Bottom line: With the stunning anime-inspired art of Sana Takeda and the new – much more exposed side of Grace penned by Hernandez, this title is a must-read for any Soulfire fan.

Soulfire - Shadow Magic #0
Created By: Michael Turner
Writers: Vince Hernandes
Artists: Sana Takeda
Cover: Sana Takeda, Micah Gunnell
Aspen Comics | 12pg. | Color | $2.50

Premise: Discover the early years of Soulfire’s heroine Grace in this all-new mini-series! At the precipice of the age of magic and wonderment, one young couple attempts to hold onto true love while the world around them is torn apart by the threads of war. The differences between the races of Grace’s Rahtumi and the less-prosperous Sethoru reach a deadly boiling point, and war is declared across the land of Empyrea and beyond. Caught in the middle, Grace and Kelsyn are two young lovers in search of a life together away from the battle at hand-but the pair will soon discover they cannot so easily escape the coming storm.

Review: Soulfire: Shadow Magic previews what we can expect out of Vince Hernandes’ upcoming glimpse into Grace’s early years. In the Soulfire series – as well as all its offshoots – we have seen Grace as a mature and determined woman. In Shadow Magic, we see her in her youth for the first time, which due to circumstances out of her control, leaves her vulnerable and honest to a degree unseen before.

The book begins in a dark cave - the heart of Sethoru territory. Although we don’t know who the Sethoru are, with a glimpse of the first panel we know they reside in a place one would not wish to visit. A decrepit looking woman performs what could only be compared to a voodoo ritual. We learn immediately of a divide between the winged races. One – the Rahtumi – have prospered and achieved great wealth. The Sethoru have not. The woman pictured plans to do something about it.

The panel cuts to Empyrea, where behind a waterfall a young Grace sits with her lover Kelsyn, displaying unguarded emotions. She struggles between happiness and sadness. She cries, believing their love will be short lived due to the looming war against the Sethoru. She knows her lover will be called to war when it dawns. He pledges to grow old with her, but she can’t hold back her tears even as he promises to marry her properly after his term in the guard is over. 

The scene switches from the waterfall-framed white city to an earthier one. Tree dwellings house the Sethoru of Karthia, who survive by much simpler means such as hunting and gathering. We meet Reyna momentarily – a young and strong-willed girl who apparently will play a role in the upcoming events.

The scene switches for the last time, and we are back to the dark and eerily lit cave. The voodoo-esq woman announces that the time has come, and that the Rahtumi will once and for all live in the shadow of their magic.

Soulfire Shadow Magic #1 will hit retail December 17. With the stunning anime-inspired art of Sana Takeda and the new – much more exposed side of Grace penned by Hernandez, this title is a must-read for any Soulfire (or Fantasy) fan.

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