GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #87, by Zenescope on 8/28/24, unleashes an ancient witch on the world after a long imprisonment. Can Skye defeat a body-hopping spirit before it’s too late?
Credits:
- Writer: Dave Franchini
- Artist: Babisu Kourtis
- Colorist: Jorge Cortes
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Igor Vitorino (cover A)
- Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
- Release Date: August 28, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3/.99
- Page Count: 26
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #87:
First Impressions:
Okay, GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #87 is fine. Writer Dave Franchini takes readers on an escalating rollercoaster of scenes where things go from not good to bad to worse to very bad in a relatively quick reading. By the end, Sky and her allies are certainly in a tough spot, but the issue is more shock and awe than substance.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the Shang Gang in Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #86, Shang took Sam and Skye to a pocket dimension, which he believes would serve as a proper training ground for the next generation of heroes. Meanwhile, Arcane Acre is attacked by a group of mercenaries sent to retrieve a magical artifact, and Gretel comes to town to find out why Mother Margaret is interested in the place.
In GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #87, we finally put a name to the being behind the face. The ancient evil trapped within the bracelet is a legendary witch named Aradia Waterhouse, and she’s happy to possess anybody she can who has a little darkness in their soul to lay waste to the world. When Aradia attacks, everyone appears powerless to resist.
Dave Franchini does indeed put a name to the spirit behind the face, which provides some context as to why mercenaries and Mother Margaret were interested in the magic bauble. That said, Franchini doesn’t provide any context for Aradia, so we have no idea why anyone would be after her. Is she Mother Margaret’s rival? An ally? Aradia is clearly an evil witch, so who locked her up, and how did they do it? Franchini tosses you right into the escalating action, and you can’t help but wonder if a flashback would have provided useful context.
Aradia tosses any resistance aside, including Skye. Before Skye’s heart can be ripped out for a witch’s snack, Gretel arrives to push back Aradia and rip out her heart. Skye is confused and wary of the newcomer, but Shang tells Skye that he’s followed Gretel’s exploits and knows she’s here to help.
“Wait! What? This is the first time Gretel and Skye have met?” you might wonder. Apparently so. It doesn’t seem possible that Skye and Gretel have never crossed paths after the Bettle for Arcane Acre and the Year of Lovecraft, but that’s how Franchini is presenting it.
Of course, the heroes’ troubles aren’t over. Aradia jumps into Sam’s body, picks up the sphere that creates pocket dimensions, and whisks the group away to a world of her own making. The issue concludes with hungry trees, unfair rules, and a lose-lose offer.
Overall, Dave Franchini turns in a perfectly decent issue that puts Skye and the fine folks of Arcane Acre up against the ropes. There isn’t anything specifically wrong or great about the issue, so the most we could say is that it gets the job done.
Artwork and Presentation:
As is the writing, so goes the art. Babisu Kourtis turns in a relatively serviceable set of visuals to keep the action-heavy issue moving with magical mayhem.
That said, the one down point of the issue is the lettering from Taylor Esposito. Aradia’s speech bubbles use a wavy font that didn’t transfer well to the digital review copy we received, so there were a few spots where the dialog was unreadable. If you get this issue on digital, beware.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Mother Margaret appears to be the connective tissue spreading into multiple titles beyond Grimm Fairy Tales. She recently appeared in Van Helsing: Hexed and a few other stories, so it appears Zenescope is building up Mother Margaret into a crossover threat.
Final Thoughts:
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GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #87 is an action-packed, fast-paced issue that pushes plenty of magical mayhem, but the lack of character development for a new threat is a bummer. Dave Franchini keeps readers engaged with surface levels of energy and excitement, and the art team, despite some readability issues with the lettering, produces adequate visuals.
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