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by David Petersen (Author), Gabriel Rodríguez (Illustrator)
The origins of the legendary Black Axe and its first mouse wielder revealed for the first time!
Eisner Award-winning creator David Petersen joins forces with Eisner-nominated artist Gabriel Rodríguez to bring a brand new prequel chapter in the epic Mouse Guard saga to life--just in time to celebrate the series 20th anniversary! Set at the earliest point in the series' timeline, this epic reveals the origin of the legendary weapon and the courageous mouse to first wield it--Bardrick. As darkness encroaches and monstrous serpents threaten the fragile peace of the Territories, Bardrick must rise to a duty greater than himself and embark on a perilous journey of sacrifice, bravery, and legacy. But with such immense stakes at hand, can the first Black Axe survive the toll of his quest? Featuring stunning sequential art from Rodríguez paired with colors by Petersen himself, this hardcover volume beautifully expands the Mouse Guard mythos with the untold history of its earliest heroes. Collects Mouse Guard: Dawn of the Black Axe #1-3.Author Biography
David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. He is a three-time Eisner Award winner for his work on his Mouse Guard series. David received his BFA in printmaking from Eastern Michigan University where he met his wife Julia. They continue to reside in Michigan with their dogs, Autumn and Bronwyn.
Gabriel Rodríguez is a Chilean comic book artist and architect, best known as the co-creator and artist of the award-winning series Locke & Key with writer Joe Hill. His career began in Chile, where he worked as an architect and also illustrated for a collectible card game called Mitos y Leyendas. His international career started with IDW Publishing, where he worked on titles like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation comics before achieving major acclaim for Locke & Key.
Number of Pages: 96
Dimensions: 0.5 x 8.1 x 8.1 IN
Publication Date: January 20, 2026
