The Books of Magic
Story and art by Peter Gross

It's a funny name for a hero, is Tim. Of the entire New Testament roster, Timothy ranks right up there with Thaddaeus and Philemon as sucky and ineffectual-sounding. Basically, if choosing a Biblical name, you're better off going with one of the big four... even some of the more depressing Old Testament prophets are an improvement on Tim for your comic book hero-type.

But, then, Tim Hunter isn't your normal, everyday comic book hero.

In fact, when we first met Tim, in the original Books of Magic mini-series, he was just 12 years old, a street-wise, skateboarding young ruffian from London. But he soon meets the Trenchcoat Brigade -- so named because... uh, well, they wear trenchcoats -- all of whom are well-versed in the ways of magicalness and aren't sure whether they want to kill Tim or teach him stuff. 'Cause Tim, it has been suggested, could very well be the most powerful magic wielder of the modern era, which, these four would-be-murderers think, could either turn out to be a good thing or a bad thing for the planet (duh.) However, they decide to chance it, and make themselves known to this all-powerful creature.

Who calls them names and runs away in terror. 'Cause, Tim, he just thinks they're weird, going on about magic and all. And really, can you blame him? It's pretty freaky. But then, of course, he turns his yo-yo into an owl, and... he decides to give them the benefit of the doubt.

So he is taken on a Magical Mystery Tour of the world of wizardry by his four mentors, all of whom we've seen before: John Constantine (yes, that John Constantine), Dr Occult (uh huh), The Stranger (the Phantom Stranger), and Mr. E (come on, you've got to know Mr E.) Over the first four books of the series, Tim discovers all kinds of useful bits of knowledge, meets all kinds of useful characters, and basically learns of his destiny. Over the next seventy or so installments, Tim revisits these events. He loves and loses, makes bad decisions, worse decisions, and pretty much screws it all up for everyone. Well... kinda.

And yet The Books of Magic is one of the best tales told in comics today. We have a pretty average kid thrust into some pretty extra-ordinary circumstances, we see him triumph, suffer, and trade quips with magical folks left and right. We are introduced to the many worlds of Tim Hunter, the other realities that the young mage -- or Opener -- created before he was able to harness his power for good instead of evil. Well, sometimes also for evil, actually. But he's young, okay? And foolish.

Very foolish.

But, in the end, in Issue 75, the last of this second volume of Tim's adventures, he puts it all to rights by beating a demon on a tricky technicality, and we see everyone on their way to living happily ever after (though why Molly O'Reilly, the object of Tim's affection and onetime focal point of the series, is building a rocket ship is really anyone's guess.)

Created by Neil Gaiman (of Sandman, Good Omens, just-about-everything-cool fame), and John Bolton (who is also famous for stuff, I shouldn't wonder) Tim has come a long way in the six years since he first learned of his heritage in the smart, stylish and oh-so-witty mini-series that started it all. He's aged over a hundred years, for a start -- though he had the good fortune to do a lot of that in someone else's body, so he still looks like a teenager. Like a slightly older Harry Potter.

Yes. 'Cause though created years before J.K. Rowling's marvelous creation burst his way into a receptive world, young Tim has certainly been taking on a more Potter-ish look over the past few years. The glasses rounder, the face longer. And in one of the final panels of this final book in the current series, we see someone making their way to platform nine and three quarters at Kings Cross Station... nudge nudge, wink wink.

But, superficial resemblances aside -- ordinary kid becomes master of magic and discovers himself renowned the wizard world over -- this ain't Harry. For while the Potter books appeal to all ages, they are intended for children, and The Books of Magic are not "suggested for mature readers" for nothing. It's not the violence, the evil, the hatred or the destruction that make this a book not for the young ones, however -- you see all of that in Harry Potter, after all. No, it's the loneliness. Tim becomes so alienated by his power, so devoid of all real human contact and emotion, that he is truly a tragic figure. He loses his family, his friends, his very identity, all while trying find out who he is... and keep from being killed by himself. (Hey, it's a comic book. You've gotta expect clones and other dimensional selves. It's practically the law.)

But, in the end, of course, Tim is triumphant, not with a bang but with a whimper, and as we head towards a new installment in his chronicles -- The Names of Magic mini is coming, and not nearly soon enough -- all that we have learned from this Gaiman-created world continues to make itself known. That all is not as it seems. That the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. That with great power comes great responsibility.

And that, really, when all's said and done, what kind of a name for a hero is Harry, anyway?

-- Rachel Hyland

The Books of Magic, published by DC Comics/Vertigo, is currently available only through comic retailers.

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