Zenescope Entertainment 2005
Written by Pat Shand
Illustrated by Christopher Johnson
Coloured by Erick Arciniega
Lettered by Ghost Glyph Studios
Bloody Bones and the Warlord of Oz lead a vicious onslaught on the school. Kiera Carmen and new recruit Phil are killed, leaving the surviving students doubtful of Sela’s ability to keep them safe. Meanwhile, Belinda journeys to the Realm of Myst in search of answers regarding the nature of Bloody Bones, but instead discovers that the evil Warlord of Oz is her long-lost son. As Arcane Acre attempts to recover without Kiera, Phil, and Belinda, Skye calls the students to arms against Bloody Bones.
I have to say that this issue’s spotlight on Wiglaf was absolutely fantastic. Even better is that it gives us a chance to get to know Mary better as well. Actually as the I finished reading this issue I realized that Pat’s been slowly but steadily writing Mary into this series in such a way that she isn’t going anywhere soon. She sees herself as an outsider compared to the rest and is trying her best to “fit” in by doing whatever she can to help everyone. It’s a slippery slope doing that but it’s nice to see this kind of characterization happening here all the while during a spotlight on someone else.
So Wiglaf wants to say at Arcane Acre and not go back to Oz. Well who can blame him really Oz is kind of crazy scary place. Though he’s enamoured with his glamour more than his actual looks which is the kind of insecurity that well we all have at some point in our lives, most noticeably in our teenage years. I do like what we saw here it was extremely well crafted as we go through his current life, feelings and his place among his fellow students.
I also have to say that when the others are up to their own plot it seems like things get to follow through for them. I like that they haven’t been left out or forgotten and that they are still bent on that course of action so it keeps things moving along nicely so when that story does take center stage we know it’s time. Ah then there’s Belinda and what she’s up to in the realm of Myst. Yeah that’s going to be a game changer well for the adults anyway I have to say I like the way the kids think instead they don’t care who Bloody Bones really is they will defeat him anway and that’s part of why I like them.
Everything about this issue was fantastic, there were some great deeper moments that were balanced by levity and one big old fashioned goof. So yeah there’s a very good reason i’ve compared this to the teen books from Marvel because it really does rival and sometimes surpass what they’ve done. This is a family of kids of various backgrounds and ever shifting plans, loves and ideas and it’s organic and feels like what it was like when I was that age, were I a character from Wonderland anyway.
I have to give a huge shout-out to Christopher and Erick here for their work on the interiors. A lot went into them this issue what with so many lion faced visages going on. The attention to detail was fabulous and very much appreciated. They really knocked this one out of the park with what they brought us.
This is the flagship series and it’s gone through a few ups and downs but there’s a reason it’s reaching it’s highest point yet. This is what the future looks like and to me it looks unlimited.