GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #71, from Zenescope Entertainment on 4/26/23, begins to bring the dark forces together as a precursor to the return of the Old Ones and world domination.
The Details
- Written by: Dave Franchini
- Art by: Babisu Kourtis
- Colors by: Jorge Cortes
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Igor Vitorino (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: April 26, 2023
Is It Good?
GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #71 is a step in the right direction for Zenescope’s latest arc. We were starting to get down on the series for its lack of focus, particularly with the main villains. Thankfully, Dave Franchinit starts to tie the threads together in this issue, giving the arc some much-needed focus and a mild whiff of direction.
When last we left Skye and the Shang Gang, Carmen and Diego were lost in a nameless void, The Dark One had returned via help from Baba Yaga’s ritual sacrifice, and Skye and the Shang Gang were left to put the puzzle pieces together. Now, readers are treated to an interesting origin story about the Dark One, a brief look into the pecking order among the villains, and a slightly clearer picture of the Dark One’s place in the coming apocalypse.
To be clear, you don’t get all the answers, and the ones you get aren’t necessarily complete, but the story appears to be moving in a direction. The pacing is solid, Franchini’s plot gives the impression of moving things along, and the final page will be a wow moment for Lovecraft fans.
The minor down point is a drag on pacing created by a few dialog-heavy scenes. There are at least two scenes that look (and read) like wall-of-text panels. Some of the information is useful, but it’s a chore to get through in spots.
As for the art, it’s at least consistent with the previous issue, and possibly a bit better. We’ve not been shy about pointing out how Babisu Kourtis’s line art lacks polish, and sometimes even looks downright sloppy. This issue is still not clean enough for a $3.99 cover price, but it’s a step in the right direction.
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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) #70 review to find out how Carmen and Diego escaped the nameless void.
We begin with the Dark One and Baba Yaga taking over a pleasure yacht as a means to reach their destination. The Dark One has been summoned by a higher power. As he waits for the boat to reach its destination, we get a flashback to the Dark One’s birth as a human and the events that eventually drove him to take on his demonic form.
Elsewhere, Skye and the Shang Gang question Tamora about her knowledge of the Dark One and why she seems intent on protecting him. Tamora is tasked with preserving the Dark One in anticipation of some
prophecied event. Tamora believes his continued existence will stop the coming Apocalypse.
We conclude the issue with portals into dreams, a hasty summons, and the appearance of one of the Old Ones.
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) #71 begins to bring the Lovecraftian nightmare into focus with a Dark One-centric issue that lays out his origin and his place in the coming Apocalypse at the hands of the Old Ones. Despite a few pacing rough spots, the plot, dialog, and reveals are solid.
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