Indie Comic Review: Grimm Spotlight: Mystere Voodoo Dawn

Review: Grimm Spotlight: Mystere Voodoo Dawn

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment

Writer: Joe Brusha

Artist: Babisu Kourtis 

Color Artist: Grostieta, Fran Gamboa with J. C. Ruiz

Letterer: Tyler Esposito (of Ghost Glyphs Studios)

Review by: Kendra Hale

Summary

Grimm Spotlight: Mystere Voodoo Dawn is a 34 page spotlight issue in which we get a story featuring Mystere and a look into her life. But to know the present, you must look to the past, and that is exactly where this tale begins. Back in 1821 in Charleston, South Carolina, to be exact. 

In the first few stunning pages of Grimm Spotlight: Mystere Voodoo Dawn we met a Bokor. A mystic who has been asked to aide in the changing of the tides of who holds sway over the sugar trade. However, after receiving a compliment of his powers, the Bokor makes a devastating mistake of ego.  The Lwa sometimes called Ioa, Gods of the voodoo religion, are not pleased with his ego and come down to pay justice. As they say, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Back To Life, Back To Reality

It is then that we meet our headliner, Mary Medina, otherwise known as Mystere. Mary Medina has cast aside her role as Mystere and runs the New Dawn Shelter while also playing the role of a con artist convincing people they are haunted in order to get their money.  That is, until fate brings Mama Cal into her life. 

Once their hands meet, Mary is at Mama Cal’s whims, even though she can’t explain why. Mama Cal asks for Mary to take her to Charleston, and once they arrive, they’re in the thick of it.  Mary breaks out as Mystere, but is unable to win this fight. Mama Cal explains that the robbers were after the ring of Domingo, which is the name of the Bokor we met earlier. 

These Voodoo Lords have a plan to resurrect…but will Mystere be able to stop them?

Positives 

 Grimm Spotlight: Mystere Voodoo Dawn opened a lot of firsts for me. I wanted to fully understand the story, so there were moments of research that I really enjoyed. Which says a lot for, not only writer Joe Brusha, but also artist Babisu Kourtis.  It could have gone overboard with a reader not being able to understand, but the story was reserved, yet respectful. I truly appreciated that. 

This spotlight tale was a lovely dip into the realm of Mystere for those who have been following the series, and the artwork is gorgeously rendered. But I would be remiss if I didn’t also bring up the covers, absolutely stunning examples of the quality level we expect from Zenescope. 

Negatives 

The only thing that is a negative for me is this – in every other one of the side stories or adventures through the Zenescope realm, it is genuinely pretty easy to drop in and sit a spell and fit right in.  Grimm Spotlight: Mystere Voodoo Dawn is one where I feel like coming in was a bit of a disservice to the character herself. But overall, the story is still fun and intriguing, so it is the smallest of negatives. 

Verdict

While the negative is that you can’t just really bust in and feel like you know exactly where you are, Joe Brusha and the team do a brilliant job of luring you in so you never want to leave. I suggest you fall for their spell. 

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