The final countdown is on as “Fables” hits #143, meaning there are only seven issues left in this classic series. This is cause for much sadness but also cause for happiness as “Fables” #143 is a solid issue that builds up to the final battle.
As a note, some mild spoilers are discussed.
Written by Bill Willingham
Illustrated Mark BuckinghamA fight is coming between Rose Red and Snow White, and everybody knows it except maybe Rose Red and Snow White. The only trouble is, theyve been pegged as highly magical creatures all of their lives, but the true measure of that magic is only now being revealed. When they do finally throw down with each other, will it be a personal duel, or all-out war involving thousands?
Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham get us another step closer to the end here in “Fables” #143. You can literally feel the tension coming from the pages. Reading “Fables” right now is like watching a chess game unfold. You are watching the pieces move into place and just waiting for the checkmate. It’s all very exciting, but so sad at the same time.
“Fables” #143 focuses much of the action on what’s happening with Bigby Wolf. He’s back but he’s not himself. He’s a feral, zombie-like creature. He’s out in New York City, the mundy part of it, killing without restraint. Luckily and unluckily, Ozma has located Bigby and is going to attempt to figure out what’s wrong with him. We, however, are let in on what’s happening to Bigby. Meanwhile Snow is learning some new tricks with her brand new magic armor and it’s a bit scary to watch, and Willingham throws us a huge twist at the end that is pretty apocalyptic for these characters.
I’ve been reading “Fables” from the beginning. It was one of the first ongoing series I started buying on my own and got really into, so the turning of the table in the relationship between Snow White and Rose Red is the most interesting thing to happen in this series since Mrs. Sprat joined up with Mister Dark. I’ve mentioned this before but the series coming full circle like this is a genius move on Willingham’s part; “Fables” opened with Snow White and Rose Red’s relationship, where Rose Red was faking her death and Snow White and Bigby were left to investigate it. Snow White was the ‘Queen Bee’ and Rose Red was the black sheep of the family. Now we’re presented with a Snow White that’s at the bottom of the totem pole and a Rose Red beloved by most of the Fables.
They’re even being drawn differently by artist Mark Buckingham. I mean this in the sense that they still look like themselves but there’s a different aura around each. Snow doesn’t look like the confident person she was before; her black, dark, magical armor is giving her a much more sinister feel. She has different facial expressions and body language. Then on the other side of this we have a much more composed Rose Red; in her armor she looks regal and prepared for just about anything. I don’t think this would happen if this series had gone through multiple artists rotating constantly. Buckingham took his breaks, but this is just as much his book as it is Willingham’s. Because he knows these characters so well, he’s able to do things like this without it hitting you over the head. These are subtle to most but if you’ve read the series for as long as I have, you notice it right away.
As always, though, Buckingham does an amazing job on art. He’s always been so good at nailing down these characters. He consistently balances the real world with fairy tale tropes. Zombie Bigby Wolf in the real world oddly looks grounded. These parts are almost like “The Walking Dead” in the sense that it feels like it fits there. It’s not like the movie Enchanted where those characters are purposely sticking out like sore thumbs. He feels like a real threat to the cops chasing him. And I’m absolutely in love with the designs of Snow and Rose Red’s armor. I almost wish DC & Vertigo would put out statues or at least action figures of those designs. They’re really something to look at.
Continued belowDespite how much I’m enjoying the shift in dynamics between Rose and Snow I do worry that there won’t be enough time to tell the full ending. We still have to have this final showdown that’s building between the sisters, as well as getting a conclusion to Bigby. On top of this there’s still the current big bad of Mrs. Sprat and the problem with Brandish, and then there’s the desire from long time fans to get a full blown conclusion in which we get an ending that doesn’t leave things wide open. I trust this creative team but I do worry there may not be enough time to get everything in.
There’s this terrible sense of foreboding as you read this issue. “Fables” hasn’t exactly given happy endings to everyone and despite the definite end of the series coming, you don’t feel like this will all end nicely. Like a series like “Y: The Last Man”, there is no reason to think that Snow and Bigby will have their issues resolved, for example, because Willingham is writing this arc as if it’s just another arc. It’s still epic in scale, but it’s also totally in line with what’s happened in the story so far. He’s throwing long time readers for a loop, and it’s refreshing to see a writer actually aim to go out on a high note instead of phoning it in at the end, even if not everything works.
There’s one thing worrying me, though, and that’s the revisiting of what was probably one of my least favorite storylines: the ‘super team’ is evidently making a comeback of sorts. I didn’t like the idea before and I don’t like it now, because in this world it doesn’t work. It never felt like it fit in this universe and for it to come back at the end like this feels off. Having Ozma go off and do her thing to find Bigby would have been enough; getting Beast involved in the capacity he’s going to be involved doesn’t feel totally organic.
Despite a few worries and hiccups, “Fables” #143 is a solid read. It’s what I’ve come to expect on a monthly basis from the book. I have some concerns about too much happening, but with two lead characters like Snow White and Rose Red in the middle of a deeply personal conflict I have faith that all will turn out well as we get closer to #150.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy it if you’re already a fan of the series. This last arc is all about the longtime fans and giving them a big payoff.
