Welcome to Year Two at the Academy of Black Magic. The 59 surviving Apprentices advance into their second year of studies as the new class of Mages in Joseph Schmalke‘s Seven Years In Darkness: Year Two.

Joseph Schmalke is a true master storyteller through and through. His ability tell stories with compelling characters is evident in his Seven Years In Darkness series and this continues into Year Two. His choice to tell stories by each year of the Academy of Black Magic gives readers a full glimpse into this dark and mysterious world while following along to see which student makes it through. In the second volume of SYID, we follow Honey’s journey through her second year at the Academy and we are drawn deeper into a realm filled with magic, danger, and intrigue.

After reading Schmalke’s first volume and now onto his Year Two, we are reminded that he has talents beyond writing the story. His illustrations and coloring in Seven Years in Darkness complement his writing like no other creator could. The dark imagery with pops of color adds depth to the narrative, immersing us in the world of the Academy of Black Magic and the world he has created.

As a member of Schmalke’s Patreon we have been lucky enough to read pages of Seven Years In Darkness: Year Two over the past few months, but nothing really compares to reading this issue as a complete comic. Joseph doesn’t hold back in the first issue and as tension builds the end of issue one only leads us to want more from year two.

Seven Years in Darkness: Year Two is more of the same from Joseph Schmalke and that is definitely not a bad thing. Life is good when a Schmalke comic hits local comic books shelves, life is better when it’s in the Academy of Black Magic. With its unique storyline and outstanding artwork, Seven Years in Darkness: Year Two is one for your pull list.

Seven Years In Darkness: Year Two #1 hits local comic shops on April 24, 2024 from CEX Publishing.