Welcome back to our weekly column Legendary Comics, where we spotlight a work in the comics medium and rhapsodise about it. This week, it’s The Wizard’s Tale written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by David Wenzel.
Kurt Busiek has long been a legendary figure in the world of comics. From his seminal works like Astro City and Arrowsmith, to his projects at Marvel — most notably Marvels, which we included in our (un)definitive 5 greatest graphic novels of all-time. However, one work of his that’s stuck with me for many years since I first picked it up is The Wizard’s Tale.
Written by Busiek with art by the wonderful David Wenzel (whom you may know from his gorgeous graphic novel adaptation of The Hobbit), The Wizard’s Tale was first published by Homage Comics in 1997. It would later be reprinted in 2013 by IDW Publishing.
The comic is a fantastical, fairy-tale story following Bafflerog Rumplewhisker, an aging wizard and the descendant of a long line of wicked, evil wizards. However, Bafflerog isn’t quite up to scratch when it comes to nastiness. Living in an ancient tower with his one and only friend, the toad Gumpwort, he tries to cause chaos in his local village, but his attempts yield wrong results. For instance, when he tries to conjure a storm to demolish the local village… his attempt ultimately ends a draught and displays a glorious rainbow.
After the omnipotent Grand Council of evil wizards exiles Bafflerog, they give him one mission to reinstate his standing as an esteemed evil wizard: locate and retrieve the elusive, legendary Book of Worse. This magical tome of dark spells holds the power for him to restore his family legacy and prove his worth… if harnessed correctly.
I first picked up The Wizard’s Tale about a decade ago after seeing Busiek’s name attached to it. As a lover of fairy tales, it instantly hooked me in, staying with me ever since. There’s something so intrinsically charming about it, from the breathtaking whimsical illustrations, to the comedic beats, to the wisdom imbued in its narrative, and the magic packed into every page.
It’s a heartwarming, largely inoffensive comic about redemption, companionship, self-discovery, and the rift between good and evil. Similar to Linda Medley’s Castle Waiting, it’s a warm hug of a comic, embracing and enchanting readers.
Have you read The Wizard’s Tale? If so, share your thoughts in the comments down below. If not, you can purchase it on Amazon Kindle here.
