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Grimm Fairy Tales Annual: Las Vegas
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Cover: Al Rio
Variant Cover: Facundo Percio
Price: US $5.99
Release Date: May 26, 2010

***Caution: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!***

It’s that time again, fanboys and fangirls!  Annual season is upon us, and Zenescope Entertainment‘s Grimm Fairy Tales Annual: Las Vegas is one of the first to hit the shelves!

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…because you can’t go anywhere once the life has been ripped from your body.

There’s all kinds of stuff happening in Vegas, such as greed, betrayal, sin, and terror.  This annual captures all of that, and puts a pretty Bo Peep on the cover!

Speaking of Bo Peep, this annual contains three different fairy tales which have had a delicious Grimm flavor sprinkled on them:

“Little Bo Peep”
Writer: Joe Brusha Art: Shawn McCauley

“The Gingerbread Man”
Writer: Joe Brusha  Art: John Toledo

“Jack Be Nimble”
Writer: Ralph Tedesco  Art: Andrew Mangum

All three have a similar moral to them:  Don’t get too cocky and greedy.

Running through all of these stories is an ongoing story that takes place before Grimm Fairy Tales #16.  Fenton and Belinda bring Sela Mathers out to Las Vegas to try to coax her into joining their side.  I’m pretty sure that their side is the dark side, and I don’t think they have any cookies.

The main story really didn’t do much for me.  I’m fairly new to the world of Grimm Fairy Tales, so I felt a little lost because I haven’t read the early issues or issue #16 (which this Annual spills directly into with its “To Be Continued…” ending).  This is probably not something that Mr. Joe New Guy should drop his $5.99 on.  Never fear, though, if you’re one of the Grimm Fairy Tales faithful.  I’m sure this trip backwards in the timeline will have all kinds of “Eureka!” moments for you to enjoy.

What I did take delight in, and what most anyone who picks this up will enjoy, is the dark and sinister not-so-happy-ending twists that are put on the featured fairy tales.  Well, that and the artwork….

Aron White
aron@comicattack.net