The investigation continues, and though the clues are maddeningly vague, I'm really enjoying the continuing story of Rose Red's disappearance in Fables. Willingham has a cast of interesting and likable characters, where even the sinister Bluebeard has something likeable and interesting about him, and Bigby Wolf is a great protagonist in the mold of Phillip Marlowe, the deceptively sloppy detective. In addition, while the settings this issue weren't as ostentatious as the last couple have been, Medina and Leialoha continue to impress with their view of a fantasy world co-existing alongside New York, without preference given to one tone or the other.
I think what I most enjoy about this first story arc is not just the mystery, but how Willingham is using the mystery as a logical way to explore the various characters and political situations that exist in the Fables community. This issue we get to see King Cole for the first time, and I thought he was a great mix of the legendary jolly king and a modern politician, complete with a very nice house (even in his financially-troubled kingdom) and a friendly but almost condescending manner with Snow White. There's also continuing development in the quiet romantic flirtation between Bigby and Snow White and a great escalation of the Bigby/Bluebeard antagonism that serves both characters well.
While I do wish I had a few more clues to judge the mystery on, I am enjoying the numerous suspects and motives that we've been given. Brief flashes of the Black Forest Witch or the Adversary provided a little more insight into the Fables' world, as well as establishing a couple more possible suspects for the story. In the end, Willingham is giving us a mystery that I expect to have more than one suspect, perhaps a couple acting together for some motive that hasn't been explored in the comic yet.
As always, the tone of the story is set in the artwork as much as in the writing. Rather than using a cartoony style, Medina and Leialoha approach this with a realistic look, which makes the Fables stand out more than they otherwise would, and helps to set their world apart. It's easier to relate to Bigby Wolf since he looks like a normal person, ditto for Snow White or King Cole, but there's a certain magic in their settings or their costumes that gives them a touch of the fantastic. This issue also features a lot more indoor scenes or scenes set amidst the Fables community, but there are still enough scenes that let Medina show off a believable depiction of New York as well.
Fables has quickly taken its place as one of the most-anticipated series on my monthly reading list. Leaving aside its interesting concept, Willingham has introduced a cast of fascinating characters and Medina and Leialoha have provided their own contributions in the form of a visually distinctive world. Throw in a strong mystery for the first arc, and it's easy to see why Fables is one of the first books off the stack to read each week.
