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

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