Review: Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 3 Issue #1
From Zenescope Entertainment
A new start with many more new stories and foes to come in Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 3 Issue #1 from Zenescope Entertainment.
A new era for Zenescope’s flagship title begins here! An evil has been unleashed and humanity is imperiled as creatures of the night are emerging from their hiding places to prey in the light. Keres, the Goddess of Death, steps forward as the reluctant protector of humanity, wielding the Tome of Blood and Shadow, a grimoire containing the names, weaknesses, and destinies of every creature ever born from nightmare. Joined by Shang, Mystere, Skye and the rest of her team of heroes, Keres begins her fight for the very soul of humanity...and woe to those who stand in her way.
Writer Joe Brusha, Artwork Al Barrionuevo, Colours Jorge Cortes, Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor David Wohl, and Production & Design Christopher Cote
After the explosive volume finale that saw the climactic battle against Father Time, the Grimm Universe finds itself effectively reset. The fallout from that conflict still lingers — some key figures were lost along the way, the balance of power has shifted, and the cracks left behind have allowed new dangers to slip through. Monsters and otherworldly creatures now roam free, posing fresh threats to a world that barely has time to catch its breath.
Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 3 #1 does a solid job of establishing this new status quo. Rather than feeling like a simple reboot, it feels more like a regrouping, with the pieces rearranged on the board and the consequences of past events clearly felt. Skye, Shang, and the rest of the familiar cast are now actively hunting down the loose evil entities, attempting to contain the chaos before it spreads too far. Guiding them from the shadows is Keres, the Goddess of Death, whose involvement immediately lends an ominous, uneasy tone to the mission.
Naturally, things are not as straightforward as they first appear. Central to this issue is the mysterious Tome that Keres is using as a key to track and control these threats. The story smartly plants seeds of doubt — is Keres truly wielding the book, or is the Tome exerting its own influence over her? How exactly does it function, and what price might come with relying on it? These unanswered questions provide a strong layer of intrigue that carries beyond the immediate action.
The issue cleverly bookends its narrative with hints of a much larger looming problem. In Unseen Acre, a new and deeply unsettling evil begins to stir — one that threatens not only the human residents, but also the refugees from other worlds who have sought safety there. The danger is framed as something so severe that even the usual villains and monsters are wary of it, which is an effective way to raise the stakes early on and signal what’s to come.
Between these larger story beats, the comic delivers some satisfying action as the team faces off against a demon-like adversary. These sequences aren’t just spectacle; they help reinforce each character’s role, personality, and current motivations within the group. It’s a good reminder of who these characters are now, following everything they’ve endured.
Visually, the series continues to impress. The artwork remains consistently strong, particularly during the action and magic-heavy moments. The snowy battle setting in this issue works especially well, giving the fight scenes a sharp, dramatic atmosphere that complements the supernatural elements.
Overall, this first issue has a lot of ground to cover, as any new beginning does, but it handles the task well. With a blend of action, mystery, and unsettling foreshadowing, Grimm Fairy Tales Volume 3 #1 gets this new chapter off to a promising and engaging start.
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