Upon its debut in 2005, David Petersen's Mouse Guard became an instantly beloved classic, telling a medieval fantasy that is as timeless as The Lord of the Rings or comics like Usagi Yojimbo. With its epic scope, sprawling ancient lore, and highly detailed and imaginative art, Mouse Guard is a timeless adventure. It is the kind of emotionally-driven story that simply feels like it was always there in full, just waiting to be discovered. Mouse Guard: The Owlhen Caregiver is the first collection of stories from creator David Petersen since 2014. It contains three short stories, each touching and beautifully illustrated in their own right.
In the world of Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely amid harsh conditions and the ever-present threat of predators of all sizes. Being the smallest of beasts, Mice safety is a precarious thing, and freedom requires bravery. For this reason, the mice formed the Mouse Guard -- highly skilled warriors that act as protectors for common mice who journey across the harsh land. In The Owlhen Caregiver, Petersen steps away from epic tales of battle to deliver three stories that reflect on life, community, and the harsh reality of losing those we love.
Petersen's talents as a storyteller and artist are impeccable. From the first pages of the original Mouse Guard, it was hard not to fall in love with his characters, their sense of duty, and their connection to their community. His meticulously detailed designs and the story's scope gave the world a sense of history. Those strengths with character and world-building shine through in each of these stories wherein he introduces new characters and myths of Mouse history.
Each story is evocative in its own way, dealing with the grief of losing a parent, or the selfishness of putting friends at risk for personal gain. Further, each story also emphasizes the importance of community and the responsibility individuals have to care for others through their choices, which is the most important thematic through-line in Petersen's work. In "The Owlhen Caregiver," the predator Owl learns how to put first a servant mouse, in a story that draws on Petersen's emotional experience of caring for an ill mother. In "Piper the Listener," a young girl defies the conventional wisdom that mice cannot communicate with other animals and travels the world to find that despite the many differences across species, each share something in common. The final story, "The Wild Wolf" tells of a selfish young adventurer who puts his friends in danger and depicts him learning the harsh lessons of responsibility.
The Owlhen Caregiver's parables carry a sense of relatability that the best fables have to offer. Part of what makes Petersen's world of Mouse Guard so authentically mythic is the distinctive line work, with its thick blacks and precision crosshatching -- taken from Petersen's background in etching. The lush painterly colors create a diffused and dreamy palette that evokes memories of childhood storybooks. These Petersen trademarks are present here, but more refined and confident than ever. Petersen's artwork has always been beautiful but this collection shines with its richly detailed illustrations inspired by traditional European folk art.
Petersen's stories continue to be as timeless as they are moving. This new standalone compilation of shorts might lack the epic scope and battles of the earlier Mouse Guard tales, but they are no less poignant or engaging. The Owlhen Caregiver is a stirring example of how Mouse Guard speaks to the power and importance of community and sacrifice.
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