Zenescope Entertainment
Written by Pat Shand
Illustrated by David Lorenzo Riveiro & Maria Laura Sanapo
Coloured by Erick Arciniego, Grostieta & Vivian Tybusch
Wulf settles into his new school, Abraxas Academy in Oz. However, a vicious attack on his peers leaves him one of few survivors. With the love of his life mortally wounded, Wulf must find a way to stop more people from dying. Meanwhile, Violet seeks to summon something hidden beneath Arcane Acre. Is this what Druanna warned Sela about?
Here’s one of the more interesting concepts that could actually turn into one heck of a monthly series. The Abraxax Academy now housing students from across the realms and keep Pat at the helm because I gotta say this story here was really interesting. With so much happening around the grounds with multiple storylines going on to find the real center on Wulf and have it appear to ripple from his actions well it’s just brilliantly done.
I love how one teacher is quick to blame the whole mess on Wulf, until of course the creatures mother shows up proving his arrogance is misplaced. Ah she looks for the Beowulf he who disarmed her blood, the dialogue here really is fantastic as we see such varied types of speech coming from the different characters it really helps focus the reader on the page and attention rapt on what’s happening.
That as the mother creature attacks the focus shifts to what’s happening simultaneously at the school. Violet well with everything she’s been through in the Wonderland she’s now possessed by the Mad Hatter and part of that is her Uncle. I’m not sure she’s entirely aware of how serious her condition is or how much she’s being controlled.
Oh i do enjoy seeing Wulf take charge and Unferth being just as overbearing in the face of danger trying to exert his own self worth and control. This creature is ancient and the Green of OZ doesn’t affect it so it really does lie to Wulf to fulfill the Beowulf destiny in taking it down. The way we see this unfold both with words and visually is what I like to think of as the new Zenescope way. Smarter, with talented artists who don’t take the T&A gimmick route to get noticed instead rely upon solid foundations that engage the reader and get you involved in what’s happening.
It’s exciting to watch what’s happening in this issue, more so when we get that really detailed artwork. With Violet being possessed by the Mad Hatter’s past and her actions amidst the fight with the monster force the kids to work together and in a lot of ways it reminds me of the Avengers Academy and that’s pretty high praise here.
With no more real fair tales to put the company twist on they’ve gone and worked their properties into a book that is not only intense but is a fantastic representation of all the realms we’ve had the pleasure to visit. This is a great way to keep the realms alive with new fresh ideas and for the readers to explore beyond what we normally see.