/dragon told her, her Tim Hunter doesn’t HAVE to grow up to be that person. Before Tim can say anything to Molly, however, he’s captured by a mysterious woman who seems to know an awful lot about him.
She takes Tim back to her tattoo shop where she decides to look inside his heart and, finding the animal inside him, extract it so Tim grows up to be a good person. But when she looks into him, she sees there is no animal in him. He’s not a bad person. So she turns him back into a boy and lets him go. But before heading home, Tim has one request.
“Could you have…done something to me? To make sure I’d never hurt Molly?”
“Any number of things.”
“Then do it. I consent.”
The woman’s answer is to tattoo a scorpion and a moth onto Tim’s chest, and any time he reacts out of anger, the scorpion stabs him in the chest.
Meanwhile, back in the Hunter house, Tim’s father, having recovered remarkably well from being burned alive, has met a woman and is getting pretty serious. But the woman’s son, Cyril, is very jealous of Tim Hunter and the attention his mother is showing to Mr. Hunter, and he runs off, only to be met by an evil creature called the Margrave, that wants to pin a special button to Cyril’s chest that will make him explode, killing everyone in the vicinity: namely Tim Hunter. Tim intervenes and saves Cyril and himself, dispatching the Margrave, but also making a bold choice for such a young boy.
“I’m sick of you things mucking about with my family and my friends, so I’ve decided not to have either. Now if you don’t mind, I’m tired and I’ve packing to do.”
And with that, Tim Hunter turns his back on his life, his family, his friends, his home, and magic.
As the book continues, we catch up with Molly who, a few weeks after Tim’s departure, is staying with her grandmother in Ireland. One day a letter arrives from Gwen, detailing what’s happened to Tim and how he’s left home. Gwen doesn’t want anything from Molly, it’s just a letter to keep her up to date and to say hello, but Molly decides this just won’t do, so she enlists the help of the fairy Amadan, jester to the Queen of the Fairies, Titania, who challenges her. Prove that Molly is the bigger fool, more fool than Amadan, and she’ll have her heart’s desire (to be reunited with Tim).
Meanwhile, in the last chapter, we catch up with Tim once more, who has been gone from home for a while now, and is just kicking around the oceanside at an old amusement park he’d gone to as a kid. He’s considering finding John Constantine, his mentor in magic, and asking for his help in understanding his powers when he meets up once again with Death who helps Tim understand that magic isn’t always about spells and flashes of light and sometimes you can WORK magic without USING magic.
“Transformations” is a very quick read, spanning only five issues (21-25), but it’s by far the most complete story arc so far, really encompassing the many interpretations of the title: physical, mental, emotional. Tim truly does some serious growing up in this arc and it’s good to see him taking charge, even if he’s not entirely sure what it is he’s taking charge of.
Rieber said from the beginning that his intention was to place Tim Hunter firmly in a world we’re all familiar with, “adolescence”, and I believe with this arc, he’s finally done just that.
Peter Gross served as artist for the entire arc, and for me it was back and forth, mostly. He had some really stellar panels that shone with brilliance and class, but then he’d turn a corner and several pages in a row would be sloppy and amateurish. I don’t know if it was because he was inking his own pencils or maybe he wasn’t used to the load of carrying the entire arc, who’s to say. Whatever the problem, a little consistency would have been nice, because for me every time the quality of the art changed, I kept going back to the title page and seeing if I’d missed the “guest artist” credit. I swear I kept seeing hints of Chris Wozniak in there, sometimes Sal Buscema (and just going by Buscema’s work on THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN in the 80s and 90s, that’s not a compliment).
Inconsistent art aside, though, “Transformations” was a very good book, the most solid of the series so far. I have a feeling that from this point on, things are going to get very different, most likely even more complicated, for Tim Hunter, as there’s a definite change coming in the air. I’m just hoping it’s a good change, and not a silly one that takes the story down paths it’s not meant to travel, because so far I like THE BOOKS OF MAGIC. Too drastic a change in the status quo at this point could ruin things. But I guess there’s no way to find out but to keep reading, right?
January 31, 2021
Transformations (#21-25). The best serial stories reveal, change, and relentlessly press on, and that's what we get here. The revelation that Tim could go BAD in the future (does go bad in some futures) sends everything spinning, as Molly descends into doubt and Tim self-mutilates to try and protect those he loves. It's an interesting plot, but also one that feels entirely unresolved after these five short-story issues. Of course the best part of this arc is the single issue (#24) focused on Molly, which again reveals what an amazing character she is [4/5].
November 8, 2017
Review to come :)
December 14, 2018
This picks up a while longer than the last graphic novel I read in this series (It’s listed as Book 4). The story features some of the characters from The Children’s Crusade (which I really want) to read, bringing back the characters of Marya, Dan, and the Reverend. Readers got to get to know Molly O’Reilly, Tim Hunter’s girlfriend or ex-girlfriend a little better, seeing her in a tale of her own. We met an intriguing modern version of Circe, Gwendolyn (housekeeper to Tim’s adopted father?) while becoming better acquainted with Tim’s dad, Holly (the woman Tim’s Dad is seeing), and Cyril (Holly’s adopted son). We met some spooky individuals in Mother and Father Margrave, whom prey upon children’s feelings of insecurity, turning them into a lethal force. As we become acquainted with all of these characters, we get to know Tim Hunter, aspiring young magician even better, while he gets himself in and out of trouble, due to the choices he makes.
The first story shows Tim successfully pulling off a powerful spell, only to find himself dealing with the dangerous and painful consequences. The second has Tim trying to protect Cyril from the Margraves, whom are doing their worst to foster strife between the two boys. The third tale was an unfinished one about Molly O’Reilly returning to her family home, only to accept a challenge from one of the fae. Last was a very sweet story about Tim reminding his childhood, a lost friend, and meeting Death again.
The characters were all well fleshed out, interesting, yet there was a lack of climax to the book overall, in addition to no really interesting villain. Circe came to the closest to being the last, yet she felt more like an amoral being trying to protect Molly than an antagonist for Tim. There wasn’t anyone like the Cold Flame, the guests at Bewitched, or the manticore. The other contender for a villain was the Amadan, but he felt more like a rival to Molly than an enemy to Tim, not that that particular story wasn’t good. The graphic novel as a whole felt a bit disconnected. (I wince with sympathy even as I offer this criticism, since this something a trap I find myself falling into from time to time as a writer.) All criticism aside, this is a good read, filled with all the wonder and danger of the Vertigo world. If you’re a fan of that world, you’ll want to give this a second glance.
The first story shows Tim successfully pulling off a powerful spell, only to find himself dealing with the dangerous and painful consequences. The second has Tim trying to protect Cyril from the Margraves, whom are doing their worst to foster strife between the two boys. The third tale was an unfinished one about Molly O’Reilly returning to her family home, only to accept a challenge from one of the fae. Last was a very sweet story about Tim reminding his childhood, a lost friend, and meeting Death again.
The characters were all well fleshed out, interesting, yet there was a lack of climax to the book overall, in addition to no really interesting villain. Circe came to the closest to being the last, yet she felt more like an amoral being trying to protect Molly than an antagonist for Tim. There wasn’t anyone like the Cold Flame, the guests at Bewitched, or the manticore. The other contender for a villain was the Amadan, but he felt more like a rival to Molly than an enemy to Tim, not that that particular story wasn’t good. The graphic novel as a whole felt a bit disconnected. (I wince with sympathy even as I offer this criticism, since this something a trap I find myself falling into from time to time as a writer.) All criticism aside, this is a good read, filled with all the wonder and danger of the Vertigo world. If you’re a fan of that world, you’ll want to give this a second glance.
April 25, 2022
Book 4.
Tim Hunter is destined to become Earth's most powerful magician but at the age of fourteen he's more concerned with the fact he has been banned from seeing his girlfriend Molly. However, when he learns that in a possible future he will grow up to abuse Molly, Tim decides he has to prevent himself from every becoming a danger to those he cares about.
I've not read the preceding books of this series yet, but I have read the standalone 'The Books of Magic' by Neil Gaiman which kicked-off Tim's story. I loved Gaiman's book, but as my favourite author that wasn't a surprise, but it meant that I went into this book with a certain amount of trepidation. And as it turned out, some of that worry was justified.
Rieber gives us an engaging look at Tim's developing teenage life, which has lots of dark undertones and moments of magic, but there's something distinctly lacking here too. It's a bit hard to quantify, but Rieber simply seems to lack Gaiman's sense of style and tone, which leaves this book feeling very much like an imitation of the first book but by a much less-talented writer.
This isn't bad by any measure but it does lack a certain je ne sais quoi.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
Tim Hunter is destined to become Earth's most powerful magician but at the age of fourteen he's more concerned with the fact he has been banned from seeing his girlfriend Molly. However, when he learns that in a possible future he will grow up to abuse Molly, Tim decides he has to prevent himself from every becoming a danger to those he cares about.
I've not read the preceding books of this series yet, but I have read the standalone 'The Books of Magic' by Neil Gaiman which kicked-off Tim's story. I loved Gaiman's book, but as my favourite author that wasn't a surprise, but it meant that I went into this book with a certain amount of trepidation. And as it turned out, some of that worry was justified.
Rieber gives us an engaging look at Tim's developing teenage life, which has lots of dark undertones and moments of magic, but there's something distinctly lacking here too. It's a bit hard to quantify, but Rieber simply seems to lack Gaiman's sense of style and tone, which leaves this book feeling very much like an imitation of the first book but by a much less-talented writer.
This isn't bad by any measure but it does lack a certain je ne sais quoi.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
February 18, 2023
Books of magic still remains charming, weird, and fun as ever.
Basically Tim wants to know what Molly is thinking after the events of the last book. So he becomes a CAT. That's right, turns into a cat. But upon hearing a convo, he kind of spirals, and begins to worry what or who he is, but then gets kidnapped.
This is a weird volume of self reflection and what to do. It's not as strong as the previous volumes but still great in a lot of ways. Molly is the standout once more, especially issue 24, really showcases who she is and what she is willing to do. The ending is also great, and I want to know where we can go from here on out.
While not AS strong as volumes 0-3, it's still great. A 3.5 out of 5, round it up to a 4.
Basically Tim wants to know what Molly is thinking after the events of the last book. So he becomes a CAT. That's right, turns into a cat. But upon hearing a convo, he kind of spirals, and begins to worry what or who he is, but then gets kidnapped.
This is a weird volume of self reflection and what to do. It's not as strong as the previous volumes but still great in a lot of ways. Molly is the standout once more, especially issue 24, really showcases who she is and what she is willing to do. The ending is also great, and I want to know where we can go from here on out.
While not AS strong as volumes 0-3, it's still great. A 3.5 out of 5, round it up to a 4.
September 1, 2023
My review of the previous volume still stands. There are some good ideas here but they're never really examined in any interesting way. The rules of magic in this universe appear nebulous and poorly stitched into the story. The plot moves forward from the previous volume but I just feel really detached from the characters.
This book really suffers from the fact that there have been many similarly themed stories since this came out, and many of them are much better defined and enjoyable to read.
If you've loved the previous volumes, there's no reason you shouldn't enjoy this. There are a couple of cringey concepts exposed in the dialogue but the overall story is harmless if forgettable.
This book really suffers from the fact that there have been many similarly themed stories since this came out, and many of them are much better defined and enjoyable to read.
If you've loved the previous volumes, there's no reason you shouldn't enjoy this. There are a couple of cringey concepts exposed in the dialogue but the overall story is harmless if forgettable.
April 25, 2019
Not the strongest of the BOM collection, important emotional development with smaller stakes and less action in these latest events. I did really enjoy meeting this incarnation of Circe though.
August 15, 2020
Not a ton happened in this one compared to the last one, other than "the tattoo", but it was still fun and there was definitely some tension. Seemed like a setup for some crazy stuff to come.
August 28, 2022
Best one yet. Rieber is getting more comfortable with the characters.
February 12, 2023
This was a great volume. This series has really picked up and things are moving along. I am definitely curious how things will end up, but the journey is crazy.
March 1, 2022
Hands down the best volume of the saga. (and the longest, but apparently 24 page long on Goodreads, will we ever be allowed to edit book information?)
July 12, 2007
I read book one a while back and found it interesting so this time at the library when I found Book 4 I thought "eh... why not". Obviously there's a lot I've missed but it's good that I just read the Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes followed by Death: The High Cost of Living because I had some introductions to John Constantine, Death, Dream and the universe in which they reside. Of them all - The Books of Magic is the best and most interesting though still hard to follow. (Maybe that has something to do with Books 3 & 4 that I skipped.)
Still ... who existed first? Timothy Hunter or Harry Potter? I didn't look at the publishing date but I'm guessing Timothy Hunter existed first and by god... what an eerie visual similarity. Were lawsuits involved?
Still ... who existed first? Timothy Hunter or Harry Potter? I didn't look at the publishing date but I'm guessing Timothy Hunter existed first and by god... what an eerie visual similarity. Were lawsuits involved?
February 6, 2008
This is a good installment in the series. I do really love Molly, Tim's sort-of-girlfriend; she's so much more adult than Tim is! I would read a series about her just as happily. One thing that consistently throws me about this series, though, is the feeling that I've missed issues. Do the collections skip issues, or something? I still haven't figured out where Gwendolyn (the woman who takes care of Tim while his dad's in the hospital) came from. It's really confusing.
January 2, 2012
A tiny bit disappointed by this collection because it started a whole batch of new story lines, but didn't finish any of them. The previous collections tended to have complete arcs in them. Oh, well, on to volume 5....
March 11, 2013
It's getting better. Goodbye barbatos, I don't really like that character, he reminds me too much of the invisibles in a bad trashy nineties way. This book was much more Sandman influenced, thus making it more cohesive and interesting.
June 3, 2016
The charm and the fact this reads like a Gaiman novel is what keeps me coming back to this series. Much credit goes to John Ney Rieber for the way he has told this story of a boy with so much potential that often struggles with that fact.
July 23, 2015
Gettin more magics!
November 9, 2018
OMG this book is incredible
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