The Books of Magic #2

The Books of Magic #2, published in January 1991, serves as the second installment in the influential four-part miniseries written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Peter Gross. Following the success of the debut issue, this entry continues the journey of Timothy Hunter, a young boy prophesied to become the world's most powerful magician. Gaiman's narrative, set within the broader DC Comics universe, was designed to introduce readers to the darker, occult corners of the company's mythos through a guided tour led by established characters like John Constantine and Doctor Occult.

The visual identity of this issue was heavily defined by the collaboration between Gaiman and the rotating stable of artists tasked with depicting the diverse realms of magic. Peter Gross provided the art for this chapter, focusing on a balance between the mundane reality of Timothy's life and the surreal landscapes of the magical dimensions. The series was met with critical acclaim for its sophisticated tone and remains a cornerstone of the Vertigo imprint's development, acting as a precursor to the mature-reader fantasy aesthetic that would define the label throughout the 1990s.