Grimm Fairy Tales Presents: Robyn Hood by Patrick Shand (Grimm Fairy Tales Presents)

7/10

In the land of Myst, a tyrant rules the city of Bree with an iron fist, leaving its citizens living in fear and terror. But all hope is not lost as a young orphan girl from another world discovers her destiny and becomes the legend she was meant to be.

I haven’t read much of the main stream Zenescope output of graphic novels and comics (you can see my reviews of the Charmed graphic novels here) but what I have learnt is that most of Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales represent rewrites of famous fairy tales and myths, rewritten to show the main character as a strong woman, they also draw most of their female characters as overly voluptuous with minimal clothing.

In this case, they have updated the classic tale of Robin Hood and his battles with King John from a medieval tale, to bring it to the world of Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales, where Robin is now Robyn, a high school girl who does not know who she is or what she will become. With this tale we are given some flashbacks to where she is in the present and how her life swiftly goes from bad to worse but giving her the skills she needs to become the Legend.

After a traumatic event, she is pulled into the realm of Myst, where magic is still a major force in the world and it seems that Robyn is someone who has vast magical powers. Without knowing how she is connected to this place she stands for freedom from oppression from King John who does not care about his people, he is just a tyrant. Initially she helps them as she is promised they will get her home as she has vengeance in her heart.

For being a graphic novel where the main character walks around in a tiny corset which no one comments on as being maybe not that practical for archery and sword fighting, there is a lot of interesting story, with interesting characters and back story which will probably be discovered in later volumes, I was happy that Robyn wasn’t whiney but at the same time is quite impetuous rather than listening to get the full scope of the situation.

Below I have also given a quick review of the one shot (like a double issue, joining story) of Robyn Hood vs Red Riding Hood, as I have not read earlier stories of Red Riding Hood, I can only say that it seems to follow the events of Robyn Hood: Volume 1. The book gives two different points of view from two girls who have been damaged by the world around them. Red Riding Hood is on a mission to stop Robyn Hood who she presumes to be a murderer. Rather than trying to find out the facts of why Robyn would have killed the people she is accused of she is going straight for the kill. Robyn, who is trying to live a new life incognito, begins the story as the prey but manages to escape. Both characters seem to be confused over whether they are heroes or villains, and are trying to adjust themselves to life after their adventures and in any other situation you would think that they would be able to bond and help each other come to terms with the traumas of the past. As a starting point into the world of Grimm Fairy Tales Presents, it may not be the best place to start as I felt the characters were flatter than in Robyn Hood: Volume 1.