GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #62, from Zenescope Entertainment on August 3rd, 2022, devolves into all-out war as Skye and her allies leap through realms to join the battle on every front. Is it enough?
The Details
- Written by: Dave Franchini
- Art by: Babisu Kourtis
- Colors by: Jorge Cortes
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Jeff Spokes (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 3, 2022
Is It Good?
GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #62 takes the realms by storm with a frantic, chaotic series of battles where the forces of good marshal their armies together in this penultimate issue. Gone are the creative but sometimes-repetitive realm hopping by Skye as she searches for a way back home. Now, every character from every corner of the Grimm Universe makes an appearance to set the stage for the finale. Is this issue everything you could want and more? Almost.
The highlight of this issue is Franchini’s intentionally chaotic pacing. “Wait, what?”, you wonder. “How is it a good thing to be ‘chaotic’?” I’m glad you asked. War is messy. War doesn’t always go according to plan. War is… stressful. Franchini’s pacing and rapid-fire plot progression move the story forward in a clear direction but with all the noisy fireworks and freneticism of an authentic war. Not to diminish the seriousness of an actual war, this issue has a tone that ranks among the better big battle epics.
With the good comes some bad. A lot of characters come out of the woodwork to pull off this issue and move all the pieces in place for the big boss fight to come. To the editor’s credit (David Wohl), there are editor’s notes aplenty for references to tell you who fought whom, when, and where. Still, there’s almost too much to keep track of and more than a few exposition appearances where character A says “Hey where did you come from?,” and character B says “I was over there doing XYZ.” It’s a tough line to walk, suddenly bringing in a dozen characters or more and providing context for their appearance. Franchini falls off that line in a few spots. This issue may have been better served spreading out the setup over two or more issues in favor of jettisoning one or two of the superfluous universe-of-the-month issues.
As for the art, the same criticism applies as with the last several issues. The coloring is very good, and the lettering is excellent. However, the pencils and inks range from just fine to downright sloppy. There are a few panels in this issue where the ink strokes overlap the panel borders, and not for an artistic effect. It looks like Kourtis was in a hurry and couldn’t be bothered to stay within the borders or at least use an eraser to clean up his work. Disappointing.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #61 review to find out how Skye and Shang got back together.
We begin with Tinker Bell, Princess Tiger Lily, and Crocodile Princess leading a pitched battle against the Snake King in Neverland. The forces are evenly matched until a giant viper (one of the Dark Princess’s special pets) arrives to decimate the battlefield. Accepting all hope is lost but unwilling to run, the three warriors hold their ground as the giant viper strikes. Suddenly, the snake’s head is no more, thanks to the arrival of Skye, Shang, and their amazing friends.
What follows is a series of montages pre-, mid-, and post-battle where Skye and Shang arrive to spread the word of their return and help where they can. Finally, Skye and Shang meet up with the Black Knight to lend a hand in Camelot when Lord of Flies arrives to take control of the citizens. We conclude the issue with a revelation about healing magic, a bitter defeat, and an evil grin.
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Final Thoughts
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GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #62 lays the foundation for a big, loud, chaotic final battle in the upcoming finale, ending the saga as any war should. The chaotic energy and pacing are outstanding, and the players move in place for a promising conclusion. That said, there are too many exposition-laced cameos that rush the plot along, and the linework is annoyingly sloppy in spots.
Related Information
Are Grimm Fairy Tales real?
Yes, Grimm Fairy Tales are real, but not in the way you might think. The Brothers Grimm did not create the original stories for which they are most famously known. The Brothers collected the stories, sometimes embellishing them, into a series of volumes, but the stories originated through local traditions, folklore, and campfire tales passed down through generations.
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