Wonderland - Down the Rabbit Hole #1 Review

Wonderland - Down the Rabbit Hole #1

Publication Date:
May 2013

Writers:
Raven Gregory
Pat Shand

What we know about this story...in the words of Zenescope...

'Wonderland's sadistic ruler; the Jabberwocky, has been gaining power form the Liddle bloodline for generations with the intent of shattering the border between Wonderland and this world. Alice knows deep down that this entity is after her family and she must find a way to stop it before her deteriorating psyche gets the best of her.'

The image to the top left is cover art by Keu Cha. It is just stunning.

 My understanding of things! 

The Down the Rabbit Hole series seems to hold the keys to the dramatic events that give rise to Alice Liddle's actions (and its affects on her young family) during the Return to Wonderland series which is where everyone who follows this series started. I recall reading the opening pages of Return to Wonderland #1 back in 2007 and was hooked the moment I started reading it. The dramatic opening just screamed out for a prequel. I am glad it has arrived in 2013. I knew the Wonderland franchise was going to be Zenescope's No. #1 title. So far, it has proven a great success. Congrats to Zenescope.

What can we expect from this issue?

Can I first say that if you are new to comic books, the greater Wonderland series is a difficult place to start your comic book reading. You may find yourself quite confused by the comic panel layout from time to time combined with the application of 'literary nonsense'. If you can overcome these challenges, then you will thoroughly enjoy the Wonderland universe.

So, Alice has returned from Wonderland and is happily married with two children. In this issue it appears her mind struggles to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Her escape from Wonderland was not without its costs to her state of mind, but Alice is working at building a normal life.

Interestingly we see Alice as a warrior in Wonderland conversing with the Jabberwocky as to her future. Later we see her in therapy trying to deal with the horrors Wonderland inflicted on her. At the end of this issue we begin to see this title's connection with the Return to Wonderland series.

I was really impressed with the use of an old clock face which appears throughout the panel art to give the reader a perspective on the time that passes in the story. The final page is just creepy and graphically brilliant at the same time. I loved what the writers and artists did with the clock face and with the final page of this issue.

What about the Cover and Interior art work?

The interior art work is great. The grown-up version of Alice is drawn as we might expect from our understanding of Alice the child. The colours leap out at the reader and really compliment the different periods in which the story is being told throughout the issue.

Let me spend some time on the cover art. I think this is something Zenescope do particularly well. Some readers I've spoken to love the very sexy grown up version of Alice which is a perspective some of the covers play to (see Greg Horn - Cover B). Those who know Horn's work are familiar with his style of drawing...

Greg Horn - Cover B

I however, like the covers that illustrate this series as a horror/suspense series and gives the reader a taste of what they can expect from the story inside the issue (see Cafaro - Cover C). 

Giuseppe Cafaro - Cover C

I am not such a fan of the exclusive covers that tend to over sexualise the characters. This is a horror/suspense comic book series. Keep the art provocative and vibrant sure, but sometimes it gets taken a little too far and has virtually nothing to do with the story itself. I'm no wowser when it comes to cover art, but I do get a little frustrated by the sheer number of covers that Zenescope create for a single issue. There are 7 covers (3 exclusive covers which you can bet an Australian reader will have to pay big money to get their hands on). When it comes to covers and cover art, be creative, but stick to the point.

What do others say about this issue?

Well, there are differences of opinion which is what is great about reading reviews. The following review accords more with my viewpoint:

Unleash the Fanboy Review 

and this review is not as kind as mine...

Adventures in Poor Taste Review 

How do I rate it?

Easily an 8 out of 10.

If you are following the greater Wonderland series', you must read this one too!

Enjoy.

C.