Wonderland - Through the Looking Glass #1 - Review

Ivan Nunes Cover C

Wonderland - Through the Looking Glass #1

Writers:
Pat Shand
Raven Gregory

Pencils:
Alessandro Miracolo

What you might need to know before reading this issue...(according to Zenescope)

SPOILER ALERT!!!

After her mother's suicide and the murder of her father at her brother's hand, Calie Liddle sacrificed her brother, Johnny, to the realm of Wonderland. Now Johnny is trapped in the hellish landscape, alone and scared. What will become of him? More importantly, what will become of the Liddle bloodline?

What did I think of this 1st issue of this new series?

This issue definitely fills in some gaps after having read Return to Wonderland and Beyond Wonderland. The story itself feels like Shand and Gregory are really just trying to close the loop left open by previous series. On the whole I found the issue to be average. Nothing inspiring, but worth a read for fans of Wonderland. Maybe for me my interest in this series lies in having some closure with the journey some of the Wonderland characters have taken that have not been explored in detail in previous Wonderland mini-series.


I think that is the point I am trying to get across to readers in this review. To get anything out of this mini-series, you are going to have to be on top of the Return to Wonderland mini-series and the Beyond Wonderland mini-series which are around 5 to 6 years old now. This issue is great for advancing continuity and really explaining the happenings of this amazing Wonderland universe, but will be very unfamiliar ground for new readers. Even old readers should be entitled to be rewarded with some less predictable twists.

Shand and Gregory deal with Johnny's journey to Wonderland well. The Jabberwocky makes his presence known following the events of Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole. The real question for me is this; are we making things a little too complicated now? I fear the answer is yes. Each series needs to be able to stand on its own as an interesting story as well as form part of a greater story. I fear that this series may not be able to stand on its own like previous Wonderland mini-series. Maybe time will prove me wrong, but I just don't think that new readers who pick this issue up are going to want to continue with the series, they may feel as though they have just missed out on too much.

One of the things that always brings me back to Zenescope's titles is that they are supported by great art, both cover art and panel art. Cover art as always is brilliant, my favourite would have to be the Nunes cover (pictured above). The panel art by Miracolo was not to my liking. Facial proportions while unique and distinctive were not of the polished standard I have come to expect from Zenescope. 

My verdict?

A good read for Wonderland fans. New readers will probably not feel inspired enough to pick up issue #2 next month. I will stick with it, but I want to start feeling inspired by this mini-series. I'll let you know how I feel about Wonderland: TTLG next month.

Grade: B-

Sorry folks, this may not be an issue you will enjoy if you are new to Wonderland!




So What's Next?

I am really keen to read and review a new title called Death Sentence. Check out the very awesome cover below.