Nothing is as it seems in Wonderland – who is friend and who is foe?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Erica J. Heflin
Art: Marc Rosete
What They Say:
After years of torment at the hands of Wonderland and its many psychopathic denizens, Calie Liddle finally claimed a victory. By defeating the Queen of Spades, Calie assumed leadership of Wonderland. And now she cares for the realm that once existed to torment her family. With the White Rabbit and a newly reformed Cheshire Cat by her side, Calie seeks to transform the tainted realm to its former glory … But it will not be an easy task.
This is the story of Calie Liddle … White Queen of Wonderland.
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The insanity of Wonderland, it’s not something that anyone can handle like Calie. However, even the White Queen must take a break from time to time and what better than to catch up with her old friend, Drew. But how things have changed while she was away, memories of the past cannot be held forever, everything must change, for better or worse. And yet, even as Calie wishes that she could reminisce more, the duties of a monarch call her back to reality.
The Terror is still on the loose and the En Passant remains bound to his neck. He cannot remove it by himself, but the Red Rabbit’s employer knows of a way; the Ace of Spades will release him from his bindings, if he will help in vanquishing the Queen. However, she must be made to suffer, her death cannot come too quickly. She must learn the price of failure, one piece at a time. She will know what it feels like to loose everything before the end when Wonderland shall rise again in the right hands.
But, will the Squire be there to watch or will she be the first to fall? Cheshire has always smelt the putrid scent of evil clinging to her and now her latest venture has let loose the foulest stench of all. Although she did help to capture the Terror, it was treachery from within which allowed him to escape. Who else could have could have helped him since she was the only other outsider within the castle? Why would she do such a thing unless she had an ulterior motive. And yet, even after the big cat’s accusations, she still remains silent.
The dungeon is the Queen’s only option. If the Squire will not speak on her own behalf, she has no other choice. The silent warrior offers neither excuse nor defence, as such, guilt seems to be the only alternative. However, as this charade continues, her reticence allows the escapee to mould another to his will – the nightmare shall bring another to embrace the darkness.
In Summary:
Heflin continues to marvelously shape the world of the White Queen as she heightens the insanity of that land. However, this new story arc now introduces a new twist in the path, dragging Drew into Calie’s delusional world. Hopefully, this character’s interaction with the real world and Wonderland will allow a more complex interaction between the two realms, which the previous stories have lacked.
And with the launch of this new tangent, we are shown a different artistic style with Marc Rosete. His crisp lines and dramatic use of shadow help to add depth to the introduction of the mastermind behind the escape of the Terror – the Ace of Spades. His grim world is a complete opposite to Calie’s rose laden atmosphere and this contrast sets the stage as the two realms begin to merge; as his plan comes to fruition, the nightmare begins to spread and it seems that the White Queen’s downfall may come sooner than he planned.
Grade: B+
Rating: 16+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: July 8th, 2015
MSRP: $3.99
