“Comics have been around since the early 20th century. Comics evoke nostalgia, hope and most and not least great imagination. It is this imagination that is a powerful investment for children when comics are read to them. Us, adults devour these stories to feed our minds. TOBY and the MAGIC PENCIL will break the monotony in your life and refresh your mind for a creative future.
If you like reading stories where wondrous worlds open up with unusual characters, with each land bringing forth different ways of life and fantasy adventures then you will truly enjoy this comic. You will be left to ponder over what you would do if you were in that same situation… Also, you will not be able to help yourself creating imaginative resolutions or possible outcomes to the situations that arise. Just remember… no skipping pages!
I hope you enjoy TOBY and the MAGIC PENCIL. Join our roller coaster ride and find out what happens to Toby and his friends on these adventures. One thing is for certain, comics are fun to read and do spark imagination. Just read TOBY and you will understand…” Gary Dellar.
“One of the best comics to come out of Australia recently. A must purchase for all the family.”
– Alfred Jenkins
The Story and Writing of Toby #1: Too Much Power, Not Enough Responsibility
Toby and the Magic Pencil story by Gary Dellar and published by Reverie Comics. The story follows the titular character, Toby, bequeathed by his artist father. A natural artist at heart, Toby makes fair use of the pencil until an untoward event propels him into an untimely adventure.
The story of Toby and the Magic Pencil #1 is one for the ages. It’s everything that a reader would want in a comic, whatever age bracket they may be. The trajectory of the story follows a nice, linear path that follows quite the traditional hero’s journey.
Toby is the epitome of a flawed character. He is smart, independent, and unbelievably brash. Whilst he has great command of his powers, it seems that he does not know yet the ramifications of how he acts with the pencil.
The writing style is a classic, with several periods of rising and falling plot to create a sense of action and adversity. So far, the call to adventure is quite tragic, much of it coming from Toby’s inexperienced reading of the situation. The writing is stellar, but the narrative has a few problems that needs to be addressed.
I question the value of giving a magic pencil to a child with zero training on it for starters. The idea of a child-bearing a reality-warping pencil can be an issue, especially if there are people ready to nab it from a fence away.
There’s also the part where Toby is, almost literally, responsible for the death of at least half a dozen sentient beings. He’s thrust upon a situation where he had many options, only to pick the bad ones at that. This gives him the ability to learn on the go.
Gareth also seems to be much more sensible and responsible of the two as well. If not for the former being younger and a little envious, he would’ve been a better hero too, but that’s besides the point.
The story is solid, with only a couple of unaddressed inconsistencies. It’s not perfect, but it’s as good as it gets when it comes to writing these types of first issues. I’m looking towards some character development for Toby.
Sure, it’s an Alice in Wonderland-esque story, but it’s not weird to wish for growth. Apart from that, the writing style is mature and treats the audience as adults, and I love it.
Should You Read Toby and The Magic Pencil #1?
Should you read Toby and the Magic Pencil #1? Yes! It’s a fantastic coming of age story with lots of potential. I’m looking forward to learning what will happen to both Toby and Gareth.
The above is a cut down review of a TOBY and the Magic Pencil #1. The original can be read at comx.net.au. Reviewed by Jerome.
