The Gale and Zamora have joined forces? We are soooo krobbed!!
Creative Staff:
Writers Jeff Massey & Kristin Massey
Artwork Antonio Bifulco
What They Say:
Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, died bringing Dorothy Gale back from Kansas to face Warlord, a warrior bent on subjugating Oz. Warlord resurrected the greatest evil to cast shadow over the Realm of Hope: Zamora. Fortunately, the “lost” Emerald Sage, Smynth, helped Dorothy refine her magical power. After a great battle, both side now regroup and prepare for their final conflict.
But following the betrayals and revelations at Zamoran, will Dorothy Gale once again defend the Land of Hope, or succumb to the forces that buffet at every turn?
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
After the defeat of Warlord and the resulting defection of Dorothy to her mother Zamora, the forces of Emerald City have all but given up hope. The Gale was their only way to stop the Witch Queen, but now, how do they stand a chance to vanquish this enemy? She was their leader, their light against the approaching darkness, which now seems to be engulfing the whole of Oz. The council must find a way to rally their forces before the enemy presses their advantage before it is too late. Or has the time come to nigh when the former queen visits the palace and confronts her teacher, Smynth; there will be a reckoning with the balance of the future to be judged by this battle.
She shows no hesitation, no remorse, no chance of mercy for her former comrades … they shall fall as those who once opposed her mother and ruthlessly crushed beneath her heel. How can they stop the one who they once called friend? Or is she forever lost to the evil which has already consumed Zamora? The Gale lashes out in unbridled ferocity, brushing aside those who she had fought beside to capture the Warlord, but now she is his replacement, a faithful daughter to serve alongside a loving parent. But as the final blow to her mentor is about to be struck, Dorothy hesitates, and that is all that is needed for an old ally to rejoin the fray. The tide has turned … but for which side?
In Summary:
It has a become cliché that the noble hero is lured by darkness, then at the last minute, they fight back and return to the side of the righteous. This concept has been a popular theme for stories, but perhaps the most familiar version was in Star Wars. Since pop culture has overrun by this concept, too many writers have used this as a point of interest, and so it was only a matter of time before Jeff & Kristin Massey fell on this hurdle. But this time, our heroine has an outside influence which has swayed her toward the precipice. We all know how this will end, however, what will happen to The Gale in the aftermath? Will she be torn by guilt and try to repay for their transgression – only to find that the person they killed never died or that their death was for a higher purpose. Is this the end of a peaceful Oz?
But of course, this issue would be nothing if not for Antonio Bifulco’s dynamic artwork in this series. Where we once saw an optimistic Dorothy, we now see the confident smirk that is reflected on her mother. Actions once accented by a need to vanquish the evil is now replaced by a figure now drunk with power. As she seeks to avenge the wrongs done to Zamora, the battle is like a dance of death, with The Gale taking the lead in this cruel waltz of carnage. She paints her way in the blood of her former friends and then as Smynth lies in a pool by her own hands, it is only then when the gentleness returns to her face. You cannot but get choked up by that scene, and find a spark of hope when the page is turned. Can a comic be graphically grotesque and beautifully gripping at the same time? If you need an example, this is as far as you need to go.
The team of the Masseys and Bifulco have kept us at the edge of our seats as watch Dorothy Gale’s latest legacy unfold in this series. They have unraveled the plans of Zamora to conquer Oz and her wicked ways to bring her daughter into the family business. And yet, we still see the human frailties which plague us all in these characters, even though our circumstances will never be the same; it is this uniformity which makes this story great. Through their actions will come the future of Oz, but will it be for good or bad? But why do we need to wait until next month to see how it will end?
Grade: A
Rating: 16+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: October 7th, 2015
MSRP: $3.99
