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Mouse Guard #1

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

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The forest is a dangerous place for any animal, especially one as small as a mouse. In the past, the mouse world endured a tyrannical Weasel Warlord until a noble band of mouse soldiers fought back. Ever since, the Mouse Guard has defended the paces and prosperity of its kingdom. For generations, this league of scouts, weather-watchers, trailblazers, and protectors has passed won its knowledge and skills.

Now three of the Guard's finest have been dispatched. The mission seems simple: They are to find a missing mouse, a grain merchant who never arrived at his destination. But when they find him, they make a shocking discovery—one that involves a treacherous betrayal, a stolen secret, and a rising power that has only one goal: to bring down the Guard...

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2007

232 people are currently reading
7,945 people want to read

About the author

David Petersen

151books337followers
Note: There are more than one David Petersen on GR's database. For catch-all profile, see here (dissambiguated via 7 spaces).

David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisners for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album � Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover). He is the creator of the Mouse Guard series and is excited to be working on projects he dearly loves doing. David and his wife Julia reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,326 reviews
Profile Image for Patrick.
Author80 books241k followers
September 26, 2016
My girlfriend picked this up for my son, who has recently turned 7.

He's a big reader, and he loves comics. Though he hasn't been tested, is probably reading years ahead of whatever the standard metric is.

Unfortunately, Sarah made one of the classic mistakes here, and judged a book by its cover. In fact, she made the mistake twice.

1. She assumed that because it was a comic, it was probably for kids.

2. She assumed that a book with animal characters is for kids.

This is a mistake that someone who has better comic literacy never would have made. If for not other reason than because they'd read Maus at some point in their lives.

So on one hand, It wasn't a good choice, because it was too much for my little boy. (He read it just fine, but it was too violent for him, and I think the plot of treachery and betrayal was really beyond what he could understand.)

But that doesn't mean it isn't a good book. It is. The art is great, and the comic paneling is excellent in a way that I couldn't have understood 5 years ago, before I'd read several thousand comics.

So while it didn't strike home with my boy. It struck home with me. The story is strong, and the storytelling and art are truly beyond the pale.

What's more, the story was legitimately heroic in ways that I've rarely experienced. The lion's share of the credit for this should go to the art and storytelling, but the fact that the story centers around mice is important, too. The smaller you are, the more bravery means. And you can't get much smaller than a mouse....

So... yeah. I wouldn't recommend it for kids under 10 or so. But if you're older than that it's well-worth your time.

Especially recommended for those of us who always loved Reepicheep, but wanted a whole book about him being a stone-cold badass.
Profile Image for Jan Philipzig.
Author1 book301 followers
April 29, 2016
Looking at lavishly drawn and colored mice with swords was pleasant enough for a few pages, but I am afraid it only does so much for me. The high fantasy world of Mouse Guard feels underdeveloped and surprisingly generic underneath its furry surface - I got the impression that David Petersen was so keen on seeing his mice in action that he neglected the basics of fantasy storytelling, namely world building and character development.

Profile Image for Nicholas Karpuk.
Author4 books76 followers
December 14, 2008
A book about warrior mice comes off as the sort of comedy comic I'd pick up in the 90's, flip through, and put back dismissively. There's been a certain disdain for talking animal comics among serious comic writers for about as long as the comic industry has existed in America.

What sets Mouse Guard apart is that the creatures don't seem all that anthropomorphized. The author basically took a step back and observed that life for a mouse civilization would be much scarier and more difficult than an human society.

The Mouse Guard are the most skilled and valorous members of mice society, who ensure that travel and trade is kept safe from city to city. How perilous their work is comes of in the sheer number of predators who attempt to make easy snacks out of them.

I don't think a crab has ever been as menacing as the ones featured in this story. A character is nearly killed after successfully killing a snake from inside its mouth, and the menace of weasels, wolves, and owls are regularly mentioned. The overall atmosphere constantly reminds you that being a mouse is hard, brutal, and short.

The only real issue I had is the length. I guess I expected more story from a graphic novel, and there are entire pages, sometimes a series of pages that do nothing more than show off style and artistry. As a result I felt like I was getting a small glimpse into what should have been a major conflict in their little, mousy world.

Well worth reading, but expect a little lack of satisfaction at the end.
Profile Image for Melmoth.
18 reviews23 followers
August 13, 2015
The artwork is magnificent. It's worth reading this book just for the pleasure of falling into its gorgeous pages. And the basic idea -- a civilization of mammals near the bottom of the food-chain -- is great (though hardly original). But not much is done with that idea after the first issue or two. In fact, the storytelling is pretty inept. There's very little world-building and almost no character development beyond sketchily rendered cliches. Without the text summaries at the start of each issue, the plot would be in trouble, because this book just doesn't do a good job of conveying the details of what's happening in the actual comic itself. The writing seems to be stuck in "tell," rather than "show." It makes it hard to care about the story or its outcome. But it's impossible not to give a couple of stars to the amazing art.
Profile Image for Fátima Linhares.
793 reviews283 followers
March 4, 2024
Os desenhos são bons, mas, no fundo, são só ratinhos a lutarem com espadas e agulhas.
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author35 books5,878 followers
February 6, 2021
Sort of an illustrated Redwall, but there are only mice. The doughty warriors of the Mouse Guard are faced with a new challenge when one of their own tries to overthrow their leader.
Profile Image for Melki.
7,002 reviews2,561 followers
November 27, 2012
We mice have little chance in this world, considering all the critters that eats us.

And so, the Mouse Guard was formed to keep the borders safe and protect against all evil and harm that may threaten their territories.

They slay serpents and giant crabs, (oddly enough, owls, hawks, and even cats don't seem to be a problem), but their biggest threat comes from other mice.

When a grain merchant is found dead, the guard discovers he was carrying a map of their city, and the race is on to find out to whom the traitor planned to deliver this secret.

This is a fairly simple story of good and evil with lots of action and breathtakingly GORGEOUS artwork. There are some intense battle scenes and a few mice, both good and bad, get skewered, but otherwise it's a fine read for children.
Profile Image for Daniel.
806 reviews73 followers
December 13, 2015
Vrlo lepa fantazijska prica o misevima koje se bore da prezive izadaju iz sopstvenih redova. Certezi su vrlo lepi, sa puno boja i detalja koje od svake strane prave malo umetnicko delo. Sama prica je ffino napisana i lako se prati ali pati od jednostavne forme i predvidivih dogadjaja. Likovi (misevi :) ) su fino opisani mada ne saznamo puno o njima.

U svakom slucaju ako vam se cita lem strip sa zivuljkama u glavnoj ulozi samo navalite.
Profile Image for F.D. Gross.
Author8 books165 followers
December 14, 2021
As always, David Petersens work is always extraordinary to me. Unique art with a twist of woodland creatures epic saga of strife and conviction. This first book in the original series, Fall 1152, follows the struggles of sword wieldingSaxon, staff bearing Kenzie, dagger slashing Lieam, and a handful of other mouse heroes. The mysterious Black Axe makes his appearance for the first time, and it is unclear if he is the true legend of old or a myth. If Redwall had a graphic adaptation of its novels, Mouse Guard would fit the bill. It’s interesting to see how these classic fantasy hero stories prevail through the ages. I know it’s captivated me since the beginning. I’ve read this book many times, but final decided to mention it this go around. Long live the mouse kingdom.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author17 books1,182 followers
July 13, 2017
I tried to like this. I really did. My buddy told me it was great. I opened the book and right away liked the art. I told myself, hey, it's Mice. This could be good...IT COULD BE....but sadly it was not. The idea behind this is the mouse guard send out three warriors to find out what happened to a missing mouse. Death occurs and the big fallout happens where we have to find out why we have traitors in our midst! Then a side story of someone else meeting a old guy because...oh man I dunno.

What I liked: The art. It's really cool and kind of messy, but it works well. I also thought one of the mouse guards was kind of cool, like a badass, who doesn't listen.

What I didn't like: No character besides the one stuck out. The fights were hard to follow at times. The dialog was stiff and boring. I didn't care about the world building mostly because I didn't care about the mice.

Overall this book just seems...boring? Yeah that's what I would use. Well I tried but not all of 'em could be winners!
Profile Image for Linda.
494 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2016
Very cute and ferocious mice! I love that there is an entire "mouse world", complete with fortified cities where each mouse has their place in the world. The drawings were excellent, especially the full-page drawings featuring natural mice foes (snake, crab, owl). And the added maps, guides, and gallery at the back of the book were fun to look through.
Profile Image for Beth.
913 reviews627 followers
February 17, 2020
Okay, I’m going to start off by saying my friend Matt at work let me borrow this, I gave him The Wayward Children books and in return gives me books to reads and so far this has been my favourite!

It follows 4 mice, 3 together and 1 on her own and they have to save their kingdom.

The art is really really good which I cannot fault at all and then they’re trying to discover who the traitor it! Is was so much fun!
Profile Image for Jessica Severs.
19 reviews3 followers
May 19, 2008
Sincerity and simplicity are endangered concepts in much of today's fantasy offerings -- be they books, movies or games -- but "Mouse Guard" recalls the fare of my youth, like "Watership Down" and "The Secret of NIMH," where even the most unassuming creatures face epic trials of life and death and morality.
Think of it as a "Lord of the Rings" for mice, but instead of battling balrogs, these warrior mice struggle against snakes and crabs, and instead of Sauron and his minions, they combat treachery from within their fragile community.
"Mouse Guard" draws its magic from a rich lore lovingly construction by author and illustrator David Petersen. The sumptuous artwork glows with a warm color palette, as if the illustrations would drip from the pages, and the contrast of shadow and light make the images jump from the page.
The main protagonists -- the mice who safeguard the villages within the border -- aren't rendered cutesy or cartoony. Who would have thought so much expression could be portrayed with beady, little eyes and nearly featureless, fur-covered faces? Yet Petersen succeeds in conveying emotion.
The story reads all too brief, only because the world it inhabits seems as if it would have stories that could fill volumes. It's the perfect book for parents to share with their children and for fantasy fans of any age.
Profile Image for Roman Zarichnyi.
586 reviews43 followers
June 13, 2023
«Слава тим, хто здатен, кожній миші, хто є і буде, Слава Вартовим!»

Стільки часу пройшло від анонсу Fireclaw Ukraine серії коміксів «Мишача варта» українською, що будь-яка надія, яка ще довгий час жевріла десь усередині, давно погасла. Але ж не дарма видавництво називається Вогнепазур, адже своїми пазурами видерлося ірозпалило вогонь надії побачити, як мінімум, основну серію Девіда Пітерсена. Першим томом про який сьогодні піде мова, не враховуючи приквел «Мишача Варта: Чорна Сокира», має назву «Мишача Варта: Осінь 1152».

В «Осінь 1152» Девід Пітерсен переносить нас у світ, який існує паралельно з нашим. У ньому миші розвинули процвітаючу цивілізацію, досягнувши значних успіхів у різних галузях. Вони заглибилися в металургію, фармацевтику, архітектуру, бібліотекарство, картографію і навіть занурилися в сферу політичних інтриг, що є ознакою великих цивілізацій.

Але водночас, у цьому світі, повному хижаків, миші завжди борються за свою безпеку й процвітання. Щоб досягти цієї мети, була сформована Мишача Варта � група воїнів, які не лише відбивають напади ворогів, але й забезпечують безпеку кордонів, виявляють безпечні маршрути для подорожей, спостерігають за погодою і захищають мишачі території від хижаків. На початку осіннього сезону 1152 року троє найвправніших і найсміливіших вартових � Саксон, Кензі й Ліам � вирушають на пошуки зниклого мишачого торговця, який не досяг призначеного місця. Однак їхні зусилля призводять до несподіваних відкриттів, оскільки вони виявляють зрадника серед членів Варти.

На перший погляд, химерний малюнок тварин, що розмахують мечами, і яскраві кольори можуть наштовхнути на думку, що це дитячий пригодницький комікс. Однак, на моє переконання, це хибна думка. Ця історія заглиблюється в складні теми зради, мужності, стійкості і автентичності, що робить її зовсім не дитячою.

Уявіть собі перспективу миші, враховуючи ті виклики, з якими вона стикається. Маленькі, слабкі й постійно налякані, миші в природі існують як тварини-жертви. Їхнє життя сповнене побоювань, адже вони ніколи не знають, коли з-за рогу може з’явитис� хижак. Кожна істота в лісі становить для них потенційну загрозу. А тепер уявіть себе мишею-охоронцем. Від природи ви тендітні й маленькі. Однак ви навчилися використовувати внутрішню силу через необхідність. Відповідальність за оборону своїх побратимів змушує вас бути хоробрими, адже чим ви менші, тим більш значущою стає хоробрість. Так розгортається історія про мишенят, які відважно вирушають до лісу, щоб захистити тих, хто є більш вразливим.

Багато читав, що малюнком Девіда Пітерсена в цьому коміксі потрібно захоплюватися. А я що, інакший? Тому захоплююся теж. Якщо без жартів, то, ймовірно, стиль художника не всім сподобається. Та на мій погляд, він сильно пасує світу, в якому відбуваються події. І я не раз зупинявся і розглядав сцени, які відбуваються із головними героями. Для прикладу, сцена протистояння мишей зі змією намальована бездоганно іатмосферно. Але окрім неї, напрочуд добре виконана битва з крабами. Не менш вражаючими є бойові епізоди, що зображують й інші сутички мишей. А також пожежа, що спалахує під час одного протистояння в коміксі, майстерно зображена й візуально приголомшлива. Тому так, я захоплююся цим малюнком.

Оскільки цей том передусім зосереджений на створенні фундаменту історії і побудові вигаданого світу, основний сюжет набирає обертів не одразу. Однак, як тільки це відбувається, прискіплива увага автора до персонажів стає ще виразнішою, проливаючи світло на їхні мотивації йздібності. «Мишача Варта: Осінь 1152» слугує чудовим вступом до того, що обіцяє бути захопливою пригодою в майбутньому. Тому маю велику надію, що український поціновувач коміксів не пройде повз і зверне увагу на цю важливу й красиву працю Девіда Пітерсена, що у свою чергу дасть змогу видавництву якнайшвидше підготувати для нас продовження.
Profile Image for Seth T..
Author2 books937 followers
October 28, 2009
David Petersen's Mouseguard is a so-far-incredible series that pits medieval mice against both their common predators (snakes, owls, weasels, etc.) and their own kind. As the series is yet to be completed, it's hard to judge how well the series-as-whole will hold up�but if Petersen continues to show the kind of storytelling attention and illustrator's care that we see in the first two volumes, the final result will be worthwhile indeed.

With Fall 1152, Petersen introduces a world within (presumably) our world and goes beyond the realistic animal-fantasy honed in Richard Adams' . Instead, this is a world in which mice have fostered a civilization, have made strides in both industry and academia. These mice boast metallurgy, pharmacy, architecture, libraries, cartography, and that hallmark of all the greatest civilizations, intrigue. There are castles and dungeons and cities hidden within trees. Wars and rumours of wars.

(It is as yet unclear which other animals possess such social evolutions but at the least, we know that the weasels also use armour and weaponry.)

Petersen spends much of the first volume introducing us to both his world and his characters (primarily, a trio of mice warriors, members of the vaunted mouseguard, whose purpose is to protect the commoner keeping the roads safe and keep peace between the very different (and fairly isolated) towns. Because so much of the volume is taken up with story-setting and world-building, it takes a little while for the main story to really get rolling. Once it does, however, Petersen's attention to his characters and their motivations and abilities is pushed even farther to the fore.

Fall 1152 is a good introduction to what I hope will be a fantastic journey. The art and characterization is top-notch and the volume's only deficit is that its story does not seem quite full enough. This issue is of course resolved by the following volumes (if the second is anything to judge by) and the story continues to build there.
Profile Image for Drew Canole.
2,912 reviews33 followers
November 7, 2024
Brilliantly illustrated. I really enjoy the world Petersen crafted here although I do have a lot of issues with the story-telling -- there's some odd inconsistencies or plot-holes. I can't figure out how Lieam escapes Midnight's army. It jumps right into the action without building much of the world, but I love the idea of mice cities. It reminds me quite a bit of Redwall (a book I could consider revisiting).

Profile Image for Dana.
900 reviews42 followers
September 18, 2020
So dark for a graphic novel about mice, but I loved that. It's a dark and gritty tale about mouse survival; against the elements, predators, and themselves.

I'm also 90% sure I played a tabletop version of this in High School in our Role Playing Game Club. (which of course I was in)
Profile Image for M..
301 reviews16 followers
February 24, 2023
Los ratones eran cuquis, el dibujo chulo y el concepto no estaba mal, pero luego cómo se llevaba la historia, la transición entre escenas, la experiencia de lectura era un poco a trompicones. Lo he cogido de la biblioteca sin saber nada así que tampoco lo voy a juzgar de más, pero no creo que lea el siguiente. No está mal pero podría haber sido mejor.
Profile Image for Nicolas.
1,366 reviews74 followers
September 20, 2021
J'ai une forme de tendresse pour les BDs anthropomorphiques, surtout quand elles nous donnent à voir la nature sous un autre angle.
Dans ces légendes de la garde, il est question de souris ayant développé une société d'ordre médiéval, avec cités indépendantes, et d'une garde d'élite, protégeant les souris voyageant à l'extérieur de villes solidement protégées.
Le dessin est tout à fait lisible, et les souris n'y sont vraiment pas des mickeys. Je leur trouve au contraire, comme d'ailleurs à tous les animaux qui sont présents dans ces pages, un air féroce, parfois même cruel.
Et ce dessin sert une intrigue qui semble simple, mais révèle quand même une vraie profondeur de personnages. A ce propos, je trouve remarquable le fait de réussir à donner aux personnages des expressions, sans pour autant en passer par les artifices classiques de surjouer les expressions, ou d'ajouter des traits rendant le visage lisible (comme par exemple des sourcils).
Autrement dit, c'est une sacrée réussite de mon point de vue, et je suis bien content d'avoir enfin lu ce premier tome. Les suivants ne tarderont pas à me passer entre les mains.
Profile Image for Adam M .
645 reviews19 followers
July 9, 2019
This was a quick re-read as Fall 1152 was something I wanted to recommend to a friend for their 9 year old who is looking for a graphic novel that isn't all capes and powers. I love the Mouse Guard books and art work is really special, but I couldn't remember how violent this actually got. I'm glad I read it again for my own sake as I still really enjoy this book, but it was nice to see that while it gives a lot of adventure thrills it could be accessible to this young, advanced reader who wants something a little different. It's a pretty special series.

...probably going to have to read the next one in this series now. You know. Because.
Profile Image for Sara.
435 reviews3 followers
March 8, 2015
Basically, this is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read. The amount of time it must have taken to perfectly craft the color and lines for every every panel is enormous. The characters and scenery are beautifully beautifully executed, and their drama is very real and comes to life as a result of the painstaking work of David Peterson. Great for fans of Redwall or Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, or for anyone who loves full color pages where you can spend inordinate amounts of time staring at every detail. I could decorate a room in Mouse Guard.
Profile Image for Mahdi.
31 reviews8 followers
December 25, 2020
سلاااام

مهم نیست با چه چیزی می جنگی، مهم این است که برای چه میجنگی.

موشبان ها یه کمیک حماسی هست نوشته دیوید پیترسن. موش ها سال ها زیر بار حکومت ظالمانه راسو ها بوده. تا اینکه گروهی از موش‌ها� نجیب و جنگجو با راسو ها جنگیدند و آنها رو شکست دادن.
و الان سالیان سال هست که موشبان ها سرزمینشون رو زنده و پر رونق نگه میدارند.
حالا داستان چیه؟ داستان درباره یه تا موشبان ماهر هست که به ماموری�� ظاهراً ساده عازم شدند اونا باید یه موشی رو که گمشده رو پیدا کنند اما وقتی که موشه رو پیدا میکنن با یه راز وحشتناک رو به رو میشن.خیلنت به موشبان ها و در نهایت نابودی موشبان ها.
این کمیک برا کسی که تا حالا کمیک نخونده گزینه خوبیه چون موشبان ها اولین تجربه من تو کمیک خونی بود و من خیلی لذت بردم.
شخصیت پردازی واقعا عااالی بود. از قیافه موش ها تمام ویژگی های شخصیتشونو میشد فهمید.
این کمیک برا رده سنی +10 هست چون یکم خشنه ولی اگه زیر ده سال هستید و با خشونت مشکلی ندارین میتونین از این کمیک خیلی لذت ببرین.
سری های بعدی این کمیک هم قراره از همین نشر چاپ و منتشر بشه.(خیلی منتظرم)
داستان قشنگی داره ولی در عین حال ساده است،پس انتظار بالایی نداشته باشید.
من که عاشقش شدم:)
در کل که بخوانید:)
Profile Image for Alex.
786 reviews36 followers
April 24, 2021
Wanted to start reading this one for ages.

This has some interesting ideas and sets up an intriguing lore, but the main story is a bit mundane and basic. Art needs improvement also, especially in backgrounds but it looks promising. Let's see where the series goes.
Profile Image for kit.
130 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2024
oh to be a little mouse knight in medieval times ....
Profile Image for jude.
727 reviews
October 3, 2021
as someone who literally has a little mouse knight tattooed on my arm, i simply cannot review this book in an unbiased manner. i love fantasy mice. this hit the spot. i gave it four instead of five stars bc i would have liked to have seen more of the average villagers' lives, but that's just personal preference. the guard is also very cool.
Profile Image for Lisa Livesay.
101 reviews22 followers
December 13, 2024
This was a delightful read! Very reminiscent of Brian Jacques' Redwall series, with captivating illustrations to draw you into the actions and heroism of the brave Mouse Guard. I look forward to reading the next books in this series.
Profile Image for 47Time.
3,210 reviews91 followers
August 8, 2018
The cuteness of the mice is in stark contrast to the seriousness of the comic. The setting is harsh, survival is difficult for mice, given the many predators they face. The Mouse Guard are sworn to protect their brethren, but there is a secret party who believes that the Guard must be replaced as it's not effective any more. The Mouse Guard will be threatened in their own home by an unexpected and well-organized foe and will need to band together to face him.

Lieam, Kenzie, Saxon, all of the Mouse Guard, while searching for a missing merchant, discover that he had a map of Lockhaven, the home of the Mouse Guard, upon him. He was likely intending to sell it, but was eaten by a snake on the way to his buyer. The three now investigate Barkstone to find who was involved in the traitorous exchange, but they can't yet reveal their findings even to other Mouse Guards.

Profile Image for Ben Bedard.
Author12 books51 followers
April 26, 2012

I wanted to like this book for the artwork. The mice are portrayed in some strange land between cute and serious that is very enjoyable. Something about a mouse with a sword. It's nice. But unfortunately the writing is pretty bad. Several of the moments in the book that should have given the author an opportunity to explore, instead were highly derivative. When a mouse is caught inside a besieged town, the general proclaims that it is not them who is trapped inside with the enemy, it is the enemy who is trapped with them. A naked reference to Watchmen that borders on plagiarism. The book ends with the phrase "Winter is coming," swiped from the pages of George R.R. Martin. Now you might argue that these are references, but it's more than that. When you take a line for its dramatic strength, you steal that line. When you reference it to create something new, then you have used it appropriately. It was too difficult to get over the bad writing, which is unfortunate because the artwork and the characters were fun.
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