GRIMM UNIVERSE PRESENTS 2019 (Zenescope Entertainment, January 31, 2019 release date) 66 pages. $7.99 cover price. Story concepts by Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, Terry Kavanagh, Nick Barmel, Howard Mackie, and Ben Meares. Writers: Terry Kavanagh, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, Joe Brusha, Nick Bermel, Howard Mackie, and Ben Meares. Artists:
J. G. Miranda, Salvatore Cuffari, Marcello Mueller, Reno Rodriguez, Leo Rodrigues, Daniel Mane, Babisu Kourtis, and Allan Otero.
It’s been a long time since I’ve explored what Zenescope Entertainment has to offer to comics readers. This one-shot preview anthology gives a glimpse into the direction the company is taking in 2019 and provides a good re-introduction. Some things remain the same; yet many changes have occurred.
My initial impression of the company came from random readings of various Grimm Fairy Tales titles, which focused on modern updates of ancient fairy tales usually featuring beautiful women in dangerous situations and often quite capable of resolving matters on their own. Begun in 2005 by Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco, Zenescope has moved beyond its’ initial flagship title, Grimm Fairy Tales, to branch out beginning with original horror titles and adding new fantasy works launching from familiar backgrounds such as Alice’s Wonderland, Oz, and the legends of Robin Hood, Dracula, etc.
Fans of heroic fiction in comics that are getting tired of the same old, same old superhero storylines will find a welcome alternative in Zenescope. It’s still good vs. evil heroic fiction, but rather than capes and cowls there are characters utilizing their physical skills and sometimes magical abilities rather than super powers. You won’t find many costumed antagonists - - just villains of a monstrous or mystical nature (vampires, werewolves, witches, sorcerors, demons, etc). One other thing that hasn’t changed is the predominance of strong female heroes throughout the Zenescope universe. As a refreshing change of pace, male characters play secondary and support roles.
GRIMM UNIVERSE PRESENTS 2019 offers eight short tales, either the beginnings of new story arcs for established characters or the introduction of new titles. All eight hold promise, but there are four that made me curious to see more. I’ll be following these in 2019 - - - Hellchild, Zodiac, Dragonsblood, and Gretel. I believe each of these is a brand-new series.
GRIMM UNIVERSE does a solid job of highlighting each series and provides enough background within eight pages to allow readers to become familiar with both character and storyline. Zenescope has a reputation for colorful art, and there are no slackers here. The action is well-defined and there is a nice fluidity to the progression of images across the panels. I detect a house style, which is not such a bad thing if it means quality. I’d be hard pressed to look at random samples of art from these titles and be able to identify the specific artist. RECOMMENDED.
Here’s a brief rundown of the contents:
THE BLACK KNIGHT: Public defender Peyton Parks moonlights as The Black Knight and is not afraid to slice fingers off with her broadsword. In “Party Crashing” she may have mistaken an armored muscle guy (and potential new character) as a protagonist.
HELLCHILD: She looks like a punk rocker, but don’t mess with the daughter of Hades. This half-goddess, half-vampire is a tracker for hire but in “For Hire” she seems quite capable of working both sides of the aisle. One of my picks to keep an eye on.
OZ: In “On The Run” a new storyline begins in The Land Of Oz as heroine Dorothy Gale has to deal with an evil double reining as Grand Wizard. I like the spin on Toto as a powerful gray wolf rather than a little yapping terrier.
VAN HELSING: In “Daughter” the daughter of Abraham Van Helsing, who’s a beautiful but mean steampunk-styled demon/vampire slayer with a wicked crossbow, gets ready for a confrontation with another daughter — of Dracula.
ZODIAC: An origin story starts “A Zodiac Is Born”, with a 2004 member of the Belfast Irish Republican Army becoming a one-man judge, jury, and executioner. He kills an IRA family member by accident and has to flee to the English countryside where he discovers Camelot. Seems like he’s going to be transformed into an armored hero. Punisher War Machine? Nah, just a coincidence. A nice departure from the Zenescope format with a strong male central character. New mini-series in February. One of my picks to keep an eye on.
DRAGONSBLOOD: Zenescope’s take on Norse mythology, with another strong male primary character. But is warlord Sigfried Dragonsblood a savior or a scourge? Seems like the latter according to a wandering minstrel who spins a tavern tale of the murderous sacrifice of innocents, until a patron disputes his story. New series in May. One of my picks to keep an eye on, which should be of interest to all fans of mythological fantasy.
ROBYN HOOD: “Side Job” is a prelude to the ROBYN HOOD:OUTLAW series. Archer Robyn takes another assignment from the strange oriental and has to capture an ancient text page from summoners before they bring forth a demon. Oops, too late.
GRETEL: At a sleazy Gator Alley bar in the swamps, Gretel laments her cursed life just before being attacked by witches. She’s missing her deceased brother Hansel, and her present life is a “Heartbreaker”. But, she wears a slew of tattoos with mystical symbols (and maybe powers) and becomes stronger with every witches heart she consumes. Just don’t interrupt her when she’s trying to brood with a brew. New series in March. One of my picks to keep an eye on.
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