GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #73, from Zenescope Entertainment on 6/28/23, brings the collection of Grimm heroes a few steps closer together when Baba Yaga and Keziah lead an assault on Tamora’s Arkham estate.
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: June 28, 2023
Is It Good?
GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #73 brings the Grimm heroes closer to an imminent confrontation against the forces of evil intent on freeing the Great Old One, Cthulu, from his prison. Filled with plenty of magical battles, a tighter focus compared to the previous issues, a new mystery, and some sorely-needed momentum, this issue raises the bar for the quickly approaching final conflict.
When last we left Skye and Shang Gang, Diego and Carmen teamed up with a mysterious stranger to escape the underworld, Tamora touched the magical artifact to gain insight when her search of Tamora’s family estate led nowhere, and Skye and the Shang Gang fought their way through assorted monsters to get to Winter and Tamora before Baba Yaga could get to them first. Now, the battles continue, leading to surprising new developments.
Dave Franchini’s script works here because GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #73 adds a significant amount of focus and clarity to the conflict at hand. We’ve been partly frustrated by this extended arc because the story didn’t seem to have a direction other than “Cthulu is coming.” That’s a pretty serious problem, but a plethora of questions were left unanswered. Where is Cthulu? Who is trying to free him, and why? What does any of this have to do with the Phoenix Files? etc. etc. This issue answers a lot of those questions, sets a course, and builds a respectable amount of momentum moving forward.
In short, this issue feels like the Lovecraft arc is back on track and moving toward something big.
What’s not so great in this issue? There are still a lot of characters (arguably, too many) to keep track of, which leads to dangling plot threads. For example, in the recent Myths & Legends Quarterly: Dagon, we learn the chief general in charge of this plan is the infamous Dagon. If the battle in this issue is such a big deal, where is Dagon? Where is the Dark One? Where is Nyarlathotep? This arc has gone a long way to utilize old and new characters, but when things start to heat up, several of the heavy hitters are absent.
How’s the art? The same praise applied to Franchini’s script applies to Babisu Kourtis’s pencils/inks. The artwork in this issue is much improved over the previous ones. The inks, particularly for hair and faces, don’t look as scratchy or dirty. Kourtis’s figure work is more detailed. And the overall look of the book is cleaner.
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) #72 review to find out how Carmen and Diego joined forces with a masked stranger.
We begin with Winter locked in a trance after touching the mystical item against Tamora’s wishes. Winter sees an ethereal figure telling her about Cthulu’s past and intended future. Somehow, Carmen and Diego are in the middle of the plan. When Tamora tries to snap Winter out of her trance, a piercing stream of flight shines upward from Winter’s face.
Outside, Skye and the Shang Gang race to Tamora’s house when they see the light. Before they can enter the house, Baba Yaga and Keziah arrive with an army of monsters to stop them. And then they fight.
Elsewhere, Carmn, Diego, and their mysterious ally race to escape the underworld by fighting ghouls, gugs, and anything that gets in their way. The trio eventually escapes through a sealed door, only to be surprised when Diego and Carmen get a good look at the stranger’s face. We conclude the issue with new arrivals, more glowy things, and a new monster that even sends the bad guys running.
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) #73 is packed with action, brings clarity to the arc, and builds a satisfying amount of momentum as the arc races toward the finale. With much-improved art and a tighter focus, this series feels like it’s back on track.
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