Reviews: Wonderland, Belle & Grimm Fairy Tales
From Zenescope Entertainment
Out this week and available in print and digitally are three new comics from Zenescope Entertainment - Wonderland Annual, Belle: Scream Of The Banshee and Grimm Fairy Tales #68.
Wonderland Annual: It’s A Wonderful Life
Alice came back from Wonderland insane. The price to be paid to an otherworldly dimension of Madness that feeds on the innocence of our world. Her daughter Calie has fought against it her whole life, losing her family and friends and any chance of a normal existence to this evil realm. But what if Calie could get a second chance to do everything differently? Be careful what you wish for, Miss Liddle. You just might get it.
STORY: DAVE FRANCHINI, DAVID WOHL & RAVEN GREGORY
WRITER: RAVEN GREGORY
ARTWORK: ALLAN OTERO, DARIO TALLARICO, MASSIMILIANO LA MANNO
COLORS: LEONARDO PACIAROTTI
LETTERS: TAYLOR ESPOSITO OF GHOST GLYPH STUDIOS
EDITOR: DAVID WOHL
This twisty, turning tale may be too much for newer readers. I found some aspects hard to track, and it involved some flicking back of pages and refreshing myself on what had happened, to who and when!
Nevertheless, this was a good ‘reboot’ for Wonderland, and it not only gives us a look at what could have been but it also probes into what may be coming.
Taking on an ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ theme, we get a good look at what could have happened if Wonderland hadn’t happened to the Liddle family. There is some grim humour and happenings in this new world, and Wonderland finds a way to break through. I don’t think I will look at a group of rabbits the same!
The art really has some work in this issue, with monsters, battles, characters and more. There is a really good job done throughout, with a lot going on.
Ultimately, we get a good conclusion and some interesting items coming forward to Wonderland.
Belle: Scream Of The Banshee
Since she was a child, Anabelle “Belle” DiMarco has been haunted by her past. Hailing from a bloodline of beast hunters and warriors, her family has slain many enemies over the centuries. As Belle dives deeper into the depths of her legacy, she discovers that some of" the blood on her family’s hands is innocent. And cursed with this knowledge, Belle will take on a vengeful spirit that will open her eyes to her ancestors’ history and change her life forever.
WRITER: DAVE FRANCHINI
ARTWORK: RODRIGO XAVIER
COLORS: JUAN MANUEL RODRIGUEZ
LETTERS: TAYLOR ESPOSITO OF GHOST GLYPH STUDIOS
EDITOR: DAVE FRANCHINI
This was an enjoyable read and had some interesting aspects. First, we get a look at some older-time beast hunters. What they were like and what they did. I would like to see some standalone adventures of beast hunters through history.
This is a little different to the beast-of-the-week. The beast is a tormented soul who has been on Belle’s radar for a long time. Belle doesn’t realise the backstory yet, although she has some ideas for fighting this Banshee.
The build is well done, with threat levels of various sizes. There is something bigger in the background and a nice link with Cinderella - and hopefully, that will be the next big story arc with Belle.
The artwork continued well, with some inventive character designs and colour use, making it all the more enjoyable.
Grimm Fairy Tales #68
Taking over after the death of her mother, Sela, Skye Mathers is the new Guardian of the Nexus. With the help of Shang, her mentor, and her friends at Arcane Acre, she is learning the extent of her new powers and trying to figure out her place in protecting the universe.
Skye “Snow White” Mathers is home again, and is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. But the world has changed, a new evil is emerging, and Skye will find out firsthand that nothing at Arcane Acre can ever be the same.
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
This issue is a pretty dark issue. Going into the depths of who-knows-where, with the team taking on various monsters!
Baba Yaga’s role here still seems ambiguous and has some interesting inflexions. She seems more resigned to the world's fate rather than actively encouraging it. I still see her as a wild card in this story arc and will be interested to see what happens with her.
There are fewer hints here - until the very end, which amplifies the threat level.
The team shares some interesting banter, and I like how some of this is going. There are some sad moments too, and I’m sure they will have some ramifications in the future.
The artwork works with the gritty style of the story, with a lot of darkness, shadow, evil monsters and magic being used.
A good middle issue here.