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The Wizard's Tale
A magical story of redemption, The Wizard's Tale follows the aged Bafflerog Rumplewhisker and his young companion, Muddle, the woodcutter's son, as they embark on a quest to retrieve the magical Book of Worse -- a tome that will ensure the land of Ever-Night remains as it is, a dark and gloomy realm of evil. But old Rumplewhisker's heart slowly warms on their journey, and a chance to restore a semblance of goodness to Ever-Night is possible -- if he and his young charge can dare face the challenges ahead.
136 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1997
2 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,859 books627 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 16, 2020
This is the story of an evil wizard from a line of evil wizards who really doesn't want to be evil. His world is dominated by a council of evil wizards and all they need to make it last forever is the Book of Worse.
A storybook brought to vivid life by David Wenzel's art. David Wenzel's art is so depictive and packed with details. I love the creatures constantly bursting out of panels and running through the gutters. The designs remind me some of Brian Froud's from The Dark Crystal. That's the highest praise as far as I'm concerned.
A storybook brought to vivid life by David Wenzel's art. David Wenzel's art is so depictive and packed with details. I love the creatures constantly bursting out of panels and running through the gutters. The designs remind me some of Brian Froud's from The Dark Crystal. That's the highest praise as far as I'm concerned.
April 26, 2016
I picked this up at our local Comicon for 90% off (thanks TFAW!). All was madness among those shelves, but I saw the cover and grabbed it up. I knew right off it must be illustrated by the same fellow that did the lovely Hobbit graphic adaptation, the style was unmistakable with the soft colors, whimsical creatures and detail packed into every corner.
It wasn't until later that I opened it up to read it and fell into a sweet fairy tale about a wizard who only wants to do wrong but finds himself somehow only doing right.
I would think this one is acceptable for most ages, and might be a good bridge for tweens into the glorious world of graphic novels.
It wasn't until later that I opened it up to read it and fell into a sweet fairy tale about a wizard who only wants to do wrong but finds himself somehow only doing right.
I would think this one is acceptable for most ages, and might be a good bridge for tweens into the glorious world of graphic novels.
January 27, 2022
AWW, this was a fun little comic.
We follow Bafflerog Rumplewhisker, an evil wizard who.....kind of sucks at being an evil wizard (sorry Rumplewhisker, but we all know it's true). He is continually failing to bring wrath and suffering upon his subjects and he is in trouble with the wizard guild for that. He can't do his daily tasks right so he is tasked with finding the Book of Worse, a book of all the most terrible spells compiled from all the evil wizards before for the guild's use.
I don't have a ton to say about this because it was so short and simple. I think that this is a great book for all ages, if you have children it would be a fun one to read with them as the story is short and the art is very fun. Even if you don't have kids to read this with it is a great comic to pick up between some of the heavier stuff as a nice palette cleanser and just something short and fun to breeze through.
We follow Bafflerog Rumplewhisker, an evil wizard who.....kind of sucks at being an evil wizard (sorry Rumplewhisker, but we all know it's true). He is continually failing to bring wrath and suffering upon his subjects and he is in trouble with the wizard guild for that. He can't do his daily tasks right so he is tasked with finding the Book of Worse, a book of all the most terrible spells compiled from all the evil wizards before for the guild's use.
I don't have a ton to say about this because it was so short and simple. I think that this is a great book for all ages, if you have children it would be a fun one to read with them as the story is short and the art is very fun. Even if you don't have kids to read this with it is a great comic to pick up between some of the heavier stuff as a nice palette cleanser and just something short and fun to breeze through.
April 10, 2021
This is a pretty wonderful comic.
While the story is simple, the art was just delightful and I liked a lot all the characters in it.
Definitively a book worth checking out.
While the story is simple, the art was just delightful and I liked a lot all the characters in it.
Definitively a book worth checking out.
October 3, 2024
This was a masterpiece - the most I’ve enjoyed a novel in a very long time
March 24, 2017
A fine quick fantasy tale. Art was good, story was brisk and familiar. 3.5 stars.
September 6, 2015
Reading it just to look at the 'Alchemites' in the gutters is worth it. The first image/full page of the telescope is also worth reading it. A fun play on the common themes and events in high fantasy.
June 15, 2013
Once upon a time (all good stories should start like that ;) there was a wizard. Bafflerog Rumplewhisker. Being an evil wizard, he was brewing up a storm to dump on the village below. His best friend, a toad named Gumpwort, told him he didn't have to do it, but, as Bafflerog explains, he's an evil wizard. He comes from a long line of evil wizards, and what they do is evil wizardry. What would he be if he were not an evil wizard?
His cute little alchemicals (the only thing he can summon, when all the other evil wizards can get glooms) get into the spell, and the next thing he knows he's cast a rainstorm. The villagers are jumping for joy -- there had been a drought -- and then a rainbow appears. Which means the sun can't be far behind.
Grimthorne, the head of the Darksome Council, appears to complain of his neglience in letting in so much light, and then of his worse neglect: he has not been torturing Gumpwort to find out where he hid the Book of Worse. If only they had that, they could crush hope in the land, and Gumpwort knows where it is.
And when Grimthorne leaves, Gumpwort tells Bafflerog the location -- much to his dismay. He sets out on the quest -- and things get even more interesting from there.
A fun story, all around. Neatly fit together, humorous plot, with whimsical characters and twists on fairy tale plots. Wonderful, sweet art, which fits the story perfectly. Perhaps the conversations that fill in the information are a little obvious -- well, some of them. But it's just a little roughness about the edges.
His cute little alchemicals (the only thing he can summon, when all the other evil wizards can get glooms) get into the spell, and the next thing he knows he's cast a rainstorm. The villagers are jumping for joy -- there had been a drought -- and then a rainbow appears. Which means the sun can't be far behind.
Grimthorne, the head of the Darksome Council, appears to complain of his neglience in letting in so much light, and then of his worse neglect: he has not been torturing Gumpwort to find out where he hid the Book of Worse. If only they had that, they could crush hope in the land, and Gumpwort knows where it is.
And when Grimthorne leaves, Gumpwort tells Bafflerog the location -- much to his dismay. He sets out on the quest -- and things get even more interesting from there.
A fun story, all around. Neatly fit together, humorous plot, with whimsical characters and twists on fairy tale plots. Wonderful, sweet art, which fits the story perfectly. Perhaps the conversations that fill in the information are a little obvious -- well, some of them. But it's just a little roughness about the edges.
November 2, 2018
I absolutely loved this! The story was quite fun, but it was the artwork that really grabbed me. It's so gorgeous. The art is somewhat muted, but it's still super colorful. I will probably buy this so I can read it again and again. It's my favorite graphic novel that I've ever read.
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2nd read-through with my boys. They loved it too, and wanted me to read the whole thing in one sitting.
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2nd read-through with my boys. They loved it too, and wanted me to read the whole thing in one sitting.
March 15, 2013
Story-wise I wanted to rate this as 3 stars -- the writing's charming but the denouement made no sense and could have been easily tweaked with little disruption to the story -- but the art is just so gorgeous, and I delighted in its details so much, especially where the Alchemites are concerned, that I couldn't in good conscience give it less than 4.
February 14, 2009
This books is funny, exciting and adorable! Busiek goes above and beyond to create a new fantasy story with familiar elements. If you're a fan of fantasy (and I know most people on my friend's list are) then pick this graphic novel up.
May 13, 2011
Fantastic art, fun story, with some unusual plot twists and a great ending.
August 14, 2015
The artwork in this was 5 stars.
The story was 3 stars.
The ending made me smile like a fool though.
The story was 3 stars.
The ending made me smile like a fool though.
August 18, 2022
As many of the reviewers noted, this story was "light" and "sweet", which was fine. I felt it could use a bit more tension. The Darksome Council doesn't feel scary. The stakes of "destroying all hope forever" don't feel meaningful. The characters make very few choices, they merely follow the next part of the plot-path as it is laid in front of them by the convenient exposition-spouting (but very cute) toad.
As many have said, the illustrations are lush and charming. They are very evocative of children's books. I agree: they are gorgeous pieces of book illustration. Unfortunately, they are presented as a comic, where they fall flat. The highly-detailed, lush illustration style makes each panel more engaging than the movement between panels that is the lifeblood of comics. There's little sense of place or movement. Sometimes it's not even clear what's happening, visually. At one point, there's a jump in time so jarring I actually checked to see if two pages had stuck together.
Published in 1998, the lettering from Comicraft is fairly early in the days of digital lettering. The font chosen, while evocative, is very tiring to read, with certain letters like capital "C" difficult to decipher. The lettering definitely erred on the side of style over substance. It was one more barrier that came between me and engaging with the story.
As many have said, the illustrations are lush and charming. They are very evocative of children's books. I agree: they are gorgeous pieces of book illustration. Unfortunately, they are presented as a comic, where they fall flat. The highly-detailed, lush illustration style makes each panel more engaging than the movement between panels that is the lifeblood of comics. There's little sense of place or movement. Sometimes it's not even clear what's happening, visually. At one point, there's a jump in time so jarring I actually checked to see if two pages had stuck together.
Published in 1998, the lettering from Comicraft is fairly early in the days of digital lettering. The font chosen, while evocative, is very tiring to read, with certain letters like capital "C" difficult to decipher. The lettering definitely erred on the side of style over substance. It was one more barrier that came between me and engaging with the story.
March 29, 2021
What a lovely little fantasy. Kurt Busiek thanks James Thurber and Lloyd Alexander in the dedication, and it's clear from the get-go that he's trying to replicate their great works in The Wizard's Tale. Busiek pretty much nails it. This is one of those stories that's neither big nor small, but just right. The world-building isn't overwhelming; the characters aren't complex. Wrongs are righted; realms are saved; everyone (including the reader) goes home happy.
The plot is relatively simple: a dark wizard isn't much good at being a dark wizard, so when he has a chance to go after the all-powerful Worse Book, which would bring about a final darkness, he takes it. With a talking toad and the third son of a woodcutter by his side, the wizard tackles a short and perilous trek and makes some tough decisions about his line of work.
Busiek's pacing and dialogue is magnificent, but it's the art by David Wenzel that levels The Wizard's Tale up to a five-star read. The colorful, detailed illustrations are reminiscent of a children's storybook. You'll want to set aside some time to pour over every page.
The plot is relatively simple: a dark wizard isn't much good at being a dark wizard, so when he has a chance to go after the all-powerful Worse Book, which would bring about a final darkness, he takes it. With a talking toad and the third son of a woodcutter by his side, the wizard tackles a short and perilous trek and makes some tough decisions about his line of work.
Busiek's pacing and dialogue is magnificent, but it's the art by David Wenzel that levels The Wizard's Tale up to a five-star read. The colorful, detailed illustrations are reminiscent of a children's storybook. You'll want to set aside some time to pour over every page.
May 7, 2020
The Wizard’s Tale has been on my “To Read” list for years. I remember when it was first published. I was thick with reading almost only superhero books and this story sounds like it would be a good change of pace. For one reason or another I did get around to reading it then. Years go by and I find it in a discount pile at my local comic shop so I picked it up. I’ve diversified my comic reading since then (still plenty of superheroes, but now with a health mix of crime with a little sci-fi), but The Wizard’s Tale, with it’s setting in high fantasy, is still outside of my typical reading choices.
To describe the book in one word would be “quaint.”
It’s not a big epic with action and adventure, as you might expect from a fantasy story. Rather, it’s a simple tale about an evil wizard who finally learns and accepts who he really is.
It’s simply and wonderfully told by Kurt Busiek and the artwork from David Wenzel is scrumptious in its detail and design. It’s a quiet, but beautiful, story that felt just right to me.
To describe the book in one word would be “quaint.”
It’s not a big epic with action and adventure, as you might expect from a fantasy story. Rather, it’s a simple tale about an evil wizard who finally learns and accepts who he really is.
It’s simply and wonderfully told by Kurt Busiek and the artwork from David Wenzel is scrumptious in its detail and design. It’s a quiet, but beautiful, story that felt just right to me.
September 29, 2023
This was a great, fun, clean read about an evil wizard who doesn't want to be evil. He makes friends, goes on great adventures, and decides where his true loyalties stand.
The story is full of excitement, and humor, and it was lots of fun to follow him, even in the midst of all the evil and danger.
The format of a graphic novel, also, works well for the story.
I've never read a book quite like this one.
I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, humorous, magical comic. Both younger and older readers will find what to enjoy here.
Content: clean
Little kids might find scenes scary.
Evil, danger, and peril. Many scary characters. Nothing graphic. Once a princess is said to have turned to sunlight and disappeared.
The story is full of excitement, and humor, and it was lots of fun to follow him, even in the midst of all the evil and danger.
The format of a graphic novel, also, works well for the story.
I've never read a book quite like this one.
I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, humorous, magical comic. Both younger and older readers will find what to enjoy here.
Content: clean
Little kids might find scenes scary.
Evil, danger, and peril. Many scary characters. Nothing graphic. Once a princess is said to have turned to sunlight and disappeared.
March 5, 2025
The art is really really really good. There is nothing WRONG with the plot, but it is very very basic, and it's easy to get bored reading it. I can't help but feel that the incredible artwork deserves a better story.
David Wenzel is best known for his illustrations in the graphic novel adaption of the Hobbit, and this book was created in leiu of a similar adaption of LOTR which never materialised.
It's a shame to think we will probably never see it- if the excellent artwork in Wizard's Tale are any indication, it seems like the graphic novel LOTR is the project David Wenzel was born to illustrate.
David Wenzel is best known for his illustrations in the graphic novel adaption of the Hobbit, and this book was created in leiu of a similar adaption of LOTR which never materialised.
It's a shame to think we will probably never see it- if the excellent artwork in Wizard's Tale are any indication, it seems like the graphic novel LOTR is the project David Wenzel was born to illustrate.
February 23, 2020
A supposed evil wizard from a long line of evil wizards is forced to search for the Book of Worse which would cement the Wizards of Darkness absolute rule over the land of Ever-Night. The catch is the wizard is not really that evil and along the way has to make a decision whether to fulfill his goal. A fun tale, but what stands out here is the beautiful art by Wenzel. The picture included her does not do the book justice. Even if you couldn't read English, you could spend hours staring at the book.
May 24, 2020
This is a charming book. You could pretty much sum up the plot in 2 or 3 sentences, but it's much more about the journey than the destination. The artwork is a large part of that: you can glance at it to understand what's going on, or spend much longer looking at the details of what each alchemite (wreakling) is doing.
I think the introduction was optimistic when it suggested that this book would herald a new age of fantasy stories in comics form, but this is still worth reading in isolation.
I think the introduction was optimistic when it suggested that this book would herald a new age of fantasy stories in comics form, but this is still worth reading in isolation.
January 31, 2025
Absolutely delightful! Gorgeous art, a well-paced story with vibrant characters. Took me back to days of whimsy, reading about wizards and creatures in dark lands, curses and the heroes they make.
Though this is a standalone book, it reminds me of being a child and rereading favourites to go back to a world and live a tale over and over again.
Though this is a standalone book, it reminds me of being a child and rereading favourites to go back to a world and live a tale over and over again.
April 7, 2020
Gorgeous art, but I wasn't able to get into the story. I generally like Kurt's prose, but here his tending to have a lot of words in his scripts really bogged things down. Anyone who loves high fantasy should eat this up with a spoon, though. Just not my thing, and that's okay.
July 23, 2021
Bafferog Rumplewhisker is a hereditary evil wizard who doesn’t want to be. In order to appease the Darksome Council of evil wizards he is sent on a quest to find the lost Book of Worst.
Beautifully detailed illustrated children’s graphic book.
Fave scene: meeting the princess.
Beautifully detailed illustrated children’s graphic book.
Fave scene: meeting the princess.
September 21, 2022
This was a pretty basic story about breaking traditions and not just doing what's expected. The story is definitely carried by the art in this book which is so beautiful and whimsical. There's so many hidden details on each page so you really need to take it all in.
August 26, 2018
A delightful tale about an evil wizard who fails at being evil. Enchanted from the beginning, I could not stop smiling the whole way through :)
April 11, 2019
I haven't read a comic book since I was a kid...until I stumbled across this little gem. The story is cute, but the illustrations/artwork is magnificent. Recommended for a little light reading.
April 23, 2020
A cute little look at an evil wizard who doesn't feel very evil and his pet toad.
Great art. Solid story. Great evil guy. :D
Great art. Solid story. Great evil guy. :D
April 29, 2020
Cute and fun all-ages fairy tale with beautiful art.
August 23, 2020
Wow, this was really great! Wenzel's art is amazing here (as good as his work on The Hobbit). And Busiek's story is a light, fun, fantasy tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews