Fairy tales usually have happy endings … or sometimes they be tinged with bitter vengeance.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Ben Meares
Artwork: Allan Otero
Colors: Ceci de la Cruz
Letters: Maurizio Clausi
What They Say:
Gretel’s story has been more of a nightmare than a fairy tale ever since the tragic events of her childhood. These events have left her life cursed for many centuries. After her heart-wrenching debut in Grimm Universe Presents, Gretel has been gifted the power of premonition. But when she has a psychic vision foretelling the end of the world, Gretel must open old wounds if she wants to try and prevent it from coming true.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
It was almost three hundred years ago when Gretel’s nightmare began: she and her brother had been lured to a witch’s house deep in the forest and confined for this foul creature’s amusement, and time passed without knowing how many days had come and gone. But the monotony of their agonizing imprisonment came to an abrupt end when this nameless woman slaughtered her sibling before the girl, and she made the memory all the more viscously tangible when the torturer presented Gretel an alluring if but sickening treat – the sorceress displayed her brother’s heart and expected the sister to eat it; if not for the gnawing hunger ravaging her frail body the girl would certainly rejected the meal, and yet the primal urge for survival overrode any sense of guilt as she greedily consumed the offering without a second thought. Only then did the full effect of her decision come to bear as the organ unlocked a power within her which even now she could not explain, and as she bided her time the opportunity came and Gretel escaped her captivity by fleeing into the unknown woods.
However it was only then during her wandering did she come to realize the incident which cursed her person, slowing the aging process and leaving Gretel in an almost feral existence to subsist on the occasional vermin. She now lived in the darkness of her guilt and the emptiness of being unable to grasp her new powers, afraid of not understanding what she could do … and not wanting to know. It was only then did someone take notice of this lost child, a kindly man who shared the same gifts and wished to teach her the insight of knowledge, he was her mentor Samuel. This person showed Gretel how to harness her abilities and use magic for her own needs, but at the same time they made sure no other children had to suffer the same fate she did so many decades ago – to be the prey of a witch. Their first hunt was Ignisia Advoca, a pyrokinetic who lived in southern France and had a taste for young flesh, but through their cooperative efforts they defeated the menace and freed her prisoners. But as the captives escaped, her teacher had one final lesson to pass on, one which brought back traumatic memories of her first taste, when this whole nightmarish journey began and how it must end for her first victory – consumption of the vanquished’s heart; it is only by eating this seat of power could she achieve mastery of the defeated’s magic and a new mark upon her body signaling another monster being sent back into the darkness. And yet once the grisly morsel was no more, the two knew they could no longer continue their partnership for travelling together would make both a likely target once their reputation spread, so they would now have to pursue these abominations alone. Seeking vengeance for a brother lost could take a lifetime, but it does not mean they may never see each other again … after all, anything can happen in the years to come.
In Summary:
When I first heard of a new title named Gretel being introduced to the Zenescope universe, one cannot but think of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, but of course knowing this publisher our heroine will not have the same happy ending as the one we knew from childhood. To see a new interpretation of this classic story may on the surface seem enjoyable, but once we delve into the tragedy surrounding our new savior, writer Ben Meares’ version gives us a surprising twist on that narrative by perverting it in a way which molds Gretel into someone who cannot but be admired for her determination to right a personal wrong and also protect those who would suffer the same fate.
And yet it is the manner by which Meares molds this initial issue which gives the premiere such a forceful impact: to use the well known fairy tale as a basis but then expand upon it with a warped exposition which forces the reader to acknowledge this is not the story we once knew … allowing us to empathize her misfortune and understand the circumstances which forges Gretel into such a moving character. You cannot but be stunned by the twist which causes this young girl to become cursed – the sacrifice, misery and calamity which she endures within one pivotal instant all as she sees her life forever changed. And what makes the outcome so painful is to know she herself was not forced to accepted the grotesque morsel from the witch, but at the same time also relinquished her morals for a brief second all in the name of self preservation. However even as Gretel imprecates herself for one moment of weakness, you cannot but wonder if her brother’s gift was predestined or if her captor meant for the chance to occur so that she may feast on something more succulent with these new powers. We may never know but the aftereffects from her escape cumulates in a series of events which shapes her into a woman who teeters on the brink of being an antihero: Gretel seeks to stop witches from harming other children, however at the same time she does not do it out of sheer selflessness, instead it seems she is propelled toward these foes as a way to avenge her mistake, right an incorruptible misdeed and seek a way to reverse her choice knowing it may all be in vain. This is the type of antagonist who makes the reader question if the first choice is always the right one, making us second guess ourselves and wonder if there was another way to stop the tragedy … or if the death of both would have been better than to continue down an endless path of suffering.
(I remember commenting to Ben what a wise decision it was to use Gretel’s background as a foundation for her current crisis, and he answered: “Ah, yeah, sorting that in the script was a doozy (there were a whole lot of moving parts to juggle), so I’m definitely glad to hear it was noticed and appreciated!”)
However even with Meares’ uncertainty for using this approach, once cannot deny it is this bedrock foundation which solidifies Gretel by using her history to define a character as it outlines the determination and philosophy of saving lives while having the underlying premise of seeking revenge and justice, all as she denies she being a hero but instead a survivor who only fights until she can find her next beer. But at the same time this initial issue can stand alone due to its cyclic nature: we witness how a young Gretel must watch as a witch murders her brother and feeds the child his heart, the power unleashed she sees as a curse until Samuel saves her and educates the girl in the ways of magic, they find their first foe and she must once again consume the heart and then flash forward and Gretel saves her mentor having to rely upon the powers she once considered a burden; but what allowed the story to be all the more monumental and emotionally stirring was a visual recap during this fight of Gretel utilizing each power she captured from her long three hundred year past of running and hunting to free children. And yet what made the conclusion all the more profound and dramatically thrilling was the declaration of her name as a threat and warning … finally accepting her destiny with the determination and strength we knew she always had within her – only now fully acknowledging it to herself. How can you not but smile with pride as we watch the one who was once a frightened young girl struggling with this curse is now a force who will strike fear in the hearts of those who she hunts? If this is but the opening salvo of powerful magical revenge … I cannot wait to see how her adventures unfold from here.
And yet even with this touching narrative, you cannot deny it would not be as emotionally invasive without the powerfully dynamic and deeply moving illustrations of Allan Otero filling the page with evocative images which subtly portraying the journey of our reluctant heroine. The opening page assaults our eyes with a sense of the power and the physicality of a woman who is alluring at the same time, the suggestiveness of her sigils taunting us to look where we should not – in fear Gretel will punch us if she sees us peeking. But as the smoothness of his transition between the present and the past haunts us with the disparity of strength versus the frailty of a helpless child, one cannot but question if this is the same girl who we now see before us, someone who appears will pass out due to the wickedness before her. The witch is a vile cannibal who taunts her with a precious morsel which could mean life or death, but at the same time the significance of its meaning gives the scene a profound corruption of innocence and the end of her childhood. One cannot but feel the warped pity as she shamefully consumes the meal, made all the more remorseful as we watch tears stream down from pupiless eyes and amplify the tangible malice we feel emanating from the witch’s wicked smile. But it from this point the story picks up its frenetic pacing, creating a visual satisfaction which Otero best illuminates via his wonderfully expressive faces – you cannot deny he displays each moment with cunning transparency which allows for the reader to vividly understand each scene via those moods portrayed upon the actors’ visages. Through this openness every event becomes vigorously clear, allowing for a simple look to propel every moment: unrestrained joy as Gretel discovers magic, abject disgust once Samuel brings back unconscionable memories with the consumable and then his regret for asking such a necessity. However the impactful action is balanced tenuously with the melancholy of loss as we watch the young woman lose sight of her path, not knowing how to proceed without any guidance or meaning as she wanders through a meaningless life. It is not until she is reignited by desperation of knowing her mentor is in danger does she once again find her way, allowing Otero to erupt memories into primal action and bring out a ferocity which leads to the most memorable panel – Gretel pronouncing her name in defiance as her foe succumbs to the intensity of her strength. This is how you spark interest in a heroine and make us want to know what happens within the next issue.
However as the earnest display of Gretel’s life unfolds through an overwhelming display of linear excellence, one cannot but deny it would undeniably fall flat without the exhausting brilliance of Ceci de la Cruz’s powerfully imaginative and at times emotionally conducive palette of provocative colors. The vivacity of her tonal selections is overwhelming at times, making us wonder how she was able to get such a depth of richness upon a two dimensional canvas, the enthralling captivity of the displays are mesmerizing with a wide array of colors, from vibrant neons, dull earth tones and to connect everything the most striking of all – a black and white panels with a single color accent, you cannot forget these images. It is amazing how de la Cruz is able to transform Otero’s captivating illustrations from alluring into atmospheres where the reader cannot but become lost within the complexity of the dynamic from the first page: the illusion of verticality is stunning, able to create this deception via gradations of similar tones ranging from deep blues to ebony, but then we have Gretel standing in the forefront, her peach toned skin marred by black sigils, all emphasized by an emerald green bustier, the blonde braids framing her face and to tie everything together, those piercing sapphire eyes and the mystical diagrams flashing with electric blue lightning; you can stare forever becoming lost within this magnificence and still not discern all of the nuances buried within this opening spread. However this spectacular introduction is but a glimpse into her scintillating talent, each page only befuddles the reader as the variety of scenery changes with each turn, making us wonder how much times has passed since the last image, as we try to find a way out of her colorful maze of fascination. And yet through out all the full color displays, it is the simplest of images which provoke our imagination the most … the black and white pictures with crimson highlights. Whether they be of our heroine taking a bite or a glimpse into her past, every image has a crispness which entices us to stare deeper into each abyss, lost in moments of frozen time. Of course the most powerful and profound of these sequences would have to be the misery which is Gretel’s beginning – her captivity with the nameless witch who began the nightmare and the curse yet to come.
Your memory first harkens back to the source of our tale, Hansel and Gretel, recalling the story of a gingerbread house which rescues hungry siblings from a dark forest with the flashback linking this title to a sad panel of Gretel locked inside a cage which appears made of candy cane. It is disarming how de la Cruz parallels this tasty red stripe with the disgust of what happens next, to see the witch enjoying herself amid a pool of blood dripping from Hansel, her lovely face distorted by cruel smile and accented with crimson markings plus the results of a messy meal, with the reader’s eye drawn to what is in her hand – the evocative image which ties everything together … a heart. While you may wish to look away, it is the richness of the shades of black which make this image so powerful, the gradations provoking an underlying evil as shadows slowly close in and her grin with those dull white teeth, it is hypnotic. But what follows next is so maliciously haunting it becomes the key to everything, the sight of a starving girl greedily devouring the meal almost as if she is eating an fleshy apple, until we see the sanguine juice flowing down her hand, it is chilling. This one moment is agonizingly unforgettable, to see Gretel crying uncontrollably in what can only be a sickening mixture of gratitude and misery, and yet for a scene which is so profound, it is the simplicity of colors which makes it so powerful, for in this case – simplest is the best.
However even with this terrorizing event still fresh in our minds, de la Cruz does not allow herself to relax, instead flipping the concept by using subdued tones to substitute for black and white then using exceptionally bright elemental magic to step in for the crimson, with equally effect results. Via this menacing technique the audience is dazzled by his flip of normalcy, one in which a balanced color level is maintained throughout an issue allowing for consistency, and yet it is this technique which allows for excitement to explode off the page with an intense fervor which faithfully follows Gretel’s hunt. To watch greyness encroach signals past triumphs but once color leeches in and we watch our heroine become complacent to the edge of carelessness, the action becomes blurry as she witnesses what may be coming, with de la Cruz cleverly offsetting these panels to denote by time’s uncertainty thus making the audience wonder ourselves if they are seeing an illusion or the truth. And as we approach the end, she once again amazes us with her skill in manipulating the ordinary play of a palette can have upon the scene, flashing back each power Gretel uses with the black and white memory, tying the recollection with each heart until we reach the conclusion, her stunning sapphire blue eyes replaced within the menace of a midnight blue background; it is this isolation of each mystical capture which makes the victory all the more effective, the burning ambition which now glows within her amethyst enshrouded face surrounded by foreboding shadows … allowing for the deafening declaration of her name to become also her acceptance of her powers, afraid of them no more. This is how you make an audience interested with the graphic side of a series, not with illustrations alone, but overwhelmed by the overlooked influence of an amazing colorist.
Gretel may on the surface seem to be the story of a girl unwilling to accept what she has become, but as you become engendered to this young woman and her conflict with both the struggles within herself and her destiny, it quickly become apparent this superficial appearance is unworthy of the depths hidden within. The narrative is worthy to being compared to a Homeric odyssey: watching a child grapple with what was forced upon her, accepting a mentor to teach her understanding and finally leaving her to recognize if she is worthy of the title Hero. The artistic complexity of this tapestry only compels us to wonder if we can we witness ourselves in the same place to make the same choice or are we are we stronger to allow our brother’s sacrifice be for naught, all while being dazzled by fantastic visuals. If this is how the premiere issue concludes, I cannot anticipate how this outstanding team will be able to top themselves in the near future … or how this story can get any better.
Grade: A++
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: March 20, 2019
MSRP: $3.99
