Fables

• Title: Fairest #28
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Buckingham
• Artist: Russ Braun

Continuing to mirror the events in Fables as both series move towards their end, Fairest #28 offers more of the animal uprising on The Farm where the non-human creatures demand the glamours promised to them. The creation of a handful of glamours chosen by lottery passifies the angry mob (at least for now).

In the comic’s other story, we witness Reynard be forcefully rejected by Snow White only to find some love, and much more trouble, on a farm not far removed from the Fables’ home.

Fairest #28 is a solid issue, but it still lacks the strong female lead that the series was built upon (unless Reynard’s new love interest turns out to be more than she seems) making it feel much more like an issue of Fables which bothers me a bit as the spin-off doesn’t look like its going to get a chance to go out on its own terms. A short interlude focused on the odd Mr. Webb is actually far more interesting than either of the main plotlines of the issue. For fans.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

• Title: Fairest #27
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Mark Buckingham
• Artist: Russ Braun

For the first time in the comic’s two-year run an issue of the Fables spin-off series centers around a non-female character. Reynard takes center stage here with his tall-tales to the fellow animals of The Farm of his exploits as a knight of Rose Red‘s new Round Table. Although almost completely fictitious (Reynard is hardly proving himself worthy of his selection in a human form that lacks any of the cunning or charm of his natural state), the fox’s near incessant bragging pushes the occupants of The Farm into action demanding that they too be given glamours to assume a human shape and be able to move freely in the outside world (as Charming promised them in the recent elections).

Fairest #27 plays very much into the winding down of the series. Although he’s an odd choice for a series which until this issue has focused solely on female protagonists, as a fan of Reynard I’m curious to see what mischief the fox can get himself into before the series comes to an end. The revolution of The Farm should play into the struggle between Snow White and Rose Red and the coming confrontation which has been teased in Fables over the last several months. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

• Title: Fables #141
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Bill Willingham
• Artist: Mark Buckingham

The final ten issue of Fables begin here as writer Bill Willingham and artist Mark Buckingham continue the storyline of the broken relationship between Snow White and Rose Red while picking up several loose threads from the series concerning Geppetto‘s tucked away army of Boxers who begin to break from their containment in favor of a more interesting host and the character of Grimble (a former troll now trapped in the body of a bluebird) who seeks out Cinderella for assistance.

Bigby‘s return is also teased and discussions of the 13th Floor over the current state of things in Fabletown lead Maddy to being the first to choose sides and support Snow White for what the cat believes is an inevitable all-out war.

It’s obvious the conflict between Rose Red and Snow White will play a huge role in the issues to come, but the idea of Geppetto’s old sorcerer weapons taking refuge inside Rose makes for an interesting twist. We’ll have to wait and see how Bigby’s return and the role of Grimble will play into the battle yet to come. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $3.99]

• Title: Fairest #26
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Marc Andreyko
• Artist: Shawn McManus

“Of Men and Mice” comes to a close and Cinderella and her friends fight off a mouse invasion of the Fabletown castle which Snow White is certain was planned (it was) and executed (it wasn’t) by Prince Brandish.

The final issue of the arc certainly sees plenty of action as Cindy and her group punch, stab, kick, and skewer an ungodly number of crazed mice warriors before the arrival of Cinderella’s fairy godmother whose original spell laid the work for the current chaos and shows up just in time to help end it.

I’ve enjoyed this arc and I’m sad to see it coming to an end realizing with the end of both this title and Fables it’s likely the last major Cinderella story we’re going to get. As the character who hooked me on this world, I’ll miss her most of all. Hopefully we’ll see Cindy step in to help fight off Leigh’s intended chicanery, but if not I’m happy to see the character go out kicking some serious butt in style one more time. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]