As the end draws near … so too must heroes seek resolution.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Pat Shand
Artwork: J.G. Miranda
Colors: Ceci de la Cruz
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
As Marian and the witches unite to launch a massive attack against the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Robyn must place her trust in the murderous Cindy to escape a perilous situation. The stakes have never been higher as the heroes and villains of the Grimm Universe are put to the test!Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Ali has the students from Arcane Acre, Marian and the coven at his mercy … all in the same graveyard where Sela and his true love Hailey met their ends. In a cruel bit of irony he relishes letting his former friends meet the same fate where he lost everything, but not if Polly can do anything about it. As he gloats over Skye’s helpless form, the rest of the group begin to concoct a counter attack, catching him off guard. However even with the power of the Dark Light, the misguided boy is still no equal to the ferocity of Marian and is easily captured. Now with the aid of this powerful talisman, the witches must divine where the Horsemen will strike next. But even as they attempt this difficult endeavor, Liesel is scouring the cesspools of New York for any monstrous scum who may have a cure for Hades’ condition. While she pursues this Sisyphean pursuit, the God of the Underworld tries to reconcile with his daughter Angelica after saving her from the destruction of War, which left her in a fragile state.
As the coven lick their wounds, Polly congratulates Marian for her efforts in securing the Dark Light, but even a superficial effort in using the mystic device leaves her drained. While the elder sorceress may try to placate Sam by declaring that the scepter is of no danger to her partner, she still does not trust the mysterious staff. However while they try to foresee the harbingers next target, Robyn and Cindy have found themselves within the midst of Famine’s wake, its victims staving for anything to stave off their hunger. As they wander through the devastated Kazakhstani marketplace, the two blondes have little luck in finding any new clues until the victims respond to the Horseman’s call. In their desperate attempt to survive, they will serve anyone who promises relief, even from the one who caused the suffering. Thus the two heroines find themselves once again fight against innocents, all in an endless struggle to stop the madness which will end the world. But will this ineffectual exercise bring them any close to finding the last two heralds or is it all for naught?
In Summary:
As the series begins to wind down, Pat Shand still manages to hit us with more heartfelt drama from the premise of this issue: forgiveness. Through all the struggles from the Apocalypse, even our heroes have been strained to their limits both mentally and physically. We have seen Ali become driven to the brink from the death of Hailey, listening to demons who only have their own vile intentions to carry through the misguided boy. Hades has watched from afar as his daughter tried to help defeat one of the Horsemen, leaving her a burnt out shell. And of course, the most devastating conflict of all – Robyn and Marian’s relationship ripped asunder due to each other’s stubbornness in neither wishing to concede to their own pride. We have seen all of these connections flourish and then just as easily destroyed by misunderstandings, always ending in losses which could just as easily been prevented. Of course in foresight, we can acknowledge those mistakes, but now the damage has been done. To be able to avoid such confusion would be ideal, but then how would the individual be able to grow without such stumbling blocks on their road to enlightenment? Then again, those same trials bring the greatest meaning, and thus, the most tender moments in a story. You cannot but smile when you see the characters conceding to their faults, but at the same time, you have to admire when someone has the will to resign to their own lapses in judgement. Which one is the better or does it really matter?
But of course all of those wonderful thoughts and actions would be visually insignificant without someone bringing them to life and that falls upon the talented hands of J.G. Miranda and Ceci de la Cruz. Nothing displays their wondrous skill more than the opening double spread; in all its spectacular glory, we are magnificently assaulted by a phenomenal array of mind blowing details and then the vivid layout of colors brings everything into focus, with a mesmerizing palette of electric purples and blues. However we are not left on the ledge once they weave their spell upon us, of course it could only better as Miranda crafts such intensity in Marian’s pupiless eyes that we are stunned by her passion, until we view Wiglaf’s reaction. The raw savagery within this issue is only balanced by the dedication he puts into the emotion displayed on the characters faces, clearly showing what is felt inside. Horror, anger, frustration, bewilderment and sorrow … all so clearly etched on each face that words become unnecessary to express those feelings. Then add de la Cruz’s overcast canvas and nothing else needs to be said than to show us how she handles raw fervor with just a change of tones – expressing darker inclinations with a change of color. This is how a story should be told!
I love how the shame of regret and the warmth of forgiveness are handled so brilliantly within this story. They burn without being consumed by intensity and yet, are not swallowed by what surrounds it. The passion of the human spirit never fades even when faced by impossible odds … and will prevail as it must to overcome adversity in the darkest of hours. How can you not wait with bated breath for the double-sized finale? Only the need to re-read the previous issues will overcome the hunger to know how it all ends.
Grade: A+
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: December 28, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
