Review - Belle: Cursed
Out now from Zenescope Entertainment
A new one-shot story from Zenescope Entertainment - Belle: Cursed is a new adventure which looks to lead to something new for the beast hunter!
Belle “Anabelle” DiMarco is a descendant from a long line of beast hunters who secretly defend mankind from many creatures and monsters who dwell in the shadows. Over time she has built a long list of enemies and an ever-growing target on her back. When the darkness starts to swirl around her, and those who haunt her past begin to descend upon Belle, will she be able to protect herself and the lives of those she loves?
Writer Dave Franchini, Artwork Rodrigo Xavier, Colors Juan Manuel Rodriguez & Maxflan Araujo, Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor Dave Franchini and Production & Design Christopher Cote
It’s always good to see the return of Belle. I’ve been hoping for a more long-form adventure for her, too. The ‘beast of the week’ style of the stories is good fun, and it builds on the different skills and monsters, but something more substantial is needed.
We get the beginnings of that here. With some blasts from the past are causing some problems for Belle, and there is something deeper here. Something has got into her head, with memories being used and some nasty monsters returning to haunt her.
Long-time readers will recognise the enemies featured here (and some family), but this issue looks to have started something more of a beast-hunting quest for Belle with some very personal jabs at her and her history.
I like the reveal and the near-death that this villain may have caused. Luckily, there is no problem there, but Belle is on a mission nevertheless, and it looks like that is where the adventure is heading.
The flow of the story is disjointed, but that is by intention and makes a very factual storyline. I like how this works out, but it’s not a story you can rush through; otherwise you will get lost a bit.
I enjoyed the art here, with some different locations and even different fights in these locations. There are different foes and some excellent use of them.
This is kicking something new off for Belle!
