Monday, March 18, 2013

Never Happily Ever After

Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1
 
Expected Publication:  October 6th, 2009
Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 (Fables Deluxe Editions #1)
By: Bill Willingham
Vertigo
ISBN-13:  9781401224271
 
 
When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile.

Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society-within an exclusive luxury apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side-called Fabletown. But when Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Bigby, Fabletown's sheriff, and a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the culprit is Bluebeard, Rose's ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.
 
 
Review
 
     Snow White is the Deputy Mayor of Fabletown, a community made up of the fairy tale creatures and people, who were driven into our world from their own by a great, destructive evil force (the Adversary).  Not all of the Fables are happy with this arrangement and its up to Snow White and Old King Cole (mayor) to keep the peace, whatever that entails.  But when it appears that her wild younger sister Rose Red may have been murdered, Snow will do anything to find out what really happened.  When it leads to some unexpected answers, what will Snow do with the truth?  Also, can she prevent a rather violent uprising of Fables out on the farm, where they keep their less townspeople?  Can everyone make it out of the situation alive, or will someone have to pay the price?  This was definitely up my alley from the start.  A graphic novel retelling of fairy tales, fables and folklore?  Count me in!  The artwork was wonderfully detailed and very dark, which made it more interesting than the average bubblegum fairy tale comics, etc.  I liked the complexities of the relationship between Snow and her sister, Red.  There was general feeling of an old film noir during the first story arc, and Bigby Wolf acting as detective for the fables was an interesting twist on perspectives of good vs. evil.  The second story arc, with rebellion on the farm, was very much like Animal Farm by George Orwell (the book it was modeled after).  The politics and usage of Goldilocks' relationship with the three bears was kind of disgusting, but a well drawn plot device.  The plots weren't necessarily unpredictable, but I very much enjoyed them all the same.   Highly recommended to fans of fairy tales, myths, legends and fables who don't mind a little bit of mature content.
 
VERDICT:  4/5  Stars
 
**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are much appreciated and I always read them with a smile on my face! :) While I appreciate the thought, this an award-free blog as well. I just don't have the time to keep up with it. Thank you for my smiles and please share your thoughts! Also, sorry for the Captcha, but I've been getting a lot of spam lately!