GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA, from Zenescope Entertainment on 8/30/23, finds Zodiac visiting his wayward brother in prison when Hydra arrives to reclaim her deadliest lieutenant.
The Details
- Written by: Chas! Pangburn
- Art by: Sergio Ariño
- Colors by: Fran Gamboa, J.C. Ruiz
- Letters by: Chas! Pangburn
- Cover art by: Riveiro (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: August 30, 2023
Is GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA Good?
GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA pays a visit to one of the seldom-used characters in the Zenescope library with a heartfelt adventure about brothers reconnecting after a traumatic separation. Plus, you get mind-controlling villains and Lovecraftian nightmares to spice things up. Considering 2023 is the Year of Lovecraft for Zenescope, this is as good a tie-in comic as you could hope for, even if it serves as a flimsy excuse to get Hydra in Dagon’s army.
When last we left Zodiac, he teamed up with the Black Knight to stop his lovesick brother, Scorpio, from carrying out Hydra’s evil plan. Scorpio’s no angel, but Hydra’s mind-controlling powers helped keep Scorpio in her thrall. Now, Zodiac struggles to restore his relationship with his brother when Hydra returns to reclaim Scorpio for her new plan. Then things get weird.
Weird is right. Based on the cover and the setup, you’d rightly think this comic is merely a follow-up to Zodiac’s last encounter with Hydra. Mostly, that’s how this comic plays out. But Dagon and Tempest appear out of the blue to pull this issue into the Lovecraft theme, and it’s an interesting but jarring development.
What’s great about GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA? More Zodiac is better. Zenescope has a much wider array of characters at their disposal than you regularly see, so dusting off characters sitting on the shelf is a good thing. Further, this issue may not be the cleanest jumping-on point for Zodiac, but you get a good idea about Zodiac’s background and his relationship with his brother. There’s a lot of emotional development and motivational meat to build on in this issue, and we sincerely hope Zenescope finds a way to keep Zodiac off the shelf.
What’s not so great about GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA? Dagon and Tempest’s arrival comes out of nowhere, and it’s even more jarring than it sounds. You’re in the middle of a fight when the Lovecraftian villains suddenly appear without warning. Neither Dagon nor Tempest can fly or teleport, so it’s unclear how a group that big can suddenly show up without noticing. If you’re reading other Zenescope titles, you can see how this title turns into a tie-in, but smooth it is not.
How’s the art? Sergio Ariño expertly presents the Zenescope house style with clean lines, fast-paced action, and creative panel layouts. Better still, Fran Gamboa and J.C. Ruiz’s coloring work is exceptional.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Zodiac visiting his brother, Scorpio, in prison. After their last encounter, Scorpio was sentenced for his part in helping Hydra commit her crimes. The meeting is contentious because Scorpio puts too much blame for his actions on Hydra and her mind-control powers.
Later, Hydra pulls up to the prison with a gang of goons, and they incite a riot to distract the guards while Hydra searches for her target. Hydra has come to break Scorpio out of prison to serve her next criminal venture. Scorpio has a change of heart after talking with his brother and decides not to cooperate. Hydra puts the whammy on Scorpio to force him to come along.
We conclude with a brother-against-brother fight, a new opponent entering the battlefield, and an upgrade for Hydra.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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GRIMM SPOTLIGHT: ZODIAC VS. HYDRA brings attention to one of Zenescope’s lesser-known characters when Zodiac grapples with his brother’s fate as Hydra’s plans get in the way. The emotional beats are strong, Zodiac’s (and Scoprio’s) future potential is stronger, and the art is solid. That said, Dagon’s appearance comes out of nowhere to disrupt the flow of the story.
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