Alan Moore returns to comics this week with co-creator Steve Moore. Moore works with several artists to educate people about the occult and magic. The Bumper Book of Magic is his latest work, but it took years to develop. Written as a guide for children but intended only for adults, this book combines prose with comic art, cartoons, and powerful voices.
One of the joys of reading the Moon and Snake Bumper Magic Book (of which there are several) is how practical it is. There’s a nice mix of charts, prose that explains the occult and magic in detail for beginners, and an honest approach to getting started on your magic future. We are not talking about magic tricks, but an honest-to-good approach to understanding ourselves and the world around us. This is a reflection on what is not defined as reality, but can only be defined as what resides in the human mind. In other words, it’s magic.
Although the back says it’s for adults, this book reads like it’s for elementary school students. There are also fun interactive elements such as an “Owner of this Book” page where you can write your name and sections to cut out pages and draw numbers. Adds a childish “how-to” feel to reading material.
The complexity of the sentence structure makes it clear that this is not intended for children. In fact, I think it’s a little difficult to read for the average person. The complexity of the text got me hooked, but I was hooked on getting the gist of it. There are sexual themes in both the visuals and the text, which is clearly aimed at adults.
This would be a great gift for someone who is interested in the occult and is about to start, or at least understand, a life of using magic. The chapters on Tarot and Kabbalah are thorough but have everything you need as a beginner. Again, the text is not simple and requires a little extra effort to concentrate and read, but everything is laid out on the page to suit your learning needs.
The first page explaining what we’re going to do.
Credit: IDW
This is more than just an informative read. There are also some fun comics. The section describes historically important figures and how they contributed to magic and the occult. These sections reminded me of Fred Van Lente’s excellent Action Philosophers comics. Ben Wicki draws these sections, which are told in punchy little panels.
Probably my favorite part of the book was Kevin O’Neill’s ongoing comic book series, “The Adventures of Alexander.” These cartoons, a little goofy like newspaper Sunday cartoons, appear from beginning to end in this reading, detailing the life of Abonoteikos, who introduced the world to his creation, the serpent entity Glycon. Masu. This is an interesting story of a charlatan who created God in the 2nd century. This is a compelling story from a time when Christianity was young.
Learn all about Alexander!
Credit: IDW
There is much more art in this work, with art in much of the prose section by Rick Veitch and John Coultart. It’s a beautiful piece of work straight out of classical literature, further enhancing the epic nature of the subject matter. Additional props must be requested from the beautifully designed Cursart. Steve Parkhouse draws the opening comic that reveals how magic was formed in the hearts of humans at the dawn of humanity. The manga connects very well to the introduction.
Moore details the sad and heartbreaking death of his co-author in his final letter to readers near the end of the book. This letter, written in December 2014, suggests that his death marks a new milestone for a book like this.
If I were to describe The Bumper Magic Book of the Moon and the Serpent in one word, it would be perfect, especially for beginners. Although the drawn-out prose can sometimes feel daunting, there is a wealth of knowledge here, and it’s a solid start for anyone wanting to learn more about the magic of honesty to goodness. The Moon and Snake Bumper Magic Book is robust, compelling, and has everything you need to begin a life of occult exploration.
“Moon and Snake Bumper Magic Book” Review
moon and snake bumper magic book
If I were to describe The Bumper Magic Book of the Moon and the Serpent in one word, it would be perfect, especially for beginners. Although the drawn-out prose can sometimes feel daunting, there is a wealth of knowledge here, and it’s a solid start for anyone wanting to learn more about the magic of honesty to goodness. The Moon and Snake Bumper Magic Book is robust, compelling, and has everything you need to begin a life of occult exploration.
The prose pairs well with the comics and mixes things up
I feel it is especially useful for beginners.
Good comics not only have humor, but they also contain useful information
Prose feels difficult and often doesn’t get to the point quickly
