GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: IRON MAIDEN – Review

GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: IRON MAIDEN, from Zenescope Entertainment on August 3rd, 2022, reveals the origins of the Iron Maiden’s power and curse while the Black Knight is given the worst possible assignment for a defense attorney – defend the unrepentantly guilty.

The Details

• Written by: Chas! Pangburn
• Art by: Renato Rei
• Colors by: Robby Bevard
• Letters by: Chas! Pangburn
• Cover art by: Igor Vitorino (cover A)
• Cover price: $5.99
• Release date: August 3, 2022

Is It Good?

GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: IRON MAIDEN is a solid one-shot that explores the past and present of one of Zenescope’s more enigmatic characters -the Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden’s backstory is interesting, the art is distinctive (in a good way) from the typical Zenescope house style, and the ending does what every issue should do – change something about the character or the world around the character. In this case, it’s the former.

The two highlights of the issue are the interesting moral dilemma in the present and the art.

If you’re unfamiliar with the character, Iron Maiden is a vengeful spirit inside the body of a typical teenager, Val Cooper. The spirit emerges when evildoers need to be punished in the name of vengeance/justice. Think Ghost Rider without the flaming skull.

Peyton Parks, aka Black Knight, has the unenviable task of defending a child molester. The moral dilemma is not a new one, but it’s always interesting to see how different characters with different personalities manage the civic duty of ensuring a fair trial when you know the accused is guilty. Pangburn doesn’t take any shortcuts by showing how Peyton is disgusted by her defendant while simultaneously doing her duty in spite of his crimes. You get both sides to Peyton’s personality, and the way she tackles her roles elevates her character as a hero.

The art, again, is not your typical Zenescope house style. Rei’s line work is gritty and powerful, especially during the action scenes, and Bevard’s coloring work is outstanding. Rei has a solid eye for character design (posture, faces) during emotionally strong movements, and that eye enhances the story considerably.

The two down points in this issue (one minor, one significant) relate to Iron Maiden’s status quo before and after her change.

First, it’s never explained or clear how Irn Maiden’s role as an abused slave in the past led her to inhabit the body of a teenager in the present. If you’re going to delve into a character’s origin, that’s a pretty big piece to leave out.

Second, Val and the Iron Maiden have an “internal discussion” in the last act to come to an understanding. While it’s nice to see a character evolve, the conversation is too quick, too easy, and leads to a radical change for the character with too little effort. A wholesale personality change that happens in the time it takes to snap your fingers never feels earned, and it definitely feels unearned here.

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]

We begin with a flashback to ancient times when a contingent of Roman pillages a town in Greece. When one of the soldiers attacks a mother and child, he’s beaten back by a woman with magic powers. She fights to take down every Roman soldier within reach, but she’s ultimately overwhelmed by a number of soldiers. Later, we see the woman kept as a hostage and slave before eventually finding some peace as the mistress of a Roman Senator. The Senator’s wife, however, is not pleased with the mistress’s status in her husband’s eyes and condemns the slave to a living death inside an Iron Maiden.

Now, Peyton Parks, aka Black Knight, furiously confronts her latest client – a child molester who withheld evidence providing his guilt. Peyton is furious over the deception but decides the law must take its course. Suddenly, the halls are filled with the sounds of battle as the Iron Maiden charges in to put the criminal down expeditiously. Peyton transforms into Black Knight and furiously fights to keep her client alive.

Black Knight and Iron Maiden fight weapon-against-weapon in the streets, on a city bridge, and later, on the rooftops over the life of a sordid criminal. Eventually, Val Cooper realizes she is the Iron Maiden and begins a battle of her own with the spirit inside her to end the killing. We conclude the issue with a virtual debate, lots of damage to public property, and a change of heart.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

Click Here To Buy This Comic

Related Information

What is Iron Maidens biggest hit?

Based on peak and sustained position at the top of the music charts, Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast is the band’s biggest hit. Based on Official Charts data, The Number of the Beast reached a peak of #3 and stayed on the Top 50 for eight weeks.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.