Review: Grimm Fairy Tales - Myths & Legends #11

I have a bitter sweet relationship with Myths & Legends, I want to like it… but usually don’t. When thesecond story line kicked off for the series I had already checked out. In factI didn’t stick around to figure out how the first story line even ended. Butafter being stuck on a plane for several hours I was desperate to read anythingand thus I gave a lot of titles that I usually don’t read a chance.

I can only describe this story arc as The Little Mermaid with a superhero godmother. I’m not sure who thecharacter is, but she’s dressed like a superhero and she’s hot on Esmeralda’strail. Unfortunately, when she dives under the sea (pun intended) she’s onEsmeralda’s turf. After being captured she’s privy to the secret origin ofEsmeralda. Once she was a human that fell in love with the god of the sea. Theyraised a family, but then one day her husband’s true wife came and killed herchildren and cursed her to her octopus form.

The story was entertaining and even though I came in on thelast issue of the story arc, I didn’t feel that lost. Sure I don’t know whothis superhero chick is, or why Ariel was trying to kill her birth parents, butI enjoyed it never the less. Esmeralda’s back story was interesting anddifferent. It was also very tragic which makes you feel for the characterrather than just writing her off as a typical villain. Raven Gregory’s writingfor the issue was very good and in general his storytelling has improved overthe past year.

What was truly impressive about this book was the interiorart. Sure Zenescope is known for its amazing covers, but a lot of the times theinterior was nothing to brag about. Lately though, they’ve found some up andcoming talent for their titles. A sexy octo-lady is not exactly something youhave on your list to see, but you might want to add after looking at this book.There was a large art team on this book with probably helped the book come outon time, but all three artists keep a very consistent style. For the most partit looks like one artist, with the exception of the close ups on thecharacters.

It may sound strange to recommend the end of a story arc,but that’s what I’m going to do. I really can’t say that it’s important to readevery issue since you can more than likely read just the first issue and last.I didn’t get the impression that a lot happened in-between. The next story arcis “Beauty and the Beast” whichlooked more like a follow up to Red Riding Hood than anything else. At the veryleast I’ll check it out on good faith from this issue though.

Score: 3/5

Story: Raven Gregory, Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco

Art: Matt Triano, Marlin Shoop and Ca Gutierrez

Publisher: Zenescope

Price: $2.99

Release Date: 1/4/2012