Evil may be overwhelming … but the brave will never surrender.
Creative Staff:
Story: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini & David Wohl
Writer: Dave Franchini
Artwork: Babisu Kourtis
Colors: Jorge Cortes
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Taking over after the death of her mother, Sela, Skye Mathers is the new Guardian of the Nexus. With the help of Shang, her mentor, and her friends at Arcane Acre, she is learning the extent of her new powers and trying to figure out her place in protecting the universe.
Skye “Snow White” Mathers is home again, and is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. But the world has changed, a new evil is emerging, and Skye will find out firsthand that nothing at Arcane Acre can ever be the same.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
As Skye and her companions stare in disbelief at the ominous being standing before them, it is Baba Yaga who boldly breaks the stalemate of silence by pronouncing the name no one wished to say, confirming the foreboding creature who towers above all as being the former leader of the Horde – Malec, with the white haired woman welcoming her rival and begrudging ally back to the land of the living. However, as the beguiling witch attempts to elaborate upon the gaps in the Dark One’s memory, coldly stating he has been dead for quite some time, it is the young Guardian who will not stand by idly and allow this blunt conversation to continue any further, screaming out in frustration as to why this foul beast is back, even as these cruel people reiterate her mother Sela is still dead. But as Malec recalls the events which lead to his demise, including a betrayal by someone who he thought was loyal, Mathers cannot hold back her venomous ire for this despised man, fearlessly stating he deserved his fate, even as the Dark One retaliates with his own question by considering if his death solved anything.
The one sided diatribe continues to grow more vicious, with Malec pondering aloud if his passing saved the world or Sela, unleashing more toxic statements leading into the present day, of how Shang has lead his allies into their current predicament with all on their knees and Sam now lying dead before them, but this final statement is too much for Diego to hold his tongue any longer, bluntly whispering for this callous being to shut his mouth, demanding Darren be remembered like the hero she was, sacrificing herself in an effort to save a friend. While Carmen tries to hold back Garcia from saying anything more, this incensed man will not stop a bold defense of his companion, prompting the now enraged beast to pronounce his unyielding punishment for their defiance, kicking both with a cloven hoof into a dark morass which leads into the Abyss. While the surviving group look on in horror and Skye swears will he pay for that atrocity, the pompous leader ignores these empty threats and instead casts his eyes upon the trembling form of a woman dressed in black robes, immediately recognizing Tamara as the Whateley child, with Baba confirming she has served her purpose and is no longer of any use. Yet as the foul partners prepare to leave, Mathers once again reassures them she will not stop her pursuit, but as the Dark One exchanges an equally barbed response, the witch states it is time to leave even as Malec commands he will not be interrupted, to which his caustic accomplice questions if he feels the presence quickly approaching, coldly stating it will take care of any lingering problems.
In Summary:
Loyal fans of Grimm Fairy Tales cannot but be in shock after witnessing the closing page of the prior issue, the ominous reveal of the powerful leader of the Horde being reborn and returning to the flagship title, and yet at the same time, we cannot but question how Malec might be connected to the incoming threat of the Elder Gods and Cthulhu, or more importantly, why they would have need of someone who has not been mentioned recently within the current story arc. And yet as story creators Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini and David Wohl mold the dire implications for this powerful but manipulative tyrant joining an unknown group of miscreants, it allows writer Franchini to craft something far more heart wrenching through the circumstances which Skye must now face, to relive the trauma which ignited the passing of the Guardianship from her mother Sela to an unprepared daughter, and while we may recognize her valiant deeds with hindsight, it is the profound tragedy which seasoned readers will recognize begins with the appearance of Malec himself.
While the opening scene may set a dire tone, it is the forceful malice of seeing someone who created nothing but chaos being rewarded that manifests extreme frustration at seeing the Dark One being greeted by Baba, both for the audience and heroes, two malicious beings who take pleasure in causing pain for those who are foolish enough to oppose their desires, now becoming reacquainted as if no time has passed, with Malec’s mild discomfort being quickly replaced by seeing his foes bowing before him, unable to do anything. His pompous attitude compounds the infuriating mood set upon the confrontation, yet even as Skye attempts to vent her rage, which is commendable when she is surrounded by nightgaunts and cloaked priests, one cannot but immediately admire her boldness, even as those readers who understand the circumstances become thoroughly invested within the emotional rawness of this moment. This complex foundation of past traumas being dredged up makes the scene profoundly sympathetic, and yet at time same time, the callous logic which Malec presents as his defence creates the slightest bit of doubt within our minds, allowing this malicious manipulator to justify his rebirth while rubbing salt within wounds which will never heal.
But as Diego unleashes his anger at the Dark One’s mockery of Sam’s sacrifice, it is his predictable punishment which begins the second act, making the audience wonder what kind of mysteries Tamara has been hiding and how she will influence what actions they may take, even as we are introduced to the newest and most foreboding enforcer of the invasion force – the Starspawn. While its overwhelming powers makes the battle seem hopeless, with our defiant Guardian doing her best against insurmountable odds even as she appears to succumb, it is the resulting conclusion which cannot but make the audience sigh in exasperation, with Franchini utilizing a formulaic escape tactic that makes the same foe seem not that fearsome, allowing readers to chuckle at the clichéd results. However, the other secret which this woman has kept hidden is another vexing turn for the story, but at the same time, knowing this witch’s personality for being frustrating but not to intentionally harmful her allies, it should have been an expected turn of events, allowing for our defeated heroes to see a new possibility for hope, even as we worry what may happen next to their exiled friends.
Yet as a motivated audience attempts to contemplate the harrowing narrative itself, one cannot deny the oppressive opening atmosphere which threatens to immediately smother the reader, with Babisu Kourtis skillfully depicting a gripping close-up of the lone emotion that anyone will recognize as sincere panic before we witness a reaction upon the body, unfocused eyes projecting what we know, with every panel compounding building anxiety, even as Jorge Cortes’ controlled tonal atmosphere magnifies the tension with an abundance of black and greys, letting us know nothing good will follow this formative introduction, even as these dimly lit surroundings provoke our worst fears. But as a heavily creased face permits us to witness what true terror looks like, this provocative visual foundation wonderfully synergizes with the following moments, allowing a now intrigued reader to shift from sincere horror to growing rage, and while this portrayal may have a basis for its depiction, at the same time, this profound emphasis feels natural upon the dynamic face of our heroine. However, when she witnesses the bane of her past now reborn, even if the background imagery is at times disappointing due to muddy details, readers cannot but fascinated by this understandable anger exploding from such a beautiful face, projecting this fury outward upon the audience and allowing us to witness the all too human disappointment of an unfair reward. Even if one may not fully comprehend what drives this fury, it is Kourtis’ elegant illustrations and Cortes’ nuanced application of textural colors which elevates this scene into something that is easily recognizable, especially the next page of clashing moments which lead to Malec’s death, the intensity of each singular image building upon the prior, allowing for anyone unfamiliar to easily understand but also forming a deeper meaning for those knowledgeable of the events, until we see the piercing gaze of the Guardian reflected against an opposing glare from the Dark One, each unwilling to look away, knowing the moment they do will be the time they surrender to the truth.
With surprising tension which has tempted us from the last issue, it is the sincere intensity of old foes meeting once again which allows all to enjoy the foul provocation of returning evil, boldly announcing that the malicious story arc that we have been enjoying has suddenly taken on a more foreboding twist, even as we grow concerned as to the strength of our heroes as they must now face a challenge which could prove to be their undoing. With enticing imagery and fantastic colors which create a moving synergy that none can ignore, each page proves to be a visual treat unto itself, with the intoxicating menagerie of shifting emotions driving the audience to become invested within each shifting transition, even if an impossible foe may be bested by a formulaic conclusion. And yet as readers wonder what is in store for the Guardian and her allies, it is the simmering malice which Malec has held in check which makes one worry, since the source of his former demise is no longer within this realm, who will be the target for his revenge, or will it be inherited by someone who represents a tie to the past so that he can move on to a fruitful future.
Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: February 22, 2023
MSRP: $3.99
