Rise of the Magi feels like a wonderful play on the idea of the crossover story. Instead of the usual trope though this time the fantasy dweller is moving into the mortal world. The art steals the show in the issue but the premise is strong, we will just have to wait to see is the real world can be as interesting as Rune. If the creative team can manage this then Rise of the Magi is looking like another top dog from Top Cow. Read Full Review

I love fantasy comic books a lot, but there just aren't that many great ones on comic book shelves. I am so excited that I can say that there is, indeed, one more great fantasy comic on comic book shelves. It's very early on in the series, but I'm sure the writer can keep up this pace, and it's going to be fun to see Asa Stone take his place as the Magi…whatever the hell that is. Rise of the Magi is a high-concept fantasy tale but it reads like a character-driven adventure story, with great characters and an awesome adventure. Jump on this while it's new, because you'll be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months. Read Full Review

Action, humor, emotion, everything is here. Rise of the Magi is off to a very exciting start and we havent even seen Asa interacting with our world yet! There is a lot more depth to the story so far compared to what many people may assume, and the visuals are pretty amazing. This series feels unique and full of imagination, and it will be really exciting to see where things go from here. Read Full Review

If youre looking for a light-hearted adventure that feels more like watching a cartoon than reading a comic, pick this series up. Rise of the Magi #1 could serve as a simple escape into a fantasy realm given time, but if you prefer your comics with depth, you might want to skip this one. The art in this book is worth checking out, but unless Silvestri can infuse his writing with a little magic, this series might be doomed for an early cancellation. 7.3 out of 10. Read Full Review

Issue one had a lot of action and suspense as you were left wondering where things were going. And seriously those horsemen with the rino horns were badass. Personally I'm looking forward to see what kind of crazy stuff starts happening now that the story is fully in motion. Read Full Review

Halfway through, the possibility of future interest seemed to be fairly “meh”. Thankfully, the finale delivers. We get to see a tiny hint of what Silvestri and company are plotting. If anyone can handle such a grand theme, it would be him.Rise of the Magicould definitely be destined for something special. Fantasy buffs, especially of the literary variety, should absolutely check this out. Slight reservations for those whose interests lie elsewhere, but there's enough here to pique the curiosity of newcomers. Recommended. Read Full Review

While this issue could have been worse, it certainly could have been a lot better as well. As mentioned previously, it is a unique story overall and the series has potential. Read Full Review

Coming off Issue #1, I am not excited for the next issue, per say, but I'll certainly check it out if there's a slow week or I hear good things. The series has piqued my interest, but it didn't get its hooks into me yet. Read Full Review

The use of two artists in a story can be either unnoticeable with similar styles or in this case a rather noticeable switch from Sumeyyes clean detail to Marcs trademark gritty style. I thought that Sumeyyes artwork was very well done and fit the story well and wonder the need for it to then be taken over by another artist. While I have always been a fan of Marc Silvestris art I couldnt help but wonder if he rushed the panels he did or if the more sketchy look than his previous work was intended. The characters do not change much from artist to artist, merely presentation of style, both are well done and I have no gripes. I just think that rather than having this story broken up by the chapter break pages and then switching artists, it would have been better off using a singular artist. That said, there's still a lot to like about this issue. Read Full Review

So, yes, the orb can destroy, but term suggests that with destruction comes life. Doesn't seem as bad with that perspective. Despite this passing contradiction, the fast paced and chaotic nature of the story didn't leave much time for reflection, especially when few sophomoric bites were thrown to lighten the mood. Kesgin's energetic and expressive artwork ties perfectly along with the action packed storyline. Though the storyline is somewhat predictable, The Goddamn Wu doesn't mind hitching a ride on this magic carpet. Read Full Review

Issue one proved to be fun and entertaining, but stories like this devolve into clich rapidly. I worry that such interesting elements will be dismissed or underutilized in future issues. Maybe, just maybe, this will be one of those fantasy stories that will be unique and create some enthralling scenarios to match the interesting characters. But that's a big maybe. Read Full Review

As it is,Rise of the Magi feels strangely rushed and a little sloppy, and while there seems to be something actually pretty interesting at the heart of it all, it's just too damn hard to actually get at the interesting bits. I can't really recommendRise of the Magi - there's just too much other stuff out there like this that's done better. Read Full Review

The first issue of Rise of the Magi reads like it was hastily cannibalized for the zero issue that came out last month. It feels sewn back up and re-engineered, with a cramped recapping of the zero issue and then disorienting cuts back and forth in time and space. Read Full Review

I like the ideas and the writing. I'm not a fan of how the art style changes so much half way through. I think I will pick up one more issue but if this continues the only way I will keep it on my pull list is if the writing is top-notch.