Zenescope Entertainment 2015
Written by Lou Iovino
Illustrated by Ryan Best
Coloured by Thiago Dal Bello
Lettered by Matt Krotzer
After Malec’s shocking death at the hands of Bloody Bones, the Dark Horde has a void in leadership that threatens their continued existence. So when they look to Cindy to fill the role, she responds exactly as you’d expect: “No friggin’ way!” But when a new and powerful threat to the realms emerges and hits very close to home, will Cindy step up for once?
Cinderella is probably the most changed of all the fairy tale heroines Zenescope has brought to us. Instead of being the girl we once knew she’s this evil little thing with a penchant for violence and destruction. She has a real evil streak in her that makes her the most unique and interesting of all the princesses we’ve come to see. Unfortunately she’s never been really all that bright relying upon others to guide her and help her along instead of finding a way to be a strong independent woman.
This is the issue that kind of changes all that. Since this takes place after the events in Grimm Fairy Tales #111 & #112 the death of Malec is still fresh leaving Cindy lost and without a clear direction. I have to say while I do think that Lou could have done without the whole then and now stuff and just told it from beginning to end would have been more effective. The story would have flowed better in my opinion but that’s just my thought.
This new Binder that’s running around the Zenescope Universe is one to keep an eye on as he’s trying garner power and entrap those that are likely to cause the biggest threat to him. Pitting him against Cinderella should have been more of a slam dunk that it is. That I appreciate since fleshing out more of her personality other than being a completely psychotic bitch makes her more interesting.
Her family dynamic is explored further here, the relationship with her stepmother and stepsisters specifically. We see off the bat that this new binder has them and she’s trying to rescue them from him. Though to be honest that pumpkin creature, while a cute idea considering the carriage and all, was just very NOT scary. It seemed very cartoon like maybe something Scooby Doo would encounter. Right idea wrong execution.
I like learning more about the Binder while keeping him still mysterious. Fleshing out Cindy more giving her a new purpose and direction is a great move. Also I wouldn’t say she has a heart but she does realize the value of righting the wrong done to her. Granted she’s really twisted and evil and comes off more of an airhead, classic stereotype blonde, there really is more to her than meets the eye. What I’d really like is for someone to really take the reigns with her and tell her story and develop her more instead of these mere, almost meek, attempts at making more relevant to the Zenescope Universe.
I like the artwork but it’s more regular fairy tales than Grimm. Too cutesy for me and not menacing enough which honestly is what this company is known for.
While this effectively lays the groundwork for her future this just didn’t live up to my expectations.