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I just want to make this thread to say how amazingly great this comic series is.

Now it's not a webcomic. It's an actual, bi-monthy printed comic, and there's a few book collections so far. It's great.

It takes place in a universe where every animal is still its appropriate size - it's just the mice have decided to band together and irk out at least some kind of basic society. The Mouse Guard are an independent body of mice who basically try to keep civilization running by helping intercity trade, protecting mice, providing neutral ground, etc. Also about going above and beyond duty in fighting nature, like you can see above, stopping a snake by STABBING IT THROUGH THE HEAD AS IT TRIES TO SWALLOW YOU.

The art is great, the world thought-out, the lore neat. I'd reccomend checking it out. You can generally find some free comics during FREE COMIC BOOK DAY at your local comics store.

Penny-Arcade mentioned the tabletop game a few months ago. It's got some great concepts in it, and I can gladly nerd out more about it.

These books are amazing and if you like them you may also like the series Mice Templar.

Here is the artist's website for those who want more.
MouseGuard by David Petersen

Ok thank you for the information as i will begin to read

ghost-written by brian jacques

whf, on 11 July 2012 - 11:46 PM, said:

see Redwall's pretty great, but a bit different in how universe works

I mean, Redwall pretty much had the whole "they're proper sizes" in the first book and the whole suggestion of an abandoned human civilzation but then just sized everything about the same for all the animals in subsequent books, and everything is around the same size, and civilizations, etc

Mouse Guard only has two animals at any kind of technology level, the Mice and the Weasels. Everything else is pretty much actual-size animal. Hares are kind of friendly to the Mice in that they can use Hares as mounts, but like, interacting with any other animals is at a level of "you almost always have to know their language". Bats seem to at least somewhat speak rough language, but Owls only hoot (and will talk with hooting)

I loved Redwall! I read the books as a kid, and met Brian Jaques. Got my original paperback signed. But they're a bit different. Redwall's much more about like, a long quest involving someone rising up as a hero (Like say, Mathias or Arthur), where Mouse Guard are like Paladins doing missions for their kingdom to try and keep city-states together / trade open / etc.

I actually didn't know Mouse Guard was a comic! As such, I'm now downloading the first free issue on my ComiXology app to give it a shot. I've been listening to you talk about the game a lot and it seems like a really cool setting, so I'll be very interested to see how well it plays out.

It's interesting to note that from the panels you posted up there, it actually looks like it has an adult (or at least young adult) aim, which is actually a little unexpected. Mice as protagonists are traditionally chosen for their analogue to children, which is what makes them such good characters for protagonists in children targeted media. They represent that world view of being small and endangered in a world so cruelly disproportionate to you, both in size and scope. And by making them heroic, it allows the story to make the children feel empowered against the odds they feel stacked against them.

I'm curious to see what's in between the lines in this instance, since I don't think they'll so much be going for that angle here.

Did they have the cute hardcover comics on Free Comic Day? With the puppet strings that made it like a play? It was really cute. <3 I didn't know there was more; I must look for it.~

RC!, on 12 July 2012 - 05:09 AM, said:

Yes that was Mouse Guard.

I really like this comic- I only have the first collection, got it for Christmas. The art is my style, and I think the concept is interesting, if mice had human abilities to build fortresses and fight. Up my alley.

I also remember reading Fables, I think volume three, where they had mouse guards! Well, they were like mounted toy soldiers on mice, but the point is that they were really cute. >w< I wonder if they're related. Is mouse guard based off any folklore?