The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic review (2025)

Alan Moore returns to comics this week alongside co-writer Steve Moore, who is armed with multiple artists to help teach people about the occult and magic. The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic is his latest work, though it has been developing for years. Written as a guide for children but for adults only, this book mixes prose with comic art, comic strips, and a strong voice.

One of the joysof readingThe Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, and there are a few, is how practical it is. There are charts, a nice mix of prose that details the occult and magic for beginners, and honest approaches to starting your future in magic. We’re not talking magic tricks, but honest-to-goodness approaches to understanding yourself and the world around you. This is a look at things that aren’t defined as real but things we can only define as inside the human mind. It’s magic, in other words.

Although it says for mature audiences on the back, this book reads like it is for grade school children. It even has a “This book belongs to” page where you can write your name and fun interactive elements like sections to cut out pages and even draw numbers. It adds a childlike “how to” vibe to the read.

The complexity of sentence structure makes it quite clear that this isn’t for kids. In fact, I’d argue that it’s a little hard to read for a casual person. The complex sentences had me absorbed but also locked in to understand their points. There’s also sexual themes visually and in the text clearly making this for adults only.

This would be a great gift for anyone interested in the occult and entering a life of magic use or at least understanding. Chapters on Tarot and Kabbalah are thorough but also have everything you’d need as a beginner. Again, the writing isn’t simplistic, so it takes a little extra effort to focus and read, but it’s all on the page for your learning needs.

This isn’t only an informative read; there are also fun comics. Sections are devoted to historically important people and how they contributed to magic and the occult. These sections reminded me of the excellent Action Philosophers comics by Fred Van Lente. Ben Wickey draws these sections, which are told in smaller panels that pack a lot of punch.

Possibly my favorite element of this book was Kevin O’Neil’s ongoing “The Adventures of Alexander” comic strips. A bit goofy like a Sunday comic strip from newspapers, these strips are populated from beginning to end of this read, detailing the life of Abonoteichus, who introduced the world to his made-up creation, the snake entity Glycon. It’s an interesting story of a charlatan who created a god during the second century. It’s a compelling story from a time when Christianity was still young.

This work has far more art, with art beside much of the prose sections by Rick Veitch and John Coulthart. It’s a beautiful work, straight out of classic literature, that adds to the epic nature of the subject matter. Extra props should go to Coulthart for the design, which is beautiful. Steve Parkhouse draws an opening comic revealing how magic formed in humanity’s mind at the dawn of mankind. The comic leads to the introduction quite well.

In a final letter to readers near the end of the book, Moore details the sad and poignant death of Moore, his co-writer. Written in December 2014, the letter suggests his demise is fitting for a book like this as he enters a new plane.

If you were to use one word to describe The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, it would be thorough, especially for beginners. The prose can sometimes feel impenetrable as they go on and on, but there’s a wealth of knowledge here and a solid start for anyone who wants to learn more about honest-to-goodness magic. The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magicis robust, compelling, and everything you need to start a life exploring the occult.