Edward Scissorhands: Parts Unknownby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 After decades of lonely isolation, Edward reactivates Eli, one of his father's other creations. Eli is missing one vital piece (other than the hands, which are pincers), making him more dangerous than Edward ever was. Megs is Kim's granddaughter, and in the throes of teenage rebellion, she's determined to discover the truth about her grandmother's old flame.This comic is a wonderful sequel to the original movie. The art is a fantastic match for Tim Burton's style, capturing the quirkiness and the haunting and unusual beauty. Megs is very much like her grandmother was -- curious, trusting, courageous. Her mom's position is understandable, but I'm glad she comes around at the end. I like how clothing and attitudes are used to update the comic to a more modern setting (decades have passed after all) without the need for adding technology. This also allows things like the mob mentality to be a bit more believable, though that part still stands out as odd from a realistic stand point (while also highlighting that this is still very much a small town). The police are completely played for humor, and it's nicely placed mid-volume before things take a more serious turn. I love that the other main family in this volume is a mixed family, which also updates it. Eli's story is so sad. Yes, he's frightening, and his inability to speak makes him even more chilling. The scenes where he kidnaps and hurts the boy are presented in a way that is even scarier without showing us the gory details. But he's not trying to hurt; he's trying to fix / complete himself. His ending is even more tragic because it's not his fault. His naivety is similar to how Edward's was when he was first activated, and his quest is something we can all relate to in a way. However, I wish the story didn't say things like "There was something wrong with him, Edward. He was sick." That's not really true, and it comes off painting him like he had a mental issue. The story wraps up nicely, though I must admit to expecting another page or so to help me understand exactly what Edward's situation is regarding his home and his safety. There is a second volume out, which I will be checking out, though I'm not sure where it will go from here without repeating history. Eli's story allowed us to explore an alternate story that works very well as a sequel while providing insights into Edward's own creation. The end of the volume has extras including a cover art gallery, character info pages and sketches, thumbnail pages, and letters to the editor (which I skipped as I often don't read those anyway, but this was over 10 pages!!). Written: January 13, 2016
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