I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From superstar writer and artist Skottie Young (
Rocket Raccoon,
Wizard of OZ,
Fortunately,
The Milk), comes the first volume of an all-new series of adventure and mayhem. An Adventure Time/Alice in Wonderland-style epic that smashes it's cute little face against grown-up, Tank Girl/Deadpool-esque violent madness. Follow Gert, a forty year old woman stuck in a six year olds body who has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland for nearly thirty years. Join her and her giant battle-axe on a delightfully blood soaked journey to see who will survive the girl who HATES FAIRYLAND. Collecting Issues #1-5.
Review
I Hate Fairyland had definitely one of the most eye grabbing titles I'd come across in a comic book for a while. Indeed, this was the first thing that made me pick it up, and especially the name of the first volume,
Madly Ever After. It had something fairytale-ish that I couldn't really resist, despite the unsettling imagery of the cover.
The story at first had something really familiar, like the beginning you'd expect out of a children's book. A young girl, Gertrude, wished to be in Fairyland and suddenly she was sucked into this world where everything was so pink and full of candies. The queen of fairyland gave Gert a quest, to find the key that would open the door that led back to her old life, as well as the minion Larrigon Wentswarth III. And this was the point that everything went wrong. Twenty-seven years had passed and Gert was still wandering in Fairyland desperate to find the key. Although she was a grown woman, she still looked like the little girl that entered the magical kingdom. Along with Gert's mind her temper grew as well, making her a huge problem for the queen. Maybe this was how Alice would end up, if she remained in Wonderland.
Gertrude's temper was the real protagonist in this comic book. She yelled and killed anyone who would get in her way. She even shot the moon because he was narrating her story. Her temper was also what made the story move forward, as the queen couldn't take it anymore. But Gert was resourceful and always managed to survive, with her unpredictable ideas. Furthermore, this exact temper was what made this graphic novel so hilarious!
A big plus of
I Hate Fairyland was that it spoke to the inner geek in me! When I first encountered this creature I was screaming "This is Jabba". When a little while later Gert was trying to choke him with her chain I was screaming "This is definitely Jabba". And it became even more entertaining when Gert herself aknowledged it as a
Jabba Choke. For a Star Wars fan like myself, this was an amazing nod to the franchise.
The art style of
I Hate Fairyland was throughout the comic book like the one in the cover. Gert was violent and so blood was one of the most common sights. A great example was when Gertrude slaughtered a whole village of zombies. But the contrast was great with all the cute images of the background and the pastel colours.
A thing that I didn't quite understand, but was equally funny was the way Gertrude used profanities. All of the words were changed with others, not vulgar at all like
son of a biscuit,
fudge,
hug, but in one instance Gert called some guards
dickheads. It didn't really bother me, but it would be funnier if it was replaced with another word.
All in all, i loved
I Hate Fairyland. It was an entertaining comic and I would really like to read more of Gertrude's adventures. The ending definitely left me pumped up for the second volume. But
Madly Ever After was best described by the queen of Fairyland:
Fairyland may be the happiest place on earth for dumb, snot-nose brats, but it's also filled with the blackest of dark-hearted evils. A comic book not to be missed!
