Zenescope Entertainment 2015
Written by Meredith Finch
Illustrated by Miguel Mendonca
Coloured by Jorge Alberto Cortes
Previously in The Little Mermaid... While Erica struggles to survive at the hands of a sadistic scientist, her biological parents race to save her. But as Erica’s family history becomes clearer, her time grows shorter. However, she may have an unexpected ally within her prison walls.
I love Zenescope and I love that they take these classics stories and but such an unexpected twist on them all the while keeping the idea true to something the Brothers Grimm would tell. Alright so instead of Ariel we’ve got the reversal the Prince of Atlantis finds Ursula and ends up meeting a girl and getting her pregnant. Nineteen years later he’s now king and that daughter he has can transform into a mermaid at will only she’s being held captive and experimented on in the hopes of making hybrid soldier. This is the kind of stuff you’ll never see from Disney thank goodness.
So thanks to Ursula Issoro and Liz get to meet in Atlantis, Ursula of course has an ulterior motive but for now let’s just enjoy her wicked machinations. I’m totally digging the characterization going on here. Ursula is delightful, beautiful, deadly and unapologetic in her demeanor and actions she’s just that villain you love to hate and can never get enough of. Issoro however has been King for too long now and seems to have more distrustful and cynical as time has passed.
Oh and the story we finally get to see how Erica ended up being born and not raised by her parents, who was responsible kind of and that’s the background we’ve needed. During the discussion on page 12 we get that look at Ursula that sums up everything about her in one little image where she’s got this hand to her face remember something delicious from the past. Actually his portrayal of Issoro is fantastic too he’s strong muscled and decidedly Merman in all ways we imagine.
So the story of Erica’s birth while it does involve Ursula just not in the manner they think was suspicious. Why were there police officers at her bedside when the nurse took Erica? I wouldn’t have let that baby outta my hands but then I wasn’t in that position. We also learn that Ursula kidnapped Erica when her ability to transform kicked in so now all that remains is to learn who took the baby first? Of course if you go back to the opening of the first issue there’s a clue.
Oh Erica’s situation is precarious at best but she’s a fighter and has much of her lineage in her spirit and I really want to learn more about the folks who have Erica and see if they are indeed going to be a huge threat to others in the Zenescope Universe. If they are aware of Atlantis and it’s people it’s not unrealistic to think that perhaps Robyn and Red would end up meeting this remarkable young woman and they would be after them for their knowledge as well.
This is part of what I call the New Zenescope, intelligent, fun and downright twisted tales that engage the readers mind and along with interior artwork that showcases the story wonderfully without all the gratuitous skimpy outfits that don’t seem to serve any real purpose. It’s the company’s evolution into a world of good storytellers.