Nothing like trust between mother and daughter … or is there?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Dave Franchini
Artwork: Igor Vitorino, Eman Casallos & Ario Murti
Colors: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Letters: Kurt Hathaway
What They Say:
Belle’s life has been brought to the brink of destruction, and now she stands face to face with the person that has been behind it all, can she survive one last battle to save not only herself but the rest of the world!?
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
As the truth behind her sibling settles in, him being the Beast she had been chasing all this time, Belle finally comes to understand another startling realization … the woman standing before DiMarco now claims to be her long dead mother. Even if she may look like that person, or a clever shape shifter, there are things only a parent would know and those facts are puzzling. But as she continues her villainous ravings, the more information which is disclosed the closer they are to a final confrontation as to settling the problem at hand. This person even confesses she and her organization are behind the recent eruption of creatures who have been attacking, and sadly also the one who turned her brother into the monster he is today. This great pleasure of confessing her diabolical ambitions and how she was ultimately the cause of Candlestick’s death finally comes to a breaking point, and Belle can no longer contain her anger – the time has come.
Even as she taunts this daughter in having found a purpose, Belle still cannot but hesitate in confronting this woman, someone who looks so much like the mother she loved and patterned her life after, the tension is tangible. And yet she clearly states there is no other way, they were destined to fight and only one can survive. But as blades clash and steel sparks against steel, it is very clear Belle is no match for this veteran hunter, with a painful forward kick being the forceful reminder of her lack of experience. Desperation soon becomes the Beast Hunter’s friend, knowing she cannot beat this pretender a quick retaliation via hidden daggers is her only option, but they are swiftly parried with the last caught and returned. Stamina waning fast the two once again struggle for dominance, but is apparent who will win the contest, with her wounded leg giving way under the strain. It is only a matter of time until the inevitable is revealed … but who will ultimately win in this one sided battle?
In Summary:
Belle: Beast Hunter has been an enjoyable adventure through one woman’s struggles to accept her destiny and what it has planned for her future, but along the way the story does meet up with some acceptable hiccups. To see Belle first revealed as a determined young woman is admirable, but as the title progresses and the travails of her journey are made emotionally stirring, you begin to understand she is all too human with endeavors to shoulder the pain of loss and determination for vengeance. As we watch DiMarco’s trials of losing Candlestick, finding a new mentor in his sister Patricia, attempting to confess her true calling to Mel and finally acknowledge the truth behind her family, you cannot but be in awe as to the strength of her character and the resolution to see this excursion through to the end; but what made her story all the more personable was the internal monologue which guided the reader from the start, giving us insight as to her emotional state and a biting satire toward every action, even as she is forced to face her mother. However as we finally consent to the conclusion, you cannot but wonder if writer Dave Franchini was rushed in the finale, with lapses of the narrative which seem to be stitched together to make a cohesive story.
Of course, the iconic parallel between Beauty and the Beast was inevitable, Belle and Alex to become the tortured pair drawn to each other, but the twist of them being siblings instead of lovers was a nice twist, even as were given hints as to this finale from the very beginning. However, the revelation of their mother being behind all of these tribulations seems a bit strained and forced, almost as if it was taken from a classic Disney film, with her being the wicked stepmother and lashing out for feeling neglected and not fawned over like the children. It was surprising she did not throw a tantrum, but the maliciousness of her brooding and peeling back all of the machinations was just as enjoyable, if not reminiscent of a Bond villain – unveiling her scheme before the final fight. But at the same time, these events also seemed clichéd, falling back on such a predictable formula with their foe being someone close, and worse still it was the one person who they all assumed was dead. Her braggadocious nature was sickening and made you wonder what happened within the years she was missing, thus setting up for a sequel, but at the same time, this lack of information also compounds the slipshod nature of this ending; there was never any indication someone was behind the incidents, Alex’s transformation into the Beast or a need for someone to be responsible other than a want for revenge against the Beast Hunter, so why this extravagance within the closing? As I said before, it almost seems as if Franchini wanted to blame someone for Belle’s misery, thus opening the option for more adventures, but why force the issue instead of allowing it to naturally evolve as a follow-up series? Was there a need for this Ah ha moment … or was it created to steer us toward this blasé experience for what could have been a rousing time but instead ends up as feeling hollow due to an attempt to fill in the self-imposed gaps of the finale?
By continuing with an epic conflict for the finale, this issue instantly has the reader visually enthralled with spectacular imagery from artists Igor Vitorino, Eman Casallos and Ario Murti, portraying the tense situation contained within, allowing colorist Juan Manuel Rodriguez to concentrate on emotional stability via a wide array of tones for maximum effect. And while having the issue separated between three artists may seem to be a strange choice, when you examine the overall transition between art styles, the transformation is smooth and allows for an easy flow of the story, allowing for each illustrator’s unique abilities to carry the narrative into an epic spectrum of excitement. You cannot but become enthusiastic for this conclusion as Vitorino leads into the story with a pronounced splash of Belle ready for battle, with strategically placed panels surrounding her form to concentrate the tension into an opening force. But as we shift to Casallos’ flashback in Alex’s quest to find his mother, a noticeable adjustment in line strength allows for a much more inclusive period of sadness, made all the more tangible thanks to Rodriguez’s change to a more somber palette to reflect the hopelessness of the moment. However when Vitorino takes over midstream during the phenomenal closing conflict, you barely notice any transition since the shift is so subtle and you care caught up within the foreboding moment; this is also in part due to the unifying pattern of Rodriguez’s powerfully foreboding tones, allowing for sepia backgrounds to cast a sense of despair during the mismatched battle, and emphasizing the beauty of two forms in this deadly dance of death. But if I did have an objection for the overall appearance of this finale, it would have to be the closing event for Murti’s display which projects an overly sterile appearance thanks to Rodriguez’s poor color choice for a hospital environment; while the fluorescent atmosphere would be suitable for any other medical location, thanks to the saturation of previous darker shades and the application of those same tones within a lighter atmosphere, this new scenery is painful to an eye adjusted to darker hues, thus making all elements so colored stand out in odd obscurity – even to the end of the story. To have such a fantastic display of artistic teamwork ruined by an odd selection in closing colors is a shame since these pages will mark a memory for this title, and due to this blinding closing, it may not be a fond one.
Belle: Beast Hunter has been an enormously captivating series, allowing for the strength and determination of a young woman to shine through against seemingly impossible odds. To watch Belle persevere after so many hopeless tragedies is admirable, considering one would imagine the average person would succumb to any of these events when presented by such sadness, especially after she loses her father figure and mentor within the first issue. And while she did surge forward undeterred when faced by further failure, it seems the story began to collapse toward the end after introducing an inconsequential villain to concentrate her hatred and center all of the misfortune around one unnecessary source; it would have made better sense to suggest such a nemesis as an afterthought in the closing, but for now this title closes with a weak conclusion for an excellent premise regarding a promising heroine to the Zenescope universe.
Grade: A
Series Grade: A+
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: December 12, 2018
MSRP: $3.99