Review: Grimm Myths & Legends Quarterly Jasmine

With every publisher and their dog focusing on their version of a multiverse, Zenescope included (see Grimm Fairy Tales proper), it is quite refreshing to deal with just one set world. Granted, this time around it is sort of an inner dimension, but what do you expect when the main character is a genie?

Ever wonder where a genie goes when they are not granting three wishes? This extended book gives us a sort of idea as Jasmine suffers in solitude whilst fearing for the next time she is called to use her power. This time however, Jasmine wakes to find herself in the same land, though outside of her tower prison. Setting about to try and find a way back to Arcane Acre, Jasmine soon finds plenty of trouble and a few friends, that help to distract her from her main goal.

As nearly always it seems, the power of three sets Zenescope free as the story is provided by Dave Franchini, David Wohl and Jenna Lyn Wright, with Wright getting the writing nod. Between them, they have created a meandering story that serves to recap Jasmine’s story before looking to change the pace a little. Having a number of different people throw in story elements, means that the book is a tad disjointed. This isn’t helped in the first act where Jasmine spends time talking exposition to herself! There are other ways to achieve the idea of having a character talk the reader things through, an inner monologue for example. It is not like Jasmine won’t have an opportunity to speak later. The main story; the control of the land of elements is solid, though I could have done without the “fevered mind” part that seemed rather lucid. Wright makes the story interesting enough to distract the reader recognising that Jasmine’s situation is not a great deal different from where she was at the start of the book.

The art is broken by to the three artists; Hakan Aydin kicks things off, Juan Francisco Mota and Renato Rei handle the middle act and Alessandro Uezu closes the book out. Aydin’s art starts out well with a great opening splash page before odd body postures start to detract from the overall look and feel for the book. Mota’s art is gain inconsistent; body parts change size, legs are shortened give Jasmine different looks. Things improve slightly with Rei, but the start of the art show is Uezu, who delivers a different style altogether that adds a level of maturity to proceedings. Colors are supplied by the dynamic duo of Maxflan Araujo, of whom I am gaining a lot of respect for due to his continued excellence, and Grostieta. Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios is on hand with his usual consistent approach, ably assisted by Elisabeth Sharland.

This book reads great in places, looks great in places, but there are too many inconsistencies in both areas to fully immerse the reader into Jasmine’s world. With that said, Jasmine is an interesting character that will undoubtedly pass though my review pile again in the future. Maybe I will even wish it so.

Writing – 3.5 Stars
Art (Aydin) – 3 Stars
Art (Mota) – 2.5 Stars
Art (Rei) – 3 Stars
Art (Uezu) – 3.5 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars

Overall – 3.5

Story by; Dave Franchini, David Wohl & Jenna Lyn Wright
Written by; Jenna Lyn Wright
Art by; Hakin Aydin, Juan Francisco Mota, Renato Rei,
and Alessandro Uezu
Colors by; Maxflan Araujo & Grosieta
Letters by; Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios
Letters Assist by; Elizabeth Sharland
Published 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