By: Bill Willingham (writer), Mark Buckingham (penciller), Steve Leialoha (inker), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Shawn McManus (feature artist)
The Story: Now’s the perfect time to say, “Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.”
The Review: Fables has such a huge, sprawling universe, populated with so many prominent characters, even prominent feature characters, that when Willingham chooses to check in with even a handful of them at once, an issue feels more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive story. This definitely applies when none of the running plotlines seem to mesh together, making you feel more than ever like you’re reading a triple-feature.
For a while now, the title has been simultaneously following the Wolf family as they deal with their inheritance from the North Wind; Bufkin and friends and their revolution in Oz; and the rest of the Fables cleaning up after Mr. Dark’s defeat. No matter how well Willingham paces himself, he can’t do much to prevent the pace from feeling choppy and sluggish with this kind of format. This time around, however, he hones in on the Wolf family, with only brief departures, letting your attention stay on one track with few derailments, which is a nice feeling, after all.
As it stands, the Wolfs must face two perils. The first, more personal and immediate, but of lesser scope, involves Therese and the toy boat she received for Christmas in #112. At the time, the boat seemed like a cute gag Willingham threw in for fun, but here it seems more malevolent than its primary-colored appearance would have you believe. Aside from Toy Story characters, most talking inanimate objects bode very badly for their owners. I must say, too, that for a personification of a fictional concept, Snow White’s a little too dismissive of the idea that a toys can have feelings.
The second peril feels more like a long-term complication, as it has bearing on Winter’s ongoing training to become the new North Wind. On the one hand, she risks turning into a tyrant and fearmonger like her predecessor (who, despite his redeeming qualities, was a crusty old despot at bottom). Yet if she manages to avoid that destiny, as Bigby insists she can, she opens herself up to the “ascendancy” of her fellow Cardinal Winds, whatever that entails. What this means for the balance of power, we can only guess.
Of course, we have the obligatory scenes with our other primary plotlines. The other Fables arrive at the deserted Castle Dark, speculating on its fitness to be the new Fabletown, which just seems like they’re all wearing Bad Idea Jeans, considering Nurse Spratt is hanging about, planning their doom from within. We also get a short look at the Ozian revolution, one which annoyingly shies from revealing Bufkin’s fate. In fact, the whole sequence, though charmingly rendered by McManus, feels a bit pointless, other than letting you see the goodies the rebels have gotten their hands on (Jack Pumpkinhead: “The Powder of Life! Practically my own father and mother in a box!”).
I feel as if I’ve pretty much run out of things to say about Buckingham’s art. He always delivers a straightforward, serviceable issue with his old-fashioned pencils, but very little stands out from his art. Fables tends to be such a talky kind of title anyway that it’s not like he has much opportunity for elaborate action sequences or intense bouts of drama.
Conclusion: Probably one of the most complete and focused issues we’ve gotten in the past year, though a bit squandered on mostly chat and exposition for the next chapters of each story arc. The title sure can use a quick shot of tension to liven things up.
Grade: B-
– Minhquan Nguyen
Some Musings: – I always seem to attach myself to the second bananas of groups, because of all the Cubs, I somehow like Connor and Blossom, each of whom feel like foils to their much bolder counterparts, Darien and Therese.
Grade
Conclusion