Willingham offers up a somewhat predictable story this month, and that's certainly a change of pace in what has otherwise been a novel, fun series. It occurs to me now, as I began to write this review, that this story really doesn't tap into the magic of the premise that's at the heart of this series. Mind you, it's a decent enough self-contained "fill-in" story, but it really doesn't say much about the one Fable character involved.
More than a century ago, the Fable known as Jack decided to carve out a place -- and some cash -- for himself in the world of man by joining the Confederate army in the American Civil War. Little did he know he was choosing the losing side, and he soon found himself back on the road, looking for adventure and fortune. And he finds just that, as he encounters a wily blind hustler in the swamp, and an inform young beauty who promises Jack anything he desires should he stave off the approaching Reaper.
Talbot conveys the historic setting quite well. This is a far dirtier look than we're accustomed to in this title, and Jack's grimy look reinforces the timeline nicely. The detail reinforces the grounded, realistic nature of the story quite well too; that two-page spread at the book's opening is quite impressive, even if it has little to do with the story. Talbot's vision of the Grim Reaper struck me as a being a shade too cartoony, mind you.
OK, I'm well aware that Willingham's vision of Jack is of a rogue, and such a character can always add a lot of spice and fun to a story. But Jack comes off more as... an asshole, really, than a charming rogue. He transforms into quite the pig by the end of the book, and his reward for his scheme paints him in an incredibly unflattering light. I suppose that's the point, but it briefly left a bitter taste in my mouth. In some circles, Willingham's earned something of a reputation for mistreating his female characters, and this story goes a long way to reinforce that notion.
I think in the end, this issue lacks the magic that makes Fables such a fun series. Sure, there are magical elements in the story, but the story doesn't tap into a magical society of Fables. This story could be about any grifter. It reads more like a Hellblazer story than a chapter from Fables.
