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Mouse Guard: The Owlhen Caregiver #1
Which of life's biggest lessons can be learned from the smallest amongst us?
A young mouse learns that compassion and kindness are the great virtues in "The Owlhen Caregiver." "Piper the Listener" finds a brave mouse venturing into wild country to learn the tongues of other beasts. And a grizzled oldfur shares the lesson of putting a whisker out too far in "The Wild Wolf."
Three poignant tales mark creator David Petersen's return to his beloved Eisner and Harvey Award-winning series in this self-contained special.
A young mouse learns that compassion and kindness are the great virtues in "The Owlhen Caregiver." "Piper the Listener" finds a brave mouse venturing into wild country to learn the tongues of other beasts. And a grizzled oldfur shares the lesson of putting a whisker out too far in "The Wild Wolf."
Three poignant tales mark creator David Petersen's return to his beloved Eisner and Harvey Award-winning series in this self-contained special.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2021
12 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
David Petersen
169 books340 followersNote: There are more than one David Petersen on GR's database. For catch-all profile, see here (dissambiguated via 7 spaces).
David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisners for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover). He is the creator of the Mouse Guard series and is excited to be working on projects he dearly loves doing. David and his wife Julia reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn.
David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisners for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover). He is the creator of the Mouse Guard series and is excited to be working on projects he dearly loves doing. David and his wife Julia reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 11, 2022
I have a BookTube channel where I review books, give reading suggestions, and more! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/dragonarmybooks
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I was sad when I failed to obtain this comic during its limited release back in July 2021. I checked with my local comic shop too late, having just missed purchasing one of the three copies that were available. Amazingly, I was able to recently find a copy secondhand and in excellent condition, rounding out my complete Mouse Guard collection. I absolutely adore this series and Petersen's most recent entry is a worthy addition to the series.
The Owlhen Caregiver is a collection of three short stories that are very loosely tethered to the main three volumes of Mouse Guard. This collection can be read, understood, and enjoyed as a standalone. The three tales include The Owlhen Caregiver, Piper the Listener, and The Wild Wolf. Each story contains a fable narrated by one of the mice and, although each fable is different from the others, they all carry the same theme--"service: greater than self and sword, and a concern with the well-being of others rather than solely of your own" (Petersen). Each story has so much heart and depth captured in just a few panels on a few pages.
Petersen's artwork is truly unparalleled. I'm not sure any other comic book artist puts this amount of artistry in every stroke. Any panel could easily be framed and put on a wall in a library. He even plays around with altered styles and colors as the fables are being told, while never failing to remain true to his uniquely charming method. I'll never stop obsessing over his work. Mouse Guard is one of the few books, and the only comics, that I actively look out for and instantly purchase on day one. They truly are, each and every one, masterpieces.
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I was sad when I failed to obtain this comic during its limited release back in July 2021. I checked with my local comic shop too late, having just missed purchasing one of the three copies that were available. Amazingly, I was able to recently find a copy secondhand and in excellent condition, rounding out my complete Mouse Guard collection. I absolutely adore this series and Petersen's most recent entry is a worthy addition to the series.
The Owlhen Caregiver is a collection of three short stories that are very loosely tethered to the main three volumes of Mouse Guard. This collection can be read, understood, and enjoyed as a standalone. The three tales include The Owlhen Caregiver, Piper the Listener, and The Wild Wolf. Each story contains a fable narrated by one of the mice and, although each fable is different from the others, they all carry the same theme--"service: greater than self and sword, and a concern with the well-being of others rather than solely of your own" (Petersen). Each story has so much heart and depth captured in just a few panels on a few pages.
Petersen's artwork is truly unparalleled. I'm not sure any other comic book artist puts this amount of artistry in every stroke. Any panel could easily be framed and put on a wall in a library. He even plays around with altered styles and colors as the fables are being told, while never failing to remain true to his uniquely charming method. I'll never stop obsessing over his work. Mouse Guard is one of the few books, and the only comics, that I actively look out for and instantly purchase on day one. They truly are, each and every one, masterpieces.
May 23, 2025
eu sou uma pessoa simples: vejo histórias com ratinhos e já quero ler.
amo esse universo de Mouse Guard e as ilustrações (e cores) sao sensacionais.
Aqui temos três contos com morais que vão pra fora da casinha. Gostei demais.
amo esse universo de Mouse Guard e as ilustrações (e cores) sao sensacionais.
Aqui temos três contos com morais que vão pra fora da casinha. Gostei demais.
July 25, 2021
“The Owlhen Caregiver and Other Tales” is a collection of three short stories set in the past and future of the Mouse Guard main storyline. But you don’t need prior knowledge of Mouse Guard to enjoy the stories.
Any panel in this book could stand alone as a framed piece of art. Petersen’s style is an immersive blend of nature study and medieval tapestry. Simply gorgeous.
All three stories are melancholy morality tales, but they aren’t depressing. The collection was released during the Covid pandemic and I think this would be a great way to process some difficult emotions and life experiences that we’ve all had.
“Piper the Listener” is my personal favorite of the three stories. It provides some insight into the background of a major character from the primary Mouse Guard books.
Definitely add “Owlhen” to your Mouse Guard collection, but for new readers I’d suggest you pick this up after reading “Fall”, “Winter”, and “Black Axe”.
Any panel in this book could stand alone as a framed piece of art. Petersen’s style is an immersive blend of nature study and medieval tapestry. Simply gorgeous.
All three stories are melancholy morality tales, but they aren’t depressing. The collection was released during the Covid pandemic and I think this would be a great way to process some difficult emotions and life experiences that we’ve all had.
“Piper the Listener” is my personal favorite of the three stories. It provides some insight into the background of a major character from the primary Mouse Guard books.
Definitely add “Owlhen” to your Mouse Guard collection, but for new readers I’d suggest you pick this up after reading “Fall”, “Winter”, and “Black Axe”.
July 25, 2021
Reading Mouse Guard tales is always something special
June 5, 2022
Mouse Guard: The Owlhen Caregiver and Other Tales, by David Petersen (BOOM!/Archaia)
I sought this book after it received a 2022 Eisner nomination for “Best Single Issue/One-Shot”. Peterson gives us three stories centered around service and concern for the well-being of others. It is a charming, timeless, beautiful heartfelt escape.
I sought this book after it received a 2022 Eisner nomination for “Best Single Issue/One-Shot”. Peterson gives us three stories centered around service and concern for the well-being of others. It is a charming, timeless, beautiful heartfelt escape.
July 18, 2021
A short comic story collection with great art work! I love this collection! The writing is very nice too. It reads like short fables with mice being the focal point. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for more of these.
October 7, 2021
Though slender, this volume of standalone stories celebrating the virtue of putting others before oneself, is yet another masterpiece in David S. Petersen’s long collection of them. A must for any fan of the Mouse Guard, and a must for anyone who has yet to enter this marvelous world.
May 19, 2022
Always happy to see a new Mouse Guard book hit the shelves at my local comic book store! The stories are a tad scattered and I have a bit of trouble remembering if they have relevance to the other books, but enjoyable on their own and beautifully drawn.
July 21, 2022
It was great to return to the art of Mouse Guard but the stories were just thin parables. Luckily I found this on comics.info so I didn't have to pay for it. It was cute but more like a children's storybook than a Mouse Guard comic. It would be so fun to read to little kids.
September 9, 2021
I heart woodland creatures
Sweet and charming as always. Always an endearing tail. Great illustrations. Fantastic color palette. Give me more more more. !!!
Sweet and charming as always. Always an endearing tail. Great illustrations. Fantastic color palette. Give me more more more. !!!
September 23, 2021
Nice One-shot comic with a few short stories highlighting a few characters.
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November 28, 2021I liked this. Reminds me of old fables that focus on a virtue and give a message related.
June 23, 2022
The most incredible art - I get why my husband goes on and on about these books now!
October 8, 2022
Sempre bello tornare nel mondo della guardia dei topi, questa serie vi conquisterà se le darete un occasione 💚💚💚💚💚
December 30, 2022
Beautiful illustrations with very sweet, touching stories. The writing is poetic and elegant. Really enjoyed this one and will be getting the remainder of the authors/artists books! ❤️
May 26, 2025
these are so precious 🥹🥹🥹
November 7, 2022
Tre storie brevi il cui maggior pregio è il disegno molto riconoscibile e di altissimo livello che però non basta a giustificare l'acquisto di questa raccolta
April 10, 2024
3,5 estrelas
December 22, 2024
Ilustrações belissimas, histórias muito bem escritas com morais diferentes. O estilo de desenho, as cores e as histórias parecem transportar o leitor pra um mundo tão similar ao nosso mas tão diferente ao mesmo tempo. Adorei ler, chorei na história do cuidador de coruja.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews