A warning for the spoiler conscious: I will be revealing whether Snow White lives or dies later on in this review, so stop at the first paragraph if you don't want to know. This is the conclusion of the second Fables story arc, "Animal Farm," which has managed to maintain the high standard that got the buzz on the book going in the first place. Willingham's take on the politics of Fabletown's Farm is as intriguing as his take on the politics of the City, and I'm especially pleased that he's willing to make drastic changes in the status quo, even this early. That kind of unpredictability, combined with neat ideas, a good sense of humor and impressive art makes Fables a can't-miss book.
The structure of this issue makes for a great finale, as Willingham covers quite a span of time, allowing him to deal with the ramifications of the revolution at the Farm in a more realistic manner. The fallout and clean-up after the revolution would require more time than just a week or two, and by spreading the events out over the course of a year, the events gain more resonance, as well as allowing Willingham to cover a variety of happenings in different places. It's hard to imagine the executions taking place more quickly, for example, or the rather large status quo shift at the end taking place without time to consider how it's been working.
While the ramifications of the revolution take place on a larger level, seeing how it affects the Fabletown community and presenting several neat ideas about the power structure, the real after-effects of the story are felt on a smaller level. The showdown of sorts between Snow White and Rose Red reveals quite a bit about what's at the heart of their antagonism, and it also reveals a little bit more about each character. There are also some great revelations about what seemingly evil or flighty characters like Bluebeard or Prince Charming are actually capable of handling.
I love the humorous tone of this book at times, but I'm glad that Willingham and company don't play it entirely for laughs. The scenes of the executions are quite grim and bloody, in the style of the old faerie tales, and Buckingham conveys a sort of overriding sadness about the necessity of the whole thing in everyone involved. I'm also glad to see groundwork being laid for future stories, whether it's the lack of resolution regarding Goldilocks or the re-assignment of Weyland Smith.
Bottom line, Fables is one of Vertigo's best books, and it definitely lives up to the hype. Little moments of humor featuring the side characters don't turn the book into a humor book, just as the sometimes dark moments don't make it strictly horror. Instead, it's a book that exists in the fantasy realm, but which really defies genre, and serves as a vehicle for Willingham, Buckingham and the rest to tell great stories.
