Neverland #0
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents:
Neverland #0
Written: Joe Brusha
Art: Jean-Paul Deshong
I've never read a Zenescope comic before, and on a whim I picked up this first issue of a new story presented in their Grimm Fairy Tales line. The cover art drew me to this book and the art was great throughout. I'm a little sad though that I didn't pick up one of the limited to 250 nude variant covers. Artist Jean-Paul Deshong, his premier work was done back in 2004's Digital Webbing Presents #20, got his big break in 2009 with Zenescope. I have to tell you that his inks pop, they are fluid and go well with both genre's in the story. The art was good enough to draw me in and I think I'm hooked and would like to point him out as an up and comer in the world of comic art.
Joe Brusha Editor at Zenescope picked up the pen to flesh out this story. In Grimm Fairy Tale style there are two different stories going on at once that seem like they will merge together. Having never read a Grimm Fairy tale comic before, I didn't know what to expect. Well now I expect nothing but awesomeness. The opening of the story leads with a somewhat supernatural abduction that is sensed by another sleeping boy in the same town. This young boy we find is little Michael Darling. He lives with his brother Michael and his Aunt Wendy. The names of course have to link up with the classic fairytale. (Note: The Brothers Grimm never penned Peter Pan,that was the work of Scottish novelist and play-write J.M. Barrie.)
Young Michael looks through some old photos of an ancestor that survived the Titanic and asks some questions which may lead us to believe that we will see tie ins to the original Wendy, John, and Michael. Then the story flashes across town and we are introduced to a police crime drama that involves the missing child and his parents. The child moved through locked doors from his 16th Story flat some how. The detective’s only clue that this may not be filicide, residue that the detective says resembles... pixie dust.
We then are introduced to a new character, amputee Nathan Cross. Cross is portrayed as a guy down on his luck bumming some change to make a call. After being refused by Wendy, young Michael gave the man his milk money. Mr. Cross Makes the call to his shrink and sees the missing child poster and informs the doctor that he won’t be coming in today.
Upon turning the page, colors jump and shimmer as the reader is instantly teleported to Neverland. This is a world of dark fairytale fantasy ruled by the king referred to only as “Pan.” He is being offered a deal that will get him the one thing that he is missing, a queen. Last Panel, Pan looking down at a picture.
The story concludes and is a great read and leaves you wanting more. I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series, especially after the additional intrigue of the extra insert pages of Mr. Cross’ psychological records. I have to see how this ties together.
If you like Fable’s, if you’ve read the other Grimm Fairy Tales, are a fan of Peter Pan, or just want something new to look at, I would recommend picking up this book. I’m going to have to look for trades or back issues of other stories, it was that interesting.
