Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge

by Linda Medley

"The Brambly Hedge," tells the origin of the castle itself, which is abandoned by its princess in a comic twist on "Sleeping Beauty" when she rides off into the sunset with her Prince Charming.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Fairy Tales, Humor

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Linda Medley is the author of the acclaimed Castle Waiting graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books. A freelance illustrator since 1985, Linda Medley has illustrated children's books for Putnam, Grosset & Dunlap, Houghton-Mifflin, and Western Publishing. Linda has worked in the comics industry as a penciller, inker, painter, colorist and sculptor. Her pencilling work includes stints on both Justice League and Doom Patrol for DC, as well as the Galactic Girl Guides for Tundra. Her paintings have appeared on the covers of Paradox Press' Family Man, Stuck Rubber Baby and TSR's Dragon magazine to name just a few. Born in Stockton, CA, and raised in “Steinbeck Country,” she now lives in Portland, OR, where she is working on the new Castle Waiting series, as well as a series of nine graphic novels based on L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz series.

- Fantagraphic Books Publisher

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. From the December 1996 edition with a theme of "Fantasy":

PROMISING PROLOGUES

CASTLE WAITING: THE CURSE OF BRAMBLY HEDGE (OLIO)
DHAMPIRE: STILLBORN (DC Comics/Vertigo)

Do you like your fantasy light and amusing? Or do you prefer dark and morbid? Two upcoming fantasy series explore those opposite ends of the spectrum by putting new twists on old standards: fairy tales and vampires. The series were recently previewed in special prologue issues which explore the origins of two very different worlds.

CASTLE WAITING takes a new look at the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. The brambly hedge of the title is the one which surrounds the castle of Sleeping Beauty. Writer/artist Linda Medley recounts the Sleeping Beauty legend with lots of light, witty dialogue and a plot chock full of funny anachronisms and twists. But Medley's focus is more on the side characters of the Grimm's stories. Indeed, by the end of the issue, the royal family is gone, and only the castle's staff remains -- awaiting a new king. Future stories promise to draw more Grimm characters to the castle. (Rumplestiltskin has a cameo in this one.)

CASTLE WAITING is purely delightful and very well drawn. Medley has previously drawn JUSTICE LEAGUE and DOOM PATROL for DC, but she leaves the superheroes far behind for this book. If you have kids, you may want to read this to them like the picture book it is. Be forewarned, however, that just like in the original Grimm's stories, characters can die sudden and brutal deaths. Medley, of course, handles such heavy stuff tastefully. This book is a treat for kids of all ages.

On the other hand, DHAMPIRE: STILLBORN is for mature readers only. It's chock full of sex, violence, suicide, nudity, adult language, and gore. It may be hard to find a darker story this year (excepting DC's PREACHER). It begins and ends with suicide and murder.

Nicholas Gaunt is insane. At twenty-three, he has made repeated suicide attempts. He is withdrawn but is prone to violent outbursts. He appears to be the product of a dysfunctional family: an unloving mother, a dead father, and an absent older sister. Unknown to him, however, vampire blood is part of his heritage, and it is driving him even deeper into darkness. DHAMPIRE is his story of self-discovery. He makes a trek across Pennsylvania (the closest state name to Transylvania?) to find his sister and himself.

Writer Nancy A. Collins is no stranger to vampires. She has written several novels about the vampire Sonja Blue: SUNGLASSES AFTER DARK, IN THE BLOOD. Her previous comics work includes a run on SWAMP THING.

DHAMPIRE is painted by newcomer Paul Lee, whose style looks like the middle ground between Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams.

DHAMPIRE is bleak but well done. It has surprising twists and turns. It's not for the faint of heart or readers seeking sympathetic characters. In this world, everyone is evil.

Both of these prologues promise good things to come. Watch future issues of PREVIEWS for the regular series. Meanwhile, DHAMPIRE: STILLBORN remains available on DC Comics' backlist.


CASTLE WAITING - Grade: A-
DHAMPIRE: STILLBORN - Grade: B

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woops, time to hunt down the story this is a prequel to. I really love this classic style of 90s/00s fantasy comic, though, it's very nostalgic.

[KelceyTheLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a retelling/origins story for Sleeping Beauty's Castle. It was interesting and humorous and I enjoyed it but it felt too short like there was more that could be told. Only half of the pages were filled with story. The other half is what ifs, about the characters, etc. and I feel like that is a terrible waste of space.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is actually the first, stand-alone prologue only

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It's too short to have as many characters as it does -- the only person you have time to get invested in is the wicked fairy, which makes the ending pretty darn unsatisfactory! And it doesn't connect very closely to the rest of Castle Waiting, so even in retrospect I don't feel particularly interested.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 3 out of 5]

A premissa de Castle Waiting é interessante: o que é que acontece às personagens secundárias dos contos de fadas? Enquanto os príncipes partem em demandas e as princesas são felizes para sempre os magotes de aias, fiéis servos, bruxas simpáticas ou camponeses que existem apenas para aquele momento em que a princesa se digna de cometer um acto de piedade têm de arranjar qualquer coisa para fazer. Entretanto, esperam, pacientemente, esperam, esperam que os seus amos regressem das aventuras contadas e recontadas ao longo dos tempos. Escrito e desenhado num estilo leve e agradável, Castle Waiting reflecte uma visão humorística sobre um género intemporal que se mantém aberto a novas abordagens.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is sort of a family friendly retake on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. The tone reminded me a bit of 'Fractured Fairy Tales' or whatever they were called from the old Rocky and Bullwinkle show, only with less slapstick and perhaps a tiny bit more introspection. The Brambly Hedge is a self contained story, and the introduces the characters and setting for the later ongoing series, Castle Waiting. After reading The Brambly Hedge, I think Castle Waiting has some promise, so I think I'll check it out.

[charlotte Phillips]

a great graphic novel that Alec leant me. The prestory to the castle waiting series that I can’t wait to read, a retelling/mixing of traditional fairy tales, blended with following a twelve-witch coven (think of the twelve witches who were invited to Sleeping Beauty’s christening party...)

[Genevra Littlejohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elegantly put together, a very classical appearance with a very feminist touch. The characters are not beautiful, but that does not matter because they are strong.

[Debrarian]

A graphic novel retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with emphasis on the more minor characters’ personalities. A quick read, and pleasing.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

WEF GN