by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer
Fables
Issue #2
Written by Bill Willingham, Art by Lan Medina
Published: August 2002
It’s been a while since I read the first issue of Fables, but it’s still fresh in my mind as I finally get around to reading the second issue, and I suppose that speaks well for the memorability of the title.
The blend of fairy tales and crime drama procedural continues to work wonders, and issue 2 continues the momentum and preserves the memorability of the first.
The art, for one, is fantastic – unique angles and imagery, with memorable character designs and a classic feel to the layout of the page. It’s not only beautiful to look at, but interesting. Panels peek through the contours of fountains and frame themselves in golden vines. The fairy tale theme is visualized wonderfully, mostly in flashbacks, without losing the gritty feel of the crime drama that comes through in the storyline.
There’s a lot of detail paid to the characters, and their personalities shine through in their manner of dress, their tailored dialogue, and even their handwriting. They feel like -oddly enough- real people, with their speech flowing naturally, and personalities clashing in interesting ways. The characters alone would be enough to make me continue reading, but thankfully, the plot is just as intriguing as the characters driving it along.
The mystery of Rose Red’s disappearance deepens, and we get some cool word-building about the culture of Fabletown and its inhabitants. A lot of information comes through, but the issue avoids being too heavy on the exposition. This time we’re introduced to two new characters – Blackbeard and Cinderella – in greater detail, and they leap off the page, rich in character and detail. I’m already intrigued by them, and their relationships to other members of the cast.
Fables continues to be an absolute pleasure to read, and the greatest compliment I can think to give is that I can think of very little wrong with it.
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