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The Books of Magic Omnibus #1
The Books of Magic Omnibus Vol. 1
A collection of the Sandman Universe like you’ve never seen before - from Neil Gaiman’s original groundbreaking Books of Magic miniseries, though the worlds he inspired that followed!
What do two dead boys and a normal 13-year-old have in common? The ability to save the world.
Charles and Edwin are dead. They’re also detectives.
Tim Hunter is alive. He could be the world’s greatest mage…once he masters magic.
And that’s just the beginning.
Readers can now enjoy The Books of Magic #1-32, The Children’s Crusade #1-2, Vertigo Gallery: Dreams and Nightmares #1, Vertigo Preview #1, Vertigo Visions - Doctor Occult #1, Who’s Who #15, Arcana Annual #1, Mister E #1-4, and The Books of Faerie: Auberon’s Tale #1-3 all in one place!
What do two dead boys and a normal 13-year-old have in common? The ability to save the world.
Charles and Edwin are dead. They’re also detectives.
Tim Hunter is alive. He could be the world’s greatest mage…once he masters magic.
And that’s just the beginning.
Readers can now enjoy The Books of Magic #1-32, The Children’s Crusade #1-2, Vertigo Gallery: Dreams and Nightmares #1, Vertigo Preview #1, Vertigo Visions - Doctor Occult #1, Who’s Who #15, Arcana Annual #1, Mister E #1-4, and The Books of Faerie: Auberon’s Tale #1-3 all in one place!
1504 pages, Hardcover
First published December 8, 2020
33 people are currently reading
180 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 1, 2021
First up, this is an impressive collection, stitching together all of the earliest stories about Timothy Hunter, from the Gaiman mini-series to the Mr. E series that followed and Timothy's reintroduction in the Children's Crusade and on to the first three years of the comic itself. I actually don't expect that quality of thoughtful organization from DC's collections department: maybe this is Black Label doing something different. In any case, it gives me great hope that what are said to be two more planned volumes will bring us through not just the entire series, but also spin-off series like The Trenchcoat Brigade and even the follow-up series. (Fingers crossed.).
As for the comics themselves: they definitely hold up. This is a wonderful volume of young urban fantasy.
Books of Magic (Miniseries). I've always thought that this book's main strength was as a magical tour of the DC universe — Neil Gaiman's take on Marv Wolfman's History of the DC Universe. And, it's rather magnificent in that regard, recording everything from Arion to the Legion. But, it's also a great building block of the Vertigo Universe. It creates the Trenchcoat Brigade, introduces Tim Hunter, reinvents Dr. Occult, and revamps Mr. E. The third issue, on Faerie, is the best in this regard — and also generally my favorite issue. (It's also interesting to see both the connections to Gaiman's own Sandman and the faerie elements that he later reused in Stardust.)
(I suppose when you combine those two elements, you could say that Books of Magic is neither fish nor fowl ... and I suspect that's why some modern readers don't love it. But that was the joyful state of the Vertigo universe in the early '90s, deeply intertwined with DC's history. A pity those days passed so quickly!)
On top of this all of this you have a fun coming of age story replete with philosophy, belief, and ... magic. And there's drop dead gorgeous art — with the third issue again being my favorite, thanks to Charles Vess. This is a great book for (1) fans of classic DC; (2) fans of classic Vertigo; and (3) fans of the Books of Magic comic that followed. I weep that all three are now dead. [5/5].
Mister E. When DC brought Tim Hunter back, it was rather surprisingly as a bit character in an ugly, uncomfortable mini-series focused on Mr. E. With that said, it's a direct continuation, as we lead off with Mr. E abandoned at the End of Time at the end of The Books of Magic. The story is weird, the art is unattractive, and it seems to short-cut Tim's whole evolution as a magus, as he's suddenly disintegrating people. Overall, not a great story, and I'm not convinced Tim's part in it is good continuity, but it's still good to have it reprinted at last. (And in fact the next story seems to entirely ignore this one.) [2+/5].
The Children's Crusade. One of the problems with Books of Magic was always that its beginning was in the Arcana annual, which was part of the Children's Crusade, and that was left out of the traditional TPBs. Here, we get reprints of the two Children's Crusade bookends and the Arcana annual. I think it's the best way to present the crossover (and it's actually how I had it in my collection for years). Parts of the story are great, but by the second book-end it was getting weighed down by the needs of the individual titles (particularly Animal Man, and so lost its focus. The big deus ex machina at the end is kind of annoying too. Still, this is a good presentation of an interesting story and a crucial building block in the Books of Magic storyline [4/5].
Dr. Occult. Not really a Books of Magic story, as it just makes a half-hearted attempt to explain how the character went from there to being a psychic surgeon, and I'm not even sure this is the same character, as the author treats Rose and Occult as sides of the same psyche, not different people. In any case, I suppose it's good that Black Label is figuring out how to fit in these one-off stories that otherwise would be uncollected. This is a psychological horror/fantasy, very much in tune with the Mr. E miniseries from the same time. It's a bit overly abstract and touchy-feely for me, in the way that some authors write this sort of supernatural story. Still, it's intelligible and tells an interesting story about Occult, even if I'm not convinced it's the same Occult from the Sandman Universe [3/5].
The Lot (VR #1). A nice little short story about Tim that shows his imagination and his magic blending together. Good to have it reprinted. [4+/5].
Bindings (BoM #1-4). Rieber takes faerie as his entry point to the Books of Magic series, and it's a great choice, because it was the strongest and most coherent element of the original series. The questions about Tim's parentage are terrific, but so is his battle against the manticore. Altogether, a great intro to the series proper [5/5].
The Hidden School (BoM #5). A crucial story for BoM, introducing Sir TImothy, Barbatos, and most importantly Molly. We literally get a look at the future scope of the series, and amidst all of that have some touching introspection on TIm's mother [5/5].
Sacrifices (BoM #6-8). Rieber nicely combines the threat of the Cold Flame with Tim's home life and some very enjoyable characters. However, he really shows his strength in characterization by demonstrating what Tim will and won't do. The result is wonderful. [5/5]
The Artificial Heart (BoM #9-11). This is the first Books of Magic arc that's a little disappointing. That might be because it's a bit overstuffed: Rieber simultaneously brings back Auberon and characters from The Children's Crusade (which is great continuity!). But the real problem is that (1) Slaggingham isn't very interesting; and (2) he's dealt with in a very inconclusive way. Still, there's great interactions between Tim and Molly and Marya that are extremely memorable, even if the conflict is dull [4/5].
Little Glass Worlds (BoM #12-13). Basically, the end of "The Artificial Heart", finishing off the stories of Auberon and Daniel (and [spoiler] finally getting Molly her ice cream). It's a bit better than its predecessor because it's tight, because it gives us insight into the character of Auberon, and because it ends on a rather startling reveal. Still, not as great as the more Tim-centric arcs that preceded it. [4/5].
What Fires Leaves Us (BoM #14). A nice bookend to Summonings, a great character piece for Tim, Tim's Dad, and Gwen, and a great example of how a small act can create a large change [5/5].
Playgrounds (BoM #15-20). This is certainly the story where Rieber lets his imagination go wild. So we get a trip to hell, Sir Tim as a Dragon, purple dinosaur things, and much more. It's at alternative times weird, wacky, and bizarre. We get an interesting Tim and Molly plot, and some interesting Sir Tim resolution, and it's all around a fun story, though not as touching as some of its predecessors [4+/5].
Transformations (BoM #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].
Auberon's Tale (BoF v2 #1-3). The story of the origins of Auberon as King of Faerie. It's somewhat dry and historic, but the characters are beginning to grow on you by the end ... just as it comes to an abrupt end [3+/5].
(I do have to congratulate the editors for their placement of this story, with a young Aubie pulling on a backpack and going on a quest just as Tim does the same, and I assume the missing Books of Faerie v1 is being placed in chronological order, rather than publishing order, in the next volume of the omnibus.)
Rites of Passage I (BoM #26-32). The first half of Rites of Passage puts Tim and Molly on journeys to mythical places: Molly to Faerie and Tim to California. They're generally delightful tales, with Tim having great interactions with Leah, and Molly just being great. Unfortunately, the last few issues aren't quite up to the standards of the first several, because they drag down into a weird, mythical something in the desert, and it's all about Tim and not about Molly at all. Still, this is a strong arc [4+/5].
As for the comics themselves: they definitely hold up. This is a wonderful volume of young urban fantasy.
Books of Magic (Miniseries). I've always thought that this book's main strength was as a magical tour of the DC universe — Neil Gaiman's take on Marv Wolfman's History of the DC Universe. And, it's rather magnificent in that regard, recording everything from Arion to the Legion. But, it's also a great building block of the Vertigo Universe. It creates the Trenchcoat Brigade, introduces Tim Hunter, reinvents Dr. Occult, and revamps Mr. E. The third issue, on Faerie, is the best in this regard — and also generally my favorite issue. (It's also interesting to see both the connections to Gaiman's own Sandman and the faerie elements that he later reused in Stardust.)
(I suppose when you combine those two elements, you could say that Books of Magic is neither fish nor fowl ... and I suspect that's why some modern readers don't love it. But that was the joyful state of the Vertigo universe in the early '90s, deeply intertwined with DC's history. A pity those days passed so quickly!)
On top of this all of this you have a fun coming of age story replete with philosophy, belief, and ... magic. And there's drop dead gorgeous art — with the third issue again being my favorite, thanks to Charles Vess. This is a great book for (1) fans of classic DC; (2) fans of classic Vertigo; and (3) fans of the Books of Magic comic that followed. I weep that all three are now dead. [5/5].
Mister E. When DC brought Tim Hunter back, it was rather surprisingly as a bit character in an ugly, uncomfortable mini-series focused on Mr. E. With that said, it's a direct continuation, as we lead off with Mr. E abandoned at the End of Time at the end of The Books of Magic. The story is weird, the art is unattractive, and it seems to short-cut Tim's whole evolution as a magus, as he's suddenly disintegrating people. Overall, not a great story, and I'm not convinced Tim's part in it is good continuity, but it's still good to have it reprinted at last. (And in fact the next story seems to entirely ignore this one.) [2+/5].
The Children's Crusade. One of the problems with Books of Magic was always that its beginning was in the Arcana annual, which was part of the Children's Crusade, and that was left out of the traditional TPBs. Here, we get reprints of the two Children's Crusade bookends and the Arcana annual. I think it's the best way to present the crossover (and it's actually how I had it in my collection for years). Parts of the story are great, but by the second book-end it was getting weighed down by the needs of the individual titles (particularly Animal Man, and so lost its focus. The big deus ex machina at the end is kind of annoying too. Still, this is a good presentation of an interesting story and a crucial building block in the Books of Magic storyline [4/5].
Dr. Occult. Not really a Books of Magic story, as it just makes a half-hearted attempt to explain how the character went from there to being a psychic surgeon, and I'm not even sure this is the same character, as the author treats Rose and Occult as sides of the same psyche, not different people. In any case, I suppose it's good that Black Label is figuring out how to fit in these one-off stories that otherwise would be uncollected. This is a psychological horror/fantasy, very much in tune with the Mr. E miniseries from the same time. It's a bit overly abstract and touchy-feely for me, in the way that some authors write this sort of supernatural story. Still, it's intelligible and tells an interesting story about Occult, even if I'm not convinced it's the same Occult from the Sandman Universe [3/5].
The Lot (VR #1). A nice little short story about Tim that shows his imagination and his magic blending together. Good to have it reprinted. [4+/5].
Bindings (BoM #1-4). Rieber takes faerie as his entry point to the Books of Magic series, and it's a great choice, because it was the strongest and most coherent element of the original series. The questions about Tim's parentage are terrific, but so is his battle against the manticore. Altogether, a great intro to the series proper [5/5].
The Hidden School (BoM #5). A crucial story for BoM, introducing Sir TImothy, Barbatos, and most importantly Molly. We literally get a look at the future scope of the series, and amidst all of that have some touching introspection on TIm's mother [5/5].
Sacrifices (BoM #6-8). Rieber nicely combines the threat of the Cold Flame with Tim's home life and some very enjoyable characters. However, he really shows his strength in characterization by demonstrating what Tim will and won't do. The result is wonderful. [5/5]
The Artificial Heart (BoM #9-11). This is the first Books of Magic arc that's a little disappointing. That might be because it's a bit overstuffed: Rieber simultaneously brings back Auberon and characters from The Children's Crusade (which is great continuity!). But the real problem is that (1) Slaggingham isn't very interesting; and (2) he's dealt with in a very inconclusive way. Still, there's great interactions between Tim and Molly and Marya that are extremely memorable, even if the conflict is dull [4/5].
Little Glass Worlds (BoM #12-13). Basically, the end of "The Artificial Heart", finishing off the stories of Auberon and Daniel (and [spoiler] finally getting Molly her ice cream). It's a bit better than its predecessor because it's tight, because it gives us insight into the character of Auberon, and because it ends on a rather startling reveal. Still, not as great as the more Tim-centric arcs that preceded it. [4/5].
What Fires Leaves Us (BoM #14). A nice bookend to Summonings, a great character piece for Tim, Tim's Dad, and Gwen, and a great example of how a small act can create a large change [5/5].
Playgrounds (BoM #15-20). This is certainly the story where Rieber lets his imagination go wild. So we get a trip to hell, Sir Tim as a Dragon, purple dinosaur things, and much more. It's at alternative times weird, wacky, and bizarre. We get an interesting Tim and Molly plot, and some interesting Sir Tim resolution, and it's all around a fun story, though not as touching as some of its predecessors [4+/5].
Transformations (BoM #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].
Auberon's Tale (BoF v2 #1-3). The story of the origins of Auberon as King of Faerie. It's somewhat dry and historic, but the characters are beginning to grow on you by the end ... just as it comes to an abrupt end [3+/5].
(I do have to congratulate the editors for their placement of this story, with a young Aubie pulling on a backpack and going on a quest just as Tim does the same, and I assume the missing Books of Faerie v1 is being placed in chronological order, rather than publishing order, in the next volume of the omnibus.)
Rites of Passage I (BoM #26-32). The first half of Rites of Passage puts Tim and Molly on journeys to mythical places: Molly to Faerie and Tim to California. They're generally delightful tales, with Tim having great interactions with Leah, and Molly just being great. Unfortunately, the last few issues aren't quite up to the standards of the first several, because they drag down into a weird, mythical something in the desert, and it's all about Tim and not about Molly at all. Still, this is a strong arc [4+/5].
January 12, 2023
1500 pages, probably the largest omnibus I’ve read, and own in one volume. I was pretty careful stretching the spine on this one. It’s a wonderful resource too. I actually tried to read this series before the omnibus was out and it was all but impossible. Not even comiXology had the trades or single issues, and scans were around, but were terrible. I think this omnibus actually touched up quite a bit, based on what I’d seen. It’s a gorgeous presentation.
As for the story, in so many pages, as you might imagine, it vacillates between being pretty exceptional—mostly when it’s centred on the Our young Tim’s growth from a regular skateboarding loaner child, to the eventuality purposed by the shady magic users that shepherd Tim on his way in the opening few issues of the book, which was penned by Gaiman as a mini series to introduce the character to the Sandman universe. He looks like Harry Potter, it must be said, and also has an owl (though, this owl was transformed out of a yo-yo). The similarities stop there. The story is much darker than Harry and is kind of a weird character. This must have been the Veritgo line, but who was into a child magician in that line of comics? It’s seems odd.
It probably was weird. Because after the miniseries it bounces around to a lot of different titles related peripherally to Tim, before finally settling down into the books of magic proper. And after that there’s some crossovers put into the volume too. As an omnibus it’s exceptional, as mentioned, just for collecting all of this stuff specific to Tim’s journey in one place. It must have been hell to get ahold of previously.
Taken as a larger, full story, like I said: it vacillates. When it’s not exceptional it’s still quite good. But does feel like it loses its way sometimes. It defaults a lot to the fae realm or Free Country and when it gets away from it, it seems like the writer is flying by the seat of their pants, really. Its unfocused and drawn out, and begins to be about Molly and Tim, only most of the time it doesn’t go anywhere and they’re teenagers, so it’s not that interesting, certainly not enough to be the central tension. And the last arc sees Tim take a roadtrip with someone else, again with Molly being in fae, yet again!
It’s a bit of a lacklustre final arc. I think this will be relegated to remaining on my wishlist, as this was. I got it for Christmas from my brother. It’s very cool as a gift, but I don’t think, based on this, I would spring for volume 2 (especially with these post-Covid prices being wildly expensive). But if I were to get it as a gift I’d be very happy to keep reading it and it’s mostly a value proposition with these huge chonkers that balk me.
As for the story, in so many pages, as you might imagine, it vacillates between being pretty exceptional—mostly when it’s centred on the Our young Tim’s growth from a regular skateboarding loaner child, to the eventuality purposed by the shady magic users that shepherd Tim on his way in the opening few issues of the book, which was penned by Gaiman as a mini series to introduce the character to the Sandman universe. He looks like Harry Potter, it must be said, and also has an owl (though, this owl was transformed out of a yo-yo). The similarities stop there. The story is much darker than Harry and is kind of a weird character. This must have been the Veritgo line, but who was into a child magician in that line of comics? It’s seems odd.
It probably was weird. Because after the miniseries it bounces around to a lot of different titles related peripherally to Tim, before finally settling down into the books of magic proper. And after that there’s some crossovers put into the volume too. As an omnibus it’s exceptional, as mentioned, just for collecting all of this stuff specific to Tim’s journey in one place. It must have been hell to get ahold of previously.
Taken as a larger, full story, like I said: it vacillates. When it’s not exceptional it’s still quite good. But does feel like it loses its way sometimes. It defaults a lot to the fae realm or Free Country and when it gets away from it, it seems like the writer is flying by the seat of their pants, really. Its unfocused and drawn out, and begins to be about Molly and Tim, only most of the time it doesn’t go anywhere and they’re teenagers, so it’s not that interesting, certainly not enough to be the central tension. And the last arc sees Tim take a roadtrip with someone else, again with Molly being in fae, yet again!
It’s a bit of a lacklustre final arc. I think this will be relegated to remaining on my wishlist, as this was. I got it for Christmas from my brother. It’s very cool as a gift, but I don’t think, based on this, I would spring for volume 2 (especially with these post-Covid prices being wildly expensive). But if I were to get it as a gift I’d be very happy to keep reading it and it’s mostly a value proposition with these huge chonkers that balk me.
February 21, 2023
The Books of magic is a big omnibus. It might be the biggest I've ever read being over 1500+ pages. But it doesn't stop it from being pretty damn good the whole way through.
The first 4 part series is the original comic created by Neil Gaiman. He was on a hot streak with Sandman and this feels like an extension to that in some ways. Basically Tim is a boy who will become the greatest magic wielder of all time, with his trusty owl Yo Yo. This 4 part series takes on into the magical world of DC and basically is a tour of the DC world through a fresh set of eyes, young, and not to entuned with it. Making the viewer who isn't familiar with this world comfortable traveling with Tim too.
The main meat of the book though is the series by John Ney Rieber that gets to showcase Tim growing up. This is really a coming of age story with lots of magic! Tim is put into situations that might make him end up dead. From facing off against a creature who has kidnapped him, to dealing with a succubus, to going through puberty. This book gives us everything from real life situations to over the top, dragons talking, and spiders making deals with people. It's zanny but in all the right ways.
The side stories in-between are probably the weakest part. They add to the overall lore, sure, but some are weaker than others, and none are as good as either the 4 part mini from Neil or the main series by John Ney Riber, which make them feel less impactful in the overall reading. I wouldn't say any are "bad" except maybe the E storyline but none are 4 out of 5 like the main series.
But really the best part of this entire series is the characters. Tim's growth through the series is wonderful, Molly is a excellent character as well and love interest, Leah becomes a favorite of mine throughout, and even the supporting cast like Tim's dad and such all help build up this realistic feel to the characters despite being in a very magical world.
Overall, if want something different, a bit heavy with the themes, and some great characters, The books of Magic Omnibus is a great buy. A 4 out of 5.
The first 4 part series is the original comic created by Neil Gaiman. He was on a hot streak with Sandman and this feels like an extension to that in some ways. Basically Tim is a boy who will become the greatest magic wielder of all time, with his trusty owl Yo Yo. This 4 part series takes on into the magical world of DC and basically is a tour of the DC world through a fresh set of eyes, young, and not to entuned with it. Making the viewer who isn't familiar with this world comfortable traveling with Tim too.
The main meat of the book though is the series by John Ney Rieber that gets to showcase Tim growing up. This is really a coming of age story with lots of magic! Tim is put into situations that might make him end up dead. From facing off against a creature who has kidnapped him, to dealing with a succubus, to going through puberty. This book gives us everything from real life situations to over the top, dragons talking, and spiders making deals with people. It's zanny but in all the right ways.
The side stories in-between are probably the weakest part. They add to the overall lore, sure, but some are weaker than others, and none are as good as either the 4 part mini from Neil or the main series by John Ney Riber, which make them feel less impactful in the overall reading. I wouldn't say any are "bad" except maybe the E storyline but none are 4 out of 5 like the main series.
But really the best part of this entire series is the characters. Tim's growth through the series is wonderful, Molly is a excellent character as well and love interest, Leah becomes a favorite of mine throughout, and even the supporting cast like Tim's dad and such all help build up this realistic feel to the characters despite being in a very magical world.
Overall, if want something different, a bit heavy with the themes, and some great characters, The books of Magic Omnibus is a great buy. A 4 out of 5.
October 18, 2025
(Zero spoiler review) 3.75/5
I had this sitting on my shelf for a long time although had been afraid to open it and start reading, mainly as the size and investment in all three books would have really pissed me off if it turned out to be a damp squib. luckily for me, it was pretty darned good.
I have no interest in Potter, having read the first book a long time ago and summarily giving up on it, but this is closer to what I would want a 'Potter' type series to be like. If anything, I wish it was even darker and more mature, although it certainly flirts with maturity more than Potter does, though that is no doubt intentional on both fronts.
Some pretty decent and consistent art throughout and a strong, cohesive narrative from Reiber, though it can drag on occasion and the main character of Tom is a bit too bland to be truly great. Still, I'm more than optimistic going into book 2. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
I had this sitting on my shelf for a long time although had been afraid to open it and start reading, mainly as the size and investment in all three books would have really pissed me off if it turned out to be a damp squib. luckily for me, it was pretty darned good.
I have no interest in Potter, having read the first book a long time ago and summarily giving up on it, but this is closer to what I would want a 'Potter' type series to be like. If anything, I wish it was even darker and more mature, although it certainly flirts with maturity more than Potter does, though that is no doubt intentional on both fronts.
Some pretty decent and consistent art throughout and a strong, cohesive narrative from Reiber, though it can drag on occasion and the main character of Tom is a bit too bland to be truly great. Still, I'm more than optimistic going into book 2. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
October 16, 2022
Phew. This book is huge and a bit of a hassle to handle. Reminder to self: if you can get non-omnibuses, do it next time. (*throws the reminder in the rubbish bin*)
This is my second reading of "The Books of Magic". I remembered it being better. I remember being quite taken by the series, and surprised by it. And re-reading it is a bit surprising, as it's messier and a bit less good than I remembered. Dark and oddly compelling, yes, but messy.
Timothy Hunter is a 12 year-old English boy with dark, messy hair and round glasses who might become the world's strongest magic-wielder, or who might not. He also, at one point, acquires an owl. And this is where the Harry Potter resemblance stops (Tim Hunter came first, btw).
The series is dark and menacing. Horrific things lurk behind every corner, and Tim is too powerful for his own good. People can become evil, magic corrupts, and various factions are out to get him. I think this is what I find most compelling, along with the characters.
Surprisingly, I like Neil Gaiman's first four issues the least of all: while they're wonderfully illustrated and very grand, their job is to present the universe (past, present, faerie and future) and to deliver dire warnings about the world of magic, allowing Tim to make his own choice about whether he wants to be normal or magical. But their very grandeur is a bit of a downside for me: what's too large in scope can't focus on details.
Whiplash follows: the next four issues are from a separate comic series, "Mister E". Mister E is convinced Tim Hunter must be eliminated because of his potential is evil, and he's stuck in the far future, slowly returning to the present only to come across with his own demons. While the story isn't necessarily bad, the quality drops so quickly I had to drop the volume for a while. The art is simplified and stylized, the writing goes into comicbook exaggeration.
Luckily, this is followed by "The Children's Crusade", a story about dead boy detectives, missing children, and the myth of children being taken to fight in a crusade only to be sold into slavery. And about a mystical land where children go to be safe.
This is followed by another downer - about Doctor Occult this time, a person who is occasionally a man, occasionally a woman and often feels a bit dated in describing his/her personalities.
But then we move on to Timothy Hunter again and things get more exciting. He returns to Faerie and discovers things about his parentage. We see a future Timothy Hunter who is in thrall to a demon and lives a very sad life. We see a plot against Tim via use of a succubus. There's a weird arc about Victorians turning into machinery and living under London. We get to see the formidable Molly (Tim's girlfriend) in hell, and we get to see him rescuing her (although she doesn't need that much rescuing).
There's also a short arc about Auberon, king of the fairies, and the way he came to be a king - it feels unrelated to anything, but it's well-written and I enjoyed it.
I love how Tim is a smart mouth, but never quite wise. He makes bad choices, and then has to figure his way out of them. I adore Molly, who is clever and real and capable; I also love that she's given her own arc in Faerie (although that's only at the end).
This is my second reading of "The Books of Magic". I remembered it being better. I remember being quite taken by the series, and surprised by it. And re-reading it is a bit surprising, as it's messier and a bit less good than I remembered. Dark and oddly compelling, yes, but messy.
Timothy Hunter is a 12 year-old English boy with dark, messy hair and round glasses who might become the world's strongest magic-wielder, or who might not. He also, at one point, acquires an owl. And this is where the Harry Potter resemblance stops (Tim Hunter came first, btw).
The series is dark and menacing. Horrific things lurk behind every corner, and Tim is too powerful for his own good. People can become evil, magic corrupts, and various factions are out to get him. I think this is what I find most compelling, along with the characters.
Surprisingly, I like Neil Gaiman's first four issues the least of all: while they're wonderfully illustrated and very grand, their job is to present the universe (past, present, faerie and future) and to deliver dire warnings about the world of magic, allowing Tim to make his own choice about whether he wants to be normal or magical. But their very grandeur is a bit of a downside for me: what's too large in scope can't focus on details.
Whiplash follows: the next four issues are from a separate comic series, "Mister E". Mister E is convinced Tim Hunter must be eliminated because of his potential is evil, and he's stuck in the far future, slowly returning to the present only to come across with his own demons. While the story isn't necessarily bad, the quality drops so quickly I had to drop the volume for a while. The art is simplified and stylized, the writing goes into comicbook exaggeration.
Luckily, this is followed by "The Children's Crusade", a story about dead boy detectives, missing children, and the myth of children being taken to fight in a crusade only to be sold into slavery. And about a mystical land where children go to be safe.
This is followed by another downer - about Doctor Occult this time, a person who is occasionally a man, occasionally a woman and often feels a bit dated in describing his/her personalities.
But then we move on to Timothy Hunter again and things get more exciting. He returns to Faerie and discovers things about his parentage. We see a future Timothy Hunter who is in thrall to a demon and lives a very sad life. We see a plot against Tim via use of a succubus. There's a weird arc about Victorians turning into machinery and living under London. We get to see the formidable Molly (Tim's girlfriend) in hell, and we get to see him rescuing her (although she doesn't need that much rescuing).
There's also a short arc about Auberon, king of the fairies, and the way he came to be a king - it feels unrelated to anything, but it's well-written and I enjoyed it.
I love how Tim is a smart mouth, but never quite wise. He makes bad choices, and then has to figure his way out of them. I adore Molly, who is clever and real and capable; I also love that she's given her own arc in Faerie (although that's only at the end).
May 21, 2022
Lets get this out of the way first, this is not Harry Potter, but the resemblance is uncanny. A young dark haired boy with glasses finds out, through a wizard, that he could possibly be the greatest wizard who ever lived. He lives among normal people and he has a owl as a pet. I mean thats just crazy, but its not Potter but Neil Gaiman's The Book of Magic. Which is released in a very big omnibus. When it released years ago, there was some trouble with the chronological order but that is fixed here for the first time, so happy for that! This contains alot of mini series and after that a longer overall story i guess? But i am a sucker for those classic Vertigo years and i miss that publisher dearly. And this fits right in the pantheon of books like The Sandman, Lucifer, Swamp Thing and Hellblazer. Stuff like this is my jam ! The artwork varies from Incredible to ugly 90s, but is mostly very consistent. In a big fantasy book like this not every story can be great as it collects a couple not so good mini series, making this a 3.5 Star read for me. But still a book worth checking out!
February 20, 2021
A solid coming of age tale that fits in well in the sandman universe. As a first time reader, the story was a bit difficult to follow at times in certain arcs. Having just completed a reading of the original Lucifer series, it was nice to see more art by Peter Gross. I hope DC continues to release the rest of the series in omnibuses as advertised.
March 29, 2023
An uneven but intriguing omnibus. Tim Hunter is a minor DC comics character who exists in Neil Gaiman's Sandman universe. He will grow up to be the most powerful magician of his age. He could grow up to be the world's savior or its downfall. He could also pass through history unremarked, and fail to tip the balance either way. But for now he's just a teenager in London, trying to survive long enough to choose his own path.
The foreword makes brief mention that Tim Hunter has been compared to Harry Potter, which is laughable from the first page. Other than their British-ness, dark hair and glasses, the two have nothing in common. And that's as much as needs to be said. I picked up The Books of Magic because I'm a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's writing, but he's not the primary writer of these comics and it shows. They're still good, but don't expect the frequent callbacks or attention to world building minutiae that characterizes the Sandman series. Check your expectations at the door and you're in for a fascinating ride. It's 3.5 stars (rounded down) for me because it took a while for the story to find its groove and the storylines aren't always very coherent. Climaxes tend to be rushed (even for a comic book), and there is an over-reliance on Tim's habit of talking to himself being used for exposition. And there are some important plot points where the reader has to fill in the blanks, when it would really be better to have them explained (or at least, for the characters to have a conversation about it, rather than making us completely assume). For example:
Anyways, Tim Hunter is very much a protagonist of his time. These comics were written in the 90s and Tim is the picture of a Gen Xer. When told that he has powers that can change the very nature of reality itself, he doesn't soberly admit that he's unworthy and seek a mentor to keep him in check (like one of the Greatest Generation). He doesn't run to start seeing what he can do (like a Boomer). He doesn't go tell a trusted friend or family member, and make a plan on how he can help people and have a little fun on the way (like a Millennial/Gen Z). Nope, he swears he just wants to be normal and proceeds to act as if magic doesn't exist, all the while angsting about how nothing interesting ever happens to him. If that ain't Gen X energy, I don't know what is.
I'm just poking fun, but it took me a while to warm up to Tim because he's so darn passive. I've read some reluctant heroes in my time but Tim tops the list of characters who just let things happen to them. He has zero initiative and won't lift a finger to use his powers unless and until his life is being threatened. And by threatened, I mean somebody scary is in his face trying to kill him. He'll get warned that someone is after him, and doesn't even contact John Constantine (who even lives in London, just a bus ride away!). He doesn't even spend any significant time learning basic magical self-defense. Nope, he decides to run away because it's not like a villain would ever take someone he cares about hostage to lure him out of hiding (*insert eye roll here*).
Nonetheless, adventure keeps finding Tim whether he likes it or not. A lot of magical stuff happens to and around him, but the day is only saved when Tim's survival reflex kicks in and he automatically does something really cool without knowing how he did it or how to replicate it. A couple of times, the villains defeat themselves by being overconfident, and setting in motion the tools of their own demise which swoop in at the right moment. However, in the last two story arcs presented here Tim finally starts to get a clue and become someone you can root for. Fortunately, the rich supporting cast and interesting antagonists carried the story while Tim was getting on my nerves. My favorite part was the Faerie subplot which detailed the origins of King Auberon and Queen Mab. I also found myself enjoying anything from Molly's POV. She's spunky, and has way more heart than Tim- I wish the whole comic was about her!
The second (and final) volume of the omnibus is scheduled to be released in October and I'll be eagerly awaiting it.
The foreword makes brief mention that Tim Hunter has been compared to Harry Potter, which is laughable from the first page. Other than their British-ness, dark hair and glasses, the two have nothing in common. And that's as much as needs to be said. I picked up The Books of Magic because I'm a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's writing, but he's not the primary writer of these comics and it shows. They're still good, but don't expect the frequent callbacks or attention to world building minutiae that characterizes the Sandman series. Check your expectations at the door and you're in for a fascinating ride. It's 3.5 stars (rounded down) for me because it took a while for the story to find its groove and the storylines aren't always very coherent. Climaxes tend to be rushed (even for a comic book), and there is an over-reliance on Tim's habit of talking to himself being used for exposition. And there are some important plot points where the reader has to fill in the blanks, when it would really be better to have them explained (or at least, for the characters to have a conversation about it, rather than making us completely assume). For example:
Anyways, Tim Hunter is very much a protagonist of his time. These comics were written in the 90s and Tim is the picture of a Gen Xer. When told that he has powers that can change the very nature of reality itself, he doesn't soberly admit that he's unworthy and seek a mentor to keep him in check (like one of the Greatest Generation). He doesn't run to start seeing what he can do (like a Boomer). He doesn't go tell a trusted friend or family member, and make a plan on how he can help people and have a little fun on the way (like a Millennial/Gen Z). Nope, he swears he just wants to be normal and proceeds to act as if magic doesn't exist, all the while angsting about how nothing interesting ever happens to him. If that ain't Gen X energy, I don't know what is.
I'm just poking fun, but it took me a while to warm up to Tim because he's so darn passive. I've read some reluctant heroes in my time but Tim tops the list of characters who just let things happen to them. He has zero initiative and won't lift a finger to use his powers unless and until his life is being threatened. And by threatened, I mean somebody scary is in his face trying to kill him. He'll get warned that someone is after him, and doesn't even contact John Constantine (who even lives in London, just a bus ride away!). He doesn't even spend any significant time learning basic magical self-defense. Nope, he decides to run away because it's not like a villain would ever take someone he cares about hostage to lure him out of hiding (*insert eye roll here*).
Nonetheless, adventure keeps finding Tim whether he likes it or not. A lot of magical stuff happens to and around him, but the day is only saved when Tim's survival reflex kicks in and he automatically does something really cool without knowing how he did it or how to replicate it. A couple of times, the villains defeat themselves by being overconfident, and setting in motion the tools of their own demise which swoop in at the right moment. However, in the last two story arcs presented here Tim finally starts to get a clue and become someone you can root for. Fortunately, the rich supporting cast and interesting antagonists carried the story while Tim was getting on my nerves. My favorite part was the Faerie subplot which detailed the origins of King Auberon and Queen Mab. I also found myself enjoying anything from Molly's POV. She's spunky, and has way more heart than Tim- I wish the whole comic was about her!
The second (and final) volume of the omnibus is scheduled to be released in October and I'll be eagerly awaiting it.
January 4, 2024
This is a book which contains a huge amount material surrounding Tim Hunter, a teenager who has the potential to become either the savior of the world or its destroyer. Originally conceived by Neil Gaiman in a four part series, there were many other limited series as well as a regular series following the character and several supporting players. As such, the quality of what is presented in the book can be uneven, but that is common for most omnibuses.
My biggest complaint of the stories comes from the regular series. Tim Hunter doesn't seem to have much agency. He never really solves any problems or defeats enemies. Most of the time the villain's plans don't work and Tim destroys them just by showing up. He doesn't seem to struggle, except in trying to please his girlfriend, who becomes increasingly tyrannical. He drifts through life and things happen around him, but rarely to him. The few times they do, the effects are almost immediately reversed. It's as if the author implemented an idea and then became bored by it, so it was tossed away. But many of the ideas are clever and good supporting cast is created for Time Hunter.
My biggest complaint of the stories comes from the regular series. Tim Hunter doesn't seem to have much agency. He never really solves any problems or defeats enemies. Most of the time the villain's plans don't work and Tim destroys them just by showing up. He doesn't seem to struggle, except in trying to please his girlfriend, who becomes increasingly tyrannical. He drifts through life and things happen around him, but rarely to him. The few times they do, the effects are almost immediately reversed. It's as if the author implemented an idea and then became bored by it, so it was tossed away. But many of the ideas are clever and good supporting cast is created for Time Hunter.
May 8, 2024
This is a huge omnibus consisting of the earliest stories with Tim Hunter. I loved this series when it first came out and it still holds up well today.
The book starts with the original very good Neil Gaiman miniseries and some series-connected miniseries, before moving onto the first 32 issues of the monthly comic. The John Ney Rieber and Peter Gross collaboration takes up the bulk of this omnibus and was often close to how I remembered it as a teenager. Gross's art was much more inconsistent in the earlier issues than I remembered it but he eventually settled into consistent quality work once he got ten or twelve issues under his belt. These stories don't quite match the quality of Vertigo's top-tier series at the time. Many of the Books of Magic's longer multi-arc plot threads never really delivered on their potential. Thus it is not close to being in the same ballpark as Gaiman's The Sandman or Mike Cary's Lucifer, but I would still rather read these stories of the young Tim Hunter over his lesser copy Harry Potter any day.
The book starts with the original very good Neil Gaiman miniseries and some series-connected miniseries, before moving onto the first 32 issues of the monthly comic. The John Ney Rieber and Peter Gross collaboration takes up the bulk of this omnibus and was often close to how I remembered it as a teenager. Gross's art was much more inconsistent in the earlier issues than I remembered it but he eventually settled into consistent quality work once he got ten or twelve issues under his belt. These stories don't quite match the quality of Vertigo's top-tier series at the time. Many of the Books of Magic's longer multi-arc plot threads never really delivered on their potential. Thus it is not close to being in the same ballpark as Gaiman's The Sandman or Mike Cary's Lucifer, but I would still rather read these stories of the young Tim Hunter over his lesser copy Harry Potter any day.
February 21, 2023
Ik twijfelde even om het vijf sterren te geven uit pure nostalgie, maar 4 lijkt me toch iets accurater. Ik leerde de magician Tim Hunter kennen kort nadat ik mezelf als student een lidkaart van de bibliotheek Gent verkreeg. Hij was mijn introductie tot Sandman en Neil Gaiman en daaruit volgde later ook Fables en nog veel meer boeken waar ik van hou.
Maar boeken van de bib, zeker de beperkte selectie Engelstalige strips die er bijna 20 jaar geleden was, zijn niet altijd beschikbaar wanneer je ze wil. Dus las ik delen van books of magic door elkaar, zonder zelfs maar te vermoeden dat Auderon’s tale erbij hoorde of op welk moment in het verhaal Leah de beker van de zeemeermin drinkt. Deze omnibus bracht daar verandering in. Het is de eerste keer dat ik de strips chronologisch kon lezen en pakweg de helft ervan was volledig nieuw. Wat een zalig kerstcadeau.
Maar boeken van de bib, zeker de beperkte selectie Engelstalige strips die er bijna 20 jaar geleden was, zijn niet altijd beschikbaar wanneer je ze wil. Dus las ik delen van books of magic door elkaar, zonder zelfs maar te vermoeden dat Auderon’s tale erbij hoorde of op welk moment in het verhaal Leah de beker van de zeemeermin drinkt. Deze omnibus bracht daar verandering in. Het is de eerste keer dat ik de strips chronologisch kon lezen en pakweg de helft ervan was volledig nieuw. Wat een zalig kerstcadeau.
June 7, 2022
The initial 4 issue mini by Neil Gaiman and a quartet of magnificent artists is amazing. The ongoing series is uneven and poorly paced. It has some high points, but overall becomes a bit of a slog to read. The filler material between the mini and the ongoing has a lot of experimental fare at the time of publication, and may have felt fresh and innovative then, but feels dated now and not enjoyable to read. There's some good stuff in the collection, some bad stuff, and some meh stuff. Entirely a mixed bag, but with the exception of the initial Gaiman material, it could all be skipped unless you re a hardcore fan of the character Tim Hunter. Vess' covers on the initial issues of the ongoing though, are gallery-worthy.
August 16, 2022
The Books of Magic #1-4, ☆☆☆☆☆
Mister E #1-4, ☆☆☆☆☆
The Children's Crusade, ☆☆☆
Vertigo Visions: Doctor Occult, ☆☆☆☆☆
Vertigo Rave: The Lot, ☆☆☆
1-4, Bindings, ☆☆☆☆
5, The Hidden School, ☆☆☆☆
6-8, Sacrifices, ☆☆☆☆
9-11, The Artificial Heart, ☆☆☆☆
12-13, Small Glass Worlds, ☆☆☆☆☆
14, What Fire Leaves Us, ☆☆☆☆☆
15-20, Playgrounds, ☆☆☆☆
21, Heavy Petting, ☆☆☆
22, Needlepoint, ☆☆☆
23, Red Rover, Red Rover, ☆☆☆☆
24, And Sure in Language Strange She Said, ☆☆☆☆
25, Used to Bes, ☆☆☆☆
Books of Faerie: Auberon's Tale, ☆☆☆☆
26-32, Rites of Passage, ☆☆☆☆☆
Mister E #1-4, ☆☆☆☆☆
The Children's Crusade, ☆☆☆
Vertigo Visions: Doctor Occult, ☆☆☆☆☆
Vertigo Rave: The Lot, ☆☆☆
1-4, Bindings, ☆☆☆☆
5, The Hidden School, ☆☆☆☆
6-8, Sacrifices, ☆☆☆☆
9-11, The Artificial Heart, ☆☆☆☆
12-13, Small Glass Worlds, ☆☆☆☆☆
14, What Fire Leaves Us, ☆☆☆☆☆
15-20, Playgrounds, ☆☆☆☆
21, Heavy Petting, ☆☆☆
22, Needlepoint, ☆☆☆
23, Red Rover, Red Rover, ☆☆☆☆
24, And Sure in Language Strange She Said, ☆☆☆☆
25, Used to Bes, ☆☆☆☆
Books of Faerie: Auberon's Tale, ☆☆☆☆
26-32, Rites of Passage, ☆☆☆☆☆
March 21, 2023
یکی از بزرگترین لذتهای زندگی، کمیک خوندنه بنظرم!
کمیک سه جلدی کتابهای جادو، یکی از کمیکهای DC و از دنیای سندمنـه، یکی از بهترین پیشنهادها برای خوندن کمیک.
داستان این سری دربارهی تیمه، یه پسر بچه که فقط میخواد از طریق جادو مادر گمشدهاش رو برگردونه!
بنظرم اگه از داستانهای جادویی، داستانهایی راجعبه نوجوانها توی دنیای بزرگسالان، و داستانهایی دربارهی کتاب لذت میبرید، خودتون رو از خوندن این سری کمیکها محروم نکنید!
ترجمهی فارسی این کمیک توی 23 سری از تیم کمیک سیتی انجام شده که 18 سری از اونها رو میتونید توی طاقچه بخونید.
#راوی_باش2
https://taaghche.com/book/72286
کمیک سه جلدی کتابهای جادو، یکی از کمیکهای DC و از دنیای سندمنـه، یکی از بهترین پیشنهادها برای خوندن کمیک.
داستان این سری دربارهی تیمه، یه پسر بچه که فقط میخواد از طریق جادو مادر گمشدهاش رو برگردونه!
بنظرم اگه از داستانهای جادویی، داستانهایی راجعبه نوجوانها توی دنیای بزرگسالان، و داستانهایی دربارهی کتاب لذت میبرید، خودتون رو از خوندن این سری کمیکها محروم نکنید!
ترجمهی فارسی این کمیک توی 23 سری از تیم کمیک سیتی انجام شده که 18 سری از اونها رو میتونید توی طاقچه بخونید.
#راوی_باش2
https://taaghche.com/book/72286
May 3, 2024
I decided to “finish” with Books of Magic at around page 1200 in the 1500 page omnibus volume one. I couldn’t keep track of character introductions and motives… the phrase “insists upon itself” definitely applies. It constantly has turns in the story that don’t feel earned or relevant to the preceding story. I shouldn’t be looking up the story on Wikipedia to understand what’s going on or who’s who at page 1200.
May 27, 2024
since this was such a large collection, my interest varied, and I was a bit disappointed with how little proportionally was actually authored by Gaiman, but Tim and Molly are compelling characters and I enjoyed the journey overall
the physical copy of this was unpleasant/difficult to hold due to size/weight and is partly why it took longer than I expected to read, so I'd recommend digital if you have a decent ereader/tablet, or trade paperbacks.
the physical copy of this was unpleasant/difficult to hold due to size/weight and is partly why it took longer than I expected to read, so I'd recommend digital if you have a decent ereader/tablet, or trade paperbacks.
December 19, 2021
Well, that was a fun trip down memory lane (although I'm still not sure that the Dr Occult special needed to be included): Gaiman's original Books of Magic, the Mister E mini-series by K.W. Jeter, and a great big honking pile of John Ney Reiber's Books of Magic ongoing. Still just as good as it was back when it came out - looking forward to volume two.
December 26, 2022
Most chapters were good, some were confusing or just a little bland. I didn't like the slight oversexualization in some of Molly's and/or Tim's interactions with each other and other people.
The first 4 chapters were some of the best things I have ever read and Charles Vess is now one of my favourite artists
The first 4 chapters were some of the best things I have ever read and Charles Vess is now one of my favourite artists
January 14, 2023
I made it over 1200 pages into this omnibus, right around the Auberon mini, and decided that I just could t continue. No compelling characters or storylines that made me want to keep reading. This is considered the Sandman universe, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near that amazing comic run.
February 11, 2023
Loved it.
July 11, 2025
When you get a book of more than 1500 pages, it's probably inevitable that it'll be a bit uneven.
January 26, 2022
A great first volume for an omnibus of this series - colors are remastered as far as I can tell and the collection includes issues from other connected series to help round out and complete the story. Can't wait to tackle volume two!
Read
March 23, 2025Prepare to read a lot! Timothy Hunter's adventures are out there and always someone after him. Mother has never been around and dad is in such a slump until he gets some unearthly help. All the children have left and moved to Freeworld (?). Monsters are turning humans in to dolls. We do see Constantine and other Vertigo players. Many pages to go!
December 24, 2025
(This review covers the complete series)
A coming-of-age story wrapped in a veil of magic and mystery, the miniseries follows young Timothy Hunter, a young boy with the potential to become the world's greatest magician, guided through the history and possibilities of magic by key figures from the DC Universe. The follow-up series expands his story, exploring his powers, relationships, and the dangers of growing up with unchecked potential. The character-driven writing balances world-building with smaller, meaningful developments, while the varied but consistent art gives a sense of growth without losing its heart.
A coming-of-age story wrapped in a veil of magic and mystery, the miniseries follows young Timothy Hunter, a young boy with the potential to become the world's greatest magician, guided through the history and possibilities of magic by key figures from the DC Universe. The follow-up series expands his story, exploring his powers, relationships, and the dangers of growing up with unchecked potential. The character-driven writing balances world-building with smaller, meaningful developments, while the varied but consistent art gives a sense of growth without losing its heart.
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