Fables #91 – Review

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

The Story: Geppetto makes a bid for power while Bufkin wages his final battle with Baba Yaga.

What’s Good: This was just an absolutely fantastic issue that shows that all those readers who claim that the series lost its heart after “War & Pieces” simply have no idea what they’re talking about.  This was engaging, intelligent, humorous, action-packed, fun, and generally everything you expect out of a quality comic.

Seeing Geppetto back in action and the closest we’ve ever seen him to his old posture was great.  The guy’s got charisma that leaps off of the page.  Willingham’s play on history was also quite good: Geppetto sounded like more or less every dictator in modern history to make a bid for power.  His call for unity, his protests against the inefficacy and corruption of the current regime, and his promises of security all felt very real.  It’s weird to see a comic so rooted in fancy give such an honest and close approximation to actual political history.

Geppetto’s rise also causes Ozma to step-up in a big way, and finally, Willingham has sold me on the character.  I’ve been on the fence about her, but this month, Willingham finally gives her the necessary appeal.

Then there’s Bufkin.  From his innocent bumbling, to his quoting of obscure passages, the character is simply adorable.  If you dislike Bufkin, you have no soul.  The fact that his one, and only, hand to hand combat technique is basically derived from his own penchant for clumsiness and pratfalls was simply golden, as was the unfolding of his manifold trap, which basically felt like a kid’s board game gone horribly wrong.

Jack of Fables #40 – Review

by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham (writers), Russ Braun (pencils & inks), Jose Marzan Jr. (inks), Andrew Pepoy (inks & balance), Daniel Vozzo (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Jack Frost battles the sorcerer while Jack Horner discovers his fate and the true nature of his condition.

What’s Good: Since he first appeared, I’ve always found Jack Frost a fairly bland character, a problem that seems to be fairly irresolvable.  That said, this is a surprisingly strong outing for him.  His banter with the sorcerer really is fairly funny at times and did bring me a couple of smiles.  It is fairly enjoyable to see how Frost’s inexperience as a hero also affects his ability to converse mid-battle.  Also, while it may be a little baffling to see Jack Frost as an exponent for modern lingo, his colloquial language also brings the laughs as it clashes with the sorcerer’s by-the-numbers fantasy villain dialogue.

Despite the bevy of inkers, this month is also a strong outing for Russ Braun.  His dragon looks great while retaining a sense of comedy through all, and his depictions of Brak the monster continue to be weirdly adorable.  Braun’s work alone gives the furry beast a lot more character than he otherwise might have.  As always, Braun’s work on his characters’ faces is also a joy.

What’s Not So Good: While this was a stronger issue for Frost, I still left the book feeling Frost to be a bland character incapable of carrying, or frankly deserving, an ongoing series.  He’s still little more than a standard character archetype, and a fairly uninspired one at that.  He’s the young, male hero.  That’s it.  Nowhere is this reflected better than in the internal monologue contained within this issue.  Usually, I love internal monologues as a means of getting to know characters better, yet here, Frost’s narration is a snore.  It’s little more than a paint-by-numbers recounting of the action, which is pretty indicative of the blandness of the character.  Worse still, there are far more of these narrating captions than need be.  Did we really need to have Frost retell the entire arc’s plot, in some detail, at the start of this issue?  It’s unnecessary, and it’s yawn-inducing.

It also doesn’t help that “the Sorcerer” is about as clichéd and uninspired a villain as I’ve ever seen in a comic book.  If that’s the kind of short-term villain Jack Frost’s book is going to be getting, it’s going to be a bad book indeed.  Seriously, the guy doesn’t even have a name.  He’s just “the sorcerer.”  That about sums him up, unfortunately.

Then there’s the scenes involving “Jack Dragon.”  This is nothing short of a complete catastrophe.  In fact, it’s insulting and borders on being a slap to the face of long-time Jack readers in just how poorly the whole thing is wrapped up.  Putting aside how wrong, and dispiriting, it is to remove the character for which the series is named, only to replace him with a much blander protagonist, the manner in which this done is just sloppy.

Jack’s banishment from his own series is abrupt and underwhelming.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen something this anti-climactic in a comic in a very long time.   Sturges apparently thinks removing the character in this manner is humorous, when it’s closer to nauseating and rage-inducing.  Even worse is just how ridiculously convenient and sudden the explanation for Jack’s transformation and consequent doom is.  It’s also unimaginative and lazy in the utmost.

But wait, didn’t we get the explanation for Jack’s transformation already?  All that stuff Gary (and DC’s solicitations) said about it being artist Tony Akins’ doing?  Yeah, apparently that just never happened.

Conclusion: Having been on-board since issue one, I’m sad to say that I’m done with this series.

Grade: D –

-Alex Evans

Fables #90 – Review

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

The Story: Bufkin continues to wage his guerrilla war against Baba Yaga while back home, Ozma makes her move.

What’s Good: As has been the case with this entire arc, Bufkin’s portions are undoubtedly the strongest and most enjoyable of this issue.  The little guy versus big guy dynamic that has fuelled much of Fables’ appeal since its inception continues to be an infectious one.  What we get this month borders on slapstick, with Bufkin springing or working on a couple of traps.  This gives his scenes a really fun, “Home Alone” feel, as the unwitting Baba Yaga falls prey to Bufkin’s cunning.  Indeed, the spirit of last month’s awesome last scene is sustained and amplified as the flying monkey becomes an increasingly legitimate force while the innocence that has made him a fan favourite far is still maintained.

Bufkin is not the only source of comedy however, as King Cole also shows his lovable side.  His happy avarice and general love is all good fun and a self-aware bright spot in a storyline and status quo that has at times been pretty damned dark.  It’s nice to see something go right for the Fables for once.

Speaking of dark, it’s great to see that not only has Willingham not forgotten about Gepetto, but that the writer also seemingly has big plans in store for the character.  Though it’s only a page, this may be the most intriguing moment of the book.   It’s testament to Willingham’s abilities that a character who’s been all but forgotten for so many issues can still carry such magnetism and importance when he does show up.

Finally, while it was inevitable, the ending of this month’s issue is all kinds of awesome, featuring a familiar addition to the cast who is a certifiable badass.

Meanwhile, Mark Buckingham once again brings the artwork you’ve come to expect of him, both distinct and detailed.  Outside of one admittedly off headshot of Bigby, Buckingham remains incredibly consistent.  His Baba Yaga remains awesome as ever.

What’s Not So Good: The scenes involving Ozma’s attempts to wrest control of the 13^th floor felt overly long and somewhat overwritten.  It simply felt as though there were too many words spent on reaching a fairly basic and logical endpoint, with none of it feeling particularly interesting or shocking.  It’s a shame, as the rest of the book is really quite a lot of fun save for this extended dry spot.  While it’s good to see the other magicians get a few lines for once, it doesn’t change the fact that things were a bit drawn out.

Conclusion: A really solid issue of Fables that does little wrong, as it sticks to the formula that’s made the series a success.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans

Fables #89 – Review

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

The Story: Bufkin the monkey starts on the path to becoming a hero.  Meanwhile, Totenkinder follows Mister Dark’s trail.

What’s Good: This is quite possibly the best issue of Fables that 2009 has seen thus far.  Regular readers of WCBR know that I’ve often been critical of Bill Willingham’s recent work, especially as it relates to the Great Fables Crossover.  The reason why I loved this issue so much is that it’s simply a case of Willingham going back to basics and returning Fables to its roots, as, well, a fable.

Fables has always been such a lovable series due to its narrative often focusing on the little guy taking on the big guy, becoming a hero, and realizing he’s not really so little after all.  Willingham has done it successfully with Boy Blue, Flycatcher, and perhaps the entire Fables community itself in its war with the Empire.  Now, in this issue, Willingham begins grinding the old gears once more, carving out perhaps his most unlikely hero yet in Bufkin the monkey.

It shows what a master Willingham is that even the most tertiary characters of the Fables world (Bufkin,  the head of Frankenstein’s creature, the mirror) are so fully developed.  On paper, the idea of Bufkin the monkey leading the entire Fables comic sounds ludicrous, and yet it works.  Bufkin is so engaging due to his being a bizarre mixture of innocence and seeming stupidity with cunning and intelligence.  He’s always been naturally likable and humourous, and so Willingham has crafted his greatest underdog yet.

Of course, the last page of the comic cannot go unmentioned.  Pitting a lovable underdog against massive opposition is one thing, but such power is evoked when little hints are made about that underdog’s true potential.  I challenge any Fables reader not to get goosebumps over the last line of this book, relating to Bufkin’s true power, which incidentally touches upon Willingham’s own belief in the power of reading and literature.

Though nothing hugely remarkable happened, I have to add that Totenkinder, now in her true form, has an indescribable magnetism and mystique about her.  Even with little going on, she eats up the pages she appears on.

Lastly, Buckingham is up to his usual standard here on art.  Having Baba Yaga and the giant blue Djinn running about truly allows Buckingham to let loose, resulting in some awesome images that only Buckingham, and Fables, can deliver.

What’s Not So Good: Very little, really.  I suppose the short scene with Mister Dark, Bigby, and Beast wasn’t particularly necessary.  All it does is remind us that Mister Dark is evil and powerful while providing an opportunity for Beast to shill the new Peter & Max novel.

Also, though it did allow him to display his cunning as well as the advantages inherent in his unassuming form, Bufkin’s confrontation with the djinn was really very abrupt.  I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t enjoyable, but the overall ease and brevity were a little disappointing.

Conclusion: This is Fables doing what it does best and doing what it’s supposed to do, and that’s a very, very good thing.

Grade: A –

-Alex Evans

Jack of Fables #38 – Review

by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham (writers), Russ Braun (pencils), Jose Marzan Jr. & Andrew Pepoy (inks), Daniel Vozzo (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Jack Frost gets his first real quest as a hero for hire, while Jack Horner just keeps getting fatter.

What’s Good: Well, this month wasn’t quite the tranquilizer that last month’s once.  Though I still miss Jack Horner, Jack Frost’s adventure may not be a complete disaster of mediocrity and boredom.  This month, he begins to show some actual character I can latch onto, sporting unlimited and naive optimism.   I hope that this optimism is explored a further, even if it means a darker direction.

What really keeps the character afloat, however, is his relationship with the wooden owl Macduff, who is actually turning into a decent character.  Inexplicably knowledgeable, well-spoken, and yet somehow socially inept, he is a fairly enjoyable read and some of his dialogue with Frost shows some solid synergy.  In particular, an early conversation regarding Macduff’s name straddles the line between intelligence and pointlessness in a manner that borders on Seinfeld-esque.

On art, Russ Braun basically delivers more of exactly what we expect from him: solid detail and a firm sense of comedy.  I still agree with Jack though – much of Braun’s greatest assets rest in his being a more restrained Tony Akins.

The best scene of the book though, is far and away that which features the now obese Jack Horner and his “little buddy” Gary.  Jack and Gary’s relationship remains weirdly adorable and fat Jack is laugh-worthy on sight alone.  Jack’s dialogue regarding his new eating habits and his new sense of fiscal responsibility are both absolutely hilarious, representative of the sort of ludicrous nonsense that marks the character at his best.

What’s Not So Good: And therein lies the problem of the book: the best scene of it involves the old main character in a scene which feels completely and utterly divorced from the rest of the issue.  The 17 pages of Jack Frost/Macduff, while not bad, pale in comparison to the 5 featuring Jack Horner.  Frost’s tale does have a naive and cutesy charm, but it simply lacks the spark and vitality of Horner and Gary.

A key part of this, I think, is that Jack Frost’s tale just isn’t all that special.  Frost is still the typical young man out to prove himself, with a quirky sidekick and, now, a bland damsel in distress.  Essentially, Sturges and Willingham are just writing a standard fairytale.  Fables’ premise was to transplant fairytales into a modern setting with fresh takes on old characters, but here, we have a straight-up fairytale being written with your average fairytale characters and setting.  As a result, it just doesn’t feel particularly special.

I’ve also got to punish this issue for what can only be described as flagrant misinformation.  The solicitation for the comic and its cover would have you believe that the focus of the book is on Jack Horner’s battle with artist Russ Braun.  Indeed, the solicitation text doesn’t even mention Jack Frost.  The reality is that Horner appears in all of five pages, with said conflict only barely being referenced.  It’s clear that DC, aware of a potential sales drop with the shift in focus, direction, and tone, have decided to distort the facts in an attempt to stave off losses for at least another month.

Conclusion: It’s a touch better than last month, but this is still somewhat bland.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Fables #88 – Review

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

The Story: Frau Totenkinder prepares for war, Baba Yaga takes over the business office, and the rivalry between the witches deepens

What’s Good: At the heart of this issue is Frau Totenkinder, and we see her quite literally unlike we’ve ever seen her before.   The old witch’s history has proven labyrinthine to say the least and seeing her reveal her true form, or at least her war aspect, was both incredibly cool and quite enlightening.  It gave an idea of how old she really is, while slipping some unpleasant hints regarding her origins and ancient past, all of it fairly cryptic.  Willingham is a great writer when it comes to portraying magic, and here he shows just how meaningless physical appearances are in a magical world like that of Fables.  From her knitting needles to her rocking chair, to her own appearance, every appearance belies another form, and every item transitions easily from one state to the next.

I also enjoyed the devastating problem King Cole brings up with Totenkinder.  I felt it a real testament to Willingham’s skill as a writer that such a logical, mundane problem was not only remembered, but also treated with the appropriate amount of dread.  I can think of a great many writers that would have just passed over the fables’ financial issues.  That Willingham treats it seriously is admirable.

Art-wise, this issue is drawn by Mark Buckingham, and that’s really all you need to know.  The man is incredibly consistent and always has an impressive balance of distinct character and impressive detail.

What’s Not So Good: Not a lot happens in this issue.  While it’s not unforgivable, this felt like an exercise in decompressed storytelling.  Everything I just described above takes quite a lot of page-space to unfold.  For instance, King Cole’s conversation with Totenkinder felt like it dragged on a little longer than it needed to.  Also, having this conversation directly precede Totenkinder’s transformation and Cole and Gepetto’s own forest wanderings made for a very static issue.  Simply put, almost the entire issue was spent in one small space of the forest; most of it centered around one character, Totenkinder’s, dialogue.  It felt a little drawn out and not the quickest of pace.  Emphasizing this is how Buckingham, usually endlessly creative with his gutters, repeatedly draws the same forest/tree-related borders.

Also, Baba Yaga’s scenes in the business office were a little jarring given that they seemed to have nothing to do with the rest of the comic and felt completely detached.  For the second month in a row, Willingham also emphasizes that these scenes take place before the other events in the comic, with captions that specify when they occurred.  Like last month, absolutely nothing is done with this time difference though and no reason is even hinted at regarding why it’s important.  This only heightens the sense of detachment respecting these scenes.

Furthermore, I hated the scenes with Ozma’s cat.  They felt fairly extraneous, and again, overly drawn out.  I also loathe the lazy tactic of having a character introduced by having him/her talk about who he/she is in detail, out loud, with no one listening, for no discernible reason beyond the writer’s needing to inform the reader.

Conclusion: Totenkinder’s transformation is awesome, but really, this isn’t a particularly exciting comic.  Also, I need more Bufkin!

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Justice Society of America #30 – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Jesus Merino (art), Allen Passalaqua (colors), and Rob Leigh (letters)

The Story: The JSA fight back, getting a little extra help from a new member, before returning to the Brownstone to discover the wounded Mr. Terrific.  Meanwhile, cracks are beginning to develop in the team that may reach their boiling point sooner rather than later.

What’s Good: I certainly felt that this issue got better as it went along. The last scene, an argument possibly turning into a brawl between Magog and Wildcat, was miles above the rest of the book. The dialogue was solid and Willingham and Sturges had a good grip on the voices of both these characters. This scene is by far the best written in the entire book, as entertaining infighting over age and tactics reaches its boiling point.

Also, as you can probably tell by the issue’s cover, this month sees the entry of Dr. Fate into the JSA. The central issue here is that this is a new and significantly less powerful/experienced version of the hero, and it really is handled very, very well. At first I felt that Fate’s menacing dialogue felt a little stilted, but apparently this was cleverly intentional, as the new Dr. Fate was essentially putting on an act and bluffing to seem more powerful than he was. Already, this younger Fate is a worried but likable character, and it’s rather fun seeing a hero like Dr. Fate suddenly being taken under the wing of the JSA as a student of sorts.

The action scenes are also fun and explosive in the way you’d expect from a JSA comic. Plus there’s a lot of Stargirl love going on here.  The issue of the bad guys refusing to target her, even at their own expense, is certainly intriguing.

Jesus Merino meanwhile continues to do an admirable job.  Continuing to make order from chaos with an old school vibe, Merino also draws a nice Power Girl and Dr. Fate. There’s also one particularly outstanding splash of the Flash.

What’s Not So Good: Willingham and Sturges are still finding their feet and so some of the dialogue feels a little awkward.  Magog in particular is cringe-inducingly bad, with the forced pseudo-military language feeling ridiculous to the point of self-satire. Interestingly, Magog is written perfectly in the final scene with Wildcat, yet in everything prior, he’s terribly written. It’s as though the writing team was learning on the job.

Also, there are some rather sloppy bits of storytelling here. As an example, all of the downed JSA members, save two, suddenly and inexplicably recovering at the same time, with perfect timing, was just ludicrous. We literally go from the heroes lying on the ground, to an image of all them posing and looking perfectly healthy  in the space of one page.

Also, one can’t help but criticize the lack of imagination behind this whole “every member of the enemy team is designed to counter a specific JSA member” schtick.  It’s been done a million times, and sure enough, we get the no-brainer solution, which is for the heroes to switch enemies.  It’s just way too obvious as it’s been done many times enough for you to know.

Conclusion: Not a bad issue, but there’s still some growing pains and lazy storytelling.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Jack of Fables #37 – Review

by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges (writers), Russ Braun (pencils), Jose Marzan Jr. (inks), Daniel Vozzo (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Jack Frost sets out to carve a life of his own as a hero, disowning his mother’s powers and returning to the dead heart of the Empire.

What’s Good: I’m digging the idea of artist Russ Braun taking his revenge on Jack.  Jack of Fables has continuously broken the fourth wall, but this takes it to a whole new, almost Animal Man-esque level.  I’m really looking forward to seeing where this goes and at the very least, it is fun to see an overweight, balding, acne-riddled Jack, who laments that he can’t both be ugly and a jackass.

Once again, I can’t help but find the Page sisters incredibly likable characters.  In an oddly inspiring moment, this month sees Robin, and by extension Willingham and Sturges, acting as motivational speakers as Robin lectures Jack Frost on becoming his own man.  Hopefully this familial bond will reassert itself in future months.

Also, it feels empty and strange and even disturbing visiting the barren, overgrown heart of the Empire.  I really liked seeing the place again and hope that its desolation will continue to be explored in future issues of Jack.  It’s an interesting and dangerous setting that deserves an arc or two.

Meanwhile, Russ  Braun turns in what we’ve come to expect from him.  The character designs for Jack Frost, both powered up and depowered, are nice, with the depowered Jack looking just as he should:  a younger, innocent, “good” version of Jack Horner.

What’s Not So Good: The biggest problem with this issue is that I’m just not buying Jack Frost as a leading protagonist and central focus.  While I do like him contemplating his thoroughly rotten parents, he’s just not a very interesting character.  At times, he comes off as a cliche.  He’s the young man just making his way into the world, trying to be a hero.  What’s worse, he’s defined by his naivety and him being a “nice guy.”  Right now, there’s just not much depth to him. And what’s there just isn’t very interesting or vibrant.  As a result, this issue at times feels more boring than it should, having such a bland character as its lead.  It’s particularly bad given that such a character had to take over Jack of Fables of all comics, where we’re used to having a flamboyant, lively, and impossibly egotistical lead.  It feels like we’ve gone from having an ornate chocolate sundae with all the toppings to a bowl of cottage cheese.

I also really can’t stand this idea that neither Jack nor Gary can remember the events of the crossover or that Gary’s previous powers as the Pathetic Fallacy are also being forgotten.  It just seems lazy, non-believable, and simple.  I hated it when Snow and Bigby forgot everything in Fables, and I’m hating this even more.

Conclusion: Jack and Robin are fun in their respective scenes, but even with a decent action scene, a boring lead character leads to a dry issue.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Jack of Fables #36 – Review

by Chris Roberson (writer), Tony Akins (pencils & inks), Jose Marzan, Jr. (inks), Daniel Vozzo (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Jack = Tarzan? Apparently so, as yet another chapter of Jack’s past is explored.

What’s Good: More or less a one-shot, this comic is a clear breather after the crossover, much as this month’s issue of Fables also was. We get a fun, light story that manages to amuse and strives to do nothing more.

As one can probably gather from the solicitations, if you don’t like apes, this isn’t the comic for you. Thankfully, who doesn’t like apes? Jack’s interactions with the apes, often disparaging, are  golden. It’s that nice blend of egotism and belittling that Jack fans have come to love.

The apes themselves also shine. From the complaints over Jack’s insisting on calling them monkeys, to ape Jane’s ravenous sexual appetite (with no regard for species), it’s hard not to like these guys. Oh and one of the apes is actually a stuffed toy. Entirely random, but it works for that very reason.

A special word must go out to the second to last page of the issue. A picture of Jack in full Tarzan gear, with his ape buddies all getting Matt Fraction-esque captions. It’s an absolute riot and far and away the best humor on offer here.

What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, Chris Roberson is guest-writing, and he doesn’t quite have the mastery over the character that Willingham and Sturges do. That’s not to say that Jack doesn’t sound like Jack, but Roberson is far less daring in his portrayal of the character. Jack’s egotism never hits the ludicrous heights that it does under his creators, and as a result, he’s not quite as funny as he usually is.  The humor is there, but the more outrageous aspects of it aren’t. One can’t help but feel that Roberson plays it safe, here.

Also, this issue doesn’t so much end as stop. Pretty much no time at all is spent detailing how Jack became Tarzan, which is bizarre given that that’s meant to be the major thrust of the book. Rather, he just meets the apes, spends some time in jail, and then WHAM! Image of him as Tarzan, and that’s the end. It feels as though the really good stuff was glossed over in favour of minor events, showing perhaps something of a lack of creativity.

The art is also something of a head-scratcher. I feel as though there’s a secret support artist working here, as certain pages look distractingly like they were drawn by a different hand. I’m not sure if this has to do with the inking being split, but frankly, it’s not just the inks that feel different from page to page. It’s bizarre.

Conclusion: A laugh here and there, but if you’re short on cash, feel free to skip it.

Grade: C

-Alex Evans

Fables #86 – Review

by Bill Willingham (writer), Jim Fern (pencils), Craig Hamilton (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Mister Dark’s back-story is explored as we finally find out just how he ended up in that box.

What’s Good: I’m not going to lie here.  By far the best thing about this issue of Fables is that it’s left the horrendous “great” Fables Crossover in the dust.

Most compelling in this issue is seeing the evil Empire, if only a small sect of it, as the good guys.  It feels odd supporting characters that are utterly devoted and loyal to the forces we’ve grown to despise, but it works, while also managing to convey that there are worse things out there than Geppetto’s machinations.

On the last page, Willingham also manages to reveal a twist to Dark’s powers that gives this new villain a ton of legitimacy.  I won’t spoil it, but Willingham implies that Dark has been influencing much of the series, unbeknownst to its characters and readers.

I also enjoyed Willingham’s use of Mister Dark as a narrator, who he never even attempts to make sympathetic.  Make no mistake, the Boxers are the good guys and Dark deserves to be in that box.  Dark is arrogant, vengeful, and violent throughout, and his voice adds a sinister tone to this issue.  Whether through narration or the actual present-day framing structure, Willingham’s has Mister Dark speak directly to the reader makes him all the creepier. This is only enhanced by Fern’s particularly disturbing rendition of the villain staring directly at the reader, his gaze almost comes off the page.

Speaking of which, Ross’ art in general is fantastic and shows that the series can impress visually even without the mighty talents of Mark Buckingham.  The sheer amount of mayhem he’s able to throw on the page is impressive, particularly in the massive magical battles between the Boxers and Baba Yaga.

What’s Not So Good:  Unfortunately, as an exploration of back-story, this issue doesn’t feature any of our favourite characters.  In fact, while it is good, right now it’s hard not to call it anything but a digression.  While Mister Dark is on the front cover, outside of his narration, he actually plays a very small role in this book as a whole.  Make no mistake, the focus is on Dunster Happ and the Boxers.

Not only is Dark’s appearance brief, but the way the Boxers get him into the box is actually surprisingly underwhelming; there’s not much of a special plot or witty solution, it’s just another day at the office for the Boxers.  Frankly, Dark doesn’t feel all that much worse than the other things the Boxers have boxed in past.

How worthwhile this issue is will only become known in the future.  If Happ and the Boxers return in the present day, this issue would become really cool. However, if they don’t, this book becomes a bit irrelevant.

Conclusion: Thank goodness the Crossover is over. This could be foreshadowing of good things to come.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

The Literals #3 (Great Fables Crossover) – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Mark Buckingham (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: The Great Fables Crossover comes to its conclusion as our heroes finally confront Kevin Thorn.

What’s Good: Well, this issue feels a bit less slapped together than last week’s; the characters sound like themselves once again.  Also, we finally get Gary actually making himself useful, which is refreshing.

Also, I’ll admit that for better or for worse, I always snicker a bit whenever Willingham and Sturges get metatextual and have their Literal characters break the fourth wall.  Revise’s comments on the comic were great, as was Deus Ex Machina’s tongue-in-cheek remarks about himself.  I also liked how Kevin Thorn’s powers were depicted, affecting the actual comic.  It was also nice seeing the business office again, if only for a moment.

Unfortunately, the best thing about this comic is that it marks the conclusion of this underwhelming crossover.  It was great seeing things go back to normal:  the reunion of Jack and Gary was oddly touching, while the Page Sisters join up with Frost and head out, guaranteed to cause mayhem in future issues of Jack.  It’s just a giant breath of relief as we are reassured that all of this nonsense is over and that we’ll hopefully once again be getting the comics we know and love.  At least Buckingham’s art has been consistently outstanding.

What’s Not-So-Good: This issue clearly demonstrates why shaping an entire story arc around the Literals wasn’t the best of ideas.  The Literals are all, not just Dex, walking cases of deus ex machina.  Now, that’s all right for a quick gag here and there or a fun side character, but when an entire story rests upon them?  It leads to problems and a truly anticlimactic ending.

Indeed, words cannot describe just how anticlimactic the ending is to this crossover.  After all of the build-up, there is more or less no real “battle” with Thorn.  Worse still, the ending comes courtesy of Dex.  Yes, Dex is funny, but unfortunately using him nonetheless means that Willingham closed off his series with a ludicrous deus ex machina moment, which is unforgivably lazy.  Just because you wittily acknowledge using deus ex machina doesn’t mean that you aren’t using it.

Can’t figure out what to do with Thorn?  Dex shows up with a random artifact that solves everything.  Can’t figure out how to use it?  Don’t worry, Revise just “edits out” the part of the comic where our heroes work it out, making the artifact work instantaneously.  I don’t care if Revise edited parts of our real world comic out, nor do I care how admittedly witty that is, the fact remains that Willingham just took a shortcut that allowed him to avoid explanations.

More anticlimactic still is that the crossover ends with seemingly the removal of all the Literals from the series, which creates an even stronger sense of pointlessness to this crossover.  Jack and Gary are back together, the Literals are gone, and Bigby and Snow go home.  What in the hell was the point of this crossover?!  I’ve been plagued by this question for the last three months and this issue gives me my answer:

Nothing.

Conclusion: This pointless, drawn out crossover is finished.  Thank God.

Grade: C-

-Alex Evans

Jack of Fables #35 (Great Fables Crossover) – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Russ Braun (pencils), Jose Marzan Jr. (inks), Daniel Vozzo (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Old Sam makes his play and the battle with the Genres comes to its bloody conclusion.

What’s Good: Little Girl Bigby Wolf is a joy to read and see. Russ Braun does a fantastic job drawing  her, with the frequent scowls being absolutely priceless. Seeing the little girl do bloody battle with the Genres is hilariously good fun and the definite high point of this issue. Willingham and co. go for broke on the gore here and it’s a real laugh.

Also, as ever, the Genres provide great commentary/ satire on literature as a whole, this issue in particular focusing on Science Fiction and Fantasy. The descriptions of the individual Genres early on in the comic is clever and the calling out of SF and Fantasy’s undeniable similarities is enjoyable. I also got a good laugh out of the very first two page Babe sequence. Oh, the awkwardness… Somehow, someway, Willingham manages to lampoon Snoopy of all of things.

What’s Not-so-Good: Despite providing a laugh here and there, this issue just felt strangely lifeless; not a good thing for the second to last issue of a 9-part crossover. I think part of it comes from the feeling that some of Willingham’s writing feels rushed. Some of the words and phrasing are repeated within individual word bubbles, which is usually a no-no, and little Girl Bigby just doesn’t sound like Bigby, nor does she sound like a little girl. Bigby’s dialogue lacks the distinct voice, containing little of the customary grit.

Meanwhile, Gary is such a lost cause in this Crossover that even he himself seems aware of it. The idea of Gary as Bigby’s sidekick had so much promise, but like many things in this crossover, it came to nothing. Bigby never even acknowledges his presence, leading to Gary having no comedic foil and just being flat out unfunny and repetitive.

Also indicative of a rush-job are a couple of underwhelming story elements. Old Sam’s attempt to steal Thorn’s pen ends in uncreative and anticlimactic fashion. Why even bother include this plot element? Meanwhile, Bigby overcomes his little Girl form simply by… trying really hard. Seriously?

Not to mention that this solution to Bigby’s dilemma makes little sense given the scope of Thorn’s powers. It doesn’t make sense, but hey, Willingham knows it and says it’s due to Thorn’s being “distracted.” Lazy. Similarly, I’m not entirely sure how Gary, let alone Hillary Page, is able to recognize Jack Frost, or know who he is. Also, several of the Genres are entirely forgotten for the first half of the issue (they are not even listed as being present), and then magically show up in the second half.

Conclusion: There are a few laughs here and there, but this is a lifeless and rushed issue in an increasingly tiresome crossover.

Grade: C

-Alex Evans

Fables #85 (Great Fables Crossover) – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Tony Akins (pencils), Andrew Pepoy & Dan Green (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Jack meets his son, offering fatherly advice before he and Rose are shipped off to Wolf Manor.

What’s Good: Jack’s comedy seems to be a bit better than it was last issue. This still isn’t the funniest Jack issue, but it has its moments. Jack’s interactions and the “sagely wisdom” he offers Jack Frost is quintessential Jack and is all the more enjoyable for it. It’s funny, self-centered stuff. I also enjoyed Jack meeting the cubs and giving them an education in vice.  Not laugh out loud funny, but it’s a cute moment that shows Jack mentoring the kids around a poker table.

I also thought Jack’s manipulation of Frost at the end was smart stuff. It was interesting to see Jack reasoning and behaving exactly like a Literal and not realizing that he was. I really do enjoy it when Willingham and Sturges play up Jack’s Literal heritage, as this served as another method of breaking the fourth wall.

Akins’ work is as loaded with comedy as ever. He may be no Mark Buckingham, but he does have a unique style that works well with this story. Once again, Akins manages to draw a wide array of humorous facial expressions that lead to some really memorable panels– Jack’s expression when caught stealing Bigby’s booze is absolutely priceless.

What’s Not So Good: I tried to keep believing in it as long as I could, but the fact is that this crossover just sucks. It just doesn’t have the scope and nuance to demand nine issues to tell it. Fables #85 only provides further proof of this.

This issue is all but completely pointless. The only item of any importance is Jack sending off Frost, which takes all of a single page. That means that plot-wise, this is about 20 pages of filler. Nothing important happens.

What’s worse, nothing RELEVENT happens. For the most part, this issue has absolutely nothing to do with the crossover. Sure Willingham throws in a couple pages of Old Sam planning on stealing Thorn’s pen (and what a “no duh” moment that is) to make us think this is a crossover issue, but it’s not like those scenes were particularly vital either. It’s just the seventh issue of Thorn hesitating. What does the Boy Blue cult have to do with the conflict with Thorn? What does Jack’s arrival in Wolf Manor and his meeting the cubs have to do with the effort to stop the creative Literal? The answers are nothing and nothing; and unfortunately, most of the issue is spent on these two topics. The fact that Thorn isn’t even mentioned by any of the characters on the farm until the very last page certainly doesn’t help.

Conclusion: Fables is a cute, fairly amusing comic that has little to do with the crossover of which it claims to be a part of, having pretty much nothing of importance occurring within its pages.

Grade: C-

-Alex Evans

The Literals #2 (Great Fables Crossover) – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Mark Buckingham (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: The Page sisters battle the Genres, Old Sam and Hansel finally get sick of one another, and Kevin Thorn tries to get around his brother, Writer’s Block.

The Good: Not that it’s saying much, but this is easily the best issue of the Fables Crossover this month and possibly the whole crossover. Why? Because the plot actually moves! Things stay centered on the world-ending threat of Thorn, our heroes close in on him, and there’s actually plot development that sees not one but two characters getting killed (probably). In the process, we get to see the grumpy little girl Bigby in action, and more metafictional wit and self-lampooning from the Genres. With a little forward movement of the plot, everything else just feels a bit more enjoyable.

Another result of this is that Willingham actually manages to remind us of Thorn’s vicious, evil side; something that has been frequently lost behind his affable exterior in spite of his apocalyptic intentions. Strangely, the last comic to actually make Thorn feel at all menacing was last month’s issue of the Literals. This second go-around only ups the ante, reminding us that Thorn really is a mean little bastard that’s capable of horrible things.

Lastly, praise be to Mark Buckingham!  After two Fables-related comics in the past two weeks drawn by Akins and Braun, respectively, Buckingham reminds us why he is the best and how he’s on a totally different level. Akins and Braun are no slouches, but by comparison, Buckingham just outclasses them. It really felt great to have him behind the pencils again.

The Not-so-Good: As refreshing as it is to see some plot movement, we shouldn’t get too excited. Fact is that while it moves, that movement isn’t very interesting, shocking, or inventive. The heroes are literally just physically closer to the final battle.  Thorn’s decision over Writer’s Block also isn’t particularly creative, it was seen a mile away, and it makes you wonder why the hell it didn’t happen sooner (barring Willingham’s need to stretch out this crossover and tread water).

While the plot develops and things improve, it still feels like Willingham is just going through the motions. While funny and reasonably enjoyable, there aren’t any surprises, twists, or anything particularly creative going on story-wise.  Things just happen exactly as you’d expect they would without any nuance or subtlety.

I guess this all leads me to a troubling conclusion after this comic: this story can now all easily be wrapped up in one more issue. It’s unfortunate that Willingham’s got three to go.

Conclusion: Nothing earth-shattering that will change your mind about this crossover, but at least it isn’t hideously bad or outright frustrating like the past issues.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Jack of Fables #34 (Great Fables Crossover) – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Russ Braun (pencils), Jose Marzan Jr. (inks), Daniel Vozzo (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Bigby continues to feel Kevin Thorn’s wrath, Thorn continues to grapple with writer’s block, and the Page sisters decide to get in on the action.

The Good: After a lacking Fables issue last week, I was more than a little worried regarding this comic. Thankfully, this issue was a definite improvement.

The humor of seeing Bigby transform from one awful thing to another was great, all the funnier thanks to Braun’s artwork. The forlorn looking Bigby-chimp is a real laugh.

One of the true strengths of this issue though, was the dynamic of this group of characters. As Bigby got angrier and angrier, Mr. Revise served as a deadpan foil while Gary held the role of the cheerful irritant. It was a fantastic crew. Meanwhile, I continued to love Kevin’s “good angel/ bad angel” in Old Sam and Hansel.  I thought it was really promising in the Literals #1, and this issue started to show me why I was right. I expect even more from this in future issues. The sequences with Thorn and the genres continued to be strong intellectually and comically as well, especially with us finally seeing the characters recognize Writer’s Block and the little info on Thorn’s “brother.”

I also enjoyed the fact that Willingham has not left the Page sisters in the dust. I’ve always liked the sisters, and seeing them in an action-packed journey with a crapload of guns was just a damn special treat. I’m glad to see that they will factor into the final outcome of this crossover.

The biggest thing with this issue though is that it actually delivers on the “crossover,” unlike last week. There is one, central adversary in Kevin Thorn and one united goal to stop him which features characters from both comics. There aren’t multiple opponents or side-issues. The comic is focused on the issue that brought on this crossover to begin with, and as a result, I actually felt like there was actually  a strong sense of direction.  There’s no Jack Frost, Boy Blue cult, or Mister Dark to worry about, which is refreshing. Also, I do have to say that I love Bigby’s final transformation at the end of the issue.  It has a ton of comedic potential and I wouldn’t mind seeing him stuck in that form for most of the rest of the crossover.

What’s Not-so-Good: Despite what I said about direction, there really isn’t a lot of plot progression in that direction in this issue. The book literally ends with our characters on the exact same patch of grass that we left them on last month, not having made any major discoveries, as Bigby continually transforms into different creatures. That’s a little distressing considering that we’re at 5/9 on the crossover now. There just isn’t a lot of forward momentum here, especially considering where we’re at in the crossover. I will admit that as funny as it was, the fact that plot progression was being sacrificed in favor of jokes was a little worrisome.

At this point, it feels as if this “Great” crossover has been treading water for several issues now. There’s just not a lot going on here. And while it’s all good and humorous, it’s also getting a bit frustrating. We’ve got great characters and great comedy and the pieces are in motion, so move them! There is some development in this issue in the main conflict (unlike last week), with the Page sisters hitting the road and Kevin discovering Writer’s Block, but these sound like “beginnings” that could have occurred in issue 3 rather than 5.  At five of nine, we should be further along and we certainly shouldn’t be moving at the speed of molasses.  I feel as though Willingham is trying to keep me from noticing the fact that not a whole lot happened in this issue.

I guess the criminal thing is that while this issue had more direction, I’m honestly not sure if you’d really miss anything if you didn’t pick it up.

Conclusion: A better issue in what has thus far been a lackluster crossover. It’s focused, smart, and the comedy is definitely a high point. I just wish that we’d see a bit more forward momentum.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Fables #84 (Great Fables Crossover) – Review

by Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (writers), Tony Akins (pencils), Andrew Pepoy & Dan Green (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: Jack returns to the Fables world, taking control of the farm, a weak Rose Red, and Stinky’s Boy Blue cult in the process.

What’s Good: For better or for worse, this was a Jack of Fables comic without Gary or the textboxes. While a lot of people can’t stand Jack’s Deadpool-esque breaking of the fourth wall, I love it. He only does it a couple of times in this issue, but both times, I laughed; it’s quite clever. What I like even more is that this issue finally explained Jack’s ability to do this, tying it to his being half-literal.

What’s-Not-So-Good: I am a huge Fables fan. Furthermore, I love Jack as a character and read his series as well. I find him incredibly humorous and am definitely not among the vocal “Jack hating” party. However, I do not exaggerate when I say that this is one of the worst issues of Fables/Jack of Fables that I have ever read.

The elephant in the room: Jack as semi-rapist.  It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this angry towards a comic. Willingham and Sturges, writers who I have long admired, have truly, utterly crossed a line here. I understand that Jack is without morals and I understand his Byronic sexual hunger. However, Byron, despite being somewhat incestuous like Jack, was not a rapist. Jack was always meant to be the “lovable asshole”, the self-centered twit who conducted himself with complete moral abandon, but always in such a way that we could still laugh and get behind him. I’m sorry, but I don’t see how I can laugh at something that nears on the rape of one of Fables’ most beloved characters. I don’t see how I can support a rapist. Willingham and Sturges have moved Jack from “affable rogue” to “depraved villain.” It’s absolutely sickening; this is disgusting stuff and a huge mistake.

What’s also bad, is Akins’ art. I normally love Tony Akins for his comedic potential and what he’s able to do with cartoonish facial expressions. However, when Jack spends half the issue in Rose’s bed, Akins’ art only makes it worse. His depictions of Jack’s face making the quasi-rape all the more nauseating; his depictions of the wasted-away, broken Rose making it all the more vile. Jack’s banter and Akins’ art try to extract comedy where there is none, and as a result, Akins’ comedic style makes the whole affair look like an underground European sex comic. Instead of bringing laughs, it brings vomit. It’s sad that Akins has an issue long struggle with drawing Beauty. He just can’t do it.

The other major problem is this “Great Fables Crossover” itself.  I had faith last month, but now, as we near the halfway mark, I finally admit that it’s floundering.  This issue is a complete stall, not advancing the major plot or the conflicts with Mr. Dark or Kevin Thorn in any perceivable way.  The fables don’t believe in the Literals…and that’s it.   Also, this issue proves that there are just too many disparate elements.  Crossovers NEED one, big central issue/conflict to drive them and to necessitate their existence. So far, we have TWO entirely separate conflicts in Mr. Dark and Kevin Thorn, but as if that’s not enough, we also have other issues like the Boy Blue cult and Jack Frost.  As a result, this issue moves forward with the latter two smaller issues, while throwing the two major conflicts on the backburner.  This crossover is turning into an aimless, and pointless debacle and I’m failing to see why keeping Mr. Dark and the Boy Blue cult in Fables and Thorn and Jack Frost in Jack wouldn’t have been better.

Conclusion: From a plot perspective, this issue is a waste of time.  Nothing moves the major conflict forward, and there are just too many damned minor issues going on at once.  However, if you are a Jack of Fables reader or are looking to be one, skip this issue. I’ve never said this before. Skip it. You don’t want to see Jack as a rapist, as it will ruin the character for you.

Grade: D

-Alex Evans

The Literals #1 (Great Fables Crossover #3) – Review

by Bill Willingham (writer), Matthew Sturges (writer), Mark Buckingham (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Lee Loughridge (colors), & Todd Klein (letters)

The Story: The Great Fables Crossover continues as Kevin Thorn tries to break his writer’s block, calling in the Genres and two of his fables to help out.  Meanwhile, Bigby, Snow, Gary, and Revise hit the road in pursuit.

The Good: Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges are writers who I’ve always really admired for their creativity, and nowhere has this been on better display than in the concept of the Literals.  It’s an English Literature student’s dream come true, as it borders on being deconstructive while making a laughable mess of the fourth wall.  It’s all just so damned clever.  Take for instance the outward manifestation of Thorn’s writer’s block, a version of himself that is always sitting nearby, drooling in a straitjacket.  The figure is never addressed or spoken of, but he’s always there.  That’s just genius.

The writing here is remarkably intelligent while also being truly funny.  The Genres are a great laugh and the crossover has succeeded in portraying Snow and Bigby’s reactions to some of the….stranger….characters of Jack of Fables.  Bigby’s interactions with his “new sidekick” Gary, as well as Dex’s sudden appearance shows just how distinct the two Fables comics really have become; what is just another typical day for Jack is utterly insane for the other Fables.

The introduction of Kevin’s “advisors” is another stroke of genius and I can’t wait to see where it goes.  The idea of a “good angel” and a “bad angel” over the shoulders of arguably the most powerful entity the series has ever seen?  Yes, please.  The Hansel/Old Sam combo works so perfectly as the two are such opposite, yet tertiary, characters.  It’s a pairing I NEVER would have thought of, and yet it pairs an impossible to dislike character with one that is impossible like.  Hats off, and I want more NOW.

Art-wise, by and large, Mark Buckingham is perhaps the best penciller on any Vertigo title today.  For the most part, he’s up to his usual standard.

The Bad: I said “for the most part.”  Doing two comics in a month for such a detail-oriented artist has to take its toll, and indeed, I did find some of Buckingham’s panel layouts a little lifeless in this issue.  Some were great (the parallel double page spreads showing Kevin working on the world was great), but for the most part, the layouts felt a little bland.  Also, Buckingham seems to have some difficulties drawing Gary.  This is always a danger in any crossover, but honestly, it took me a while to figure out the identity of Willingham’s Gary.

Writing-wise,  my only niggling concern is just how necessary this whole crossover is.  Right now, there are just too many disparate elements, which leads to some things being left forgotten on the backburner.  The Jack Frost segment was just weird and out of place and needs to be made relevant FAST.  Also, having Kevin Thorn and Mister Dark as adversaries at the same time is just odd, as focusing on one leads to the other’s being forgotten, and the existence of one threatens to dilute the threat of the other.  It seems the comic has chosen to focus more on Thorn, but that leaves Dark as the elephant in the room, and it’s awkward.  For instance, Bigby is revealed to become more feral when in the same state as Mister Dark.  This issue, he’s right in New York City but experiences no difficulties whatsoever.  Huh?

The Bottom-line: Despite my nagging, as an individual issue, this is fantastic.  It’s witty, funny, and clever as all hell and it’s Mark Buckingham drawing.  As a Fables crossover issue, it may be the best yet and the particular focus on Thorn is amusing and well done.  Also, the ending of the issue has great comedic potential, especially if Jack returns before the “change” can be undone.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans

Fables #77 – Review

By Bill Willingham (Writer), Mark Buckingham (Penciller), Andrew Pepoy (Inker), and Lee Loughbridge (Colors)

The Story: Two new characters, mercenaries Freddy and Mouse, scrounge through the ruins of the defeated empire looking for loot, and come across a big, heavily chained casket that may contain more than treasure. Boy Blue is still suffering from the magical arrow he was shot with during the war. Sinbad relates to Rose the last heroic moments of Prince Charming. The second generation fables try to determine if they can or will have any place in the newly liberated homelands. And Bigby Wolf sends Mowgli and his wolf brothers up the beanstalk to explore the situation in the Jungle Book world.

What’s Good: Willingham is clearly in this book for the long haul. He gives every single character time to express themselves, to breath, to become real. And the quiet moments, like the ones in this issue, give them weight when things become sticky later on. And, of course, Buckingham’s art is consistently wonderful, unrolling in Fable’s patented horizontal scroll, like the Bayaux tapestry.

What’s Not So Good: “Freddy and Mouse” are obviously Fritz Lieber’s classic heroes Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. I don’t think much of Willingham expanding from fables and children’s stories into the realm of adult fantasy, especially as these two are still under copyright and can’t be addressed by their proper names.

Conclusion: As a single issue, there’s practically nothing to this book. But Willingham clearly has plans for the future of the Fable universe. Think of the collapse of the Empire as analogous to the tearing down of Saddam’s statue; chaotic elements hidden by fascistic suppression are beginning to stir. Regular readers will know that Willingham has proven that these interlude issues are an integral part of the larger epic. And of course it’s always nice to see Bigby Wolf with his wife and children, as if Wolverine finally decided to stop working so hard at being a bad-ass and just allow himself to settle down.

Grade: B

– Andrew C. Murphy

House of Mystery #2 – Review

By Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham (writers), Luca Rossi and  Jill Thompson (artists), Lee Loughridge (colors)

While I appreciate and enjoyed the story presented in this issue, I’ve got to admit I was a bit let down by the lack of “horror” elements. I guess this place can’t be scary all the time. Instead, HoM #2 presents us with a tale of a man who was retrofitted to take trip into the deep. It was a mission of diplomacy, but at its core, the man was a glorified collection agent. The world he delves into is fantastically realized by Jill Thompson as she does some beautiful water color work. And as much as I enjoyed this small tale, I couldn’t help but wonder where all the suspense was.

Later, when the story shifts back to Fig, we get a better understanding of how she found her way into the House, but little is revealed about her ghostly assailants or their motives. And while we do get to see more of the House and learn that Fig can never leave, there’s little story that happens in this sophomoric effort. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind it as much if we got a load of character development (we don’t), and lack of any suspense cripples the book – at least for me. That’s not to say the story is bad, it’s entertaining, for sure, but anyone hoping for some actual horror or mystery may be a bit disappointed.

As for the art, it’s one of the bright points in the book. Jill Thompson’s muted watercolor work is hauntingly beautiful. It’s only a few pages though, so don’t expect too much. Luca Rossi handles art chores for rest of the issue and produces quality that matches the previous issue. In other words, it’s good stuff. The story, however is strictly average at best. And that’s something House of Mystery should never have. (Grade: C)

– J. Montes