peachani's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
satan_is_back's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kandicez's review
4.0
Issues 22 and 28-33, Mean Seasons marks the most change in the status quo so far in the Fables series. This volume immediately follows the battle against the Adversary's wooden army, and as the mayoral election is held and Bigby and Snow become parents.
We get a glance into Cinderella's back story outside of her fairy tale and also Bigby's. Cinderella's is a surprise, while Bigby's is not. It makes perfect sense.
"The Mean Seasons" takes place across a year's time and each section is a season. I found this infinitely clever as we need to see the birth of the litter and the way they grow, away from their father, but helped along by their grandfather, another surprise. It begins with a bittersweet moment and ends the same way. Fairy tales of wooden men and talking pigs are great, but none of the previous Fables stories reach the emotional depth of "The Mean Seasons." In this volume Willingham makes these fables real and shows us that despite magic and immortality they are very human.
This is where Fables becomes it's own story for me. This is the volume where I really begin to care. I've read these before, but that doesn't mean this installment is any less impactful. New readers should not begin with this set. Any of the three before could serve as an introduction to Fable Town and the Farm, but in this installment the characters, despite staying fables, become real and sympathetic despite their other abilities. We begin to know them.
The heroes of our childhood continue to surprise with unexpected personality quirks and histories, making each issue a journey of discovery. All the while, the larger story is coming into focus. Fables is quickly moving into epic territory. Having read the entire series, I know the payoff does not disappoint, but anyone reading this for the first time will become invested.
We get a glance into Cinderella's back story outside of her fairy tale and also Bigby's. Cinderella's is a surprise, while Bigby's is not. It makes perfect sense.
"The Mean Seasons" takes place across a year's time and each section is a season. I found this infinitely clever as we need to see the birth of the litter and the way they grow, away from their father, but helped along by their grandfather, another surprise. It begins with a bittersweet moment and ends the same way. Fairy tales of wooden men and talking pigs are great, but none of the previous Fables stories reach the emotional depth of "The Mean Seasons." In this volume Willingham makes these fables real and shows us that despite magic and immortality they are very human.
This is where Fables becomes it's own story for me. This is the volume where I really begin to care. I've read these before, but that doesn't mean this installment is any less impactful. New readers should not begin with this set. Any of the three before could serve as an introduction to Fable Town and the Farm, but in this installment the characters, despite staying fables, become real and sympathetic despite their other abilities. We begin to know them.
The heroes of our childhood continue to surprise with unexpected personality quirks and histories, making each issue a journey of discovery. All the while, the larger story is coming into focus. Fables is quickly moving into epic territory. Having read the entire series, I know the payoff does not disappoint, but anyone reading this for the first time will become invested.
lordofbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joshgauthier's review
4.0
Each volume in this series continues to take a slightly different tone. This one felt tamer compered to the intensity of Vol. 4, but it still handles itself well and maintains the strength of its original premise. The quality of the art varies, and the story was broken up into three distinct sections, but "Fables" continues to tackle fairy tales, politics, drama, and more with insight and humanity, adding a darker but also a more relateable twist to so many familiar characters.
mogarc's review
5.0
Seven... Oh Snow, I'm so sorry. :( He'll find Bigby, I'm sure of it. But where is Bigby anyway??
courtney8374's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cheeriospank's review
5.0
Caution spoilers ahead…
Without their most interesting and help characters, Fabletown is falling apart (which I knew would happen once three most clueless people got the three most important jobs. They know nothing of the way things work, or even how the people work.
I knew what the seventh child meant and knew what was happening. It is very sad. Poor thing.
As usual pleased with the story and will move onto the next.
Without their most interesting and help characters, Fabletown is falling apart (which I knew would happen once three most clueless people got the three most important jobs. They know nothing of the way things work, or even how the people work.
I knew what the seventh child meant and knew what was happening. It is very sad. Poor thing.
As usual pleased with the story and will move onto the next.