Reviews - Oz: Return Of The Wicked Witch & Blood Of The Gods
Two new issues from Zenescope
From Zenescope Entertainment this week are two new issues out. The mini-series continues in Oz: Return of the Wicked Witch and a team-up between Hellchild and Gretel in Myths & Legends Quarterly: Blood of the Gods.
Oz: Return Of The Wicked Witch - Part 2
In a time before the Emerald City, a Wicked Witch of the North ruled all of Oz. Banished to the southern lands many eons ago and kept at bay by ancient magicks far beyond her control, she languished. Now, with the witch’s exile finally coming to an end, Dorothy and her friends will witness the return of the true Wicked Witch to the Marvelous Land of OZ!
STORY - JOE BRUSHA, RALPH TEDESCO, DAVE FRANCHINI & DAVID WOHL, WRITER - DAVID WOHL, ARTWORK - GUILLERMO FAJARDO, COLORS - WALTER PEREYRA, LETTERS - JOSHUA REED & EDITOR - DAVID WOHL
This is a good mid-point to the story. We get a look at the origin of the Wicked Witch and its history. The fact that she was a good witch is well played out as her link to the wand and some of her minions.
The battle against her looks tough, and our heroes are left in dire straights at the end.
I enjoyed the art style, and the battles with the magic and beasts work out well, including some more sinister aspects.
Where this will lead, though, in the final issue, I don’t know!
Myths & Legends Quarterly: Blood of the Gods
Deep in the jungles of Chiapas, Angelica “Hellchild” Blackstone is trying to find herself the only way she knows how, hunting down the scum in our world who think they are too protected to worry. Finally catching up to a cartel leader she has been tracking, Angelica discovers something much darker than she could have ever imagined is at play. Guest Starring Gretel, The Witch Hunter, don’t miss this truly terrifying new story!
STORY - DAVE FRANCHINI, DAVID WOHL & PAT SHAND, WRITER - PAT SHAND, ARTWORK - SERGIO ARINO, DANIEL MAINE, RICARDO OSNAYA, HAKAN AYDIN & SAINT YAK, COLORS - MAXFLAN ARAUJO, LETTERS - TAYLOR ESPOSITO of GHOST GLYPH STUDIOS & EDITOR - DAVID WOHL
Teaming up Hellchild and Gretel works in this oversized issue. And it does feel oversized, with a lot going on and separate parts to it all. Could it have been split into three? Possibly, and it would have worked there, but in this case, it not only continues Gretel’s story well but also adds some new dimensions to Hellchild.
There is a lot of action in this issue - not only magical but physical too, with good use of the limitations of the characters’ powers and what they can do together. Their learning of each other works out well here.
The art moves around a lot, as there are some different locations and situations, and I think these all work well, especially with a second reading.
This was a large issue, and I hope to see Gretel’s story moving on faster.
