Posted in: Comics, Review | Tagged: excellence

Excellence Brings A Secret World of Sorcery to Life and So Much More

Published Tue, 07 May 2019 16:30:26 -0500

The world of magic has four rules; protection and defense of the undeserving is not allowed, the creation of a magician's wand without permission is not allowed, the casting of spells without an approved wand is not allowed, and the use of magic by females is not allowed. Excellence introduces a world of hierarchy, bloodlines, and the Aegis; a magical organization hidden in plain sight in the heart of New York City.

Spencer Raymond Dales is born in this world as a first-born blessing, his father holding him high to heaven's and proclaiming the joy that his son with bring to the family line. At this point, the bond between father and son is unbreakable and solid. However, Spencer's magical abilities do not manifest on the same timeline as the other boys around him. His father slowly shows signs of resentment as he spends more time training other teenagers. Years go by and the desperate need to be close to his father eventually turns to rage…and after years and years of humiliation, Spencer's powers manifest and he is determined to prove his worth to his father.

The Aegis society relies on strict rules for their male heirs, and their expectations of non-stop training points them towards one single test in front of their elders. Spencer, with a tip from his grandmother on how to beat the trails, enters the test confident and finally ready to prove himself to his father. Brandon Thomas (Horizon) creates a powerful world where the magical may flow from page to page, but the real issues come down to the relationship between father and son. Each character is written dynamically, and Thomas represents the full character line of People of Color in an interesting depiction of magic meets culture.

Khary Randolph (Tech Jacket) carries the task of creating the ever-present essence of magic for the Aegis while simultaneously creating believe action scenes. The contention between Spencer and his father is softened by the maternal influences in Spencer's life, where his mother tries to protect him from Aegis expectations while his grandmother tries to prepare him for them. Randolph and Thomas work together to build a mythical world within our own; interjecting bits of culture with Spencer getting strong lines from the barber, the premise that women literally cannot hold power, and the more troubling idea that an unseen brotherhood of black magicians live only to better the lives of others.

This is a special story that will give you what you need to get from it; a fun story with magic and fighting, or a bitter social commentary that is not too far from our current status quo. Excellence lives up to its namesake, and with issue #2 scheduled for June 19^th, gives you more than enough time to add this ongoing story to your collection.

Excellence #1
(W) Brandon Thomas (A/CA) Khary Randolph
Spencer Dales was born into a world of magic. His father belongs to the Aegis, a secret society of black magicians ordered by their unseen masters to better the lives of others-those with greater potential-but never themselves.
Now it's time for Spencer to follow in his father's footsteps, but all he sees is a broken system in need of someone with the wand and the will to change it. But in this fight for a better future, who will stand beside him?
KHARY RANDOLPH (We Are Robin, Noble, Black, TECH JACKET) and BRANDON THOMAS (HORIZON, The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury, Noble, Voltron) ignite a generational war in this action-fantasy series, made entirely by creators of color, and committed to one truth above all others-Excellence is Real.
In Shops: May 08, 2019
SRP: $3.99

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