Mamo #1

Mamo #1

by Sas Milledge

Can Orla O’Reilly embrace her destiny in order to bridge the divide between humanity and the faerie world?

Orla, the youngest in a long line of hedge witches, finds herself pulled back to her hometown after the death of her grandmother - Mamo. Without Mamo managing magical relationships between the townsfolk and the fae, the seas are impossible to fish, the crops have soured and Jo Manalo’s attic has been taken over by a poltergeist!

Now, Orla and Jo will both be pulled into worlds they never wanted to be part of. Can the two girls work together to save the town?

Sas Milledge (The Lost Carnival: A Dick Grayson Graphic Novel) debuts her first original series perfect for fans of The Last Witch and Sabrina The Teenage Witch that answers the question of how we all reconcile our responsibilities with our dreams for our own future.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Queer, Witches, Young Adult

41 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2021

About the author

Sas Milledge is a Melbourne-based comic artist and illustrator

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches, faes, curses and hatred. Awesome. Give me more. And there's magic coming. But damn, each volume shouldn't be this short. And end with cliffhangers 😭

[Mohammad Saad · Rating 4 out of 5]

সিনোপসিস:
অরলা এক সন্ন্যাসী বা অনিশ্চিত জীবনধারণী উইচ। মনের মাঝে কিছু বেদনা ও গ্রামবাসীর নাক ছিটকানোর পাত্র হিসেবে তার বেঁচে থাকা।

অন্যদিকে মামোর চোখে গ্রামের কিছু অস্বাভাবিক পরিবর্তনের ছিটেফোঁটা পড়লেও সেগুলো তেমন একটা আমলে নেওয়ার চেষ্টা করেনি। কিন্তু হঠাৎ মামো'র মা গুরুতর অসুস্থ হয়ে যায় জল অন্যদিকে গড়ায়। মামো'র ধারণা কোন এক অভিশাপে তার মার এরকম অসুস্থ হয়ে পড়া। আর নরমালি তার কিছু মোটিভও মামো'র নজরে আসে।
তখন উপায় না পেয়ে মোমো উইচ অরলার দরজায় করাঘাত করে। অরলা গ্রামবাসীর তিরস্কারিত আচরণ ও তার আরও কিছু সিক্রেট বিষয়াদির জন্য সব সময় নিজেকে একটু আড়াল করে রাখতে সাচ্ছন্দ্য করে। সেই হিসেবে প্রথমে মামো-কে হেল্প করতে না চাইলেও পরে রাজি হয়ে যায়।
এরপরই মামো'র মা'র চিকিৎসা করতে গিয়েই মামো ও অরলার সাথে পুরো গ্রামবাসী এরকম কিছু বিভীষিকার মুখোমুখি হয়, যা তারা কেউ কখনো কামনা করেনি!


পাঠপ্রতিক্রিয়ার :
ইদানীং পড়ার সুযোগ হচ্ছে খুব কম। আবার ভারি কিছু পড়তেও কেন জানি ইচ্ছে করছে না। হঠাৎ হালকা টাইপ কিছু খুঁজতে গিয়ে এই গ্রাফিক নভেলটা শুরু করে দিলাম। পড়ে বেশ ভালো লাগলো। চমৎকার আর্টের সাথে হালকা চালের একটা গল্প (যদিও সিনোপসিস পড়ে তা মানতে অনেকেই নারাজ হবেন)। :p কিন্তু ডায়লগ গুলো এত হালকা চালে লেখা যে; লেখার মোলায়েমতা আপনার উপর কাহিনীর আছড় তেমন ভাবে পড়তে দিবে না।
যাইহোক, দৈনন্দিন ঝড়ঝাপটার মাঝে অল্প সময়ে রিল্যাক্সের জন্য যারা হালকা চালের কিছু পড়তে ইচ্ছুক তাদের জন্য এটা দারুণ একটা বই হতে পারে।

[Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who really enjoyed Molly Ostertag’s The Witch Boy. This feels inspired by Ghibli without it seeming like a forced blueprint of familiar tropes. I’m already attached to the main characters and want to know what becomes of them. I might wait until this is all collected, as it’s a mini-series I believe.

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and magical graphic novel. While it wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be, it still had lots of charm, clever storytelling, and cool fantasy. The story was really good, as I said before. It's a wild ride and adventure that manages to also be the calming story you need to relax. The story is also very investing; a lot happens throughout its course, and it doesn't feel overstuffed nor underwhelming and empty. It manages to be both what I was expecting based on the beginning and what I wasn't expecting as well. However, my one gripe with the story is that the climax of the story is very rushed, and the big revealation is just info-dumped onto the readers. It took me a hot minute to fully understand what was happening as a result. Moving on though, I also really liked the drawings. They were very pretty, chill, well-drawn, and fit the story very well. Everything, from the landscapes and animals to the people, was perfectly drawn. It was very much my style. When it comes to graphic novels, I am very picky about drawings. If I don't like the drawings, it can sour the experience for me. Thankfully, the drawings in here passed the test. Finally, I also really liked the worldbuilding. The way magic worked here was very interesting, intricate, and complex. Also, this little, simple village where nothing usually happens was the perfect place for this fantasy adventure because of that mundane nature. These two go together so well, and make up the foundation of this nice story. Overall, this was a very whimsical and good graphic novel that any fantasy need can enjoy.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

― Rating: 4.5 Stars ★★★★ 1/2
Mamo #1 captivates you from its first page with its tranquil coastal town and an intriguing story about a young witch whose pulled back into helping when a girl named Jo asks for her help and magic has become messy all over town! The mystery, quiet fantasy setting and whimsical artwork allows this first issue to breathe the atmosphere of a cozy, spellbinding tale!

It opens on a peaceful shot of a coastal hillside and a girl named Jo on her bike, from there Milledge's style becomes so clear. The minimal use of dialogue and focus on the lush, nature landscapes entrances you in the mystery of Haresden, Orla and her witch abilities.

For a first issue it doesn't give away too much and leaves you wanting to know more about how Jo's mother will be healed, why does Mamo's spirit linger, plus how will Jo and Orla's relationship develop across the series. The characters charm is in their quiet, subtle natures, I love Jo's passion to help her mother and also despite my annoyance at first, I began to become intrigued with Orla's eagerness to avoid the town (which as it turns out townspeople blame the witch (Mamo) for the odd magical occurrences)

I adore the artwork, its wispy and so detailed. From trees, to birds, coastal town houses, each of these has a quiet, peacefulness to them through the artwork. The colors utilize lots of nature colors that are rather muted, but the way they work together makes it a standout way to tell the story. Speaking of the story, its phenomenal how it relies very little on dialogue at still leaves such an impact.

As a first issue I thought this was fantastic and had to up my rating. However, the only reason struggling to voice my critiques is because it does end a bit abruptly and although there's a good number of details you can pick up on about Haresden there's still not a lot that you truly know. However, this was a genuine surprise and I'm so glad I picked up this comic, I will absolutely be continuing it to learn more about Jo, Orla, and the strange magic of Haresden, a hidden gem for sure! I LOVED THIS

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and super fun to read! (Check out Orla's great, cozy reading nook in the back of her car!). The magic of this world feels very rooted in nature and connections between people. I love that magic is stronger when shared. I would highly recommend this comic. I've already read the first 3 issues, and I'm loving it more and more.

📚 The gist 📚: The hedge witch of Haresden died, and now there's nobody helping to bridge the divide between the fae and humans. Her granddaughter Orla begrudgingly steps in to help.

📒Representation📒: bipoc mc

💕 For readers looking for 💕: natural magic, ghosts, witches, fae and humans cohabitating with the fae, complicated family dynamics, loveable characters, beautiful scenic art.

[dilelem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comic is magical. I fell in love with the drawings at first but the story was a surprise for me... Witches? A witch comic? Especially at this time of the year? I felt sad when i finished reading the issue because it was so good. And now i am also in love with the characters...
You too should read this, NOW.
Cant wait to read the rest of it ✨✨

[Yuqi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and very enjoyable read <3 I love the setting of the story highlights a culture enshrined in the indigenous ideas of connection - Connection to the land, nature, and to each other through a gift economy. I enjoyed the theme of drawing power from borders and boundaries as a way of navigating identity as well. And it's gay 😁✨.

[Casey Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautiful

[batuhan_a_kocak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn into the world in ~40 pages. The drawings and the "staging" are lovely. The ending makes it an obligation to read the next comic.

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations 🤧

[Anissa Pulcheon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, so sweet. Inspired me to finally start running a dungeons & dragons campaign. None of my players read this 🐉

[Zahraa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning!! The art is so beautiful

[Kay ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more. When is issue #2 coming out? I love this. Also, artwork? 10/10

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome, of course. sas’s art is beautiful and i already love these two girls

[the reading teacup | ~☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

the art is stunning & the story reminds me a bit of kiki's delivery service ✨

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'For me, I find magic in the in-between. Cross-roads are full of magic, and so are, like, petrol stations. A sense of choice, of possibility. Moments when your path is unsure. Sorry, I'm not explaining it right.'

'No, no, I think I get it. I just don't... get it.'

'It's like... you know when you walk down the middle of a road, or when you lie the wrong way up in bed? Like when you're at an intersection that you normally turn left at, but realize that there's absolutely nothing stopping you from turning right? That awareness, that potential, there's power in that.'

'Is that why you want to leave? Why you travel so much? More choice, or...potential?'

'Yes. Traveling is always neither here-nor-there. That's magic to me.'

'But Mamo... you said...she lived here her whole life?'

'There's power in staying, too.'"

Orla O’Reilly’s grandmother Mamo was the Witch of Haresden, maintainer of the townsfolk and the fae. Mamo is dead now, her bones scattered across the town, leaving Haresden in shambles. The fae are planting curses, the natural landscape is overtaking civilization, and loved ones are being overtaken by inexplicable illness.

While locals blame the Witch of Haresden, they must trust her granddaughter Orla, even though she wants nothing to do with her hometown.

When Jo Manala seeks Orla for help, Orla realizes that she must put her Mamo to rest in order to save the town from falling apart.

Jo loves this town and its people more than anything. Between her willingness to step in and help no matter the danger, and Orla’s reluctance to become the very thing she tried escaping from before, will their teamwork be enough to bring harmony between the land, townsfolk, and fae once again?

"'Any mis-buried bone can cause chaos, let alone the bones of a witch who was bound to the town.'

'What does that mean? For Haresden? For you?'

'It means I have to track down every last gravesite and fix it. Or Haresden sinks. I don't know what happens to me.'

'Haresden sinks?'

'The landscape will take it back. The trees will grow over roads. The fae will move in. The harvest will fail. The seas will rise. Fixing the burial is only part of the problem. The borders of Haresden are a relationship. If they're not maintained, it will fall apart.'

'So what do we do?'

'Hang on, there's no we—'"

GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS.

This comic is brimming with magic. Cryptic and ethereal, the mingling of art and narrative tells an unforgettable tale of community, commitment, and liminality.

I adored every single character and their quirks, but Jo and Orla truly were remarkable. Orla's somber, aloof, stubborn personality complemented Jo's outgoing, nurturing, determined personality so well. With gentle compassion and patience toward one another also came misunderstandings and disagreements, which reflects the highs and lows of any kind of companionship with a realistic lens.

There was so much wonder within this story, which set up the most interesting plot. Everything from faery rings, civilian curses, attic poltergeists, witch bindings, talking birds, and bone collecting created a whole world of possibilities. Not only were the magic parts magic—the mundane was just as important, setting up character growth and background stories. I wanted all the lore. I wanted to know this gorgeous town inside and out.

One of my favorite parts was the foreshadowing early on when Jo almost stumbles into a faery ring. The importance of this scene isn't revealed until the end, and you never see it coming until it hits out of nowhere. Ugh! So good.

And can we talk about how unbelievably BEAUTIFUL this art style is? There is so much emotion in every panel. The backgrounds, characters, and outfits are absolutely stunning. I wish I could show you, but you'd be better off just reading the book as a whole. I read it in one sitting.

I need more. This story had me wanting to kick my feet and giggle like a little girl, and I cannot wait for the adventures Jo and Orla will go on next.

"'My magic is tied to that anchor. It was the first spell I ever cast. If I bury it here, if I have to leave it behind... I lose everything. Not just my power...I don't even know what would happen to me. Maybe I'd just disappear.'

'So don't bury it, just leave—'

'Haresden will collapse. '

'And what happens if you stay? You bury it, and you stay here.'

'My magic will pull me apart.'"

[anahí · Rating 4 out of 5]

rereading because i finally got the last issues. wonderful first issue. i’m really liking the tone of the story. the art style is beautiful; there’s something about it that makes me feel like a little kid again? i think the groundwork for the story is simple and solid. there was a lot of subtlety to how the story was unfolding. jo’s determination and ignorance of magic, orla’s disdain for the town and her complicated relationship with her grandmother, the town’s views on magic and witches. can’t wait to see where this goes.

[Ashley R · Rating 3 out of 5]

More accurately a 3.5
Firstly: art style? Lovely, incredible, a treat for my eyeballs.
Plot: A bit confusing for me; I understood the main story-beats but there were a few times that I had to re-read what was being said, and even then I was still a bit lost on the details.
Characters: Pretty well done, actually. I enjoyed Jo and Orla's dynamic, though their romance felt a bit rushed to me.
Overall, pretty positive experience. I'll try to get my hands on the rest of the series.

[Nekochimachan (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orla's Grandma probably died of old age but she's no ordinary old lady but a witch who deals with the supernatural even nature so Orla needs to return her hometown as soon as possible. When suddenly a young girl by the name of Jo needed help from Orla because her Mom got curse of some kind and Orla did agree alongside her black cat. Oh, kinda happy when one of Jo's sisters said "Ate" which means sister in Tagalog :).

[Rella · Rating 3 out of 5]

ambas protas tienen la misma expresión todo el rato.
Aparte ese plano de un cuervo, el gato y lo que luego son los fae; no parecen del mismo mundo. digo el cuervo es realista, como también otros cuadros con pájaros, pero se veía bizarro verlo a la par del gato muy estilizado.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool first chapter. Sas draws some gorgeous art and writes quite a charming and intriguing story.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Ghibli-esque.

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the two main characters and I've never seen a cat drawn so cute.

[Misa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and the art was beautiful, it reminds me of Ghibli's movies.

[Gaea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Curious and pretty, though not particularly gripping.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Off to a sweet start!

[zhaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐4.75 beautifully engaging, magically outstanding

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this from start to finish! Loved the characters, the art and the story. Fingers crossed there is more to this story!

[Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, gorgious little graphic novel, lovely character designs and awesome creatures. The story was bittersweet and very sapphic