The Last Magician Vol. 1

Creative Team

writer: SEAN MEIGHEN

artist: THIEN UNCAGE

letterer: MICAH MYERS

publisher: SELF PUBLISHED

The Last Magician isn’t just a grandiose story, but certainly a testament to some of the excellent writing that comes from self-publishers.

After Christian Keystone loses his father, he begins to see ghosts and has to learn to ignore them. After accepting his family’s lineage of magic, he decides to no longer run from the dead but try to become the magician his father knew he could be.

The balance of lore and story in fantasy epics can be challenging—especially when it’s a series premiere. Writers sometimes overstuff their stories and this may lead to confusion for the reader. Fortunately, writer Sean Meighen crafts a story that builds its own world without crushing under the weight of the pieces put together.

The Last Magician is part drama, part thriller, and while there are some elements of the story that are easy to guess, the 160+ pages of volume one are sure to keep readers engaged.

The art from Thien Uncage is impressive—especially when the number of panels and epic moments are considered. The character designs are a solid hybrid of anime and western art, and although the story is in black and white, the lack of color perfectly fits the narrative of a ghost filled world. (The demonic creatures are especially well-done and their design takes advantage of the bleak grayscale environment.)

For a self-published title, the final product is nothing short of impressive. From the strong script to the art, The Last Magicians is entertaining and a great debut for the writer/artist combo.

Christian Keystone and his friends Jonathan and Jetta are a likable team and it’s clear there is a lot of potential for where the group can go in future adventures.

This story brings readers into a whole new world of magic and fantasy that is equally haunting and heartfelt.

For more on The Last Magician, be sure to visit https://markosia.com/the-last-magician/.