GRIMM FAIRY TALES: ONCE UPON THE END OF TIME #1, by Zenescope on 4/23,25, marks the beginning of the end for the Grimm Universe when Father Time decides to wipe everyone out.
Credits:
- Writer: Joe Brusha
- Artist: Alessandro Uezu, Riveiro, Unai De Zarate, Jordi Perez
- Colorist: Maxflan Araujo
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Igor Vitorino (cover A)
- Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
- Release Date: April 23, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of GRIMM FAIRY TALES: ONCE UPON THE END OF TIME #1:
Plot Analysis:
Grimm Fairy Tales: Once Upon The End Of Time #1 begins with a brief prologue where Father Time summons Keres, the Goddess of Death, to witness the aftermath of yet another deadly battle in the Underworld. Father Time has decided that he’s had enough of humanity’s shenanigans, so it’s time to reset the universe, but he needs to remove the key individuals who could give him trouble. He starts by trapping Keres in the Underworld and depowering her scythe.
Next, Father Time heads to Philadelphia and opens rift after rift in Time to bring forth prehistoric beasts, monsters from alternate timelines, soldiers and warriors from multiple eras, and mechanized death machines from the future to create chaos. Philly’s hometown hero, Belle, leaps into action to stop the attacks and save civilians. When Belle sees Father Time, he tells her that defeat is inevitable. Belle uses all her weapons and training to reach Father Time and stop the chaos, but he traps her in a time bubble and ages her until she turns to dust.
Meanwhile, the Shang Gang watches the events unfold while Eternity keeps them trapped in Arcane Acre with a mega-sandstorm. When Belle is destroyed, Father Time arrives at Arcane Acre, thanks Eternity for her service, and unleashes an army of reapers. The issue ends with the Shang Gang preparing to meet their end.
First Impressions:
Oh, snap! Zenscope advertised this issue as the beginning of the end for the Grimm Universe, and it appears the solicit isn’t advertising falsely. We may be headed to a reboot (for reasons we’ll explain below), and if that’s the case, Joe Brusha and the team are going out with a bang.
Artwork and Presentation:
According to the credits above, a small squad of artists worked on Grimm Fairy Tales: Once Upon The End Of Time #1, but you wouldn’t know it just from looking at it. The artist transitions take full advantage of the frantic pacing and well-done action to hide whatever hiccups there might be as the page moves from one artist to the next. The character work and backgrounds look great, so this is a visually satisfying comic.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Assuming Zenescope’s proclamation that this storyline is a game changer, Joe Brusha needed to hit the Grimm Universe with a cataclysmic event that made everything up to this point look like Little League. Here, Father Time and his godlike power and plan fit the bill perfectly as the issue hits you hard and fast with no obvious chance of survival.
The Negatives:
The only downpoint is a creative choice that seems out of character. As soon as Skye and the Shang Gang learn about what’s happening in Philadelphia, you’d expect them to move Heaven and Earth to get there to lend a hand. In this issue, they act much too timid and helpless against Eternity’s sandstorm. Is teleporting not an option?
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
The beginning of the end begins in this issue, but the last page promotes the continuation of the story in Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #97. Why is Zenescope potentially restarting the Grimm Universe? We have no official word on the reasoning, but we can guess. The Grimm Fairy Tales line has gotten, to be frank, a bit stale, and the longtime writer for Grimm Fairy Tales, Dave Franchini, recently parted ways with Zenescope. It’s fair to say the editorial higher-ups are probably looking to make a fresh start.
Final Thoughts:
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GRIMM FAIRY TALES: ONCE UPON THE END OF TIME #1 marks the beginning of the end for the Grimm Universe when Father Time decides to wipe out everyone, starting with the Grimm Universe heroes. Joe Brusha’s end-of-times script hits the reader fast and hard with game-changing destruction, and the gaggle of artists delivers a satisfying Apocalypse.
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