William of Newbury

Now that the first chapter has come to a close, I feel like it’s time to pass judgement on our spiritual friend William [pun intended]. Simply put, this is a captivating story from beginning to end. The art and story are both extremely well done, and I am left wanting more!

Publishing Information
Writer: Michael Avon Oeming
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Release Date: 2024
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

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Art

I prefer to let the artistry speak for itself, so here are some of the preview pages, courtesy Michael Oeming, available on the Dark Horse website.

Characters

Stories would have a hard time being great without wonderful characters. This is where William of Newbury really stands out to me. Michael does a fantastic job throughout the story of capturing the ‘voice’ of each character and keeping them consistent.

First up we have William, the spiritual and headstrong raccoon monk. He will stop at nothing to aid the nearby villages and prove his purity before God. He has no fear in the face of evil spirits, but oddly enough, he’s terrified of owls. Hoot!

William is an unstoppable force when it comes to fending off evil spirits. He knows his way around a crucifix and some holy water.

Illustration of an anthropomorphic raccoon wearing a dark blue robe tied with a yellow rope, holding a staff. The raccoon stands confidently with an assertive stance against a backdrop of abstract shapes and cool colors.

A humanoid creature with antennae, a mustache, and a robe stands in front of a wooden door with a metal mesh window. The scene is dimly lit by a candle on the wall in the background. The creature has an angry expression and is holding a fist up.

Next is Edward, William’s older brother. Edward is concerned that the young monk is in over his head, and fearful of further spiritual degradation. Edward thinks the best way to get right with God is to stay and serve the abbey.

While he can be a bit ‘crochety’ at times, Edward really believes he’s doing what’s best for himself and for William. As well as their eternal souls.

Last but certainly not least, is Winnie. Winnie started the chapter as a no good two-timing bandit who nearly pillaged poor William before he was even able to begin his adventure. But lo and behold, Winnie becomes one of William’s greatest friends and allies. Goes to show that you can’t always judge a book by it’s cover…. Speaking of books, what ever happened to William teaching Winnie to read and write? Perhaps fodder for another chapter? I suppose we shall see.

A mouse dressed in green medieval-style armor holds another character with anthropomorphic features. The illustration has a dynamic, comic book art style. The background shows motion lines and abstract elements, suggesting action or adventure.

Story

I really don’t want to get into too many spoilers, so I’ll keep this brief. There isn’t a whole lot to unpack in the way of plot twists and turns. That doesn’t make the story bad. It’s fun, it’s simple, and to me it’s perfect for what it is.

That being said, there is so much potential for this series to continue. I can imagine a grand crusade into the Fae realm, or a visit from a far away religious leader sending our trio on a spiritual journey to save their souls.

Summary [TLDR]

If you like anthropomorphic worlds, this is great. If you like the idea of spiritual crusades, this is great. If you just want a simple and fun read with some loveable characters, this is GREAT!

I could easily recommend this book to readers old and young, readers new and seasoned. I think it’s a very well told and illustrated story that’s very versatile and palatable.

As always, stay tuned to www.myfirstissue.com and be sure to e-mail me at blake@myfirstissue.com if you have reading suggestions or improvement ideas! Follow me on X (twitter) for daily thoughts and give me suggestions on what to read next!