Way back at the beginning of the Fables series, King Cole was Mayor of Fabletown and Snow White his assistant. Her sister Rose Red presided over the upstate Farm, where the non-human Fables lived. Through the course of the story, the stewardship of Fabletown changed – and of course, it is no more – but always the farm was Rose Red’s. At least, until she took to her bed, depressed over her failed relationship with Boy Blue, and his subsequent death. In her absence, factions have formed on the farm, threatening to splinter the Fables when they need it least: Dark’s power waxes and it’s likely not too long before he realizes where they’re all hiding.
Fables 15 gives Red the proverbial kick in the rear she’s needed to get her out of bed and moving again, and does so through a look back at her childhood with Snow White. It’s certainly not a very sympathetic look – at least not as far as Red’s concerned. She turned a child’s ignorance and misunderstanding into petty hatred that led to violence and death, all at her whim. And she allowed those negative feelings to drive a wedge between her and Snow White, culminating with her seduction of Prince Charming (for all his faults, at least he apparently resisted her for a time). Snow, on the other hand, had a grim time of it as a teenager – had Prince Charming not come along, she might not be around still. Nasty little things, dwarves.
Interwoven with Red’s trip down memory lane and revival are glimpses into Mister Dark’s world building (taking the worst NYC has to offer and making it worse), Totenkinder’s quest for the means to defeat him, and politics Farm-style. Readers learn what Mister Dark really is, and why it’s so difficult to defeat him. And the North Wind learns about the zephyr, which bodes not well for Bigby, Snow and the rest of their brood. The collection culminates with the series’ 100th issue (and all its extras), which we previously reviewed.
It’s good to see Rose Red back to her normal self again, taking names and laying down the law where needed. And even better to finally see her apologize to Snow White. About time, on all counts. It will be very interesting to see where Willingham takes the series from here, as much remains to be resolved. Fabletown is gone. The Farm is deserted. Mister Dark remains active and Totenkinder’s retired for good. Are the Fables truly done with Earth? What of those, like Jack, who weren’t at the Farm? And just what does the North Wind have in store for his unwanted grandchild? One hundred issues in and Willingham still seems to have ideas aplenty for this series – a definite win for fans who would like 100 more.
(Vertigo, 2011)
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