Publisher: Vertigo
Creative Team: Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham
“But Fabletown can’t be done…not like this”
Fables is a rare breed of comic book. Similar to Sandman, Y: The Last Man and 100 Bullets it has been one of the few long-running, yet consistently excellent stories that this medium has produced. After 13 years and 149 previous issues, with this final volume it is brought to a close. Alas, all good stories must come to end.
The most frustrating thing with stories in any medium whether that be television, books or film is when a series you have invested a considerable amount of time and emotion into fails to provide a well executed and competently told resolution to its story. Dexter is the first example that comes to mind.
Resolution and rewarding the reader’s investment seems to be this issue’s primary concern. The main focus is the impending civil war between Snow White and Rose Red. This is narrated through chapters focusing on different characters and their contributions towards the side they represent. Whenever there is preparation for war, however, casualties are sure to follow. The fact that this conflict is between two Fabletown denizens rather than an outside threat make the inevitable demises seem even more senseless and tragic. The creative teams also include short chapters detailing the fates of the surviving characters of Fabletown which contribute considerably to this issue’s extensive 160 pages.
When the preparations for the war which has been ominously approaching are finally complete, the conflict itself is quickly and in my opinion rather disappointingly dismissed. It was all very anti-climactic; and it made the sacrifices of those who lost their lives fighting for either side seem meaningless, almost as if they were included to fulfill some sort of quota dedicated to conforming to the reader’s expectations.
The enjoyment you get from this book depends on what you want from it. If you come into this final issue looking for a neat and tidy resolution, then I imagine you will finish it feeling very pleased. On the other hand, if the prospect of a civil war between the Fables seemed intriguing and you were eager to see how this conflict would play out, you might complete it feeling a little bit disappointed. I fell into the latter camp, especially considering the brilliance of some of the previous story arcs.
I would also like to point out as I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher Vertigo (whom I thank very much) there is some hard to read font (especially on digital devices with smaller screens) in some of the beginning chapters.
Grade: C
Grading System: A (Essential Purchase), B (Recommended Purchase), C (Worth A Read), D (Poor), E (Avoid)
