Silver Screen Suffering – Reviewing ‘I Hate Fairyland’ #13

It’s no secret what various industries such as film do to people and the things they create. Recent strikes really showcased those aspects, and the things writers and actors (among others) were fighting to stave off from the studios.

Unfortunately for Gertrude, there are no unions or strikes to be found in Fairyland. Cue the lights and hit your marks as I Hate Fairyland #13 takes a wide swing at movie studios and the bigwigs behind them. Another wild, mostly one-off, tale from Skottie Young, Brett Bean, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos.

When I say that you can never know what to expect with this series, it’s issues like this that prove the point. Essentially, a couple of barely disguised caricature filmmakers use every underhanded tactic (AI, new writers, recasting, etc.) to film the story of Gert, screwing her over royally before it’s all over.

This tale is similar to the Billy Goats Gruff in the previous issue, in the sense that Young is stepping away from the Queen and other narrative beats. Delving into some one-off fun sorts of moments in Fairyland, as Gert just continues to spread her awfulness anywhere and everywhere. While that one was a bloody riff on an old fairy tale, this one cuts deep at the issues that creatives of all types are facing from corporate meddling.

It’s a rapid-fire scene changing affair of people mostly talking at one another, but per usual, Bean gives everything the greatest of energetic life. We’re bounding through the whole thing at breakneck speeds, with no way to stop till the whole issue comes to a puke filled ending (yeah, there was actual puking in the issue itself). Bean returns to the traditional whimsical meets dark and heavy style that he’s been using all series long. After a small stylistic change last issue for the storybook feeling that one needed.

Splashes of bright, right-in-your-face colors are there as well thanks once more to Beaulieu. Plenty of the tones allow some scenes to feel more grounded and real, while others knock everything up fifteen levels.

There is a noticeable but slight but there change in both the art and colors when some of the panels become movie scenes. Highlighting the differences between ‘reality’ and the fictions we see on our screens (or in the comics we read).

As noted, people have a lot to say, and Piekos makes sure it all has that proverbial punch. Awful personalities, powerful emotions, and scheming schemes feel weighty and exactly right on the page. Each letter brings its own energy, and the voices are loud and clear the whole way through. I’ve never heard Gert’s voice, naturally, but I’m very certain at this point what I hear in my head is dead right.

I Hate Fairyland #13 is now available from Image Comics.