Courtney Crumrin, Vol. 2: Courtney Crumrin & The Coven of Mystics (Courtney Crumrin Tales) [Paperback]

Ted Naifeh (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Series: Courtney Crumrin Tales

Courtney Crumrin is back in a new adventure that pits her against the town's most powerful warlocks and witches, the Coven of Mystics! When the night things of Courtney's community start causing trouble, it's up to the girl to find out why. The coven blames the hobgoblin initially but quickly turns its ire to Skarrow, a night thing in service to the town's most reclusive witch. Uncle Aloysius doesn't believe the disturbances are that easy to explain. His dismissal of the Coven's alleged culprit starts Courtney down a twisted path that leads to the true mastermind behind all the horror! But does Courtney stand a chance against a being that powerful and manipulative?

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Oni Press; First Editiion edition (October 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929998597
• ISBN-13: 978-1929998593
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant On Every Level, September 26, 2004

By 

Stephen B. O'Blenis (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Courtney Crumrin, Vol. 2: Courtney Crumrin & The Coven of Mystics (Courtney Crumrin Tales) (Paperback)

Starring the most lovable young curmudgeon in comic book history, Courtney Crumrin, "Coven Of Mystics" is one of the most enderaing, laugh-out loud hilarious, tragic, bittersweet, imaginative and triumphant books I've ever read, comic book or prose, fiction or non-fiction. It's also one of the scariest, with the Rawhead 'N Bloody Bones bog monster more frightening than most of the nasties conceived of by Stephen King or H.P. Lovecraft. As far as comedic value goes, I rank it with "Fawlty Towers", "Fierce Creatures", and "A Fish Called Wanda", and the "Gon" comics. On mix of triumph and tragedy, fear and delight and whimsey, think "E.T.", "Bambi", and even "Simon Birch".

With a superb cast of characters - on par with the cast of the "Batman" or "X-Men" lines of comics, and unique, quirky art so expressive, especially in certain panels, that it sums up the expression 'A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words' perhaps better than anything I've ever encountered. As a bonus, the back of the book reprints, free of words, blurbs or logos, the original covers to the individual comics of the mini-series this volume reprints.

If you like this (or love it like I do), I'd also recommend the following (or if you're into the following I'd recommend "Coven Of Mystics") - {comics} - the other Courtney titles, "Gon" and "Bone" (for starters); {novels}- "The Gnole" by Alan Aldridge, Steve Boyett and Maxine Miller; "Balook" by Piers Anthony; "Duncton Wood" by William Horwood (definately not for younger readers despite a huge abundance of beauty and charm); {movies} - "Spirited Away", "Kiki's Delivery Service", "Fairy Tale: A True Story" "Castle In The Sky", "Fluke" (young kids should watch with a grown-up), "Princess Mononoke" (same deal as "Fluke")

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than the first one, December 31, 2003

By 

claire de lune (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Courtney Crumrin, Vol. 2: Courtney Crumrin & The Coven of Mystics (Courtney Crumrin Tales) (Paperback)

I bought the first comic of Courtney Crumrin on a whim, and I eagerly bought the newest installment, the Coven of Mystics. The plot of this one is even better than the first one. It adds depth to all the existing characters and also introduces us to some promising new ones, such as Ms. Crisp, Courtney's new no-nonsense teacher, and Tobermory, the leader of the cats. The Coven of Mystics also alludes to the politics of the magical community that Courtney is only beginning to venture into.

Basically this story is about love, whether romantic or familial. The story takes many turns, some of them can be terrifying and bad things sometimes happen to good people. It's a very rewarding graphic novel and one well worth your money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtney is Back, October 8, 2003

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courtney Crumrin, Vol. 2: Courtney Crumrin & The Coven of Mystics (Courtney Crumrin Tales) (Paperback)

Courtney is a school girl whose family has moved in with their great-uncle. The clueless parents have no idea what is really going on and they make are pretty much left out of this volume.

Instead, we get more interaction between Courtney and her uncle, a powerful sorcerer. This volume has more of a continuous plot than the first and gives us a better idea of the magic community.

Courtney may be tough and headstrong, but even she knows to be careful when something very nasty has been summoned in the woods. Will her uncle be able to stand against it?

Then Courtney is privileged to visit the night world of the cats and meets a new friend. A friend that others believe has harmed a popular sorceress. Courtney and her uncle work to save him.

As Courtney works to save her friend, she learns more of the Council and the politics that seem to drive it. Courtney is not pleased.

These four tales are a little darker than those of the first volume, but Courtney shows good character development (see what happens when she reads a poem in school) and the additional information about the world of magic is very well done.

An excellent continuation of the series. I look forward to more.