In GRIMM FAIRY TALES #45, available from Zenescope Entertainment on February 24th, 2021, Skye Mathers tentatively begins her career as Guardian of the Nexus by tracking down fairy disturbances she saw in her visions. On her first hunt, she encounters another victim of Fairy deal-making with her own Grim(m) tale to tell and a bond she cannot break.
The Details
- Written By: Dave Franchini
- Art By: Vicente Cifuentes, Renzo Rodriguez
- Colors By: Jorge Cortez
- Letters By: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Art By: Igor Vitorino, Ivan Nunes
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: February 24, 2021
Was It Good?
It was fine in a “villain of the week” sort of way. The issue isn’t building worlds or setting up some epic conflict. It’s a test drive for Skye to see how she handles herself on a solo mission against an entry-level boss, and she handles herself well.
The art is, of course, gorgeous, and Franchini gives the Handless Maiden a surprising amount of depth and backstory for a first encounter. Overall, it’s a successful issue.
If you’re keen on the art, check out our exclusive peek inside this issue in GRIMM FAIRY TALES #45 preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Skye Mathers, the new Guardian of the Nexus, is climbing a snowy mountain to reach a secluded cave. Through monologue and flashbacks, we learn she’s working with Sam and Jasmine to identify targets of fairy activity she witnessed in her visions after assuming the Guardian mantle from her mother. Mount Semsi is the first location she could identify, so she’s off with the Book of Fairy Tales to stop whatever is happening in this location.
Franchini does an excellent job of setting up the players, their role, and the plot very quickly within the first three pages. Although the setup is reliant on a flashback and Skye’s monologue, it never felt bogged down with exposition or massive amounts of captions boxes. The reader gets a lot of setup without a hit to the pace at all.
Skye makes it to a high ledge on Mount Semsi (this might be a play on Open Sesame) and commands the sealed cave entrance to open, which it does. The ancient cave is pitch black, so Skye uses the excuse to power up into her magical outfit and light the way.
Deeper in the cave, Skye finds a long-abandoned series of temples and buildings carved out of the cave walls and large mounds of treasure. But before she can investigate further, something hits her in the back of the head and knocks our hero out.
Skye wakes up later wrapped in chains. She’s confronted by a red-haired woman with arms made of a smooth metallic substance. This is the Handless Maiden and she has the book.
Skye and the Maiden exchange barbs to establish the Maiden is dangerous and Skye is not afraid, or at least she’s doing a great job acting like she’s not. In the middle of their trash-talking, the Maiden turns one of her hands into a blade to emphasize how dangerous she is. Visually, it’s exactly like the T-1000 from Terminator 2 (1991), but only from the elbow down.
Skye tries to convince Maiden not to release any of the fairies trapped in a book, that she has a choice. The Handless Maiden takes readers on a flashback to her origin story. We won’t spoil the backstory here but it is tragic and develops a strong motivation for this villain that’s much more effective and 3-dimensional.
The Handless Maiden, despite the tragedy of her situation, won’t release Skye or return the book. Skye decides it’s time to get physical, breaks her chains, and begins a skillful sword fight with the Maiden. Turns out the Maiden can make any shapes she wants with her hands including large hammers, maces, and cudgels. Not only does Skye have to worry about getting run through with a sword, but she has to avoid getting bashed in the head or having the cave walls collapse in on her from massive hammer strikes.
Eventually, Skye manages to win out over the Handless Maiden in a way that adds more tragedy to the Maiden’s story and sets up a future rematch that will be much more personal.
Final Thoughts
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #45, sets up a new Guardian with great art, efficient backstory execution, and a simple conflict that sets up nastier potential down the road. This is a great start to Skye’s new role in the Grimm universe.
Score: 8/10
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