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The Books of Magic (1990) #3

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"The Land Of Summer's Twilight": In tandem with his female alter-ego Rose, Doctor Occult leads Timothy and Yo-Yo into Faerie, which serves as a hub for many magical realms existing parallel to Earth. As Rose and Timothy browse Faerie's central market, a goblin tries to swindle Timothy, but is at

Quote1 There are many places common to more than one plane, accessible to those who know the path to walk. Quote2
— Doctor Occult

The Books of Magic #3 is an issue of the series The Books of Magic (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1991.

Synopsis for "The Land Of Summer's Twilight"

In tandem with his female alter-ego Rose, Doctor Occult leads Timothy and Yo-Yo into Faerie, which serves as a hub for many magical realms existing parallel to Earth. As Rose and Timothy browse Faerie's central market, a goblin tries to swindle Timothy, but is attacked and exposed by Yo-Yo. Subsequently, the market warden allows Timothy, Yo-Yo, and Rose to each claim one item from the goblin's hoard; Rose claims a mirror, Yo-Yo a necklace, and Timothy an egg.

After leaving the market, Timothy and Rose encounter a hostile giant, whom Rose - as Occult - challenges to a riddle-game. When his riddle is answered by Rose's mirror, the giant allows Timothy and Occult to progress to the cave of the semi-mythic Rhyming Thomas, whose dealings with Faerie have left him composing ballads for legend's greatest kings - Arthur of Camelot, Lazar of Serbia, Boru of Ireland, and more - for all eternity.

Unfortunately, the cave's exit proves murkier than its entrance, leaving Timothy separated from his guide - and easy prey for the child-eating Baba Yaga. Unwilling to abandon his master, Yo-Yo topples the Baba Yaga's walking hut with his necklace (in truth an infinitely extendable chain), freeing Timothy in time for Rose to rediscover them. When Baba Yaga refuses to give up her "dinner", Rose threatens to reveal her true name - the greatest fear of any magical creature, and one that the witch dares not risk.

Following Baba Yaga's retreat, Timothy and Rose encounter Titania, Queen of Faerie, who - to Rose's horror - gifts Timothy a key to Faerie's neighboring realms. The key allows Timothy glimpses of Skartaris, Myrra, Gemworld, Hell, and the Dreaming - but by Faerie law, also indebts him to Titania. Despite Occult's protests, Titania demands that Timothy either indenture himself or gift her something equal to the key; to her shock, Timothy presents such a gift, as the egg he had claimed is a Mundane Egg, capable of "hatching" worlds.

Though displeased, Titania accepts the egg, and allows Timothy to leave Faerie. With the Faerie Queen's key still in his possession, Timothy prepares for the final stage of his education, under the enigmatic Mr. E.

Appearing in "The Land Of Summer's Twilight"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Baba Yaga (First appearance) (Also in a vision)
  • Maugys the Giant (Single appearance)
  • Snout (Goblin crook) (Single appearance)
  • Queen Titania
    • The Seelie Court (Cameo)

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

  • Empusa's treasures
    • Drum Unescapable (Mentioned only)
    • Empusa's Infinitely Extensible Chain (Single appearance)
    • Heliotrope Gamahaean Union (Mentioned only)
  • Excalibur/Caliburn (Statue only)
  • Mundane Egg (First appearance)
  • Snout's Bracelet (Single appearance)
  • Snout's Mirror (Single appearance)
  • Sword of Night (Cameo)
  • The Silver Key to Worlds (First appearance)
  • Totoro Dolls (Cameo)
  • Warlord's Sword (Cameo)

Vehicles:

  • Baba Yaga's Mortar (First appearance)

Events:

Concepts:

Notes

  • Despite it was briefly mentioned in issue #1, this issue introduces the Pre-Flashpoint concept of Far Realms, an appellative term for all the magical planes of existence and alternate dimensions (except for Heaven, Hell, the Spirit World and the realms of the Endless) outside the main universes of the Multiverse.
    • Faerie and Avalon first appeared (albeit unnamed) in Hellblazer Annual #1. Both Constantine from the previous issue and Dr. Occult in this story refers to Faerie as "Fairyland" which, however, is a similar, but different realm in the Multiverse.
    • According to this story, Claw and Stalker are inhabitants of Myrra. This suggests that their realms (respectively Pytharia and Geranth) are located in Myrra in, at least, the Vertigo Universe/New Earth continuities.
  • Timothy is implied to be Queen Titania's son, fact which Gaiman's numerous successors on The Books of Magic sequels would alternatively repudiate and confirm.

Trivia

  • Queen Titania and the Faerie Court originally appeared in Sandman (Volume 2) #19.
  • The Hamnet from this story is actually Hamnet Shakesperare, who first appeared and died off-screen in Sandman (Volume 2) #19. His appearence implies that, in death, he became a servant of Titania: this was also foreshadowed by Queen Titania in that issue.
  • The market-warden Glory will later reappear in Sandman: Overture (Volume 1), where his authority is implied to extend far beyond merely Faerie.
  • Baba Yaga will later reappear as a good character in the flashbacks of Sandman (Volume 2) #38 where it will be revealed that she previously lived in Russia on Earth.
  • Dr. Occult mentions that there are only conjectures about the Phantom Stranger origins: the Wandering Jew, or an angel who neither fell with Lucifer nor fought at Michael's side. This alludes to some of his possible origin stories from Secret Origins (Volume 2) #10.
  • When in Myrra, Dr. Occult mentions having a enchanted sword. This alludes to Secret Origins (Volume 2) #17.


See Also


Links and References
Superboy Vol 4 69
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