Monday is Weary
I’m tired, worn out and a little fuzzy headed. So all I have to say today is – this is awesome.
*note I meant to publish this on Monday but I guess I forgot – oops!*
Fables Vol. 12 – The Dark Ages review
I’m going to try and do this without any spoilers. Emphasis on try because, like most of the Fables stories, the plot is an integral part of the story. In the last volume, the war ended and lots of us were left going “that was it? seriously? ok….what comes next?” Usually the war is it, the big payoff followed by bittersweet burying of your dead and series done. Except this is Fables and there’s always more, thank god.
Turns out the war is really the beginning. The powers that be didn’t truly think through the consequences of this war. Geppetto, former big bad Adversary, tries to tell them but since he’s a known tyrant they ignore him. Then it happens. I’m not going to tell you what “it” is of course but, trust me, it’s pretty bad.
As usual, the writing is awesome, pushing the story forward while leaving time to develop the characters. The artwork is still stunning, especially the use of color and movement. One of my favorite things about Fables is the political strife. In this volume a group calling themselves the Society of Seconds (first generation Fables born in America) demand passage into the homelands. What they want is somewhat ridiculous, as the homelands aren’t anywhere near safe, yet also speaks to the disconnection first-generation immigrants have.
If I have one complaint, it’s emotional fatigue. I’m worn out, I’ve been through a war for gods sake! Can’t I take a break? One volume where maybe Snow White and Bigby take a vacation in the homeland? Let us see how it’s rebuilding or a journey East to see some different fables?
Jack of Fables – Turning Pages review
If you’ve been reading the wonderful Fables but haven’t picked up the Jack of Fables spinoff, you’re missing out. Jack of Fables is the story of Jack (that egotistical but irresistible hero) after he leaves Fabletown to seek his fortune. What follows is a series of hilarious mishaps, seductions and new Fables. It doesn’t have the weight and worry that the Fables series has and that’s a good thing. Jack narrates, that’s also a good thing. He’s just as narcissistic as ever, often getting upset when one character gets a little more “screen time”.
Turning Pages is volume 5 and is a good jumping in point. The first story is sort of unnecessary. Way back in they day (before the events in Fables) Jack is the leader of an Old West gang, killing lawmen and stealing horses, the whole bit. Sheriff Bigby (the Big Bad Wolf) gets wind of this criminal behavior and sets out to bring Jack back. While it’s a fun story, it’s mainly filler. Though it is interesting to see Bigby before Snow White manages to calm him down.
After that brief interlude, comes the stories of the three Page sisters. They are Literals and librarians working at the Golden Boughs Retirement Community (it’s not nearly as nice as it sounds). Their background stories lead into what appears to be a very sticky situation for Jack.
This isn’t the strongest volume in the series but it’s nice to have a break from the building action. Willingham and Sturges make sure to keep the laughs up, even as the stakes get high. One of the best things about this series is the use of American Fables like Paul Bunyan and his strange blue ox Babe. Like the original series, this one is packed with imagination.
If you’re looking for a delightful prose read that’s a lot like these series, pick up the Thursday Next mysteries by Jasper Fforde.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Our week of love comes to an end. You still have today though – so grab a glass of champagne, hug your loved one and read these -
Top 5 Graphic Novels for Valentine’s Day (according to me)
1. Ouran High Host Club -having one boy fall all over himself to get to you is great. Having six (including some hot twins) is even better!!!
2. Fake – this yaoi features a touching relationship between two men who actually appear to like and respect each other. It’s also funny and smiles on Valentine’s are always good.
3. Sand Chronicles – sometimes being in love means breaking your heart and taking that chance is the bravest thing you do.
4. Empowered – ok, so suggesting a graphic novel where the main character sheds her clothes every time she uses her superpower might seem like a weird recommendation coming from me but I promise, you will melt at Empowered’s relationship with one of the villian’s henchman.
5. Canterella – I’m not exactly sure if this is romantic or not, on account of all the evil manipulation, but it is exciting! Anything with the Borgias in it is bound to be a good read.
Or if you hate this holiday, like I know many of you do here’s
The Top 5 Anti-Valentine’s Graphic Novels (once again, according to me)
1. Y the Last Man – you would think that a story about the last man on earth would include some romance or at least a date but nope.
2. Death Note – the only relationship in this manga is soooo cold! .
3. Watchmen – no love lost between these superheroes.
4. V for Vendetta – if Valentine’s Day makes you feel like getting revenge on the world, then this is your pick
5. Marvel Zombies – Spiderman ripping into Mary Jane, literally.
Fables Volume 11 – War and Pieces – Review
I love this series, have I mentioned that before? I love it. I love the artwork, the characters, the imagination that goes into each and every volume. So I wasn’t disappointed in volume 11 but I wasn’t thrilled either.
*spoiler alert*
The artwork is spectacular as always but the plot, which is usually so tight, is lacking. Normally, I don’t get hung up on plot. I can read an entire book of manga where nothing happens beyond the two leads staring at each other. If there’s character development, I’m good. But this? This was the WAR. The climax, the return of the Adversary and the Fables final stand.
I expected more. Why didn’t the Snow Queen play a bigger role? It’s like the whole thing went off without a hitch, Fables win, all is seemingly well (minus the “death” of Prince Charming). It went down a little too cleanly. Hang your Mission Accomplished banner here please.
Which isn’t to say that the volume shouldn’t be read. It’s still a wonderful book. The spy stories with Cinderella are especially cool (for lack of a better critique word). The creators are sure to mention that this isn’t the end of Fables so we can all breath a sigh of relief that this puny war didn’t end everything. I have faith in Willingham. He knows what he’s doing and while I’m waiting on the next chapter, I’ll definitely be enjoying the spin off series Jack of Fables.
Celebrate Martin Luther King Day
If you have the day off then you’ve got time to read Ho Che Anderson’s masterpiece King. Taking over a decade to complete and now gathered in one volume, Anderson explores Martin Luther King’s life from birth to his assassination. It is a critical biography, both realizing King as a hero and a flawed human. The dream King had is laid out in brilliant color and actual photographs. A good choice for anyone wanting to know about the man and his devotion to raise this country up.
If you’ve already read King or are wanting to know about the Civil Rights Movement, you might also like these books:
In Incognegro, Mat Johnson writes a mystery wrapped up in the true story about light skinned reporters from Harlem who would infiltrate the hostile South. These men risked their lives to tell the truth. In Johnson’s story, the reporter who calls himself “Incognegro” finds himself in the middle of a mystery with his brother accused of murdering his white girlfriend.
Sports has a funny way of bringing people together through competition. It’s not about race but about orange and blue vs. green and white. Famous African-American pitcher, Satchel Paige is the subject of Satchel Paige: Striking out Jim Crow. It’s an exciting and subtle story of hope.
Finally, as a prelude to the Civil Rights Movement, acclaimed creator Kyle Baker presents Nat Turner. The slave rebellion is unflinchingly told, using art to reveal the true horrors of the slave trade. King was not a violent man but even he could see the bravery and necessity of fighting a system that sees people as property. It was these first few steps that lead to this country struggling with and beginning to overcome a history full of nightmares and dreams.
Fables Television Show
ICV2 has some interesting news about a Fables pilot. David Semel will direct. The script is penned by Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner, who wrote the tv shows Six Degrees and the terrible What about Brian, as well as, the movie Elektra. Take from that what you will.
I love Bill Willingham’s series about storybook characters run out of their world by a ruthless, cunning and blood hungry adversary. They settle in our world, living among us “mundies” while planning a return to their homelands and thwarting the Adversaries plans to invade their new settlement. It’s exciting and the imagination packed into the pages is outstanding. The plot is tight, the characters are complex and the color is gorgeous. How will that translate to the screen?
One problem I see is the amount of characters. Almost every fable I’ve ever heard of is represented and most of them play an integral part. There’s been criticism of David Semel’s Heroes (love it) for having too many characters and not enough time to develop them all. I don’t see how they can avoid that here.
Another problem is the Farm. The Farm is an annex in upstate New York where the fables who can’t fit in are forced to live. So the Three Little Pigs and the Three Bears and others are understandably a little upset at their exclusion from the rest of the settlement. In the second volume, they attempt a rather bloody coup. It will be hard to take this to real life without making it look like Babe meets Rob Zombie. I suppose the creators could make the farm animals cartoons. That might be kind of awesome.
Finally, I can forsee a problem with the atmosphere. Fables is, at its heart, a story about war and loss. There’s lots of humor and the spin off series Jack of Fables is fairly lighthearted but most of the original series is covered in a sense of fear. How do you make Rose Red seem fearful without being, I don’t know, hokey? Or have Snow White fall in love with the Big Bad Wolf without going all Lois and Clark?
