Mouse Guard
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Mouse Guard is currently being published as an All Ages serialized six-issue bi-monthly comic book series from Archaia Studios Press throughout 2006. The comic is noted to stand-out on the shelves due to its odd size, being a perfect square (8" x 8") as opposed to the standard comic size (6½" x 10"). Each full-color issue bears a retail price of $3.50. Mouse Guard is written and illustrated by David Petersen.
All individual issues of Mouse Guard will be kept in print until April 2007, when a collected hardcover edition with 12 pages of bonus material will be released. A Mouse Guard Series 2 is planned for 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Premise
The mice struggle to live safely and prosper among all of the world’s harsh conditions and predators. Thus the mouse guard was formed. After persevering against a weasel warlord in the winter war of 1149, the territories are no longer as troubled.[1] They are not simply soldiers that fight off intruders; rather, they are guides for the common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one hidden mouse village to another. The Guard patrol borders, find safeways and paths through dangerous territories and treacherous terrain, watch weather patters, and keep the mouse territories free of predators. They do so with fearless dedication so that they might not just exist, but truly live.[2]
[edit] Mouse Guard: Fall 1152
Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 is the title given to the first six-issue mini-series in its collected form.
[edit] Issue #1
Subtitle: Belly Of The Beast
Released: February 2006
ISBN 1-932386-14-9
includes pin-up by Guy Davis
A mouse peddling grain took the path from Rootwallow to Barkstone alone, but never arrived at his destination. Mouse Guard members Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam are dispatched by Gwendolyn -- head of the Mouse Guard -- to find a missing merchant mouse.
It is quickly uncovered that the missing merchant mouse was devoured by a snake, which the three Guard members dispatch, but the plot thickens as the merchant is revealed as a traitor -- carrying a detailed map of Lockhaven, Home of the Mouse Guard.
[edit] Issue #2
Subtitle: Shadows Within
Released: April 2006
ISBN 1-932386-16-5
includes pin-up by Guy Davis
While Guard members Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam were tracking the path of the grain merchant in issue #1, Gwendolyn has sent word to another of the Guard, Sadie. Sadie, who once watched the shoreline region of the Mouse Territories, has been asked to make contact with another missing mouse, Guard member Conrad. There have been no outgoing communications from his Northern shoreline dwelling "Calogero" and the Guard fear the worst...[3]
Sadie arrives at Calogero to find it abandoned, or so it appears. She is quickly met by the peg-legged Conrad, who shares a tale of a traitor with her... a merchant mouse (the same as from issue #1) and his mysterious master mouse, who always remained in the shadows. The duo plan to leave for Lockhaven at first light to warn them, but are surrounded during the evening by crabs. Conrad sacrifices himself to the crabs so that Sadie may have a chance to escape... and warn the Mouse Guard of the traitor.
[edit] Issue #3
Subtitle: Rise Of The Axe
Released: June 2006
ISBN 1-932386-18-1
includes pin-up by Rick Cortes and anjindesign.com
Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam, having abandoned the grain cart, have opted to take a lesser known path to the city of Barkstone in hopes to keep as low a profile as possible. What worries them more than knowing of a traitor, is not knowing who the traitor is. They are unaware of the information Sadie carries with her to Lockhaven, nor the fate of fellow Guard Conrad.[4]
Arriving at the mouse city of Barkstone, Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam are forced to create a diversion to avoid watchful eyes; Kenzie and Saxon perform a duel between themselves while Lieam attempts to blend in with the townsmice. Lieam's investigation takes an unexpected twist when he uncovers The Axe, a well-organized anti-Guard group.
[edit] Issue #4
Subtitle: The Dark Ghost
Released: August 2006
ISBN 1-932386-23-8
includes pin-up by Mark Smylie
Hiding within the ranks of the mysterious militia known only as 'the Axe', Lieam is unaware that his Guard companions, Kenzie and Saxon, have been left for dead outside Barkstone's gates. Celanawe, a hermit and stranger of the mouse cities, has retrieved the red and blue cloaked mice and draged them to his secluded home... and a dark plot quietly grows.[5]
The hermit Celanawe proclaims himself to be none other than the Black Axe, famed champion of the Mouse Guard who has been long presumed dead. Saxon, escaping his bonds, engages in combat with Celanawe, which results in the hermit's house burning down... but not before Kenzie is able to convince Celanawe that they must work together to stop the Axe. The Black Axe's legendary axe has been pilfered, which the two Guard mice agree to help recover. Elsewhere, Lieam is unconvered by the Axe as a spy and he realizes that the Axe's leader has a familiar voice...
[edit] Issue #5
Subtitle: Midnight's Dawn
Released: October 2006
ISBN 1-932386-25-4
includes pin-up by Jeremy Bastian
Rain drenches the soldiers of the Axe as they march on Lockhaven with only one purpose: to conquer it. As they tromp through mud and navigate the downpour, captured Guard's mouse Lieam listens to the ramblings of the Axe's commander. While tracking the treacherous Axe army, Saxon and Kenzie found a new ally in an old hermit mouse named Celenawe, claiming to be the ancient hero of mice: The Black Axe. His fate intertwined with two of the Guard's finest, he offered to aide them in their pursuit, in hopes to hold them to their word of retrieving his missing axe. It's a dark hour for three of the Guard's finest, who only went looking for a grain merchant.[6][7]
Midnight, the Mouse Guard's weaponsmith, is revealed to be the commander of the Axe army. When Lieam inquires why Midnight has plotted a rebellion against the Guard, Midnight replies: "The Guard is useless, Liaem. [...] Gwendolyn exploits us. Cities, towns, and villages hold all the power. And Guard mice are their pawns. The territories need one sole leader. One who can offer security and prosperity. One who is not afraid to hunt down our predators. One who is more than a mere Guard mouse."[8] Midnight then relates a tale of his discovery of the fabled Black Axe. After last year's harvest, he accidentally uncovered a secret room below the armory that housed a record of The Black Axe...
Before the days of peace the Guard needed every mouse brave enough to stand and rise above the villains of the territories. One mouse alone bore the brunt of the task. An axe of black severed the necks of the five serpents who surrounded all that is. Thus begins his tale. The axe itself was forged into being by the blacksmith Farrer. His family had been slain by predators whilst weaponless. Hotter coals have never since been bellowed and every strike of his hammer into the ore was a strike unto his enemies. Thus The Black Axe was forged. The weapon proved too heavy to wield. It held the burden of all the blacksmith's mourning. To find a true hero it was taken to Lockhaven. One mouse of Lockhaven took the great axe and vowed to defend the weak and hunt his predators. His true name kept secret, he took the title of his weapon: The Black Axe.[9]
As Saxon and Kenzie travel with Celenawe, they privately discuss whether they think the old hermit is indeed the Black Axe. Celenawe continues to impress the Guard mice, not only setting the pace for their tracking but detouring them to higher ground and near a stockpile of weapons Kenzie made years before.
Sadie makes her way to Lockhaven successfully, beating both the Axe army and the Guard's mice tracking them to the gates. She warns the mice inside of the impending treachery and Lockhaven immediately locks itself down.
[edit] Issue #6
Subtitle: A Return to Honor
Released: January 2007 (Forthcoming)
ISBN 1-932386-29-7
Midnight's army has reached Lockhaven's gates as the Guardsmice inside try to stave off the invasion. Kenzie and Celanawe convince Saxon not to try attacking the army head on. Will the return of the Black Axe sway the odds back in the Guard's favor, or will Gewndolyn resolve the conflict at her doorstep?[10]
[edit] Sketchbook
Mouse Guard Sketchbook
David Petersen created a Mouse Guard Sketchbook that was self-distributed, both through his website and at conventions. Each copy had a unique sketch by Petersen drawn on the inside of the front cover (see examples below).
 Interior Sketch |
 Interior Sketch |
 Interior Sketch |
[edit] Other Editions
[edit] Comixpress Edition of Issue #1
ComiXpress printing
The ComiXpress printing of Mouse Guard issue #1, from May 2005, is the "true first" printing of the issue. It was self-published by Petersen prior to signing with Archaia Studios Press. Limited to between 200 and 250 copies, the main difference is that the interior art is black and white as opposed to full color.
[edit] Various Reprintings
Due to high demand and low print runs (Mouse Guard issue #1 was produced in a quantity of 8,000 copies), Archaia Studios Press has made various reprintings of issues as they have gone out of print.
Issue #1
- Second Printing (April 2006)
- Third Printing (July 2006)
- Fourth Printing (November 2006)
Issue #2
- Second Printing (July 2006)
Issue #3
- Second Printing (September 2006)
[edit] Characters
All descriptions are taken from The Mouse Guard Website, except that for Celanawe.
- Celanawe - Also known as the Black Axe, a champion of the Guard from long ago. His mythic tale was long thought ended, but recent events suggest otherwise.
- Conrad - A salty peg-legged mouse. Once trained with the Black Axe, a mythic Guard hero from long ago. Conrad was last sent to the outpost Calogero.
- Gwendolyn - Serves as the Guard's Matriarchal leader. She has inducted many of the current Guard.
- Kenzie - A level headed mouse. Many of the other Guard owe their lives to his calm and clever mind.
- Lieam - One of the Guard's youngest and newest members. However, he has the respect of his fellow Guardsmice with his swordsmanship and bravery.
- Rand - A guarded mouse who's responsible for maintaining the defense of the Mouse Territories.
- Sadie - A Guardsmouse once posted on the Eastern shores, she has returned home longing for the camaraderie of other mice.
- Saxon - The bold swordsmouse, who will jump into a problem, sword drawn and brow furrowed.
[edit] Reviews
Mouse Guard was a Wizard Magazine Secret Stash Pick and was one of the Comics Buyer's Guide's Dozen to Dig For titles.
"Mouse Guard is a must-have. The soft palette beautifully captures the woodland setting...it's lovely, with expressive detail."
—Joanna Draper Carlson, www.ComicsWorthReading.com
"This is one thoroughly attractive book that can't help but entice readers into wanting more."
—Greg McElhatton, www.icomics.com
"The book is...unequivocally amazing to look at... Mouse Guard is the total package, lovingly crafted on every level... Consider Mouse Guard highly recommended... A unique and noteworthy debut."
—Dave Farabee, www.aintitcoolnews.com
"The art is nothing short of beautiful... Petersen is able, with just a few panels, to make us both fall in love with his characters and feel the presence of their duty... Mouse Guard is truly a rare surprise."
—Case Cosker, www.staticmultimedia.com
"Petersen's artwork is absolutely beautiful and his storytelling skills are precise and efficient, almost poetic in its concision. Mouse Guard is a must-read."
—Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, www.popcultureshock.com
"What a delightful and whimsical tale!... Mouse Guard is a wonderful tale of adventure and bravery all wrapped up in a small package."
—Boyce McClain's Collector's Corner #160
[edit] Citations
- ^ Petersen, David (February 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #1. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, from the inside front cover. ISBN 1-932386-14-9.
- ^ (August 2006) ASP 2006 Catalog. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, from the inside front cover.
- ^ Petersen, David (April 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #2. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, from the inside front cover. ISBN 1-932386-16-5.
- ^ Petersen, David (June 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #3. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, from the inside front cover. ISBN 1-932386-18-1.
- ^ Petersen, David (August 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #4. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, from the inside front cover. ISBN 1-932386-23-8.
- ^ From the solicitation text for issue #5.
- ^ Petersen, David (October 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #5. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, from the inside front cover. ISBN 1-932386-25-4.
- ^ Petersen, David (October 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #5. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, 4-6. ISBN 1-932386-25-4.
- ^ Petersen, David (October 2006). Mouse Guard, issue #5. Fort Lee, NJ: Archaia Studios Press, 9-12. ISBN 1-932386-25-4.
- ^ From the solicitation text for issue #6.
