Synopses & Reviews
Acclaimed cartoonist Dylan Horrocks returns with a long-awaited new graphic novel, the first since his perennial classic, 1998's . Cartoonist Sam Zabel hasn't drawn a comic in years. Stuck in a nightmare of creative block and despair, Sam spends his days writing superhero stories for a large American comics publisher and staring at a blank piece of paper, unable to draw a single line. Then one day he finds a mysterious old comic book set on Mars and is suddenly thrown headlong into a wild, fantastic journey through centuries of comics, stories, and imaginary worlds. Accompanied by a young webcomic creator named Alice and an enigmatic schoolgirl with rocket boots and a bag full of comics, Sam goes in search of the Magic Pen, encountering sex-crazed aliens, medieval monks, pirates, pixies and -- of course -- cartoonists. Funny, erotic, and thoughtful, Sam Zabel and the Magic Pen explores the pleasures, dangers, and moral consequences of fantasy.
Review
" is a coming-of-age story for the fantasies of our past and a joyful bear hug for the storytellers of our future. An effortless, magical read from front to back." Scott McCloud
Review
"This book is necessary for anyone paralyzed even a bit by the creative/spiritual confusion of the digital age. Horrocks explores the role and responsibility of storytelling, juggling genres, fiddling with the mechanics of the comics form, and reclaiming the sense of magic that once reigned the medium -- a playfulness contagious for the reader. Like his , a must have in every library." (Understanding Comics)
Review
"...[H]aving a book like this again reminds me as to why Horrocks is one of the most important cartoonists currently working in comics: his work is honest and often painful, permeating with a sense of heart and warmth and love for the medium that isn't always so visible in the work of his contemporaries ... almost seems like a blueprint as to how we can take the stereotypical escapism overdone in the comics and turn them once again into something of true, earnest value..." Evan Narcisse Kotaku
Review
"Horrocks' intelligence and crisp, colorful -esque art combine in an offbeat, incisive, and entertaining critique of classic comic tropes." Craig Thompson (Blankets)
Review
"More Calvino than Borges... The story moves vertiginously between fantasy worlds, as Horrocks stages confrontations between comics' pulpy and frequently sexist past, and the more female-friendly webcomics and manga of present-day practice. ...[T]he book's real achievement is in the way it manages to be both besotted and furious with cartooning's speckled history - plus be newly impassioned about the future of comics." Ray Olson Booklist
Review
"It may sound very cerebral, but the energy and excitement of the storytelling makes Sam's artistically enlightening experience a thrilling adventure for the reader. ...[T]his graphic novel looks at how erotic imagery produced through the male gaze has evolved over the past century, but it never lets the intellectual elements get in the way of the fun. And this book is a LOT of fun... may contain nudity and (not particularly graphic) sexual content, but it's a great title for teen readers, offering valuable insights about the process of creation and the artist's ability to challenge or reinforce social ideals." Sean Rogers The Globe and Mail
Review
"Zabel embarks on a journey... [that] transcends the classic cautionary 'be careful what you wish for' tale, reflecting on gender politics in comics and how they intersect with fantasy." Oliver Sava The A.V. Club
Review
"...[W]onderful, and there's nowhere near enough Dylan Horrocks work in the world." Hillary Brown Paste
Review
"...[A] story that's fun, but ultimately reaffirms the importance of fantasy and escape in our lives. is funny and thoughtful, moving and beautiful, and much like Horrocks' first book, is a thoughtful meditation on the comics form." Kurt Busiek (Astro City, The Autumnlands)
Review
"... shows that when the loop of creation to appreciation is complete--and better still if the creative energy spins out on its own unpredictable orbit--that the relationship between audience and artist carries its own sort of eldritch power." Alex Dueben Comic Book Resources
Review
"Dylan Horrocks is a master. The journey Sam Zabel takes through a magical comic book land is full of references and tropes we all recognize but it also features a moral component that is so thoughtfully laid down that the reader finds themself thinking about the implications for a long time after finishing." Matthew Meylikhov Multiversity Comics
Review
"...[A] fast-paced and multi-level fantasy adventure with a progressive viewpoint and a good-natured wit. In Dylan Horrock's hands, literary criticism becomes exactly what it is advocating comics to be and that's a precious feat. ... [The characters] bring forth one of the most unexpected, truest tear-jerkers I have ever seen in a comic -- you'll get misty-eyed for them and for comics in the best possible sense." John Seven
Synopsis
A burned-out superhero comic artist goes on an adventure that spans time and space--with two female companions.
About the Author
Dylan Horrocks lives in New Zealand with his wife and two sons. He is the author of the award-winning graphic novel Hicksville and the comic book series Pickle and Atlas, and has also written for DC Comics and Vertigo, including Hunter: the Age of Magic and Batgirl.