Fables #98 – Review

by Bill Willingham (writer), Mark Buckingham (pencils), Steve Leialoha & Dan Green (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Rose Red takes control of the farm and does some restructuring while Bellflower/Totenkinder learns a secret about Mister Dark.

What’s Good: After months of lying bed, this is the first issue where Rose Red finally returns to her old self.  I hardly think that I’m the only person to have Rose Red as one of my favourite characters, so this issue should make the fans happy in that respect.  It genuinely feels good to see Rose Red back in action and even better see her, and the book, moving about again after having meandered with flashbacks for several issues.  There’s a sense of forward movement with this issue, both for the series and Rose herself, and it’s definitely welcome.

Rose’s return works well because of how quickly Willingham goes about it.  There are no moments of self-doubt and there’s no navel-gazing.  She grabs the reigns of the farm and slaps it back into order, with dissenters, the dryads in particular, being dealt with in short order.  I’m really happy that this consolidation wasn’t prolonged and it made the Farm, and Fables in general, feel suddenly more dynamic.

Better still are Rose’s changes to the power structure.  Her adopting the blue neckerchief and forming a privy council are both interesting, yet natural, developments that just feel right.  Furthermore, Rose ends up in a more politically powerful position than she’s ever been in.  After months of hiding, she’s now the most central of Fables characters.  All of this leads to promise for the future, as does the new information about Mister Dark.

Mark Buckingham’s art remains consistent, with Fables readers knowing exactly what to expect.  That said, his work on Rose’s facial expressions is particularly good, working to make her all the more lovable.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Brightest Day #10 – It was a thin week, which didn’t make it hard for Brightest Day #10 to steal the title. Johns and Tomasi focused on only two subplots and made them move forward, reminding me why I was buying this series. The artwork on the Aquaman subplot didn’t hurt any either.

Most Anticipated: Kato Origins #4: Way of the Ninja. Although I can’t say (or write) Cyborg Superman with a straight face, I can’t say I’m not looking forward to the slap down between an iron-jawed guy with a light-bright in his chest and the GLC equivalent of Yoda. But, Jai Nitz and Colton Worley have delivered three solid, quality issues of Kato Origins and I’m expecting #4 to stomp the competition.

Other Top Picks: Green Lantern Corps #52, The Flash #5, Green Lantern Corps #52, Justice League of America #49, Legion of Super-Heroes #5, Power Girl #16, Black Widow #6, Uncanny X-Men #528

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Morning Glories #2 – I love this new series.  It reminds me a lot of Lost in that it is just continuing to throw weird things at us.  There are probably about 15 things in this series that I’d like to know more about.  That’s amazing when you consider that most comic series are doing good to have a single hook.  Bravo Nick Spencer!

Most Anticipated: The Walking Dead #77 – From all the teaser images that have been showing up online, it is pretty obvious that the band of survivors safe time in the walled enclave is coming to an end.  Can’t wait to see how Kirkman and Company set this story up.

Other picks: Elephantmen #27, Skullkickers #1, Velocity #2, Avengers #5, Avengers Academy #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Morning Glories #2 – Morning Glories reigns supreme in this otherwise thin week.  The book manages to sink the hooks from its fantastic debut just a little bit deeper while making me just as hungry for another issue.  Better still, the art looked much stronger.  It’s a twisted little book, but very accessible nonetheless and not without humour.  I think this is going to end up being one of those books that I look forward to month in and mouth out.

Most Anticipated: Thor #615 – A lot of people are probably wondering, with his third Marvel ongoing, whether we will see the Fraction from Invincible Iron Man or the Fraction from Uncanny X-Men on this book.  I’m banking on the former, what with Thor’s not being a team-book, let alone a team the size of the X-Men.  Rather, it’s cast has a kind of structural similarity to Iron Man, which is a good sign.  While I’ll miss Kieron Gillen, I can’t wait to see what Fraction has in store and Pasqual Ferry’s artwork is oh-so-sweet.

Other Picks: The Flash #5, The Walking Dead #77, Fables #98, Fantastic Four #583, Avengers #5, Secret Avengers #5

Joe’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week – Tales of the Dragon Guard: Into the Veil #1 – A huge surprise to me, this one was.  I picked this up for the First Impressions column this week and it was, hands down, the most involved I found myself getting in anything I’ve read recently.  A wonderful fantasy epic that had everything you could hope for in such a story.  In one 50-page story!  A must-buy.

Most Anticipated – Pilot Season: 39 Minutes #1 – The description I read of this comic:  “Robbing a bank is easy; it’s the getaway that’s hard. The bank’s surrounded by police officers, alarms are blaring, customers and employees are screaming, and the streets are blocked off. So what’s the solution? Kill everyone in town.”  Nuff said.

Other Picks: Flash #5, Supergirl #56, Walking Dead #77, Avengers Academy #4, Avengers #5, Hulk #25, Secret Avengers #5, Thor #615, Ultimate Mystery #3, Ultimate Spider-Man #14, Uncanny X-Men #528