Fables #23

March 8, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Our Second Amendment Issue (March of the Wooden Soldiers Chapter Four)

Prince Charming makes a move, Red Riding Hood talks to Blue Boy and Bigby gets even more suspicious.

Writer: Bill Willingham
Pencils: Mark Buckingham
Inks: Steve Leialoha
Colors: Daniel Vozzo
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Shelly Bond
Cover Art: James Jean
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo

This issue is a curious reflection of the last, wherein Cinderella played a dangerous political game. We get more of those games in this issue, and the consequences are even more dire for at least one Fable.

Prince Charming, continuing his bid to wrest the mayorship of Fabletown from King Cole, makes an intriguing proposition to Beauty and the Beast. Meanwhile, Blue Boy finally has a conversation with Red Riding Hood, whose sudden reappearance centuries after she was presumed dead began all this fuss in the first place. Our three mysterious “brothers” make a much bolder play in this issue, and Bigby has to start piecing together the clues as to their appearance – because by the end of this issue it should be pretty clear to everyone exactly what is at stake.

Bill Willingham continues playing with the mystery aspect that has made this title such a gripping read ever since the first issue. Surprisingly, even in a book where things get as chilling as they do here, he even manages to inject a good bit of humor, particularly in his treatment of Pinocchio, who I’d like to see more of just for the sheer entertainment value.

Mark Buckingham’s artwork, as always, is marvelous. He gets to play around with some characters he hasn’t touched on as much this issue (such as the aforementioned Pinocchio and Flycatcher), and he continues to craft some really original page layouts, keeping his shield motif for scenes starring Prince Charming and tossing in something wickedly clever for the King Cole pages.

This book amazes every month – it manages to continually reinvent itself without ever sacrificing the feel or elements that made it so good to begin with. This issue has everything – character development, mystery, comedy and real progression of the meta-arc. Even the teaser for next issue gives you a healthy glimpse of what must be in store. Fables remains, hands-down, one of the best comic books on the racks.

Rating: 8/10