Wiccan: The Witches Road #1: Click Your Heels Three Times…

Billy Kaplan stars in his very first solo outing, where we get an in depth look into who Billy is. Much deeper than anyone else has given us up to this date, and it’s something that Wiccan fans have needed after the little development they’ve received since the last issue of insert Avengers related series title here. Marvel taps comic newcomers Wyatt Kennedy and Andy Pereira onboard to take us down this magical dark adventure. So let’s go!

The story kicks off with Billy and Teddy rocketing to earth following the events of Imperial, landing somewhere in east Europe, Billy’s unable to access his magic, and Teddy’s far too injured to get to safety, forcing Billy to drag Teddy to the closest town, but upon getting to the closest town, come face to face with an enchanted wood spirit that’s become corrupted by dark magic. A powerless Billy and injured Teddy makes quick work of the monster, but Teddy succumbs to his injuries. After they rest, the two strike out in a search of the witch who caused the tree spirits, which ultimately leads them to the steps of Baba Yaga, and that’s when the story really takes off.

I haven’t read anything from either of the two creators, but after finishing this issue I googled Kennedy’s work at Image, and I can see why Marvel tapped him for this project. He delivers a dark, and moody atmosphere, delving into a macabre tale. Putting Billy into a story like this is allowing us to give us some depth to the character, who isn’t really thrown into these kinds of stories, and instead finds himself stuck in stories that sways more science fiction than mystical and macabre. The story isn’t all darkness and gloom either. Kennedy inserts lots of humor with regards to Billy & Teddy’s banter between each other, lightens the mood, and was something that was needed. The biggest guffaw came on the last page, where Baba Yaga’s house grows chicken feet, and starts running. Almost like it was a scene straight out of Howl’s Moving Castle.

Unfortunately not everything is kosher. Billy and Teddy’s arrival doesn’t quite line up with how things happened in Imperial, and the inconsistencies stuck in my craw. The same thing with Hulkling’s healing factor. I’m also not sure if the synergy with the MCU, and the Witches Road that was introduced in the Agatha All Along, and how this will handle with the already established continuity with the characters in this story. Other than these last few issues, there’s not a lot of problems that can’t be addressed and glossed over within the next few issues. The book’s tone, both mystically macabre, and lighthearted and  humorous. Kennedy’s tone, mixed with Pereira’s artistic style is just what these two characters needed. If the rest of this mini is like this, it’s going to be a fun ride down this yellow brick road.