Review: Grimm Fairy Tales #43

Sprawling, multi-layered ongoing, overall arcs storytelling are making a bit of a comeback in mainstream comics, with a raft of titles from Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man and Batman using the long running theme method. However, Zenescope, with their Grim Fairy Tales series and its precursor, have been doing it for ages.

Shang is still missing, though Skye, after all her wonderings and confrontations is closing in on her mentor. All she needs is one final clue to point her in the right direction. With that in mind, she investigates, Shang’s inner sanctum, but what will she find?

This issues features a story by the usual suspects of Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco and Dave Franchini, with Franchini getting the writer credit. Between the three of them, they further elongate Skye’s mission to find Shang to the point where I don’t really care if she find him or not! I have been saying for a while that pacing seems to be the hardest thing for comic writers to get right recently. Here there is a juxtaposition of errors that just left me shaking my head. Firstly, there is the aforementioned ongoing, never ending extension. of Skye’s quest. Secondly, after a search of the Shang’s room, all the pieces are conveniently in the same spot; the book that can’t be read, a photo of the newest big bad and the means by which to translate the book which tell the story of the photo! What next? Does Shang write his passwords on a piece of parer and keep it under his laptop or does he write down his ATM number and keep it in his wallet? Coincidences and contrivances are the quickest way to spoil a story; with so many in such short order, I am afraid my suspension of disbelief crashed. On one hand, the gang want the story to be extended, but on the other, they shortcut their way through the issue.

The art is also provided by committee, which gives the book an uneven feel. Sergio Aríno is on hand for pages 1-5 & 21, Jason Muhr 6-13 and Guillermo Fajardo on 14-20 & 22. It’s a shame that between the three of them, they can’t seem to find consistency in their own pages. One of the USP’s of Zenescope is that the girls are supposed to be attractive. Here faces change with regularity and body poses are either wooden or extended to the point of ludicrousness. Thankfully, the colors, often a saving grace of Zenescope, remain high quality thanks to Jorge Cortes who gets to have some fun in the darker third act. Finally, letterer extraordinaire Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios produces his usual high standard, adding quality to a book that in essence doesn’t deserve it.

In the past, I have given Zenescope plenty of leeway in regards to their products. I don’t mind their aim to provide to their target audience, though I do wish they would put the effort in to deliver a higher quality of book; in both writing and art. If they fail to do so, they mind find that the myriad of indie books may prove to be too much competition.

Writing – 2.5
Art – 3 Stars
Colors – 4

Overall – 3 Stars

Story by; Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco and Dave Franchini
Written by; Dave Franchini
Art by; Sergio Aríno, Jason Muhr and Guillermo Farajardo
Colors by; Jorge Cortes
Letters by; Taylor Esposito (of Ghost Glyph Studios)
Publsihed by; Zenescope Entertainment Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network