This Week's Comics - Fables, 52

[sdelmonte]

Spoilers!

Fables 49 - Mowgli's hunt ends, and while this is mainly set-up for the big 50th issue and the return to Fabletown of a certain missed character, it's not really that good an issue. Granted, a weak issue of Fables is better than most comics, but it's still a little disappointing. Still, Willingham is entitled to an off-month every so often.

52, Week 1 - OK, if you jumped off the DCU bandwagon with the two Crises, this isn't for you. But if you are still as hooked as I am, this is an interesting (if not brilliant) start. It's a week after the end of InfCrisis, and we get to see the aftermath of everything through the eyes of four characters, plus a few other things going on. There is a bit of an Astro City feel to this (which makes me wonder why DC didn't hire Busiek for this, though I suspect he wouldn't have had time, anyway). And while there is a development involving Ralph Dibny that I didn't like heqring about in advance, it makes sense. Strangely, the flattest part was the handling of Renee Montoya (even though Greg Rucka is writing her part of the tale).

Now 52 remains a huge risk, in terms of getting five writers with different styles to mesh along with a fleet of artists; in terms of getting a Event-weary audience to commit to a weekly comic; in terms of making the thing come out on schedule. But the handling of Booster Gold and Steel and Ralph and Black Adam and the DCU after InfCrisis is promising enough that I'm sticking around. More to come next week...

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I haven't read this post yet; I just want to say how much I hate you for getting your comics four hours before I can get mine. :-)

[sdelmonte]

I work near a comic shop. (Why do you think I don't chanbge jobs? :))

[mneme]

Fables: Hmm. Hadn't thought of it that way, but yes, it's weak, not all that much happens in it. That said, I found it...intriguing, that apparently, when Bigby decides to return to Fabletown, his father, who has happily been having his phyiscal form reside there (or rather, on the Farm) for the last 6+ (how many years has it been?) years, happens to have to leave. And FN only showed up after Bigby had left.

Is there some reason that BB and FN can't be in the same place at the same time? The most obvious possiblity (that BB is a Wind rather than having the wind-nature) seems hard to credit, especially since FN said that BB couldn't do shapeshifting like most of his people could, but I look forward to seeing whta the real explaination is.

That said...still a comparatively weak issue.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering what happened to the 7th child. I note that Bigby didn't mention him, but that proves nothing.