Once you go down the rabbit hole, Wonderland never lets you go.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Erica J. Heflin
Art: Giorgia Sposito
What They Say::
After years of torment at the hands of Wonderland and its many psychopathic denizens, Calie Liddle finally claimed a victory. By defeating the Queen of Spades, Calie assumed leadership of Wonderland. And now she cares for the realm that once existed to torment her family. With the White Rabbit and a newly reformed Cheshire Cat by her side, Calie seeks to transform the tainted realm to its former glory … But it will not be an easy task.
This is the story of Calie Liddle … White Queen of Wonderland.
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Ace of Spades has won: Calie and Cheshire have been exiled from Wonderland and now Violet has been freed from the curse of the Mad Hatter. The legacy of the Liddle family seems to have ended and they have now regretfully returned to Earth to continue their uneventful lives. But, with all that her daughter has done while under that manipulator’s influence, can the former White Queen trust her own flesh and blood? A rift between the pair has formed, and it may well be one in which their relationship may never recover. However, can mother and her child ever be truly apart, even after the repercussions of Wonderland?
Though they may be isolated from that madness, the stink of that realm has infused itself throughout the dark bowels of the city. The stench of its insanity still pervades the atmosphere around the Liddles’, and Violet is determined to redeem herself by finding the root of that decay. But, does she honestly think that an ex-Hatter can track down the cause of these perversions without her powers? A Hatter without her abilities is just a normal human, and how can someone so normal stand chance against the lunacy of a cult called the Wondermen? Conviction and luck can only embolden you so far, and Violet armed with just a shard of glass may be on her own against an army of these fanatics, unless she can convince them otherwise.
In Summary:
Wonderland may be the main basis of the story line, but writer Erica Heflin has woven an excellent aftermath in lieu the colourful inhabitants of that realm. Who ever said that the madness was confined to that realm is sadly mistaken since insanity knows no bounds or borders, even when the Liddles’ are exiled from their home. Delusions can take many forms and with a little push from its origins, they can take shape even on Earth. The White Queen, Cheshire and the Mad Hatter may have left their old lives behind, but that doesn’t mean that it will leave them alone. Heflin has made sure that they know no peace and we can continue to follow their legacy, in all its gloomy ecstasy.
However, Giorgia Sposito also has her hand in this maniacal potion which we so joyously quaff with renewed vigour. While the mother liquor may have left a bad taste in our mouths and the remnants of the rose coloured glasses may still tint our vision with mirages of reality, this new spirit has its own deleterious effects upon the pair. While it may not be as strong as the original, the fallout from this new creation is just as grounding, with a crystallization on the senses dulling them just enough so as to allow enough of the hysteria to seep through. The drug is just as chilling, making those rational beings taking it drift into the dream of Wonderland, with all regrets deadened so that they may carry out the wishes of that land. It is terrifying that Sposito can so gradually increase the dosage as we are re-introduced back into the madness that the last sinister act has almost no effect once we acknowledge that it is normal for the Wondermen, as sickening as it can be to understand.
Wonderland may have abandoned the Liddles, but the insanity has not left. It still has an influence on them and the world around them and that is what makes this story worthy of their effort. Although we may miss that psychotropic-induced state, this new playground is just as delightful if not more so since it can strike so close to home. Cults can take their grip and can just as easily draw us down, but hopefully it will not swallow us whole like it does to the Wondermen.
Grade: B+
Rating: 16+
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: January 20th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
