‘Magpie’ Episode 2 Comic Review

Created by Andrez Bergen and Frantz Kantor


The Australian comic anthology, Oi Oi Oi!, has a new eight-page miniseries within its pages called Magpie. Created by Andrez Bergen and Frantz Kantor, Magpie follows a young heroine with an offbeat superhero style.

In this second episode of the series, Magpie gives readers a taste of her distinctive personality as she prepares herself to fight some bad guys in a nearby city skyscraper. Rather than have a dramatic entrance, this crime fighter pokes fun at the idea of diving off the edge of the city building when she could simply take the stairs, which she does.

As she mundanely travels down the stairs, she makes a couple of references to art and historical figures, showing off Magpie’s unique take on conversations in comics. Not only do readers get to see Magpie perform a kick-ass action sequence, but another threat enters the scene in the final moments of the comic, leaving readers wanting the third episode for some resolution.

Magpie repackages the stereotypical superhero into something comic readers have not seen before. While Magpie the character is successful,  there are a handful of hiccups in other areas of the comic.

Magpie In Action

The art style by Frantz Kantor is one of the unique elements this comic showcases. Kantor uses two-dimensional backgrounds with three-dimensional characters. It is a style not commonly seen in the superhero realm, and while it is done well, I am not necessary a fan of the artistic decision. This may be because I find it distracting, since I lack familiarity with the style.

While on the subject of distractions, one aspect of the comic that is also distracting is the lettering. The first letter of each section of dialogue protrudes out of the panel and is colored a bright orange. The idea of having a stylized lettering is smart, and it is a common practice in comics; however, this particular font is difficult to read at times and the color choice may not have been the best. This is especially so, since there are many instances where the same hue of orange is used to color the rest of the panel. There also seems to be an excessive use of bolding, which adds to the reading difficulty.

Magpie on the Stairs

Strangely placed dialogue in Magpie adds to the reading difficulty as well. Specifically on page three, Magpie is walking down a set of physics-defying stairs similar to those depicted in Maurits Cornelis Escher’s Relativity lithograph. Letterer, Andrez Bergen, places the text to mimic the direction of each staircase, and while the idea makes sense, it only serves as a burden to readers. Most readers will find that physically turning the work is necessary to clearly read the dialogue.

When it comes to character, this is where the comic shines. The female protagonist, Magpie, is a strong, humorous young woman. Her inner banter is very enjoyable and shows off her cleverness. Magpie also has a tendency to break the fourth wall. This is an aspect not found in many superhero comics, though there is one title that comes to mind: Deadpool. Like Deadpool, Magpie‘s self-awareness is refreshing and gives readers comedic elements that are new and exciting. The meta aspect of Magpie also makes it possible to make  light of rather serious and dramatic circumstances without taking away the suspenseful nature of her crime fighting. The result is a comic that evokes an alternative, memorable experience.

Overall, Magpie Episode 2 is a small dose of originality. The female protagonist is strong and very likable, but the comic falls short when it comes to formatting, specifically when it comes to lettering choices. The miniseries still shows promise despite its minor faults, so be sure to check it out.

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