Review: Grimm Tales Of Terror Vol.5 #13
From Zenescope Entertainment
A new horror one-shot is out this week from Zenescope Entertainment with Grimm Tales Of Terror #13.
Unhappy Endings
When an extremely famous but terminally ill author bequeaths his estranged daughter his latest manuscript with a dying wish that she never finish it, things don’t go exactly as planned...and that is when the horror begins.
Writer: Chas! Pangburn, Artwork: Daniel Mainé, Colours: Juan Manuel Rodriguez & Maxflan Araujo, Letters: Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor: David Wohl, and Production & Design: Christopher Cote
Inspired by the Goosebumps movie, this turned out to be a really entertaining, fast-paced read that leans hard into that creepy-fun vibe. It’s also a bit of a strange one character-wise, because there aren’t really any truly likeable people here. Almost everyone is flawed, selfish, or outright unpleasant—which honestly works for the story. The closest thing we get to a sympathetic presence is Keres, and even then, she mostly sits in that familiar neutral space she tends to occupy in these tales.
The way the issue charts the author's rise to the centre of the story is genuinely engaging. Watching his career take off, and seeing how his daughter becomes the inspiration for his work—and ultimately the main character within it—is handled really well. As his success grows, there are some excellent little nods to the mechanics of publicity, branding, and the publishing world that add a nice layer of satire without bogging down the story. Aside from the fictional framing device, it’s also notable that there are no monsters at first, which creates a deliberate sense of unease. You know they’re coming—it’s just a matter of when.
And when they do arrive, it’s a lot of fun to behold. The monsters appearing after the author’s death are well executed, both in concept and in presentation. The art really sells them, and the action sequence that follows is sharp and energetic, without overstaying its welcome. That said, the supernatural creatures aren’t the only monsters on display here. One of the stronger elements of the issue is how it highlights the more human kind of monstrosity—ego, exploitation, and cruelty—and those moments are portrayed perfectly. The eventual comeuppance for these characters is entertaining and feels well-earned.
The ending delivers a solid double-twist that wraps this part of the story up nicely, while also sneaking in a sly dig at fandom and obsession more broadly. It’s clever without being too heavy-handed, and it leaves a strong final impression.
Overall, this is a good, strong issue that fits neatly into the genre Zenescope plays in so well. The pacing is tight, the ideas are fun, and the art is excellent throughout, making Grimm Tales of Terror #13 an enjoyable and satisfying read.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
