by Kazu Kibuishi, 211 pages
Young Emily, a newly awakened stonekeeper, has come to the fabled city of Cielis to seek the help of the powerful Guardian Council in her fight against the evil Elf King. But as she's shuffled around, separated from her friends and family, and forced to compete against other stonekeepers just to get an audience with the Council, she begins to fear that helping her is the farthest thing from their minds.
Amulet may be a little dark for a children's comic, but it's still cool. There are houses on mechanical legs, flying ships, loyal robot companions, family bonds, enemies who become friends, kiddos with courage, and lots of magic. The more realistic approach--people die, betrayal happens, relationships are inherently complex--just means the story appeals to grown-ups as much as it does to older / mature kids. Kibuishi's art is clear and colorful, and while his characters may be a little on the cartoonish side, his fantastical backgrounds are especially detailed and lovely, making for an interesting, not unappealing contrast. I've grown to like this series quite well, though I do think it would be a more satisfying read published as one complete story instead of installments, given the way the plot generally runs from one volume to the next. This one, in particular, ends on a bit of a somber (though hopeful) note, so I'll just have to think of it as a series of chapters rather than discreet books and wait as patiently as I can for the next one.
Incidentally, Warner Brothers has a film adaptation in the works, so it'll be fun to see how it compares to the original.
