ZENESCOPE LEGENDS – SPRING 2025 EDITION, by Zenescope on 4/30/25, gives readers a taste of Zenescope’s solo heroes when Robyn seeks stony justice, Liesel faces a vampire, and Killer Kobra battles mutants.
Credits:
- Writer: Joe Brusha
- Artist: Gabriel Jardim, Saint Yak. Massimiliano La Manno
- Colorist: Robby Bevard, Grostieta, Maxflan Araujo
- Letterer: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist: Marco Santucci (cover A)
- Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
- Release Date: April 30, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $6.99
- Page Count: 44
- Format: Oversized Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of ZENESCOPE LEGENDS – SPRING 2025 EDITION:
Plot Analysis:
Robyn Hood: The Gargoyles Curse
Robyn and Peyton Parks, aka the Black Knight, to stop a relentless gargoyle from turning members of the judicial system to stone. Peyton’s research uncovers a centuries-old curse cast by a coven of witches unjustly executed. Now, Robyn has to stop the curse or the cycle will keep repeating every 20 years.
Joe Brusha’s tale of generational curses in the Big Apple hits the nail on the head for a traditional Robyn Hood adventure. Robyn and Peyton both have brawn on their side, but when faced with an unstoppable monster, they resort to brains and critical thinking to get the job done. As a plus, Gabriel Jardim’s artwork is on point.
Van Helsing: The Last Stake
Liesel Van Helsing heads to Greenwich, Connecticut, to investigate a series of murders in which the victims were bled dry. The murders were too public to be anything other than an invitation, so Van Helsing follows the trail to the ancient vampire Lord Victor Aldane. Van Helsing storms Aldane’s lair, but the vampire offers conversation and a game of chess to explain his deadly designs for her and the world. When the game ends, Van Helsing is forced to play a final gambit before she learns the identity of Aldane’s secret (and more powerful) partner.
Joe Brusha uses Van Helsing’s psychological battle with Aldane as a prelude to bigger vampire problems on the horizon. Again, the message is brains over brawn, which works well in this case to build dramatic tension and elevate Van Helsing’s cleverness. Also, Saint Yak’s textured inks give Liesel and Aldane a gothic, shadowy appearance that suits the atmosphere of the story.
Killer Kobra: Fists, Fangs, & Fanboys
Zenescope’s newest hero, Killer Kobra, leaps into action in his hometown of Philadelphia when a squad of masked mercenaries attacks a medical research lab. The mercenaries are bizarre lizard men in disguise, but Killer Kobra is undeterred. KK’s talking mongoose, Chopstick, joins the fight, but KK asks him to run crowd control when a streaming superfan called Iron Claw decides to film the fight. Suddenly, the mutant lizard men’s leader, Komodo Kahn, swoops in to steal a deadly virus. Killer Kobra now winds up with an impossible problem – stop Komodo Khan and recover the virus, or save Iron Claw from becoming road kill.
Joe Brusha’s master of martial arts returns for an urban-set thriller packed with impressive kicks, flips, chops, and punches. The inclusion of a live streamer who’s too stupid to know when he’s putting himself in danger feels right for our times, albeit a bit annoying. The open-ended resolution makes sense, even if it is unsatisfying.
First Impressions:
New readers who are unfamiliar with Zenescope’s cast of characters outside of the Grimm Fairy Tales line will get a kick out of Joe Brusha’s sampler that introduces the heroes and teases things to come.
Artwork and Presentation:
Across the board, the art ranges from good to great. There isn’t a stinker in the bunch. Of the three artists tapped to bring these shorts to life, Saint Yak’s work on the Van Helsing story earns the top spot, but they’re all winners.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Skye Mathers and the Shang Gang are the flagship characters for Zenescope, but Joe Brusha puts a considerable amount of thought and heart into spotlighting other characters who might pique your interest. Zenscope has a catalog that is big enough to give even the Big 2 a run for their money, so new readers should check this anthology out.
The Negatives:
The weakest spot of ZENESCOPE LEGENDS – SPRING 2025 EDITION is the unsatisfying ending to Killer Kobra’s adventure. KK does something heroic, but he doesn’t quite win, which is a downer.
Final Thoughts:
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ZENESCOPE LEGENDS – SPRING 2025 EDITION is a perfect way to get readers on board with Zenescope’s new and underappreciated characters. Joe Brusha gives Robyn, Liesel, and KK each an adventure that fits perfectly in their respective wheelhouses, and each artist turns in excellent work.
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