Dynamite; $4.99  

Maleficent isn’t satisfied after cursing Princess Aurora. In fact, she wants more power.  

In the first issue, her minions returned from pillaging a nearby kingdom bearing a gift: a mysterious and obviously powerful grimoire. Yearning to wield its power, Maleficent left her castle and set out on a quest to learn how she can become its master.  

Her travels have taken her to a lost village where she will attempt to obtain the key to the Cursed Tree. Along the way, she is aided (and vexed) by a pair of strange spirits, and will face obstacles on the path.  

Dynamite’s first Maleficent series was a standout title among their Disney villain books. That continues in this second volume written by Paulina Ganucheau and drawn by Theo Stultz. Her greed for power and position have driven Maleficent from the safety of her kingdom into a strange, otherworldly setting. And yet, she has no fear. 

The art shares similarities with illustrations in old fairy tales with modern color stylings. The story itself shows how vicious and unfeeling Maleficent is, and what she’s willing to do to become the most powerful being in all the land. 

–Amanda Sheriff