Calie Liddle’s daughter has been kidnapped by her brother, the new Mad Hatter. Calie’s search for her daughter takes her through the looking glass, and back to Wonderland. With the fury of a mother, and sharp weapons, hell hath no fury like a pissed off mom!
Escape From Wonderland TPB
Story: Raven Gregory, Joe Brusha, and Ralph Tedesco
Writer: Raven Gregory
Pencils: Daniel Leister, Anthony Spay, Dave Hoover, Eric J, Mike DeBalfo, and Andrew Magnum
Colors: Nei Ruffino, Milen Parvanov, and Jason Embury
Letters: Crank!
Cover: J. Scott Campbell
Editor: Ralph Tedesco
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
Story Pages: 160
Cover Price: $17.99 USD
Previously, in Escape From Wonderland: With the final arc Wonderland Trilogy concludes within this story. As Calie Liddle’s hunt for her daughter brings her back to Wonderland, and to confront the forces there that want to stop her no matter what. Though she has had many challenges before, nothing has been as much of a trial as this.
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE…
Returning to a place she swore never to return to, Calie Liddle, the daughter of Alice, of Alice in Wonderland fame, returns to her roots in search of her kidnapped daughter – a search that was necessary due to her brother Johnny, who has become the new Mad Hatter, and has devious plans for his niece. With the evil of the world against her, can Calie save her daughter and make it home again before losing all that she has gained?
This story is more complex than I thought it would be. I got an issue or so into it before I realized that something came before this tale, and finished it before I realized that this was the final chapter of a trilogy. That being said, the story that I read was a engaging tale that spanned the whole of Wonderland, top, and bottom.
The scorned mother seeking revenge has been chronicled in other media over the years, namely in “Kill Bill”, and you wouldn’t be too far off lumping this tale in with that movie thematically. Though execution may not be a crisp as what Tarantino pulls off, it’s not mind numbingly painful either.
Calie is a strong female character that wants to be reunited with her daughter, and will do what ever it takes to get her back. Her whole family show up in this tale, and without any prior knowledge, I know the writers intent. They are to be a ultimate dysfunctional family. Murder, adultery, infant sacrifice, all these wicked things running the gamut.
Though I was not really hooked on Calie, or really any other character that is within this book, I was able to enjoy the story for what it was. Calie really didn’t have anything I hadn’t seen before, and though she was a furious mother out to get her child back, I don’t think it fully sold me on that premise.
…AND BACK AGAIN
The artwork for this comic is by a multitude of artists, and that usually spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E, but with each of their art styles balancing out, I really didn’t notice that artists had changed mid stream until I had read half of the TPB. Thankfully, it wasn’t like going from Neal Adams artwork to Chap Yeap(Google him).
The characters including Calie, the Mad Hatter, the Jabberwocky, as well as everyone else didn’t look all too bad. I wished the character design was a little less Bad Girl era, but I wasn‘t too off put. The pages themselves were well constructed, and had a surprisingly energetic flair, of which I did not expect.
The gruesome character designs, contrasting with the vivacious women was kind of jarring, but I eventually got used to it, which was really the only thing that I could do. As for the cover by J. Scott Campbell, it was quite nice. I normally don’t care for the “pose” covers, but I have to say, it worked out pretty well here.
THE VERDICT: NOT AS MAD AS A HATTER
Overall this comic knew what it was. A hot piece of T&A, with a bit of gore thrown in to spice it up. That content, and creative direction usually has me leaning on the fence towards really disliking it. But when you add it all up, this comic was proud to be what it was, and that I can respect.
Though this comic has some gore, and certain four lettered explicit language, it doesn’t really move past teasing, which boggles the mind. These insane butt, and crotch shots, and thin strands of hair covering nipples, are harder to believe than walking through a mirror to another world. But that is me.
If you are a fan of T&A, a fan of twisted takes off of beloved childhood tales, or just want something that has some epic action, gore, and pretty ladies. This comic is for you. The Escape From Wonderland TPB receives 4 Stars, out of 5.
[rating:4/5]