In "Mouse Guard," it's important to know how to wield a sword, lace up your armor... and know your ABCs.

David Petersen's fan-favorite creations will take on a different task from their typical tales of war and survival when the "Mouse Guard Alphabet Book" arrives in September. CBR has the exclusive reveal of the hardcover project, which is written by Petersen and will feature art by Serena Malyon.

"The Alphabet book started with my wife Julia," Petersen said in an official statement. "There were a few Mouse Guard projects she’d been suggesting for years that I brushed off in favor of more Legends of the Guard. One was last year’s coloring book, and once that was rolling I gave her other idea more consideration, an Alphabet book. After all, Mouse Guard has been around long enough that early fans are now having children. I think we’d come to the realization that Mouse Guard couldn’t be explored as well, if I had to illustrate all of it. That’s both artistically and production-wise. I like having the different art styles in Legends of the Guard with my work as a visual anchor, but for an Alphabet Book, it made much more sense for one strong artistic voice. Serena is certainly that voice."

"Working on this book was a dream come true," Mayon said of her experience tackling the book's art. "Mouse Guard was the first graphic novel I ever picked up. I was enchanted by the way it was drawn, I was captivated by the subject matter, and it had a world that I wanted to explore. It’s a comic I’ve been inspired by for years, and I couldn’t believe it when David and BOOM! Studios got in touch with me... These are all illustrations painted in watercolor, gouache, and Adobe Photoshop. The process was a lot of fun, given the amazing subject matter. Painting mice in medieval armor in fantastical settings? Sign me up."

Check out the cover and pages for the letter A, along with the book's official solicitation copy, below.

Mouse-Guard-Alphabet-Book-cover

Mouse Guard Alphabet Book

  • Publisher: Archaia, an imprint of BOOM! Studios
  • Writer: David Petersen
  • Artist: Serena Malyon
  • Cover artist: Serena Malyon
  • Format: 8" x 8", 64 pages, full color hardcover
  • Price: $16.99
  • On sale: September 2017
  • Synopsis: Learn the ABCs in the world of David Petersen’s Mouse Guard where brave mice protect one another from predators large and small, explore the expansive nature around them, and thrive in harsh conditions. Hand-painted by Serena Malyon (Magic in the City, Button Hill), this is a look into a beautiful world with rich culture and stalwart friendships, worth exploring one letter at a time.
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