GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #65, from Zenescope Entertainment on October 26th, 2022, finds Skye and the Shang Gang receiving an unwelcome visit from the Dunwich Horror.
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: October 26, 2022
Is It Good?
Lovecraft fans, REJOICE! GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #65 takes another fan-favorite Lovecraft story and adapts the characters (if not the plot) into the Grimm Universe. This time, Dave Franchini and the creative crew use the Dunwich Horror as a bio-weapon of monstrous proportions. While not perfect, this issue is a lot of fun for the intersection of folks who are both Grimm and Lovecraft fans.
Franchini’s script centers around an attempt by the mysterious Old Ones cult to capture Tamora and her book of spells within the safe walls of Arcane Acre. Franchini gives readers a (very) quick synopsis of the Dunwich Horror to set the stage, a bloody ritual to summon reinforcements, and a hearty look at the Horror to give readers just enough nightmare fuel to occupy their minds for several nights to come. Between the well-crafted horror, Franchini peppers in dramatic tension between Skye, Shang, Sam, and Tamora, as well as cast doubt among the Three Musketeers about whether or not they’re in over their heads.
To Franchini’s credit, a lot happens very quickly, but the issue never feels rushed or missing key plot points. In other words, the pacing is high, but the story feels complete.
The minor down point is the constant amount of bickering between the heroes. In and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with bickering to establish tension, but here, Skye and Sam repetitively snipe at Shang for not being transparent. That sniping has gone on since the beginning of the previous arc, and the characters were supposedly past all that by now. It wouldn’t be noticeable if the bickering took up one or two panels, but it seems to go on for several pages, and your mind starts to wander after a point due to the repetitiveness of it all.
The art is okay but not great. It’s difficult to tell if the trouble lies with the inks or the colors, but the overall look of the art looks like an oil painting that’s slightly smudged or a color-by-numbers painting where the artist didn’t quite stay within the lines. Regardless of how it happened, the book has a sloppy quality to the art.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #64 review to find out what Skye and Sam had to go through to get Tamora’s book of spells.
We begin with a brief flashback prologue talking about the Whiteley family of Dunwich, Massachusetts, and the eventual horror that grew to terrorize their town over a hundred years ago. Now, Skye and Sam return from their excursion to Innsmouth with the book of spells requested by Tamora.
Elsewhere, an Old Ones cult leader begins a sacrificial ritual that calls forth a trio of shamblers to attack Arcan Acre. The Shang Gang continues to bicker among themselves over the lack of information and transparency about the dangers that lie ahead. Suddenly, Arcane Acre is attacked by an invisible force large enough to break a large hole through the stone wall of the estate.
In the chaos, the shamblers teleport into the room. We conclude the issue with a kidnapping, an unseen force, and a deadly fight.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #65 is a treat for folks who love the Grimm Universe and Lovecraft stories with a plot that brings the Dunwich Horror to life as a formidable enemy. The pacing is exceptionally high for the amount of material without losing a bit of clarity or creating a feeling that the story was rushed. The art is serviceable, but the combination of inks and colors frequently looks sloppy.
Related Information
Did Lovecraft ever describe Cthulhu?
Yes. In his short story The Call of Cthulhu, Lovecraft describes the titular monster as “A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind.”
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