Mythics
Mythics is one of the three initial launch titles for the Mythoverse shared comic universe. Mythics focuses upon Elthia Fletcher, a member of the secretive Mythic Order, and her job to protect the mortal realm.
Development
Mythics was initially started in 2016, with a five page setup to the original five issue storyline. Originally Mythics wasn’t the name of Elthia’s story, there was a ‘Cunning Folk’ working title based on the historical group of British witches and wizards. The title ‘Mythics’ originally came from a draft of the overall story where these were mythical creatures that were sealed away by an out-in-the-open organization. The original use of Mythics as a title for an eight page script that featured another magic user. The current version of Mythics was developed as a way to tie the three books together, as Elthia is in a prime position to bring them together.
Plot
Issue 1
In 2007, Elthia Fletcher is sent on her first mission as a member of the Mythic Order to rescue a baby changeling from being sacrificed by a coven of witches. With the help of her familiar, Galatyn, Elthia is able to subdue the witches, and send them to the realm of spirits to be questioned. While taking care of the crying baby Arlene, Elthia is informed of the witches’ botched kidnapping. Arlene’s parents are dead. So is a young member of the Order of the Carolingian Cross when he foolishly tried to intervene. A team from the said Order is led by a veteran paladin named Ruelle Benoit, and his investigation leads him to the very spot where the sacrifice was to happen. Although there is no evidence of even the fight happening, Benoit explains to the young wizard, Geoffrey Bottomley, the demon lords, and the ritual to bring them to our world. Meanwhile in Elthia’s apartment, she’s having a hard time dealing with a crying baby. With the help of her fiance, Jarel, Elthia’s fiance. During the moment of quiet, Elthia reveals her doubts that they got the witches. The suspicion Elthia has is that they captured the apprentices of the witches. Although with little information to go by, it’s just simply a theory. Later that night, Morella, a Mythic Changeling, arrives as their reinforcement.
Issue 2
Picking up a couple days after Issue 1, Elthia is given a job to eject a spriggan from the same metropark where she baby Arlene was rescued.
Themes
Reception
Mythics Issue 1 has had mostly positive, but mixed reviews. Early criticism stemmed from the size of the dialogue balloons, and poor dialogue, which led to an overhaul of the lettering and dialogue.
Trivia
- The idea of Elthia taking on witches stems from the cunning folk lore. While there were differences of what they were, one version I read about involved the women of the cunning folk as witch hunters, while the men were the ones who told the tales.
- The name Elthia means “healer”, which tells what Elthia desires to be in her career.
- Chosen names follow the belief that names have power, and if Elthia willingly gives her name, then that person/creature will have power over her.
