MONDOmagazine

Why can't everything be a James Jean painting?

Owen’s Book of the Month

Fables #75
Written by Bill Willingham
Pencilled by Mark Buckingham
Inked by Steve Leialoha and Andrew Pepoy
Vertigo, 2008

With Y: The Last Man gone and 100 Bullets wrapping up soon, Fables is undoubtedly going to be left as Vertigo’s tentpole. This is especially notable since issue #75 would’ve been a solid endpoint for the series. But luckily for Vertigo (and readers) Bill Willingham was not content to wrap up the series just yet. That’s what makes the issue so great (well, amongst other things); it’s not just an end but also a beginning.

The war between Fabletown and the Homelands has been going on since the beginning of the series, but Willingham is not content to rest on his laurels and maintain the status quo of the series indefinitely. This issue sees a major shake-up of both the series and the political infastructure the characters live in. But enough plot description, I want to talk about why this issue was great. First of all, there is the epic bloody nature of this thing. Much like the last major issue of the series (issue #50), this thing is massive. In issue size, in scope, and in fun — this thing gives you your money’s worth and more. Dragons battling airships, rose bushes entangling emperors and handgun-wielding rabbits; this issue has it all. Amidst all the mythical awesomeness, however, are great character moments that give you reason to be invested in all of the battles going on. This has always been Fables‘ strength (and probably the reason the series is so rightfully popular); Willingham understands that it’s not enough to just give you these kickass fights, it’s the moments in between that make the fights so exciting. Moments like Prince Charming refusing to let Sinbad do the heavy lifting really make this issue sing.

Another reason that Fables delivers so consistently is that there’s always the feeling that anything can happen. I love superhero comics more than is healthy, but I will admit that sometimes there is some frustration in that we always know our favourite characters are safe (or at least soon to be resurrected). Fables has contantly reminded us that no one is safe in its pages and that makes for a knuckle-clenching reading experience. I’m sure every Fables fan reading this issue was or will be worried about their favourite character.

And, hey, let’s talk about that ending. But carefully, so as not to spoil anything. Wow! I can’t wait to see what happens next! This opens up all sorts or doors for future stories. That’s about as much as I can say without spoiling it.

But on to things I can talk about: Mark Buckingham is as amazing as ever. His personal style has developed, sure, but I also feel like his art has developed the book as a whole. That guy has become THE Fables artist and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The grandeur he gives these pages make this issue feel every bit as heart-pounding and jaw-dropping as a summer blockbuster movie.

Forget Secret Invasion or Final Crisis, my summer comic book event was right here in the pages of Fables.

Chase's Fistigons are Fisti-back!

Miles’ Book of the Month

Secret Invasion: Runaways and Young Avengers #3 (of 3)
Written by Chris Yost
Art by Takeshi Miyazawa
Marvel Comics, 2008

This issue is better than Secret Invasion, Runaways, or Young Avengers has been in the last year. I would like to harp on all those books — especially the fucking horrible relaunch of Runaways — but I will focus my efforts on extolling the virtues of this book.

First off, this series has been a total pay off for long-time fans of Runaways and the Young Avengers. It even redeems the crummy Civil War mini-series the two teams starred in because it takes that continuity and turns it into something important. Yost is able to take our young heroes and weave them into a story that seems like it should be the focus of Secret Invasion — that one of these Skrulls is supposed to be the chosen one and could stop the invasion.

Yost is able to find the voices of all the characters, which is most impressive because there are a lot of them. He’s also the kind of writer who has thought about what the characters would actually do in this situation, and not just think about how he can manipulate them into his plot points. The story feels organic — unlike some other certain relaunches or major crossovers I could name.

Sorry, I know I promised that I would lay off of Runaways and Secret Invasion. But fuck, it’s hard when I know how good it could be.

Even Miyazawa, whose Runaways fill-ins I never cared for, is showing improvement. I remember his art as static, but this series has shown a lot of kinetic paneling and action. But then maybe I’m just comparing him to the sequential mess that is Humberto Ramos.

For the love of Him (the one who loves you), get Yost on Runaways or Young Avengers. Someone needs to write these characters properly and this man just handed you a gem of a mini-series.

Alien Snails? Yeah, this is why I don't read DC

Isaac’s Book of the Month

The Legion of Super-Heroes #46
Written by Jim Shooter
Pencilled by Francis Manapul
DC Comics, 2008

I’m going to be honest here folks: the real book of the month is one of the Amazing Spider-Man issues that came out this month. We got three issues of the “New Ways to Die” storyline, and any one of these comics beats the pants off of everything else this month. But my Book of the Month last month was Amazing Spider-Man and obviously that book is riding high right now, so let’s shine the spotlight elsewhere.

The Legion of Super-Heroes is a funny phenomenon; it’s gone through so many revisions over the years that everyone ends up with their favourite version of the Legion. Thinking back on my introduction to the Legion, the Amalgam comic Spider-Boy and the Legion of Galactic Guardians 2099, where some time travel shenanigans resulted in a second “first meeting” between Spider-Boy and the Legion, this parody of the constant revisionism going on with the Legion comics had given me a gift of perspective for any future interaction with the “real” Legion of Super-Heroes comics.

While there is a lot to talk about with this issue, the best part of it is Ultra Boy being stuck on patrol duty to reign-in a bunch of rowdy superhero wannabes. You see, they couldn’t try out for a rival super team, the “United Planets Young Heroes”, as the tryouts were cancelled due to last issues’ imminent catastrophe that would mean the end of the solar system. As Ultra Boy is going around slapping these punks down, I don’t think it’s any coincidence that they all have names like “Visegrip”, “Radiant”, “Blood Bat”, and “90s Cliché”. (Okay, that last one I made up. I had to tell you so you wouldn’t go off and buy the DC Encyclopedia, then get mad when you couldn’t find the popular character called “90s Cliché”.) It’s as though the concept of the old simplistic heroes is being presented as superior to the gritty, ironic characters of the 90s — understandable considering Jim Shooter is a veteran Legion writer from a good long time ago.

Did you know that “Lightning Lad” was called “Livewire” during the 90s? I couldn’t say whether one is better or not. I prefer Lighting Lad, but I’m not oblivious to the fact that he has “lad” in his name.

This issue has characters acting responsibly, and doing the right thing by others, not creating false drama with poor characterizations — and that’s always impressive.

Well, okay, yeah, Braniac 5 did cut off Chameleon’s hand, but it was for science! And Chameleon will be fine, he’s a shape-shifter after all. Regardless, this is a solid book that has really come into its own under Shooter, and I anticipate it only getting better with all the crazy Legion of Super-Heroes parallel version crossovers that are coming up.