Grimm Fairy Tales Retrospective #2: Hansel & Gretel

Good evening, Ticketholders!

Last time, I summarized and commented on the very first two issues of Zenescope's Grimm Fairy Tales comic book series. This post will only feature the third issue, as per my newly adopted brevity policy.

GFT #3: Hansel & Gretel

This issue is very on-the-nose with its character names and framing scenario. A brother and sister named Hank and Gina run away from home and “chance” upon a ride with Sela Mathers, who relates to them “some lame story about two stupid kids who run away from home.” The intro panels of the Hansel & Gretel story are almost identical to its frame, with the exception being a difference in time period (e.g.: dress, language, technology).
The story continues fairly true to the common knowledge version, with the twist being that the witch (or hag, depending on the regional telling) is named Sela. This seems to further confirm information from the two previous issues that Sela can send people into the fairy tales she tells (as the book did with “Britney?”), as well as enter the fairy tales herself and take a character’s form (as with the fairy godmother in Cinderella).
After the fairy tale, Sela invites the kids to crash at her place for the night, which they wisely decline. The last panel shows Sela looking…happy? Wait. Last issue, she was selling popularity for a girl’s soul and commanding crows to peck out people’s eyes. Now, the crows only eat breadcrumbs, and Sela’s smiling because she won’t get to eat two children? Is Sela good or evil? Find out next time. Maybe.

That last bit isn't me being a prick, although I was feeling a little salty after the confusing way the first three issues handled Sela's morality. I truly had no idea what kind of character Sela was supposed to be the first time I read this series, and while three issues in is too early in its run for GFT to have any kind of focus and the writers should be due some critical leeway for not knowing what direction their story is supposed to be taking, some criticism should also be required from the point of view of someone who is re-reading the series (read: Me) for its continuing lack of focus, ever-shifting crew of artists, and "hey, this would be a cool story to write all of a sudden" approach to what should by all rights be a sprawling yet focused narrative that keeps itself in mind, rather than obeying random whims and fluctuating financials.
That doesn't mean the individual issues are all unworthy of reading, however. Tune in tomorrow night, and you'll see what I mean.

Ticketmaster,
out.