Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: The Library #4
Publisher: Zenescope
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artist: Giovanni Timpano (cover by Joe Pekar)
Colorist: Liezl Buenaventura
The fourth installment of this series mirrors its predecessors in that there is tons of action, adventure, and even some sentimental moments. Young Sela is up against a brick wall as she, Robin Hood, and Pecos are trapped in a castle, trying to fend off a hoard of monsters led by Baba Yaga. She eventually breaks in, and has her minions attack Pecos and Robin Hood, while Frankenstein’s Monster grabs Sela and the book. They take Sela and the book back to the Wicked Witch of the West, and that’s when the fun really starts! Sela’s brother, Thomas, is having quite an adventure of his own, as he and Hercules are introduced to another all time great character, Captain Nemo! This meeting is quickly interrupted, however, by the Kraken! That encounter is a fast one, as well, but when everyone is reunited, everything goes crazy, and a battle begins that rocks the very foundation of reality!
This mini-series is lots of fun, and a roller coaster ride for all. Who hasn’t dreamed of a book where Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, Hercules, Robin Hood, and just about every other fantasy character make an appearance in such a great series. The dynamic between Sela and her father has made this even better. The action could stand on its own, but the drama and tension between Sela and her father gives a different angle that sets this apart from other action series out there. Anytime you have mythical creatures, dinosaurs, and more weapons than you can shake a stick at, you’ve got a winner! Brusha certainly has delivered on this series, and with one more to go, it’s bound to be a good one.
Timpano is right on the money with this book. His young Sela is very good, and that’s not even going into all the creatures, monsters, and dinosaurs. I love the way he draws the Wicked Witch, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Dilophosaurus. He also gets just about everything else perfect, too, but those are the best three. Also, his version of Baba Yaga is pretty good, too. I’ve seen her drawn well before in The Dream Eater Saga, and this is right up there. Next issue will be the finale, and it will be a bit sad, but rest assured, it will be a fun ending that will either leave the door open for more someday, or get you primed for something else in the near future from Zenescope. (Alternate Cover by Pasquale Qualano.) Rating 4/5
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
