BY : Reece Guida
Rating: 9/10
EXCELLENCE is an action-fantasy story about a young man, his complicated relationship with his father, their magical lineage, and the complications that legacy brings.
Spencer Dales is a descendant of one of the original ten magical bloodlines. After a youth spent struggling to master magic (and disappointing his father), he is finally a rising member of the Aegis — a sacred order of black magicians who secretly protect the “deserving” people of the world.
But Spencer finds himself at odds with the obligation of his heritage and their questionable guiding principles.
The rock-solid world-building in book one lays the foundation for writer Brandon Thomas to ask tough questions. Why does the Aegis only protect “the deserving,” and not the vulnerable? Why aren’t females allowed to use magic? The art is also masterfully done. Khary Randolph renders mind-blowing action sequences alongside quieter expressions of pain, making every panel feel raw and personal.
Brought to life by a creative team consisting entirely of people of color, EXCELLENCE dares to question why things are the way they are, and proposes that what is doesn’t have to be.
Secret Society Comics 