Zenescope Entertainment 2015
Written by Lou Iovino
Illustrated by Manuel Preitano
Coloured by Vivian Tybusch
I actually really liked this story. I’m so not a fan of Sela and over the years she’s kind of grated on my nerves but this time around seeing be the victim of what’s happening was a delightful change of pace. This really does harken back to how Zenescope began with the book and the fairy tales being used as the bases for horror stories turned lessons in behavior. Only here it’s Sela, or Snow White that has a lesson to learn.
The opening of this story was utterly fantastic as we start in Tillamook State Forest, Oregon with guys chopping down trees. They are besieged by the seven dwarves only not the kind you are used to as they chop the men to pieces. It seems they were there for a reason too and that’s for Jacob whom they refer to as the Huntsman and he’s a big ole lumberjack type. Why is he targeted well you’ll have to read the story to find out.
I’m pretty darn impressed with two things here the choice of villain and the interior artwork. It’s violent sure but not gory and really well detailed, the use of panels is wonderful so that the story flows very nicely.
When Sela is affected by the events she immediately goes off to the realm of Myst to talk to Druanna. This where we learn of Binders and who was history’s greatest Binder. Now for who that is and what it means to be a Binder you’ll have to read the story. Suffice it to say that when Sela destroyed the book she used throughout the Grimm Fairy Tales series, by the Brothers Grimm, she released those stories into the world and mistakenly thinking it was done with the books destruction she forgot about them.
It doesn’t take Sela long to find the new Binder but soon she learns she isn’t strong enough to go up against him alone. After all he’s got the Seven Dwarves on his side and these creatures aren’t thrilled to see her and quickly overpower her. Once she manages to make her escape back to the Arcane Acre and get reinforcements we learn what he really wants and that the power of these stories really is much stronger than anyone realized. It’s interesting to see Sela being played like this proving her arrogance and self assuredness can be shaken to the point it’s gotten to.
Ah I like how this story plays out and leaves room for further tales of the Binder’s and perhaps Skye’s connection to her mother’s book. This really is an introduction to a new kind of threat that has been around since the caveman days on Earth and much longer in the realms like Myst. Not all binders will be good or use the power in positive ways. This story also showcases the fact that Sela is as human as anyone who once she’s done with something forgets about it thinking she’s solved a problem for good instead of checking up on it.
This is the latest offering in what I call the new Zenescope. Strong intelligent writing with multiple levels to it and a complexity that is delightful to read coupled with strong interior artwork that compliments the writing.
This why we love Zenescope they keep the true origins of the fairy tales intact making them once again creepy and meant to frighten children into behaving. It’s been a great first ten years and here’s to the evolution of the second ten years!