misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
pretty good! i mean willingham is still a dick (there was one utterly unsurprising digression where he delivered a lecture on how women are physically inferior to men, it's just scientific FACT via one of the characters) but really i'm tired of talking about him. willingham is a right wing racist sexist hack! we all know it. moving on.
so i was fond of briar rose and lumi this volume! less so of ali baba but really i had no hopes there, willingham has this douchebag formula he uses for almost all his male characters and also whenever i think too closely on how he handles his arabian 'muslim' characters my head goes all cloudy with rage (don't get me started on the arabian nights storyline. NEVER let me talk about the arabian nights storyline). the noir side story at the end was a hecka lot better than anything i'd've expected with a dude narrator
lol everytime i talk fables i end up feeling like an angry feminist parody. dudes? but WHY?
beast's one of the better dudes though! and i really really like noir as genre despite how rarely it likes me back
also i am excited for volume 2 because apparently it ships rapunzel with a lady yakuza boss and woahhhh i am so ready for that jelly it's not even funny. i have no idea how something that sounds so great got approved under willingham's watch but i am here for it. 3 stars
so i was fond of briar rose and lumi this volume! less so of ali baba but really i had no hopes there, willingham has this douchebag formula he uses for almost all his male characters and also whenever i think too closely on how he handles his arabian 'muslim' characters my head goes all cloudy with rage (don't get me started on the arabian nights storyline. NEVER let me talk about the arabian nights storyline). the noir side story at the end was a hecka lot better than anything i'd've expected with a dude narrator
lol everytime i talk fables i end up feeling like an angry feminist parody. dudes? but WHY?
beast's one of the better dudes though! and i really really like noir as genre despite how rarely it likes me back
also i am excited for volume 2 because apparently it ships rapunzel with a lady yakuza boss and woahhhh i am so ready for that jelly it's not even funny. i have no idea how something that sounds so great got approved under willingham's watch but i am here for it. 3 stars
nathaniel_1206's review against another edition
2.0
I read this before I got to Fables #107, so I'll read it again later, but it was my least favourite Fables collection.
qgg's review against another edition
4.0
I adore the Fables series and I am so glad that I read enough reviews to decide to skip the Jack of Fables spin off. I had high hopes for Fairest, however, and this volume was a great start.
Yeah, the first issue was mostly about Ali Baba and not a heroine, but the ladies were sleeping and the story had to start somewhere. The art, while sexist and unrealistic about women, was absolutely gorgeous. I liked the story arcs for Briar Rose and Lumi. My only complaint was that I don't understand Ali Baba's motivation at the end. Just because he kissed her first? He was lame, but the rest of the characters are very good.
The very last issue in this volume had a noir story about Beast and Lamia. That was a dark twist on Beast's story and I was shocked by it's repercussions. The art was simple but went with the noir storytelling.
I'm looking forward to the other volumes in this series.
Yeah, the first issue was mostly about Ali Baba and not a heroine, but the ladies were sleeping and the story had to start somewhere. The art, while sexist and unrealistic about women, was absolutely gorgeous. I liked the story arcs for Briar Rose and Lumi. My only complaint was that I don't understand Ali Baba's motivation at the end. Just because he kissed her first? He was lame, but the rest of the characters are very good.
The very last issue in this volume had a noir story about Beast and Lamia. That was a dark twist on Beast's story and I was shocked by it's repercussions. The art was simple but went with the noir storytelling.
I'm looking forward to the other volumes in this series.
bibliofiendlm's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing artwork. Liked the story. Sleeping Beauty was always my favorite fairy tale.
phenaproxima's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The main arc of this volume didn't really gel for me. It felt haphazard and oddly over-complicated. In retrospect, I'm not sure the character of Jonah was necessary. I agree with the other reviewers who noticed the sudden, mostly inexplicable shift in Lumi's character, and her lack of chemistry with Ali Baba. The artwork is gorgeous and detailed; I wish it was in service of a more solid story.
On the other hand, the final issue of this volume is much better. Here are characters I can care about (maybe because I've read Fables), in a fun noir-style tale, with a reveal that means something. The art was in a different style from the rest of the book, but still top-notch.
On the other hand, the final issue of this volume is much better. Here are characters I can care about (maybe because I've read Fables), in a fun noir-style tale, with a reveal that means something. The art was in a different style from the rest of the book, but still top-notch.
bluenicorn's review against another edition
2.0
I was really excited about this book! I LOVE Fables- it has never disappointed me and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next one! And it's more than that- I love fairy tales, in general, and I am an absolute sucker for stories of female empowerment, or rewrites with a feminist angle. I thought that this would be all of those things... but it wasn't. Just not quite. This could get much better as it progresses, and I'm going to keep an eye on it. But I was disappointed with the storyline, the characterization of Briar Rose, Lumi's sudden 180 degree character change, and the pacing, in general.
5elementknitr's review against another edition
4.0
Kind of got the feeling I was missing some vital information. Looked it up, and there's an entire series that this is an offshoot of. hah!
So, once I read all the Fables series, I'll come back to this one. This was definitely a fun read!
So, once I read all the Fables series, I'll come back to this one. This was definitely a fun read!
bellatora's review against another edition
5.0
A nice return to the early spirit of Fables (less general Doom and Gloom). I do miss seeing Fables in the Mundy world and hope some storyline (not the Jack spinoff, which went off the rails early on) goes back to that. This one focuses on the realms of the Homeland, with Ali Baba (King of Thieves!) rescuing both Sleeping Beauty and the Snow Queen and the shenanigans that follow (Melting the Snow Queen's Heart! The evil fairy who cursed Sleeping Beauty coming to wreak havoc! A smartaleck bottle imp who may be playing both sides or may be working to reach a happily ever after for all parties!).
The main Fables series has been leaving me a bit unsatisfied recently, so I'm quite happy that this spinoff shows that the Fables world hasn't lost its magic for me entirely!
The main Fables series has been leaving me a bit unsatisfied recently, so I'm quite happy that this spinoff shows that the Fables world hasn't lost its magic for me entirely!
lilmatt050's review against another edition
4.0
I've been curious about adventuring out of Fables Comics for some time and see the diverse universes that Bill Willingham provides for us and for this first volume I found it okay, nothing interesting.
The volume discusses about what happens after the adversary is brought down and what happens to Briar Rose. You get an insight about her life and more action on the Snow Queen. I did not like the way they were drawn because I'm so used to Fables and to me it felt more like a superhero comic book than a fantasy fairy tale. As a bonus, you find out about another famous character and the dark secret that lurks in Fabletown. Most likely I will catch up with Fables and then adventure out into Fairest.
The volume discusses about what happens after the adversary is brought down and what happens to Briar Rose. You get an insight about her life and more action on the Snow Queen. I did not like the way they were drawn because I'm so used to Fables and to me it felt more like a superhero comic book than a fantasy fairy tale. As a bonus, you find out about another famous character and the dark secret that lurks in Fabletown. Most likely I will catch up with Fables and then adventure out into Fairest.
joanarcherknight's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0