Vengeance may be rewarding… but always prepare for consequences.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Dave Franchini
Artwork: Julius Abrera
Colors: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
From stories that span centuries, the Headless Horseman has roamed forests and battlefields seeking the lives of those who have strayed from the fight, taking that which he no longer has, their heads. As some legends are made, others are born, and Anabelle “Belle” DiMarco happens to be so lucky. Descended from a bloodline of hunters of beasts and otherworldly creatures, she is destined to take on those that creep from the shadows, reaching into our world waiting for a hero to battle them back. So what happens when beast hunter meets horseman? Find out here when legends collide!
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
With the eighth-grade class’ graduation quickly approaching, Ms. DiMarco decides to rehearse her closing speech against her best friend Mel’s opinion, with the somber and introspective oration immediately being harshly critiqued by the alarmed listener, thinking such weighty words are too much for impressionable teenagers. While her roommate politely chides her for such an inappropriate address, the fitting topic cannot but wander toward the nocturnal activities of this caring teacher, asking Belle if she will be coming home tonight, but is answered with an insightful response of wanting to relax with a ride and visiting her old home to see if anything has washed up. But as the dynamic woman begins to think back upon her own words about spending more time in the present and enjoying life, the brief excursion down familiar roads cannot but remind this dutiful hunter about familial obligations, made all the more demanding upon retrospect in thinking she may be the last of her line. And yet as Belle finally arrives at her bittersweet destination, it is a rush of mournful memories which flood her mind, happier times when she worshipped her mother has a hero, dressed in the same costume which she wears now, and Uncle Louis who practically raised her in lieu of an absent father, all in preparation for the monstrous tasks which have been forced upon DiMarco within the present.
But as this pleasant recollection continues, it was briefly interrupted by a biting remark in her ear of Mel’s voice crackling over the earpiece, warning her not to bring home any old trash, only to become more serious in tone due to an odd police report of two beheadings in an upscale neighborhood. Not wasting any time in pursuing this grisly occurrence, Belle arrives at the location in question before a ghoulish horseman attempts to take the life a desperately pleading woman, axe intercepting sword before the forthright heroine instructs the spared victim to run for her life. However as the Beast Hunter struggles against his unusual strength, she is shocked to hear the pitiful moaning of his two prior casualties, their severed heads dangling upon his belt and their pained voices screeching a warning not to interfere. Still shocked by these animated and mournful extremities ability to talk, it is only now does DiMarco realize her towering foe does not have a head of his own, trying to unsuccessfully break the haunting tension with a few jokes, only to realize this shambling monstrosity is ignoring her presence, with his unyielding will solely focused on his quickly fleeing prey. With her intention to act as a distraction to offer more time to escape, Belle is stunned as his massive hand finally grasps her face, shocking the forthright woman by the power within his grip even as she skillfully dodges any further closure, but as Belle tries to pull this frightful chase away from its prior target, it is only then does she notice no matter how many deadly daggers she hurls into his hulking carcass, there is no reaction and she does not know what she can do to stop this ceaseless pursuit.
In Summary:
With a title like Belle: Headless Horseman, it seems oddly appropriate to have this haunting tale being told during a season for remembering the dead, especially considering how this foreboding being chooses to take ghastly trophies to savor his kills, and made all the more chilling given their unnatural ability to now speak for the hunter after having heads severed from bodies. But at the same time, it is puzzling to have writer Dave Franchini utilize the novice witches Sandra, Izzy and Natalie who we last saw in Belle: Hearts & Minds One-Shot as main protagonists, considering their inexperience to properly use magic lead to their prior downfall, and now that they have found a new spell book to supposedly upgrade their powers, it is mildly amusing to watch these overly zealous women attempt to gain revenge against nameless people who have wronged them. And yet, an expansion upon the narrative as to who these victims once were and how they wronged the trio would have allowed readers to become more invested within the story, or more purposefully allow Marsters to go after Gretel, Calabar and Belle since they were the ones who first defeated these Goth failures, but as it is now, the narrative feels hollow by weakly connecting events of the first and following acts, leaving the audience with the only satisfaction in being how DiMarco effortlessly outwits these panicked neophytes, all while allowing readers to delight in the true essence of the special – her connection to the past and how it now comes back to torment a hopeful future.
It is within the rousing yet grounding speech which Belle recites to Mel which stirs readers into understanding what drives our beautiful Beast Hunter, made all the more repercussive once we in afterthought go back after relishing this one-shot, only then understanding its true meaning as to how DiMarco regrets and cherishes the time she has, and what is to come. To think she was going to use this speech as a closing presentation to teenagers may have been inappropriate, and yet it is the harshness of those words and their hidden foundation as to how she has become the admirable woman she is today. Franchini’s unfolding of the story is stunning in its simplicity, and while one may laugh at the scathing interplay between Belle and Mel, we truly understand it is their tender friendship which has allowed the Beast Hunter to endure the loss of her mother and brother, and later Uncle Louis, only to make myself honestly tear up as we watched the memories of happier times within a now abandoned home. These singular events are what molded a hero-worshipping child into who she is today, with Candlestick serving as a surrogate father and drilling all of the information which has saved her life so many times, but at the same time, who would have thought a sentimental trip down memory lane could have been the genesis for such a rousing story. To think the phrase ”Knowledge is Power” would be so appropriate within this special in such a literal sense, the material legacy of her family which seemed harmless is now proving to be the poisonous seed that may sprout more troubles, even as we attempt to fully enjoy the final page of this special, with an elegantly placed trail of ominous bread crumbs leading to more magical problems originating from Mother Margaret, a foe who none have ever faced, and yet has a secret which is rooted deep within the witches of past and present.
For such a haunting tale of past regrets, the opening scene has been ominously crafted by Julius Abrera becomes the stuff of nightmares once we expand upon the vacant look within our heroine’s eyes, mounting anxiety grows once the camera pulls back to become a horrifying sight, all the more repercussive due to Juan Manuel Rodriguez’s masterful application of morose colors and heavy shadows that magnify the depravity which this bringer of death foretells, made all the more chilling due to seeing the impossibility of Belle’s heads within the Horseman’s hand, perhaps depicting the past, present and future which our Beast Hunter must face. And yet even within a full-page layout which portrays the classic scene of partially skeletonized horse rearing up and its phantasm dressed in Goth leather and spikes, dominance displayed for all to see with prizes firmly grasped, loyal readers cannot deny this must be but a horrifying dream in seeing our epic hero defeated in such a dramatic manner, allowing us to wish for this impossibility, even as we turn the page.
It is within this echo of hope that we are drawn toward the sultry lips and emerald eyes of Sandra, one of the foolish witches who dares to stir up trouble with the legacy of the DiMarco family, allowing Abrera to so elegantly display the impending danger versus the calm serenity of Belle as she goes about her day amid the rambunctious play of children running down the hall, with each distinct visual element portrayed with equal discipline of detail, whether they be the lushness of lashes, piercing eyes or the alluring curves of an agile Beast Hunter hidden in plain sight. Yet even within opposing scenery, Rodriguez still manages to create a beautifully balanced setting due to his practiced technique of contrasting measured amounts of light and darkness within fantastically detailed panels, allowing for the reader’s eye to barely notice such nuanced moments, but at the same time, those careful enough to pay attention will see scant textures which most would have ignored, but this artistic team brings them to the forefront to produce a stunning special which is a delight to enjoy. From the calmness of everyday life, Belle and Mel joking around on the phone, our heroine almost blending into the moonlit night on her matching cycle and captivating costume, the tenderness of a softly painted and tearful memory, to the explosive transition of a carefully structured terror crashing through the wall on a rearing horse, all bring to mind specific moments, and combine magnificently to produce a story to remember.
Belle: Headless Horseman weaves a breathtaking tapestry of classic Halloween terror, and while the motivations of the minor protagonists may have been shallow so as to be intangible, the foundation of the special brings into question how much the past can change the future, all due to the informational legacy of one family and how their treasured secrets have come to light. It is due to this seemingly insignificant oversight that Belle must face the nightmare which comes from knowledge, made all the more frightening due to outstanding illustrative techniques and colors which threaten to draw us deeper within the darkness, all due to a threat that seems undefeatable. And yet as our heroine must face the consequences of inaction, it is this danger expressed by inexperienced hands which allows our Beast Hunter show cleverness can be a more effective weapon than the sharpest blade, all as we wait in anticipation as to what other horrors may be hidden within some lost and forgotten tome.
Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: October 06, 2021
MSRP: $5.99
