Review: Fables #102

Written by Bill Willingham
Illustrated by Mark Buckingham

This issue begins a 5-part story called “Super Group!” Now why, oh why, in this crazy mixed-up world would we saddle an important funny-book series that has, in 100 issues so far, never had anything to do with Super Heroes with a title like that? And why has snotty little Pinocchio suddenly got it into his head that he needs to design tight-fitting costumes for a carefully selected small team of Fables? In fact, why was the little brat caught looking over his own comic book collection, mumbling things like, “We can call him Werewolf Man, and he can be the Golden Knight, and she can be called The Green Witch?”

To quote master Fables illustrator Mark Buckingham: “What the bloody [censored] is going on here?”

The Fables are becoming superheroes! Wait, what? That’s right – Pinocchio and his love of comic books is leading the way to converting our already powerful and magical characters into fighters for justice. But why? Outside of the fact that it’s an awesome concept, does it make any sense?

Find out after the cut. As a note, mild spoilers are discussed. Extremely mild, entirely conceptual, but never the less intrical to the plot.

For this week’s Comics Should Be Cheap, I started off my list of comics to buy in stores this week with Fables #102. Next to that, my reasoning was this: “When I was in college, Fables was one of my favorite titles. I’m no longer in college, and about two years later the book has dropped down in my eyes due to the past 25 or so issues. #100 was a great return to prominence of the book, and I’m hoping that with this new arc – featuring Fables becoming superheroes – that it’ll pick back up again. Fingers crossed.” As I look back at the Matt of two days ago, I smile and nod, telling him, “Don’t worry bud. We’re back.”

Fables #102 picks up some time after the epic defeat in #100. Bigby returns to Haven to find that things have changed. The biggest change is that Haven is now pressed against a box of pure evil as Mr. Dark tries to break in and finally destroy the Fables once and for all. Flycatcher is doing all that he can to keep him out, but even he admits that his power is fading. With Frau Totenkinder gone, the Fables have to admit themselves the horrid fact that the last stand between them and the crusading forces of darkness is upon them. This is where the concept of the new arc comes: the Fables are becoming superheroes.

Pinocchio suggests to the group that the only way to defeat Mr. Dark is to become archetypal superheroes. The logic behind this is that since they are all story characters and they get their powers from stories and people’s beliefs in stories in the first place, if they become superheroes (with many references tossed around, noticeably to the X-Men with Pinocchio in a wheelchair) they are assured victory because the good guys always win. This is the sign that Fables has truly returned to form. Outside of the fact that this is an excellently well written issue from Willingham, the commentary on the power of comics as well as the stereotypes surrounding them in the way stories work speak absolutely true to how Fables got started in the first place. Fables began as we watched how hundreds of public domain characters interacted in the “real” world, but it in and of itself was a commentary on the evolution of characters and story. This was also what the Great Fables Crossover was inherently about (regardless of where you stand on it). Fables is about the power of stories, so what better way to defeat the current Big Bad than use that very base fact against him? Outside of the fact that this is awesome and totally 100% cool, the commentary on the way stories within stories works here, while being a great meta moment for the book, completely invigorates a core concept that hasn’t really been touched on in a while.

Willingham and Buckingham are an absolute force to be reckoned with. There is no real doubt that Willingham is a great writer, especially given the fact that he’s maintained the book as well as he has story-wise for 100+ issues. Yes, there was a bit of a lull, but that aside it’s about time the story picked up again. To throw in some superhero elements into the mix lets Willingham milk a bit of that genre here, but the fan of comics really shines with this issue via Pinocchio. The comic writer as a comic fan is something not usually explored in the comics themselves, so to see that happen in this is pretty interesting. Meanwhile, Buckingham continues to completely dominate in the art of page layouts. The signature sidebars are a treat as always, and the man’s talent is as strong and fresh as it is always has been. Fables has had guest artists in the past, but the book always shines brightest when Buckingham handles artistic duties.

Now is not a good time to get into Fables for the first time. As odd as it is to say that, especially after a centennial issue and at the beginning of a new arc, the only reason Fables is as great as it is right now is because we have all been here for 102 issues. Watching Pinocchio’s excitement about comics only matters if you’ve grown with the character, watching Ozma buy into the idea only works if you know her normal attitude, and seeing Mr. Dark’s absolute destruction of the world surrounding is only relevant if you have watched Mr. Dark in action for 27 or so issues now. No, now is not a good time to get into Fables. However, this issue proves that now is an absolutely amazing time to be a Fables fan, and starting off the year with an arc as strong as this might just let Fables earn the “Best Ongoing Of The Year” from Multiversity once more.

Final Verdict: 9.7 – Buy