Member-only story
The Books of Magic #16 — Kat Howard, Writer; Tom Fowler, Layouts; Craig Taillefer, Finishes; Jordan Boyd, Marissa Louise, Colorists
Ratings: Ray — 8.5/10
Ray: After the first year of stories, it seemed like Tim Hunter’s biggest threats were coming from the world of magic. That turned out to be true — but the biggest threat isn’t from outside, but from within.
An alternate, older version of Tim Hunter, the one who ruined John Constantine’s world, has found its way to this world and is grooming Tim to evolve into the same kind of predator he did. That Tim has deals with dark supernatural forces who he’s trying to keep at bay, making his attempts to corrupt Tim all the more urgent. Rose, Tim’s mentor since the beginning, is trying to reach her wayward protege while also trying to keep him safe from the prying eyes of Celia, the magical authority who sees him as a growing danger.
The first half of Books of Magic #16 flip-flops a lot between varying perspectives, making it feel a bit scattered at times, but Kat Howard’s tense and compelling script more than makes up for any structural quibbles.
