Reviews - Grimm Fairy Tales, Holmes & Houdini and Van Helsing: Vampire Slayer
From Zenescope Entertainment
Three comics out this week from Zeneascope Entertainment with some continuing stories. We’ve got Grimm Fairy Tales #81, Holmes & Houdini #2 of 3 and Van Helsing: Vampire Slayer #2 of 3.
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Grimm Fairy Tales #81
Reaped and Sowed
Skye Mathers is dead...that is if she can’t find her way out of the chaos that is folding in around her. Her spirit has been marked, a target is on her back, and only her friend who dabbles in the intricacies of life and death can help her fight for her very soul! Guest starring Mystere and continuing the story that started last issue, these two friends try their very best to not join the ranks of the reaped and become slaves to the Congregation of the Dead!
Story Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini & David Wohl, Writer Dave Franchini, Artwork Babisu Kourtis, Colors Jorge Cortes, Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor Dave Franchini and Production & Design Christopher Cote
I was interested to see where this issue led. After the last issue's shocking cliffhanger, there were some problems that both Skye and Mystere needed to deal with.
There are some powers here that are linked to Mystere, and there are aspects that I think she needs to learn. This information is coming from the shadowy group, who seem to have some link to Mystere. Even though it seems that Mystere is the key to this story, that doesn’t mean that Skye is taking a back seat, as it looks like she has piqued the interest of these dark magic users.
And it is dark magic too, and I like the change of pace with this adventure after some of the very big ideas we’ve had recently.
This was a good issue that moved things along very quickly, with a good blend of humour, some interesting art and colouring (especially the faded look in the spirit world) and some good scenes.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
Holmes & Houdini #2
The die has been cast, the game is afoot, and this thrilling journey has begun to unfold! Spencer Holmes and Erica Houdini’s lives would never have crossed paths, or so they thought. But when a plot that involves the very future of all human life begins to dig
its way into the literal minds of all those around them, only Holmes and Houdini will be able to try and find a way to save everything and everyone.
Story Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, David Wohl & Honor Vincent, Writer Honor Vincent, Pencils Oliver Borges, Inks Oliver Borges & Jagdish Kumar, Colors Fran Gamboa W/ J.C. Ruiz, Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor David Wohl and Production & Design Christopher Cote
This was a packed issue. Houdini is the main one in this issue, as her problems are the drivers of what is happening here. Even so, it seems that her family has some links to the organisation that Holmes is connected to. This is shown here, as later in the issue, Houdini shows her family book and realises she is the only one who can read it!
We get the endgame threat here, with some exciting information and a unique power which makes a lot of sense as a possible threat.
Holmes and Houdini seem to be making a good team, with some good action and an escape route being made out of the lab. It seems that Houdini’s dead boyfriend must have been involved in this same lab.
This issue builds us nicely to the final issue, and I like the team-up and hope we get more of these characters.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
Van Helsing: Vampire Hunter #2
During the height of the Victorian Age, vampire hunter Liesel Van Helsing and her crew have discovered their worst nightmare—an entire city taken over and infested with vampires! Trapped, and with little hope to stop an army of foul, blood-sucking creatures from spreading their conquest across Europe and the world, Liesel and her friends must use every trick and tactic they have if they hope to save themselves, and the rest of humanity!
Story Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, David Wohl & Pat Shand, Writer Pat Shand, Artwork Giulia Pellegrini, Colors Robby Bevard, Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios), Editor David Wohl and Production & Design Christopher Cote
This middle issue ramps up the threat level and builds on the story. There are also links to a more recent issue of Van Helsing.
I liked how this played out. Van Helsing isn’t as well trained as we know her now, and she is pretty much alone in the town of Vampires. There is also the fact that two of them were, as humans, very close to her.
This situation does get halved early on, but there is still a more significant threat. This is well hinted at, and we need to get to the bottom of it all.
Reading the more recent issue of Van Helsing (last week) answers some interesting questions, and the final issue is well finished.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
