GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #89 – New Comic Review

GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #89, by Zenescope on 10/30/24, finds the Shang Gang struggling to integrate new students who don’t have a handle on their powers while the Dark One reasserts his influence on Myst.

Credits:

• Writer: Dave Franchini
• Artist: Babisu Kourtis
• Colorist: Jorge Cortes
• Letterer: Taylor Esposito
• Cover Artist: Igor Vitorino
• Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
• Release Date: October 30, 2024
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 28
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

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Analysis of GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #89:

First Impressions:

Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #89 marks the beginning of a new arc for writer Dave Franchini, returning to characters we haven’t seen in nearly a year. That may or may not be a good thing, depending on how the arc proceeds, but given the wonky, disjointed tone and subpar art, readers may want to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

Plot Analysis:

When last we left the Shang Gang of Arcane Acre in Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #88, Mother Margaret’s rival/enemy was defeated with the help of guest-hero Gretel. The pocket dimension doohickey Shang possesses overlaps with the dreaming world, so Sleeping Beauty may (or may not) be in on whatever adventure comes next.

In Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #89, we begin with a brief prologue showing the Dark One remembering his early days in Myst and his current lust for power in the realm. Elsewhere, Samantha and Shang bicker over the rapidly increasing number of powered individuals taking up residence at Arcane Acre. Sam’s concerns are confirmed when the new students blow a hole in Shang’s rug in the experiments lab.

Dave Franchini gets the issue off to a serio-comedic start when the students play with powers beyond their control. Shang’s stoic response to Sam’s concerns may or may not be a hint that Shang is up to something, but if he is, that would be an unfortunate regression of his character.

Meanwhile, Skye and Diego go on a grocery trip to the market. Without warning, Skye is attacked by a Banshee possessed by spirits from the Congregation of the Dead. Skye manages to drive the possessing spirits out to free the Banshee to return to its resting place, and Diego gets the phone number of a pretty woman.

The grocery store scene feels oddly random. Dave Franchini appears to have inserted the scene to reinforce Diego’s status as a type of comic relief and remind readers that the Congregation of the Dead is still a threat. If that reminder was truly the intent, the execution is clumsy at best.

Back in Myst, we catch up with Sela, Ivy, and Orson, who we haven’t seen in a year, busy protecting people of the realm. As they march to a nearby town, they spot a plume of smoke that indicates a village is under attack. When they reach the village, they find the villagers dead and the Dark One waiting for them.

The issue ends with a dark shadow swooping down, a late-night piece of pumpkin pie, and a call for help.

Overall, Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #89 is an oddly paced, lopsided issue that mixes out-of-the-blue plot developments, semi-serious action, and big threats. The tone and atmosphere are jarringly inconsistent, so Dave Franchini’s latest arc is off to a troubling start.

Artwork and Presentation:

We’ve been positive and encouraging toward Babisu Kourtis in recent months for showing growth and progress in the cleanliness of his art style. Sadly, Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #89 is a big step backward. The lines have returned to sloppiness, the backgrounds (especially during the supermarket fight) look terrible, and in an uncharacteristic lettering miss, Taylor Esposito’s narration boxes for the Dark One are almost unreadable. This issue is a very poor showing for the entire art team.

Art Samples:

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The Bigger Picture:

Series Continuity:

For readers wanting specifics about Sela, Skye’s mother, the last time she made an appearance in this series was Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #78, which was almost eleven months ago. In fairness, Sela made an appearance in last February’s Myst: Dragon’s Guard, but either way, her return is (too) long overdue.

Final Thoughts:

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GRIMM FAIRY TALES (VOL. 2) #89 is a wonky start to a new arc that pits the Shang Gang against the Dark One. Dave Franchini’s script is jarringly inconsistent in terms of tone and focus, and the art team’s output took a big step back this month.

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