- Fantasy
- Rune collection
- Ages 8–11
Rune
Part of the collectionRune→Best for graphic novel readers ready for darker fantasy adventure with masks, monsters, mystery and a mythic visual style.
- Books2 / 2
- Arcs1
- Span2024–2025
- StatusOngoing
The series
At a glance.
Rune is a fantasy graphic novel series written and illustrated by Carlos Sanchez. The Tale of a Thousand Faces introduces a hero whose identity and appearance are bound up with a larger magical adventure, while The Tale of the Obsidian Maze appears to continue the series into darker, maze-like danger. The books sit in the middle-grade fantasy graphic novel pathway: more intense and mythic than gentle early comics, but still visual and accessible enough for readers who are not ready for dense prose fantasy. The strongest hooks are atmosphere, design, monsters and identity.
Best for graphic novel readers ready for darker fantasy adventure with masks, monsters, mystery and a mythic visual style.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Adventurous
- Suspenseful
- Dark
- Exciting
Read The Tale of a Thousand Faces first, followed by The Tale of the Obsidian Maze. The second book builds on the hero and world introduced in the first.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- INarrative arcBooks 1–2 · 2024–2025Moderate sensitivity
The many faces and the maze
Two fantasy graphic novels about identity, dark magic, strange danger and a young hero's mythic quest.
Rune currently works as one continuing fantasy graphic novel arc. The Tale of a Thousand Faces establishes the hero, the visual world and the identity-driven magical premise; The Tale of the Obsidian Maze appears to continue that journey into a darker, more labyrinthine threat. The series belongs in a moderate sensitivity envelope because the fantasy danger and scary imagery are part of its atmosphere, even though the graphic novel format makes it accessible. It is best recommended to readers who already enjoy quest fantasy and want something moodier than bright comedy comics.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 8–11
- Read aloud · 8–10
- Independent · 8–11
Reluctant-reader friendliness
High
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Designed to
Sensitivity envelope
Moderate overall, and consistent.
Content notes
- Scary imagery
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
About the author