GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #84, by Zenescope on 5/29/24, continues Skye and Belle’s troubles with a powerful family from Greek mythology after a botched attempt to steal a magic flower.
Credits:
- Writer: Dave Franchini
- Artist: Babisu Kourtis
- Colorist: Jorge Cortes
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Giulia Pellegrini (cover A)
- Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
- Release Date: May 29, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 26
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #84:
Plot Analysis:
Belle may be on the verge of curing her bother’s monstrous condition in GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #84, but Dave Franchini doesn’t make it easy.
When last we left Belle and Skye in GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #83, Belle enlisted Skye’s help to infiltrate an exclusive auction with a very item for sale – a magic flower that can cure any condition. Their plan starts well enough, but it isn’t long before the thieving duo is discovered. In the ruckus, the flower is destroyed, and Belle is enslaved by the Necklace of Harmonia.
In GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #84, Belle and Skye wake up in a magically sealed room. Danica appears as an apparition to explain the heroes must replace what they destroyed. When Belle resists, the Necklace of Harmonia inflicts blinding pain on her.
Later, Belle and Skye are brought before the family head and his children. Mercurial will lead Skye and Belle through a portal to the pocket dimension where the flower grows. He’s given a special sphere to reopen the portal for a return trip once the task is complete.
Belle, Skye, and Mercurial emerge in front of an overgrown castle. Long dead bodies litter the floor inside. Suddenly, the bodies spring to life like zombies, and they all seem to harbor a grudge against Mercurial. This isn’t the first trip to retrieve the healing flower, and our heroes learn the bodies belong to everyone Mercurial sent through the portal over centuries who didn’t make it back alive.
The trio manages to outfight and outrun the zombies until they get to the inner chamber where the flower grows. Mercurial uses the power of the necklace to force Belle to attack Skye, but he underestimates their collective power and will. The issue ends with Skye and Belle returning to our world with the flower, leaving Mercurial behind as plant food.
Character Development:
With all eyes on Belle and Skye, Franchini goes out of his way to show our heroes are stubborn and determined well beyond the underestimated expectations of their enemies. When the villains say, “You can’t do that,” our heroes say, “Watch me.”
Artwork and Presentation:
Babisu Kourtis’s artwork in this issue is perfectly serviceable. We’ve dinged Kourtis previously for sloppy inks, but the cleanliness has improved over the past year. That said, this issue lacks wow moments to grab your attention.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Generally, Franchini’s pacing is steady and has enough ups and downs to keep you mildly engaged. The plot structure makes sense, you understand the goals of the heroes, even if it is forced on them, and Belle’s personal goal of acquiring the flower for herself adds a competitive twist to the issue.
That said, there’s a strange lack of development for the patriarch of the family as the head of a cast of known Greek mythology characters. His name isn’t mentioned once in this issue, and whatever mythological character he represents isn’t obvious from his physical appearance or behavior.
Thematic Exploration:
In a roundabout way, the overarching theme of this issue is Family. Belle undertook this adventure to free her brother from a bestial curse. The family patriarch leans on the individual talents of his offspring to perform certain tasks. Everyone is working with, on behalf of, or for their family.
The Bigger Picture:
Historical Context:
Franchini’s character selection appears to represent an assortment of characters from Greek mythology, such as Pasiphae and Andromeda. However, Danica is more commonly known as a Slavic goddess who represents the personification of the morning star.
Final Thoughts:
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GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #84 forces Belle and Skye to undertake a dangerous mission on behalf of a family of mythological characters. The central plot is creative, and the character work is on point, but the art is only serviceable, and the antagonists lack development.
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