Fables Vol. 9: Sons of Empire

I discovered FABLES perhaps a bit later than many others, but I'm making up for it with my enthusiasm for it. I've now read all of the nine main books, the 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL spin off, and the two Jack of the Fables books (even though Jack is possibly my least favorite character in the books). I look forward to getting the tenth book this June. My point is: this is an addictive series. The issues that make up this volume pretty obviously are setting up big events in the future. We see a war council held by Gepetto and his minions. We see Snow White and Bigby and their brood visit his father the North Wind. We are introduced to several new characters. We get new wrinkles, such as Rodney Greenwood, who seems to almost like the residents of Fabletown. But while FABLES has great stories, what I most enjoy is the way Willingham explores all the various facets of their fictional world. From the very beginning the series has never done just one thing. There is an astonishing variety, just as the cast of characters really could be characterized as an ensemble cast. If you were forced to identify the "lead" characters, it might be Snow White and Bigby Wolf, but there have been several issues in which they've not appeared at all, sometimes several issues in a row. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Vol. 9 continues the fables tradition of continued twisted takes on some of childhood's most beloved fairy tales. War clouds are forming and it appears that cooler heads will prevail, but will they? Willingham and company knock it out of park again! If you like any of the previous comics or trades, you will like this one as well.

At the heart of this collection: evil machinations, plans and schemes in the Adversary's Empire; a long-lasting conflict between a father and a son coming to a resolution of sorts. Add to this a very grim twist on the aftermath of the Hansel and Gretel story that makes Frau Totenkinder look almost benign; a hint that the humblest and maybe most tragic of all the residents of Fabletown may turn out to be their savior; little snippets of background material and vignettes on Fables plus one potentially significant non-Fable. One of the things I like most about the characters is that even the most evil ones do have a story behind the, which reveals the choices and paths that made them become whom we meet here. And the good ones are never quite as clean as we might like to think of them either. Everything has more than one side and Fables makes a point of virtually never letting us forget that. As always, or maybe even more so, simply brilliant.

We have seen Fabletown respond to the Empire in a devastating way. We cannot expect the Empire to roll over after just one hit. The first story arc shows us how the empire plans to respond and their council of war. Plus we meet, and discover the history of, Hansel who has been made Ambassador to Fabletown. A strong story that sets the stage for much to come. In the second main story arc we see Bigby and his pack travel to the lands of his father for a family visit. This is the first chance we have of seeing Bigby with Mr. North. An excellent story that includes a Christmas special as only Fables can pull off and one of the best side jokes I have seen in a while. Unfortunately the art on this one is far from the best. Also included in this collection are a series of short stories that fill in all sorts of little details about the Fables we know and know of. One series of short stories is concerned with answering readers questions. Two good stories for the price of one plus all the other stuff equals a real bargain in the graphic novel world. An absolute must-have for Fables fans.

What can I say? Fables continues to be the best comic book series out there--period. Sons of Empire maintains the excellent status quo by setting up a major storyline to come, giving us an interesting Christmas tale, and further exploring the relationship between fathers and sons. Most entertaining, though, is a series of "short stories" throughout the volume that fill in some gaps on lesser characters and events. Really, if you're not reading Fables, you're missing out on the best series going. ~Scott William Foley, author of Souls Triumphant