Fables

• Title: Fables #124
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Bill Willingham
• Artist: Gene Ha

Had I paid a little more attention odds are I wouldn’t have picked up this latest issue of Fables. Instead of a one-shot or the start of a new arc, the issue is wholly devoted to the final three chapters of the back-up story “A Revolution of Oz” (which has been running for the past several months) and the further adventures of Bufkin and Lily Martagon. That’s not to say what writer Bill Willingham delivers here is bad, it’s just the fact that I haven’t been reading the back-up story and felt a little lost for the first few pages.

That said, the further adventures of Bufkin and Lily, even if it seems to be all 80’s style montage, is actually quite a bit of fun delivering a love story, fights for freedom, a mad scientist, weird transformations, and the peaceful end to an adventurous life.

Odds are those who have been keeping up with the backup story and know these characters far better than I are going to get more out of this issue than I did, but even for someone jumping in blind there’s still plenty here that’s worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

• Title: Fairest #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Lauren Beukes
• Artist: Inaki Miranda

Three issues into “The Hidden Kingdom,” after Rapunzel has been temporarily abandoned by Joel in Japan after fleeing from her former lover Tomoko (by way of orgasm), the storyline finally fills in the back story explaining Rapunzel’s distrust of men (and mother figures), her pregnancy, and the loss of her infant twin daughters whom she has search for over the centuries.

The latest issue, the end of which marks the halfway point of this arc and delivers our first look at Rapunzel’s “children,” includes a pretty cool giant cat (of the Cheshire variety), a long train ride, assassins, Bigby Wolf, quite a bit of back story for our hairy heroine, and Rapunzel facing her revenge.

Although the cliffhanger works pretty well, the story behind it isn’t as clear as I’d like (especially for an issue that finally spends time to explain the past and motives of our main character). However, once again Fairest delivers one of the best comics of the month. I wouldn’t expect anything less. If you aren’t reading this comic you are missing out on one of the few bright spots in comics this year. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

• Title: Fables #123
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Bill Willingham
• Artist: Gene Ha

The two-parter “The Destiny’s Game” concludes as the Big Bad Wolf learns that the fate he was given of an untimely end was assigned, not earned. Armed with the knowledge of how the Green Woman of the woods (the Lady of the Lake) truly operates from the teacup turtle, who tells him the woman collects and distributes fates as she pleases, he sets out to change his fate once again.

Armed with the hope that his fate may be overridden the Wolf returns but learns a fate, once given, cannot be reascended. However, not willing to be killed by the Wolf, the woman does find an appropriate loophole that allows the fate to take place but also allows both the witch and the Wolf to live.

I enjoyed both parts of “The Destiny’s Game” so much that I would have liked more of the story. Fables #123 does feel a little rushed, but it wraps up all the loose ends for all the major characters and allows the rules of the world to be bent without being broken. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]

• Title: Fairest #9
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Lauren Beukes
• Artist: Inaki Miranda

Rapunzel‘s search for her missing children leads her to Japan and the unexpected reunion with her former lover Tomoko, a kitsune fox spirit and now the head of a secret criminal empire with the power to keep the current Japanese Fabletown safe from prying eyes.

The issue includes flashbacks to Rapunzel’s time in the Hidden Kingdom 900 years ago, her relationship with Tomoko, and the events which separated them and led all Fables from being expelled from the Hidden Kingdom. Despite Tomoko’s warnings that Rapunzel was lured to Japan under false pretenses by Mr. Kataguri, and her willingness to forgive Rapunzel for the past, our heroine can’t quite except the new harsher version of her former lover or forget her reason for returning to Japan.

Choosing the present over the lure of falling into the same traps of the past Rapunzel let’s down her hair, with a little assistance from Joel and makes her escape to continue her search for her missing children. Worth a look.

[Vertigo, $2.99]