%20(1).png)
About Grimm Fairy Tales #89
Writer: Dave Franchini
Artist: Babisu Kourtis
Colorist: Jorge Cortes
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Release Date: October 30th, 2024
Logline:
All is not what it seems within the realms of power surrounding Earth, the thin layered time of peace is crumbling, as a battle is brewing that may bubble over into every life in the Grimm Universe. And the time is coming for Skye Mathers where choosing to protect the Nexus will mean picking a side and taking a stand in the war to come!
Where can I read Grimm Fairy Tales #89?
Pick this up from your Local Comic Shop or via Amazon’s Kindle Store.
Trigger Warnings
Family Reunions
Demonic Villains
Dark Magic
Mother/Daughter issues
Grimm Fairy Tales #89 Review:
Although mostly a filler, Grimm Fairy Tales #89 spends its time setting up a brand new arc. With Skye’s mother (Sela) spending all her time protecting The Realm of Myst, she’s too busy to notice the return of Malec aka the Dark One. Who, for those uninitiated in all things Grimm Fairy Tales is basically the Sauron in the universe of Grimm Fairy Tales, to use a LOTR metaphor. Or at least, he tries to be. Even emerging from a volcano, thanks to the wicked magic of his devout follower and wicked sorceress, The Dark Priestess. While the artwork Babisu Kourtis’s artwork and Jorge Cortes’s coloring it’s fine, the decision for barely legible black text on red speech bubbles, is highly questionable. Only if squinting is one of your favourite pastimes.
Segwaying back to Arcane Acre in our world, Shang and Samantha are arguing about how to train Brielle, Winter and Carm. Who manage to destroy half of Shang’s library thanks to Brielle being unable to control her blue magic and Winter being in over her head.
While this is going on, Diego and Skye Mathers are out grocery shopping. Well, Diego is trying to shop and despite his pet and weird creature, Arthur, making a mess of things - meets a cute girl. His is interrupted by Skye facing off against a Banshee who launches her into one of the shopping aisles. Being unable to touch her or use brute strength, Diego loudly suggest Skye use the powers of Neverland to give the Banshee a little bit of life and snap it out of its rage. A rage that is now gone but that warns Skye of dangers that are coming before it passes down into the underworld. This leaves Skye confused but don’t worry, that cute girl that Diego met? Well, she’s introduced to us as Ixxy and she gives him his phone number. Insinuating that we haven’t seen the last of her.
Segwaying back to The Realm of Myst; Sela, her winged companion Ivy and Orcson lead an army through the countryside. It’s a moment of respite offered by writer Dave Franchini as comedic bickering between Orcson and Ivy ensue leaving Sela caught in the middle. This is broken when they come across a town that has been set on fire. As Sela rushes to the aid of would-be villagers she notices there are none to save and is interrupted by the Dark Priestess who introduces Malec, their army and an unknown force who launches itself straight at Sela’s army. While the threat is clear, this is foreshadowing an even more unstoppable force that will reveal itself in Grimm Fairy Tales #90.
Diverting back to Skye in her apartment and cleaned up after her battle with the Banshee, she goes to get something from her fridge, only for a portal to open in her living room. Revealing her mother, Sela Mathers, who is critically injured from the fight with Malec and his evil forces. Closing out the issue on a cliff hanger.
Grimm Fairy Tales #89, while interesting in parts, is largely a filler issue that spends the majority of its time setting up a new arc. An arc which feels like it’ll have lasting repercussions on Skye, her mother, their friends and The Realm of Myst.
Writer Dave Franchini maps out the issue well enough but when the best parts of this comic book can be whittled down to only 10 good pages out of a grand 22 you have to ask yourself “has this been a good use of our time?”
Thankfully the artwork or Babisu Kourtis and coloring of Jorge Cortes is a winning combination that distracts away from the writing and lettering shortfalls. There’s a slow burn dark fantasy tinge in the dynamic of Grimm Fairy Tales #89. One that I hope will make the overall arc seem well worth it. Though I’d hate to be a new reader going in with this issue as my intro because it feels largely phoned-in and would see me tapping out.
Key Takeaways of Grimm Fairy Tales #89
Shang’s group of Magic Students is not unlike Marvel’s Professor Xavier and the X-Men. However, it’s more aligned with comics like Generation X as Shang and Samantha struggle to decide what to do with their students. Much like Emma Frost and Sean Cassidy aka Banshee (not to be confused with the Banshee mentioned in this review).
Diego’s suggestions of how to take on a powerful enemy make him the perfect sidekick for Skye Mathers. He’s the brains to her braun and has an unmatched knowledge of otherworldly supernatural creatures. While the two of them will never be romantically linked, there’s a bond between them filled with respect as Diego is dedicated to helping Skye on her missions. Whether they feel like side quests or are epically charged.
Best Scenes in Grimm Fairy Tales #89
The best (and probably only good) scene is where Skye and the Banshee go head to head in a grocery store. It blends that feeling of supernatural invasion versus modern day that Grimm Fairy Tales is so famous for. It also introduces the dynamic of Skye and Diego’s working relationship. How despite him being a supporting character, he still plays a vital role in Skye Mather’s adventures.
Biggest Let-Downs of Grimm Fairy Tales #89
The colouration choice of speech bubbles and thought boxes in Taylor Esposito’s lettering of Malec and his cohort of evil is disappointing to say the least. It’ll make you squint to read and empathise for the colour blind. How this wasn’t picked up by an editor is anyone’s guess.
Although it helps for tension in the storytelling, it’s highly questionable that Sela Mathers wouldn’t notice Malec’s entire invasion force. Unless hidden by some spell but that hasn’t been commented on or revealed yet so we can only take this misstep by Dave Franchini at face value.
Due to this issue of Grimm Fairy Tales spending a lot of time setting up the next arc in GFT, there’s a lot of filler at play and much less action than we’re used to.
My Kind Of Weird Score:
5/10
