Massacre for a cause … but is it worth this ghoulish price?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Zach Calig
Artwork: Diego Galindo
What They Say:
In modern day 2015, a group of unsuspecting women are attacked and killed in New England. The men responsible call themselves the New Crusaders and they are determined to find a young woman named Avril Williams, a descendant of one of the most powerful witches of all time. It’s a race against time as Baba Yaga returns in one of the most intense and exciting Grimm Universe titles of the year!
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Blood Moon Prophecy, a tetrad of four blood moons, is a signal of the end times; but to some, it is a religious celebration. Although on this night, it will be an ill omen for Avril Williams’ coven: the crusaders of the Arcania Covenant have decided that tonight they hunt their prey – witches. They will offer no mercy for these unnatural creatures until they find the one they seek, who unfortunately is Avril. She will be spared and the rest will be burned alive – traditional punishment for these criminals. This was not the first time they have done this, and it certainly will not be the last.
But this time, they will not be allowed to escape for Baba Yaga has come to avenge her sisters. The truce has been broken and she will not allow a single one to survive. And yet, this time these heroes wish to make a deal for the sorceress’ charge: the safe return of Avril if she will help them defeat Liz of the Cedar Swamp. This evil witch has given both sides grief and so they have a common enemy. However, can these soldiers be trusted after this massacre? Does Baba have much of a choice?
Still this stalemate will continue unless one side can overcome previous prejudices and take the first step, and Baba Yaga will do so with a worthy sacrifice. These soldiers will serve their purpose to bring peace between the covens to solidify against a common foe – the Covenant. As Liz was a victim of the previous culling, she has no love loss for these crusaders, but can she be trusted? Or can they unite with treachery afoot?
In Summary:
Writer Zach Calig gets this series off to an explosive start with the slaughter of so many innocents. But, were they as he weaves an encompassing story trying to portray the New Crusaders as heroes? The group has been doing this for almost two thousand years since the Salem Witch Trials, and yet during that dark time, the religious fervor was to persecute any who were different and of course, this included witches. The same discrimination now fuels their current blood lust and it does not seem have waned over the centuries.
However, their newest member Dartanian appears to be questioning the group’s doctrine. This same name was also used by Alexandre Dumas in his novel The Three Musketeers; however, that character did not become a follower since he was deemed to be the most worthy of the group. Will Calig’s version draw the same conclusion or will he fall in line and become another zealot? He seems to be one of the linchpins of this series. I hope he becomes a dramatic turning point in the story.
And yet, one cannot forget Diego Galindo’s frenetic art style. He brings the story alive with the sinister undertones which submerge the reader in the war between the two factions. You shiver as he portrays the cruelty the Covenant has towards these women all for just being witches. They show no compassion and that was masterfully portrayed with the one page showing the head hunter and his grisly trophies! I shuddered when I saw that scene.
At first Coven appears to be another tale of fanatics trying to destroy their enemies, but as you being to understand Dartanian’s misgivings and the hope of Baba Yaga trying to save Avril, it becomes something more. Calig’s interweaving of the two viewpoints gives the story subtle tinges of reality which makes it all the more stirring for the reader’s enjoyment; it makes you yearn for more and curious to know what will happen next!
Grade: A
Rating: 17+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: July 1st, 2015
MSRP: $3.99
