If you’ve read original Grimm Fairy Tales you know that many of the endings are anything but happy, the justice tends to be biblical, and the logic tends to belong in Bedlam. Erstwhile is the beautifully drawn, true-to-the-source adaptation of the lesser-known Grimm fairy tales. The artists also don’t cut out any of the tragic bits, the bloody bits, or any of the downright weird bits. It’s a collaboration between three artists, who take advantage of the short story collection format to change up the art each time with different styles, color palettes and techniques.
My favorite part about the comic (Other than Grimm in all its grisly glory) is the art styles which always suit the story being told. Since all three artists have other series, I imagine drawing the same style every day can get a little weary, and they want to flex their muscles a little . The colors change to suit the tone, from the sad cool blues of The Little Shroud to the deceptively cheerful warm earth tones in The Bird, the Mouse, and the Sausage. The first volume has been printed with the aid of a kickstarter and has the first eight tales, as well as being printed in truly luscious full color.
About the Authors
Gina Biggs is the ringleader of our merry band of storytellers, and is the author of the long running romance web comic Red String. Louisa Roy is the author of the fantasy comic Velharthis, which is currently undergoing a ground-up rebuild. Elle Skinner is the author of Missing Monday.
