If you ever have to face the Order … be sure not to underestimate them.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Derlis Santacruz
Colors: Jorge Cortes
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Skye’s search for Jasmine has brought her to New Orleans and to the doorstep of the evil Order of Tarot, which has plagued her ever since she became the new Guardian. As she uncovers Tarot’s secret plots, she realizes that it is more far reaching and deadly than even Shang suspects. Unfortunately for her, Tarot doesn’t plan to let her survive long enough to bring the information back to him.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
(Warning: This issue contains spoilers for Grimm Fairy Tales: Dance of the Dead and The Musketeers.)
After making the mistake of underestimating the Order of Tarot, Skye tracked their followers to one of the cemeteries in New Orleans. It was there where the Guardian found them preparing to performing a ritual, however while she assumed to catch them unaware, it was they who were waiting for her. Now bound by magical chains, the novice protector finds herself their prisoner, being watched over by Judgment and a devilish woman gloating over her helpless form. As the red skinned temptress gloats as to the ease of her capture, she proudly brandishes the Book of Fables, arrogantly proclaiming it was the Order who were guiding Mathers’ actions from the beginning. Even as Skye tries to deny any influence by the group and Jasmine’s unintentional help, it all becomes clear during her past year they have been behind everything. While Skye vehemently denies their guidance and want nothing else than to throttle this torturer, the demonic woman offers another option – join the Order of Tarot.
Insulted this foe would even suggest such an absurd proposition, Skye verbally lashes out, proudly stating she would rather die than join the Order. Amused by her temper tantrum, the crimson adversary calmly pronounces she will give her an hour to mull over the suggestion, by that time she will return to carry out the counter proposal. As the members of Tarot prepare for the ceremony, a lone figure enters the dungeon and reveals herself to be Sybilla, come to free the Guardian from her predicament. However even as the old woman is anxious to leave this crypt, this protector wants to complete the mission, much to her rescuer’s chagrin. On nothing more than a whim, Skye surges forward into the main chamber as the devil woman is preparing to sacrifice her lowly followers. Much to Mathers’ surprise, the victims are insane with rage at the interruption, prepared to do anything for the ritual to continue, until they are rendered unconscious with a massive pulse of mystical energies. With none blocking their way, the two domineering women clash blades, energy electrifying the room and stunning all in amazement by the power. There is nothing either side can do until the conflict is complete, but is the Guardian of the Nexus underestimating her rival … or was all of her talk full of bluster?
In Summary:
Not sure why, but this month seemed longer in waiting to see how Skye would face off against the Order of Tarot, but now that it has occurred, to put it bluntly, the resolution is a disappointment with how it ends. We knew the repercussions of this confrontation would reverberate throughout the Zenescope universe, however when writer Joe Brusha exposed us to a new plot twist, I had to shake my head in amazement as to what happened and how it spoils two other titles. Of course, anyone following the mythos knew they were going to eventually replace the Dark One’s position, and the power vacuum would cause this struggle, but the method by which a new character is fully introduced leaves us puzzled in why do it in this fashion. Gruel, the former master of Jasmine, one exiled by Tarot and the man who Bakur follows is now the King of Cups? We saw him previously when we were first shown Jasmine, but who knew he would play such a prominent role after all the scattered clues through other titles? While it is not surprising, what is unsettling is how Grimm Fairy Tales: Dance of the Dead and The Musketeers had to be spoiled in order to bring him to back to Earth. Perhaps it is due to delays from the printer, but now that they have shown his release and subsequent freedom for Mary and Jasmine from the Shadowlands, we now know how the former title concludes. And if this wasn’t bad enough, after he is settled in and we assume the Book of Fables would eventually fall into another holder’s hands, the person who this new King presents it to inevitably reveals who the main antagonist will be in the latter title. Why do this to an established book and one which shows such promise … it makes no sense.
Although this issue’s narrative is striking in its own right, the manner by which Skye is interrogated is cliché – having our new seductive Devil doing a villain’s gloating monologue. While we cannot complain after the previous misstep, it does help to sum up all the Order’s machinations, refreshing our memory of what happened before and sharpening the involvement of Gruel and his followers. Even the release of our heroine seems standard for this genre, allowing for someone else to step in and free her, but then again, how else could the Guardian escape? Everything in this issue seems a bit blasé, all leading to the big reveal, but with all of the build up to this event and then eventual suffering due to the sacrifice for their liberation, it makes you wonder what will happen next now that Skye can no longer fulfill her duties as Guardian of the Nexus?
Even as we try to settle for disappointment within the narrative, it is all redeemed magnificently by the phenomenal artwork of Derlis Santacruz, bringing a new vivacity to Skye and stunning us with the alluring temptation which is the Devil. You cannot but be in awe to see his depiction of the Guardian of the Nexus bound, this woman so dynamic and forthright, to see her helpless and yet the determination of breaking loose is projected simply by the gritting of teeth. But then to introduce her tormentor, the sly exposure of a white grin against luscious crimson skin, made all the more frustrating as we watch this tease stroking the Book of Fables, making her prisoner all the more frustrated. And yet it within the clash of contrasting colors which brings the story alive thanks to the amazing talent of Jorge Cortes, allowing for the dance of shadows to pronounce and magnify the emotional strength of the panels, a natural progression to tell the narrative without being overwhelmed but welcomed by a master of the palette. This artistic coordination between the two techniques serves to unleash wondrous details, nuances which cannot achieve without the other, all culminating to the release of the climax with the summoning ritual. You can almost feel stress building, ebbing from the figures as we await the clash between Good and Evil, even as we know Skye is challenged to her limits just as we think they are about to lose, a new channel of unadulterated energy is unleashed to prepare for the finale. If this is how this team is allowed to break loose to bring forth a new evil, I cannot wait to see what they have prepared for us with a new chapter and legacy.
Now that we know there is more than one faction vying for the rule over the Order of Tarot, one has to wonder what will happen to the other titles which they are involved in and how long it will take for this new King of Cups will wait until he makes his presence known? The story itself has possibilities, but at the same time, to spoil other titles all to enlighten us to his purpose is a shame which will likely echo past this issue. Building a mystery, dropping endless clues and then cast them aside for this one tale is a waste, but hopefully it will be remedied – if it is possible.
Grade: A
Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: February 28, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
