GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #63, from Zenecope Entertainment on August 31st, 2022, begins a new arc with new students and a new teacher at Arcane Acre. Unfortunately, Lovecraftian forces are gathering to start the new semester on a sour note.
The Details
- Written by: Dave Franchini
- Art by: Babisu Kourtis
- Colors by: Jorge Cortes
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Igor Vitorino
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 31, 2022
Is It Good?
GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #63 is a breath of fresh air for Sky Mathers and her Arcane Acre cohorts. As much as we enjoyed the Dark Princes saga, it overstayed its welcome a bit, so this issue kicks things off with a new threat, new questions, and some fresh blood to get things moving.
The central premise involves Shang learning from the mistakes of the past (or has he?) by recognizing Arcane Acre is not as prepared as it could be for big threats, so he starts a recruiting process to shore up the cracks. The concept is sound, seeing new and familiar faces we haven’t seen in a while is a plus, and the threat established in the opening prologue takes the gang into new levels of horror. On all counts, this plot is headed in a positive direction.
In terms of writing execution, Franchini is showing enthusiasm in the new arc with snappy dialog, clean-yet-energetic pacing, and plenty of mystery to build up intrigue. The “monstrous” threat is nothing like what Skye has faced before, so there’s an opportunity to explore a different level of magic, and Franchini appears to be taking full advantage.
The down point of the issue is the art quality. The coloring is great, and the lettering is excellent, but the inks are super rough. Kourtis is either in a hurry or simply not up to the task. Either way, the inks look sketchy, poorly defined in some spots, and smudged in others. For the cover price, the inks need to be cleaner than what was delivered here.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Skye and Samantha enjoying a little downtime after the conclusion of their battle with the Dark Princess. Suddenly, their relaxation is interrupted by Shang giving a tour to Arcane Acres’ latest students – the Three Musketeers.
Shang acknowledges the school could have used more help in the recent arc, and he’s brought in the trio of past allies to join in preparations for whatever conflict comes next. As a first field trip assignment, Shang orders Skye and Sam to take the Musketeers to Arkham to pick up their next addition to the school – a new teacher.
When Skye and the others arrive, they find the teacher’s house damaged and the teacher under attack by night gaunts recently freed by a cult. We conclude the issue with trial by fire, a disapproving teacher, and the realization that Shang may not have broken all of his bad habits.
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Final Thoughts
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GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #63 breathes new life into the series by moving on from the Dark Princess and adding fresh faces to the team. The dialog, plot, and pacing are all rock solid, plus the premise explores new areas of horror Skye’s never faced before. That said, the colors and lettering are great, but the inks are sub-par, marring the reading experience.
Related Information
Why is Lovecraft so popular?
H.P. Lovecraft’s brand of horror is popular because it’s unique. Lovecraft’s stories focus on monsters that lived during an unknown part of history or come from dimensions waiting outside our own. His ideas play on the concept that monsters have always been there, waiting to return.
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