GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: MYSTERE – DIVINITY – Review

GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: MYSTERE – DIVINITY, from Zenescope Entertainment on March 30th, 2022, teams Mystere with Talisman to find a missing Voodoo acolyte. Their search reveals a new enemy determined to purge the world of darkness… and anyone who wields it.

The Details

• Written By: Joe Brusha
• Art By: Renato Rei
• Colors By: Robby Bevard
• Letters By: Taylor Esposito
• Cover Art By: Igor Vitorino
• Cover Price: $5.99
• Release Date: March 30, 2022

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Was It Good?

Religion and faith can be difficult subjects to tackle in comics. Not every publisher or writer is up to the task, however, this is the second week in a row where Zenescope has put out a comic with a supernatural story that uses elements of faith in a meaningful way. Last week, Zenescope put out the excellent RISE OF THE DJINN #3, and this week it’s GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: MYSTERE – DIVINITY.

In this issue, Mystere is getting used to daily life with Talisman by her side (in a platonic way) when a new threat emerges to start taking out anyone who uses dark magic, whether for good or evil. The story isn’t super complicated or complex on its face. However, something is intriguing about hero-class characters who wield power rooted in the supernatural and “darkness” when held up against an opponent who claims to be on the side of God and righteousness.

The trick with these types of stories is not to lean too hard in one direction or the other by focusing on the people rather than the respective faiths those characters follow. Brusha could have gone the cheap route by turning this story into a “followers of religion are all crazies” approach, but instead took a nuanced approach to show characters with flaws who go too far in the name of faith.

In short, Brusha’s writing here is excellent. The fledgling relationship between Mystere and Talisman is believable. Divinity’s motivations make sense (once the truth is revealed). And, the story has a complete ending but leaves just enough material for a follow-up later on.

The story is enhanced by the excellent art from Rei, Bevard, and Esposito. Rei chose a large grid panel layout for the majority of this issue and the page transitions flowed nicely. Bevard’s colors make excellent use of light and energy for the big battle scenes, and Esposito’s lettering is on point considering some of the tight spaces Rei’s panel designs leave.

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 Corey, a young voodoo priest in training, walking home through the dark streets of New Orleans when he’s suddenly attacked by a person with holy light powers. Later, Myster and Talisman are working at the local soup kitchen when Corey’s mother approaches them asking for help finding her son.

Mystere and Talisman retrace Corey’s steps from the night before and find he’s been killed. Mystere can commune with Corey’s spirit to find out what happened. Suddenly, Divinity, the person with holy light powers, attacks Mystere as part of her mission to destroy anyone who has a connection to darkness. The fight goes badly. Mystere is presumed killed and Divinity spirits Talisman away to her master.

Later, Mystere digs herself out of an avalanche of building rubble and locates Talisman with the help of Corey’s spirit. Divinity turned Talisman over to her master, a manipulative and fanatical pastor named Burt. We conclude the issue with a revelation, a rescue, and a reckoning.

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

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