Concluding the 2-part story arc with an ending ripped straight from the headlines, ROBYN HOOD: IRON MAIDEN #2, available from Zenescope Entertainment on February 24th, 2021, pits Robyn Hood against the deadly Iron Maiden. When Jerry Wepstein uses the wrong girl for his sadistic pleasure, Iron Maiden emerges to exact lethal revenge. It’s up to Robyn Hood to bring Wepstein to justice before Iron Maiden sends him and his secrets to the grave.
The Details
- Written By: Joe Brusha
- Art By: Renato Rei
- Colors By: Grostieta
- Letters By: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Art By: Martin Coccolo, Ivan Nunes
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Release Date: February 24, 2021
Was It Good?
It was mostly good. The art from Zenescope comics is always top-notch, so there’s no issue there. The story follows a “ripped from the headlines” motif with a Grimm universe spin, but there’s a weird turn halfway through that comes out of nowhere and pulls you out of the story. Some readers may not mind it, but this reviewer felt the turn was either rushed or the writers needed a couple more pages to make it make sense.
We consistently rave about the quality of Zenescope’s art, with good reason. Check out this issue’s pages in our exclusive ROBYN HOOD: IRON MAIDEN #2 preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Iron Maiden has emerged from one of Jeffrey Wepstein’s torture devices to exact bloody revenge for the harm he’s caused her host body, Valda. Iron Maiden is smashing everything in sight in full berserker mode to get to Wepstein, and Roby Hood is doing her best to capture Wepstein before Iron Maiden can kill him.
Iron Maiden has a large mace imbued with magical powers and it can smash through anything — doors, walls, or a truck. As Wepstein flees the building, Iron Maiden leaves gaping holes everywhere trying to get to him. Robyn tries to slow her down with a few well-placed warning shots but to no effect. Iron Maiden, frustrated by Robyn’s interference, tosses a small car at Robin and pins her against a wall just long enough to get away.
So far this is great. All-out action inside that spills into the streets. The character design is detailed, the colors pop, and the action is kinetic.
While Robyn and Maiden tussle, Wepstein manages to get to the airport and takes off in a personal jet headed for a private island. Iron Maiden tracks him to the airport but barely misses Wepstein as the jet takes off.
Freed from the pinned car, Roby seeks the help of an old friend, Peyton Parks, who just so happens to moonlight in crime-fighting as the Black Knight. Peyton uses her connection to find out the location of Wepstein’s island and secure a pilot with a plane to get her there. When Robyn meets the pilot and takes off, a shadowy figure stows away on the plane.
When Robyn arrives on Wepstein’s island and suits up, the shadowy stowaway approaches her and it’s… Iron Maiden without her helmet on and acting very reasonable. There’s no objection to enemies turning allies against a common adversary, but Iron Maiden’s turn from berserker to reasonable ally comes out of nowhere with no explanation. The creator’s needed to either find a way to have them become allies as they converge on Wepstein’s compound or some flashback was needed to explain Iron Maiden’s change in demeanor.
Iron Maiden offers to team up with Robyn to raid the compound and bring Wepstein in. The compound is surrounded by a small army of guards and armored vehicles, but the dynamic duo makes short work of all the guards and their defenses.
Inside the compound, Iron Maiden tracks down Wepstein and prepares to deliver the killing blow when Robyn talks her out of it. The facilities and guards all point to funding and support from other sources, and they need Wepstein alive to turn on all his supporters. Iron Maiden reluctantly agrees, and Wepstein is arrested.
Later, we see Wepstein in jail as he works on a plea deal to give up every name of individuals that have supported him in his human trafficking efforts. As he’s escorted back to his cell, an otherworldly shadow figure appears to make sure Wepstein never talks. Wepstein’s end is… ripped straight from the headlines.
Final Thoughts
ROBYN HOOD: IRON MAIDEN #2 concludes the story arc with enemies turned tentative allies and a world-class creep put out of commission for good. The art is consistently excellent, and except for the out-of-place character turn midway through, the writing holds attention in a high-pace chase story.
Score: 7.5/10
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