Just in time for Halloween is an all-ages adventure with everyone’s favorite dark witch, Maleficent. It’s the second series from Dynamite, and it aims to go beyond the classic Disney film. This series follows Maleficent after her little curse on Princess Aurora, but before she fell asleep. With the first series offering incredible cover art and great fairy tale quality stories, can this story live up to the high standards of the film?
Aside from the lengthy title, Disney Villains Maleficent Volume 2 #1 is an efficient and breezy first issue. Breazy in the sense that it captures your imagination with its storybook pace and a compelling adventure for Maleficent to embark on.
Paulina Ganucheau writes a strong first chapter, reintroducing us to Maleficent and the world, and then dropping her into an even more magical realm by the end of the issue. Above all, Ganucheau captures Maleficent’s voice. She’s stern, knows what she wants, and is intelligent. You can practically hear original voice actor Eleanor Audley when you read the dialogue.
Beautiful page!
Credit: Dynamite
The plot is simple enough, but Ganucheau layers in elements that make it feel darker and more mischievous. At the root of things, Maleficent wants more power, to protect herself, but also command respect. She’s got many years yet before Aurora must slumber, and so she’s fortifying herself with a bit of a magical power boost. This leads her to interact with ghostly characters, and she is sent to a location we’ve never seen before. That makes this story capable of leaning into Maleficent’s evil, while surprising her and the reader with new lore.
Art by Theo Stultz is simple and very flat, but in an endearing sort of way. There’s a lot of room to breathe in many of the panels, with some pages having only three panels to a layout. Even though it’s vertical like all comics, it has a visual vibe similar to something a preschool kiddo might peruse. The first three pages stand out for their panel detailing, which evokes the original animated film. There’s also a nice touch of white and hopeful border to start with the king and queen, and then a dark red border when Maleficent is introduced. These three pages build towards a stunning reveal of Maleficent’s castle, as green clouds swirl around it.
Disney Villains: Maleficent Vol. 2 #1 is a beautifully wicked return for the Mistress of All Evil, mixing fairy-tale charm with dark ambition in a way that feels true to the character’s legacy. With an authentic voice, imaginative worldbuilding, and accessible visuals, it’s a spell well worth falling under, especially for Halloween.
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