THE MAGIC ORDER 3 #3: It’s Not Better Down Where it’s Wetter…

Millar shifts focus from the elder Moonstones and Cordelia to focus the issue on young Rosie.
Uncle Reagan features as the Order digs into what Sammy Liu is getting up to in their own ways but the focus is on Rosie and Sacha. A hallmark of this series since the first volume is Millar’s ability to come up with wild and exciting magical situations and this one is no exception as we get to watch young members of the Order go Ghostbusting at the bottom of the bay. Followed by a magical confrontation in the house of a possessed rockstar.

The issue really focuses on Sacha and Rosie coming together as Sacha offers to apprentice the precocious young magician. It’s hard to pin down if Sacha is up to no good yet or not but there is something very creepy about a character that states more than once in the same issue that they enjoy tracking down and disposing of evil spirits etc more than sex. It’s interesting how Millar juxtaposes Sacha and Reagan here too. It’s a compelling issue though, Rosie is delightful, precocious, and utterly fearless (she reminds me of Cordelia) however whether or not that fearlessness is going to end up dropping her in deep trouble remains to be seen. Millar’s done a really good job in the last two issues of managing multiple story threads, building up the Moonstone history, and pushing the central conceit along while also dangling some other story threads mysteriously in front of us. What is Sammy Liu up to? And what’s going to happen with Uncle Edgar now that we know who he really is?

Artist Gigi Cavanago and colorist Valentina Napolitana continue to make what I can only describe as visual poetry in every issue. There’s a beauty and majesty to Cavenago’s style that really captures the otherworldly beauty of the world this magical family lives in. The Sea Horses panel is a great example of how Cavenago’s glorious lines are imbued with pure magic from a very simple flat color palette by colorist Napolitana. The art on this book is spectacular and you only have to look at the main cover by Cavenago and the splash page with the dead drug dealers’ spirits underwater to know what a monumentally talented art combination you are being treated to. Every panel is a visual treat by Cavengo that pops off the page thanks to the colors. Cavengo’s ability to guide your eye through the page is unparalleled and I think for me this may be my favorite issue (visually) of the series so far. Clem Robbins rounds out the issue with some absolutely cracking sound effects lettering and perfect placement of words in every panel.