I Hate Fairyland #1, by writer Skottie Young, artist Brett Bean, colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and letterer Nate Piekos, reintroduced readers to Gert and set the stage for her return to Fairyland. Now Issue #2 is all about inverting expectations. The first issue delivered a promising concept — what happens to someone like Dorothy from Wizard of Oz after they return from a fantasy land and reintegrate into the normal world? While Oz, Wonderland, or — in this case — Fairyland can seem fun on the surface, the trauma that comes from reality-hopping can run deep.
I Hate Fairyland #2 tackles these themes and introduces new conflicts. It would be easy for this run of I Hate Fairyland to repeat the original story, but Issue #2 delivers a new take that is genuinely surprising and leaves readers wondering what is next for Gert.
This is uncharted territory in the best way, providing a satirical take on a popular fantasy trope while also delivering something new. Young has an excellent handle on writing characters that can initially come off as stereotypical archetypes but are still fun and humorous in I Heart Fairyland. Gert is a flawed, messy woman, to say the least, but her unapologetic, feral joy and anger make her a fun character to follow. She won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but she definitely demands attention.
Bean and Beaulieu are the dream team for I Hate Fairyland. Bean’s art has a classic cartoon feel, evoking the spirit of classics like Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes. Everything is expressive and cranked up to 100. Plus, there is a strong contrast between this animated style and the extreme violence. This leads to art that’s evocative, visceral, and fun. The art practically bounces off the page while also delivering highly emotive characters.
Beaulieu’s colors pop. To capture the whimsical nature of Fairyland, every page is bright and highly saturated. While this is a dark and violent story, Beaulieu’s color scheme is still remarkably fun, helping I Hate Fairyland to define itself as a dark comedy that won’t hold back. The art and colors speak for themselves in this issue, and the splash pages are worth it every time.
While I Hate Fairyland Issue #1 is a teaser for new readers, Issue #2 has the task of convincing readers to stay on board for the remainder of the series. It stays true to the tone and characters established in the first issue while also promising twists and turns around each corner, even for those who are already familiar with the series. The cliffhanger ending will leave fans anxious to see what Young and Bean have in store for Gert as she embarks on a new adventure in Fairyland.
