FABLES #75 REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Great
Title: War and Pieces Part Three
Rating: Mature Readers

The end of the war comes – but at great cost.

Writer: Bill Willingham
Pencils: Mark Buckingham
Inks: Steve Leialoha & Andrew Pepoy
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Shelly Bond
Cover Art: James Jean
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo

Since Fables began, the series has been slowly building up to the final conflict between the exiled Fables in the Mundy world and the forces of the Adversary in the Homelands. Two issues ago, the war finally began – and this issue, just as quickly, it ends.

The Fabletown airship has been devastating to the Emperor’s armies, slaughtering the soldiers wholesale with modern weaponry imported from the world of the Mundys. The Emperor still has assets in place, however, including a dragon in the wings and a massive army preparing for one last push. For several issues now, Willingham has been teasing a disaster befalling our heroes, and this issue we see it. It’s a big one, all right, it’s a harsh way to end the battle, but in the end, it feels like the typical price of war. As expected, not even long-running characters are safe in this battle, and the way a certain someone goes out speaks volumes to how he’s evolved over the course of this series. It’s a fantastic moment, and one that deserves remembrance.

The ending of the story took me quite by surprise, although the way it’s presented it makes perfect sense. The Fables do something utterly unexpected to broker the peace, and the way the status quo has changed by the end of the story leaves things very wide open. There are dozens of directions the story could be taken in at this point, and I haven’t the slightest clue where it’s going anymore. Which is a good thing. Willingham said this summer that he intends to stay with Fables for the long haul, that everything we’ve read so far is just the beginning of the story, and if that’s the case, I’m sure he’ll have all of the faithful readers ready to follow him.

Mark Buckingham, always a masterful artist, does something interesting this issue. He renders the entire oversized issue in double-page spreads, breaking every panel into a top-to-bottom vertical strip. It makes the book look very unique and gives the issue a very unique feel that sets it apart even from the other chapters of this storyline.

Fables has been one of my favorite comics from a long time, and this book really helps you understand why.

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[Linus]

I can't believe how fast paced this issue was, especially with the exceptionally long build up to it. It was a really great end to the arc, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

There's a very interesting interview, on IGN, with Bill Willingham. He gives a few hints on where future conflicts may come from. Seems to be very interesting indeed.

[Blake Petit]

Oooh, did not know that. I'll have to check it out.

[Arsenal7]

Part of me remains sad that Willingham was unable to use Peter Pan as the Emperor. That said, the last 2-3 arcs have just been tremendous, and I can't wait to see where the Fables are in a year or two.

[WhereIsTony]

was that ever the Plan?

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by WhereIsTony

was that ever the Plan?

Early on, yes, but copyright laws prevented him from using the character. Later, the character made it into public domain in the US and he planned on bringing him into the story in another capacity, but then they discovered the character still isn't public domain in the UK, which means if they used him they couldn't sell the comic there. So he's still not in the book.

[Arsenal7]

He's said in interviews that his original Adversary was Peter Pan, but he's not in the public domain in the UK, I believe. The gist was going to be that Peter Pan went to other worlds to steal all their children, and Captain Hook wasn't really an evil pirate, but a guy trying to return the kids. Would've been a much different story, obviously.

I just kinda like the idea of Peter Pan as the big bad.

[WhereIsTony]

you should read tigerheart, by PAD

[jdoucette24]

What an excellent issue and a great ending/new beginning to one of the best books on the market. Every character in the book has grown, transformed, or developed in someway throughout the series but no more than the afformentioned "certain someone" who goes out with a bang. I have no idea where the book is headed but it is awesome and I cant wait to see whats next. The possibilities are endless.

I hope willingham can bring in and advance even more characters from folklore and fairy tale to impact the story significantly and mold the future of this book.

Anyone Else Think Goldilocks is due for a return?

I absolutely love this book and it is always the top of the stack every week it comes out

[WhereIsTony]

I reread this issue and have come to the theory that Prince charming is alive.

He says he will blow up the gate and win the war because he wins all of his battles, whether it is a desperate war or a womans virtue.

and he did.

But what he left out is then he splits. Ergo he did not die, he just moved on as it were.

Most likely to wherever the gate lead so that his rep did not precede him.