Zenescope Entertainment
Written by Pat Shand
Illustrated by Luca Claretti
Coloured by Leonardo Paciarotti
After expelling the adults, Violet wreaks havoc among her peers, going so far as to kill Hailey in a brutal fashion. Ali manages to exorcise the Hatters’ spirits from her, though not soon enough. Meanwhile, the Horde is coming to claim the still unknown power of the Convergence while Arcane Acre is at its weakest.
I was leery that this title didn’t seem to have fairy tales left to explore but then by focusing on turning Arcane Acre into an academy for the children of past characters and creating new and exciting tales Pat has managed to blend a few different worlds we’ve always been by and the idea of a magic school where they can learn to come into their own well it’s a sure fire hit in my book. Along with Luca and Leonardo the book has been revamped into more exploring the worlds we’ve visited and experiencing new and exciting threats. Pat’s writing and storytelling have gotten stronger and his characterization more dynamic with each issue he does and it’s nice to see that it helps make a book like this come back to life in this way.
When Sela went to Myst to talk to Druanna it would seem not everything is what it appears and the fact that I was fooled this entire time and that Sela was nothing more than a pawn on the chessboard well that makes it all the more delightful. It really is this wonderful development in the story and opens up a wide future for the school and the implications of where it’s at and what it can do.
Malec and his forces attacking the Arcane Acre and those defending it well it really is one heck of free for all as everyone is fair game to either be destroyed or simply removed from the game board by death or other means as well. It’s this kind of huge melee fight that we’ve been wanting to see though we only get a real glimpse of it but it’s still a powerful idea and the visual here is pretty darn strong too.
Let’s not forget though that it’s really the kids that are the focus of all this. So what happens with them and the way they can come together and overcome the Mad Hatter’s machinations and where that leaves them when this is all over is going to be incredible to see. Unfortunately death will always be a part of life and the series and Hailey’s journey comes to an end this issue but the ramifications of this is what really excites me, what’s next with the kids, who stays and who goes yeah I’m looking forward to that.
So we finally get to see what it was the girls unleashed from the ground and well what happens with that will surprise you. A new threat has emerged as an old one is extinguished and the future is both bright and scary and honestly this is the way it should be. Pat is doing this thing here that creates this continuity in this universe that unifies and stretches the way these characters will interact and the possibility of seeing characters like Red and Robyn make me think of the unlimited possibilities that still lie ahead.
I’m really enjoying the interior artwork here too. It’s nice, detailed and well kind of classy plus it really does a great job of drawing you into the world they all inhabit.
This is the future of Grimm Fairy Tales and the new adventures that await are sure to thrill.