Reviews: Holmes & Houdini, Oz: Kingdom Of The Lost, Cinderella & GFT
Out this week from Zenescope Entertainment
This week, Zenescope Entertainment is releasing two new series: one that ends with Oz: Kingdom of the Lost #3 and one that begins with Holmes & Houdini #1. There is also a one-shot Cinderella tale, and Grimm Fairy Tales continues.
Holmes & Houdini #1 (of 3)
Ancient secret societies! Mysterious advanced technology! Bloodlines tied to the end of the world! Few names hold such a high prestige and weight as those of Holmes and Houdini—Spencer Holmes and Erica Houdini have known that all too well, as they both have been carrying the burden of their infamous ancestors their whole lives, completely unaware of the other’s existence. But when the death of a loved one sets these two on a collision course, they discover that their worlds are much more entwined and extraordinary than they ever imagined.
Story Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, David Wohl & Honor Vincent
Writer Honor Vincent
Artwork Oliver Borges
Colors Fran Gamboa With J.C. Ruiz
Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios)
Editor David Wohl
Production & Design Christopher Cote
This new mini-series kicks off with more concentration on Houdini. This makes sense as Houdini is a newer character, and we have seen Holmes in her recent adventures with Lovecraft.
This issue gives us a good introduction to Houdini, her powers, methods and reasons. Those reasons seem pretty interesting, and there is something that is happening that warrants further investigation. I like how this plays out, with some magic and some seeking about. It’s only until we get into the second half we get to see how the two ladies are linked.
Holmes has her own ways and some help, too. I like the use of technology, and it looks like it will play into a future part of the storyline between the two. This issue had decent action and feels like a good spy-type thriller. This issue starts the story off well, and I look forward to seeing where it goes.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
Oz: Kingdom of the Lost #3
Who is the Shaggy Man? And what does he want with the heroes of Oz? Can Dorothy and her friends stop his scheme before it's too late? Featuring the stunning return of The Patchwork Girl, this is one issue not to be missed.
Story Dave Franchini & David Wohl
Writer David Wohl
Artwork Guillermo Fajardo & Eduardo Garcia
Colors Walter Pereyra
Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios)
Editor David Wohl
Production & Design Christopher Cote
This was an interesting issue. Finishing the story, it looks like it is setting up some difficult times ahead for the realm of Oz.
I enjoyed the storytelling by all parties in this story. There is some good background to the story, and some interesting alliances are made. These may be only temporary, but the looseness of the sides in this battle made it some interesting reading.
I liked the action in this, and the manner of the battles was well done. It gave me a feel of some of the Wonderland adventures from Zenescope.
At the end, the Emerald City seems to have an ending, but they know this is not the end of the story. There are some people in play here who are going to cause problems. Those that Dorothy and company are aware of and maybe one who they aren’t.
Overall, this was a good mini-series with some good character moments - it works out well as a stand-alone, as well as the whole Oz mythos.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
Cinderella: Princess Of Death
Spiraling from the borderline lunatic minds of Zenescope and their most loyal fans, find out what happens when Cinderella gets to play god, or more specifically…Death! Taking over for Keres the Goddess of Death—because she thinks she can do a better job—Cindy is now Cinderella Monroe Princess of Death!
Story Dave Franchini, David Wohl, Pat Shand, Kyle Mclaughlin, Khang Nguyen, Scott Hala, Peter Nehl, Steven Ponstler, Scott Cookson, Abigail Manus & Mich-Al Ferry
Writer Dave Franchini
Artwork Jordi Tarragona
Colors Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Letters Taylor Esposito (Of Ghost Glyph Studios)
Editor Dave Franchini
Production & Design Christopher Cote
Keeping Cinderella going within the Grimm Universe is tough. She’s quite a random character, but Zenescope does a good job with these one-shots, keeping the character spinning across the world. You never know when they are going to pop up. In this case, it’s like a crazy ‘What-If’ story, with Cinderella taking on the powers of a god. In this story, she gets the powers of Keres, goddess of Death, and uses them as you would expect Cinderella to.
There are some fun guest stars from the Grimm Universe, but admittedly, they don’t last long!
As the story progresses, you can see this is being done to teach Cinderella a lesson - this, as you would expect, doesn’t go to plan. Even so, I enjoyed this story as a one-shot, and it looks like it will lead to something new for Cinderella.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
Grimm Fairy Tales #80 - Congregation Of The Dead
Skye Mathers, Guardian of the Nexus, has lived anything but an easy life, and when death comes knocking on her doorstep she must do everything she can to avoid sinking into its cold unforgiving embrace. As she stands alone against the crashing waves of an evil she never could imagine existed, will Skye be enough to stop the coming of 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
Production & Design Christopher Cote
Kicking off a new adventure, we get a brief look around the school. Arcane Acre is reopening to students, and there seem to be some changes. One of them is Shang, who is taking a softer approach - this hasn’t gone unnoticed by others here. There is also the teaching staff, and with everything the Musketeers have gone through, they seem to be a good choice.
Skye gets drafted in by Mytere, and it looks like a whispered organisation is making problems in the Grimm Universe. Generally, this issue is a little slow, but the build-up is well done, and the story has a good finish. I was a little shocked. This looks like a good beginning and refresher as the series gets its groove back after some big storylines.
Get it at Forbidden Planet:
