This isn’t the Grimm Universe that we know … but is it one that we would love to get to know better!
Creative Staff:
Writer: Pat Shand
Artwork: Annapaola Martello & Daniele Cosentino
What They Say:
In an alternate reality, Robyn Hood, Alice Liddle, Cinderella, Van Helsing, Nathan Cross and many other of the popular Grimm Universe characters live in a stunning but dangerous world unlike any you’ve seen before. When a group of outlaws lead by the infamous Robyn Locksley pulls off a major heist, she and her crew are hunted down by the local sheriff, a mysterious assassin, and an extremely dangerous gangster who runs the town from the shadows!
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Aether is the life blood of this world and as such, it is more valuable than silver or gold. But, when a shipment is intercepted by a gang of bandits composed of Robyn, Alice and Cinderella, the livelihood of the crew of the Albatross-XI is threatened by these flaxen hoodlums. Captain Nathan Cross earnestly confronts them, though soon learns that these blonde beauties are not to be trifled with and will retaliate to keep their newly acquired wealth. The cargo is valuable and his reputation is on the line so he must defend his ship at all costs, but can even he stop them?
Sadly, the answer is soon apparent when he finds himself unconscious and being operated upon by the beautiful Liesel to tend to his injuries. She and Sheriff Shang know all too well of these villains and their escapades and ask Cross for help after they relate the truth behind the Aether. Unfortunately, as the Captain and his new allies get to know each other, the Sheriff receives a visit from the Queen’s enforcers; he is given the ultimatum: to back off or Shang will never see his wife again, alive at least. But who is this mysterious boss who holds so much sway over the Sun District and why does she want the law to stop investigating the loss? The bold trio may find out more about her before our heroes do.
In Summary:
First off, let me state that these are not the same characters we have grown to love from the popular Zenescope title lines. While Pat Shand may have gleaned them from their various series, the personalities have been so skillfully altered in being recognisable but in some cases the disparities have been radically changed as to be from the other side of the proverbial coin; although in some cases, it was almost as if the coin was flipped and it landed on the edge – so the personality is a mixture of both good and bad, which is a good thing. Is it refreshing to see our favourites projecting a different side of themselves, all set within a steampunk western, like the classic TV show The Wild Wild West. If I did have one criticism against the story, it would be that we are thrust into this unfamiliar atmosphere without any developmental details, making us gather the facts from the art and narrative. This may not disclose the facts as fully as some readers may like, but it also concentrates the story upon what should be the most important: the characters.
The other factour which also makes this series standout is the artwork of Annapaola Martello and her layout assistant Daniele Cosentino. While the on the surface you may be reminded of a classic western from Sergio Leone with his signature extreme close ups and fantastic wide screen panels, the pages are further enhanced by the darker than usual line art. This overbearing heaviness of the work gives the images a gritty feel and imposes a resolution upon the characters which is not usually present in most comics. This in turn gives them an underlying determination which is cast onto the page as an ever present shadow, granting them the fervor to accomplish their goals – even if they have to stand down a cloaked stranger at midnight.
Grimm Fairy Tales Steampunk is an interesting twist on that old west movie where we have the hero standing against all odds and he is carry only a six shooter, but this time it is attached to his cybernetic arm! While it may seem unusual to see our old friends in this strange setting, it does fit the Zenescope Universe where unlikely events turn into exhilarating stories crafted from the depths of a world of magic and exotic creatures. Where the final issue will take us all depends on Shand and Martello, but we are sure to enjoy that wild horse ride, as long as the animal is equipped with its own set of bionic legs!
Grade: A
Rating: 16+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: January 27th, 2016
MSRP: $5.99
