Mouse Guard: Shadows Within
Published by: Archaia Studios Press
Story & Art: David Petersen

23 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Premise: Last time a snake - this time crabs. Mice versus a half dozen or so crabs. This cannot end well.

Synopsis: Simultaneously with the events of the previous issue, Guard member Sadie is sent to look for Guard member Conrad who has not reported in from his shoreline home in over a season. The suspicions from the last issue are expanded upon. The mice try to leave for Lockhaven, home of the Mouse Guard, but run into some rather crabby neighbors (somebody please make me stop).

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Review:

This is just as good as the first. At a page longer, it’s actually a shorter read because of the reduced dialogue. But you know what that means: more fighting! That’s right. Mice vs. crabs. I never thought I’d see the day, but Petersen makes it pretty darn believable and interesting to watch.

I would have liked to have seen more characterization of the mice in this issue - especially from Conrad, but I can see where it made sense to forgo that in this episode.

Some of the battle scenes are a little confusing, but heck, battle is confusing, so I’ll give it a pass (although I’d really like to know what was actually going on on page 21).

It was nice to see a strong female character that could hold her own in a fight. Sure, this is anthropomorphic mice, but when else are you going to see this kind of gender-equity in comic books? I almost wasn’t going to mention it, but why can’t writers give human females this kind of natural characterization? Maybe I just need to stop reading cape and spandex books.

Another solid effort from Petersen. Now I really need to go back to my LCS and pick up the later issues. This mystery is getting deep, and I want to see how it ends.