This trip to see The Wizard is not one I would sing about!
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 battle lines have been drawn and the eternal cycle begins again as the Wizard and the New Crusaders have returned Avril to Liza and the Cedar Swamp Coven. The leader of the Covenant has what he wanted, a new life, while the witches have the Chosen One and her power; both sides have reached an agreement, but will they be satisfied with this bargain? Neither one trusts the other and thus, can they let age old grudges be put aside for a temporary truce? Even within his own cadre the Wizard knows that he must start anew, however Dartanian and Baba Yaga realise that from those men they can cull a force to help their own cause, if they can convince them to change sides.
Dartanian understands that his brothers will not believe his treasonous lies about their leader, but he must try to convince them of his true intentions. They have lived together since they were boys and he trusts them more than any others, but will they able to belay their prejudices until they hear him out? Or will the leader be able to as sway them to his side with more of his lies? Either way, the choice will be difficult for those who chose the wrong path, for the Wizard will not allow any traitors within their ranks. The Knight will gladly do what is necessary to quell this rebellion as Baba Yaga will too not allow the Covenant’s monstrosity to see another sunrise. Each will do what they must to extinguish what they see as wrong, but who is to say which side is right?
But as the battle continues, Avril is being prepared for her role in their survival. Although she is a fellow witch, her weakness is that she belongs to the wrong faction within the sisterhood. Her pacifism will be her undoing for only the strong will survive this war from without and within. She is the Prophecised Child and it is from her strength that Liza will win this struggle by using that power to subdue all those who stand against the Coven – even if it is her kind. And once they are pacified, the New Crusaders will not be able to withstand her strength. This ritual will be the final solution for all of their problems and if one must suffer to ensure the security of the many, then that is a sacrifice that she is willing to make.
In Summary:
The Coven and the Covenant have shown their true colours and although it may seem that convictions may be different, their methods are remarkably similar. Writer Zach Calig has woven this tale into a story of principles whereby both sides’ leader have their own agenda – to wipe out the other all due to prejudice. And the high irony is that both Liza and The Wizard depend on the other to gain their own goals; they need each other, whether they wish to admit it or not, and yet they are not above to sacrificing their own pawns to accomplish the end game. However, they will not hesitate to annihilate the other’s forces as long as their counterpart survives – the ultimate hawk/dove gambit.
But as strange as this is and for all their power, the New Crusaders’ leader and the Knight are so easily vanquished by a sleeper hold and a grenade? The former is immortal and the latter seems to feel no pain but Calig eliminates their interference this easily? Too bad they couldn’t have been around for the final battle, but maybe he wanted to tie up the loose ends before the end? I just hope this isn’t any indication of how the last issue culminate, otherwise, I know I won’t be the only one disappointed.
However, to save us from that mediocre story, Diego Galindo enchanted us with another book of unending action! Bullets flying, bodies chopped in half, explosions, heads blown up and gouts of magic … what’s not to like? And yet he will still able to interweave Avril’s suffering within all of this violence – an innocent enveloped within a war she cannot understand nor has any interest in acknowledging aside from her involuntary involvement. Her tears are real, but they are swallowed by the death and destruction around her due her existence which makes her suffering all the more poignant.
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Coven is near the end and with it, the climax for survival comes to a conclusion. One side seems to be at an impasse while the other is at the brink of grasping their key to ultimate power, but what will be unlocked if Liza wins? All we know for sure is that Dartanian is fulfilling his namesake and Baba Yaga will be by his side to ensure that Avril makes it out alive, but who is to say if all the players will be able to walk out when the war is finished? It can’t be that easy, can it?
Grade: B+
Rating: 17+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: November 4th, 2015
MSRP: $3.99
