Review: I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 2 #3

3.47/5.0 Stars
Rating if the Book Were a Movie: PG-13

Creative Team:

Writer: Skottie Young
Artist: Brett Bean
Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letters: Nate Piekos
Cover: Skottie Young
Editor: Joel Enos
Publisher: Image Comics

Ratings:

Story: 3.4 Stars
Artwork: 3.6 Stars
Cover Artwork: 3.7 Stars
Dialogue: 3.3 Stars
Mechanics: 3.4 Stars
Editing: 3.4 Stars 

About the Book:

Because she has been there before, Gertie has been hired to retrieve a child from Fairyland. Getting back into Fairyland is not as easy at it would seem. First she must navigate the labyrinth that is the Inferno to find the gate into Fairyland. That would have been much easier with a map. Gertie felt compelled to eat her map at one point. Now Gertie has lost too much time in the Inferno. She needs a way to make up time in a hurry.

In a magical shop Gertie sees a creature called a Getlin. When treated and put to work properly, a Getlin can instantly find missing things for its master. All it takes is time…. and the ability to follow the care and feeding instructions the Getlin came with. With Gertie’s patience that won’t be an issue, right?

Reader’s Notes:

This issue is a fun adventure that allows us to see what an ordeal it was for our heroine to make her way through Fairyland the first time. Some of the hangups on getting through the Inferno are completely Gertie’s fault. Some delays have been a matter of being in the right place at the wrong time. The other issues are simple enough to explain. Fairyland is to the Enchanted Forest what Australia’s ecosystem is to North America’s. Everything in Fairyland and the Inferno is trying to kill or imprison Gertie as she makes her way through.

Gertie’s sense of direction, coupled with the addled idea to eat the map are no help. Imagine somewhere between Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn is a door that will complete a portion of your quest. You don’t have a map to help you on your journey. None of the locals are that inclined to make the quest easier. Along the way there will be things that try to kill you or, at the very least, take up precious time. This quest will take forever. If I were Gertie I would be using a Getlin, or anything else that would help the cause, too.

I enjoyed the recurring theme/homage/parody of Gremlins that we get throughout this story. It helps keep the story chugging along while giving us laughs at Gertie’s expense. Gertie’s not one for reading directions before acting. Her impulsiveness leads us station to station through a series of unfortunate moments that culminate with all the Getlins breeding.

I have always enjoyed Skottie Young’s covers. This one is no exception. This one finds that perfect balance between fun and frightening. The Getlin looks like Gertie, a Critter, and the Green Goblin had an evil, demented, cannibalistic love child. Spider-Man is screwed if this thing jumps universes. Frankly, I’d be okay with the entertainment value that could bring us.

This geek on a budget is still enjoying this fun, whimsical story. The artwork meshes perfectly with the story and keeps the laughs coming as Gertrude makes one mistake after another. I believe it is well worth the price of admission to get to know the Getlins! Go forth and enjoy!