Terrible Means

In British artist Mure’s vivid prequel to 2017’s Ismyre, something is literally rotten in the state of Ismyre: Sybil, a bookish antelope, and Henriett, a biology-minded lizard, fret over rotting plants in their greenhouse, a telltale sign that the magic of their enchanted world is out of balance. The likely culprits are a Gatsby-worthy critter clique who use powerful crystals for frivolous party tricks. To stop the ruling predators from running amok, Henriett teams up with a rabble-rousing rabbit, Emlyn, who turns out to be a kindred felon in fantasia. This menagerie of expressive characters bursts with charm, but the real star here is the coloring. An ever-changing watercolor wash whirls across every panel, imbuing the world’s thorny emerald vines and brilliant blue crystals with vibrant magic. In quieter scenes, when Sybil is imprisoned and Henriett goes into hiding, the palette shifts to more moody monochromatic hues. “If no one listens, you have to do something,” says Emlyn, explaining why he turned eco-revolutionary. “I got tired of waiting around for people who didn’t care to help.” Full of heart, the story is a fairy tale call to arms. (May)