Fables

• Title: Cinderella: Fables are Forever #3 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chris Roberson
• Artist: Shawn McManus

Month after month Cinderella: Fables are Forever continues to be a pleasant surprise. Who would have thought a fairy tale princess turned super spy would make such a fun read? And Cinderella, master spy, has somehow quickly become one of my favorite current leading ladies in comics.

In the latest issue Cinderella’s search for Dororthy Gale continues. Issue #3 also delivers a few more flashbacks filling in the years between the character’s interactions to give us an idea what Dorothy has been doing since she left Oz. I like that the pair seem evenly matched, though Dorothy’s insanity and bloodthirsty nature give her a definite advantage.

The confrontation with the Chiss (think giant porcupine) has a satisfactory, even humorous, conclusion and Cinderella decides the only way to track down the elusive assassin is to put herself inside spider’s den. The spy has made herself the bait, but that’s fine with me. I’m ready to go wherever she wants to lead. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

• Title: Cinderella: Fables are Forever #2 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Chris Roberson
• Artist: Shawn McManus

“Fables are Forever” continues as Cinderella deals with the possibility that Dorothy Gale, her longtime nemesis and the greatest assassin of the Fables universe, appears to be back from the dead and back to her old tricks.

I really enjoyed the structure of this comic. The current storyline of protecting Ivan Durak is the least interesting of what is covered here, but the comic is filled with multiple flashbacks involving Cinderella’s previous encounters with Dorothy in the Soviet Union and Thailand which give us a better understanding about both women without giving too much away too soon.

I’ve also got to compliment Shawn McManus’ art which fits the story by perfectly capturing the different locales and time periods the story covers. I particularly like the artist’s closeups on the characters capturing various expressions over the course of the issue. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]