Fables Vol 12: The Dark Ages (edition 2009)

Excellent, excellent, excellent. Although I still kind of skim the parts focused on the bad guys as I'm more interested in what's going on with my favorite fables. ( )

That was an unexpected turn of event :( ( )

With the war over, Gepetto has to takes his place in Fabletown, and the result is not a great one. Just when the Fables think they are finally safe, however, there's a new enemy rising, and he is hellbent on ruining Fabletown, causing all Fables to take refuge at The Farm, where they all take part in the funeral of a hero. I was wondering where the story would go once the Adversary's forces were defeated and it is clear that the new enemy is powerful enough to cause quite a bit of havoc for our friends. I was hoping we could have some breathing-room (and get to mourn) before starting a new battle, but it is one that will, I think, prove interesting, so I'll be staying on this ride to see where it goes. ( )

I'm in two minds about this volume. One, the war is over and we're focusing on the forward-moving and homelands stuff and the complex relationships going on and all that. And that part, as expected, I quite enjoyed. I was saddened by certain events, of course, but it was a good read. It was what I read Fables for.

But then on the other hand... Look, I know the way a serial production survives is to keep adding new hurdles and obstacles and ordeals for the characters to overcome, so I get that they keep coming up with new things to "go wrong" and all. But then, we've just had a massive several-year-long war campaign come to an end, people have died, there's all kinds of new lands/old lands to go explore and to kick the goblin armies out of, there's the whole ordeal of Gepetto, the arch enemy, now being part of the town... I mean there's a million things going on, and now there's already another massive obstacle coming at them?? It seems like that should've waited for the next issue at least, and had this one focus more on the Fables moving forward.

In my view, it feels like the best work is always about the main Fables. Maybe because their characters are what is so fleshed out, or because we're spending all this time getting to know & love them. Whatever it is, the Big Bads just don't have the same enjoyment. They feel kind of forced and overdone. I'd almost be happier if the series just focused on the Fables trying to live; getting into their squabbles and quandries (like Jack and his charades, the whole Farm conflict, the various relationships going on, etc), dealing with all their relationships between each other, etc. I feel like there would be enough material to focus mostly on them and only occasionally throw in a Big Bad to come shake things up. Too much, too soon, it's just stiring up the pot unnecessarily and not enjoyably.

So overall, I want to give the bits about the Fables 4 or 5 stars, and the part about the new chaos coming only 2 or 3. Since I liked parts quite a bit, it feels wrong to give the whole volume only 3 (or less) stars, but also feels wrong to give it 4 when I disliked others so much! So I guess I'll settle for 3.5. ( )

This is the twelfth book in the Fables series. I think it was one of the darkest books yet in the Fables series, hence the name is very appropriate. It was a painful read at points, but a necessary one.

The book starts with a short installment where Gepetto is installed in Fabletown and showed around by his son Pinocchio. The next few chapters focus on picking up the pieces after fighting the Adversary, you learn who is alive and who is dead or dying. We also get to follow the adventures of two rogues named Freddy and Mouse who unknowingly release an enormous evil into the Homelands.

This was another excellent, if painful at times, Fables. Some of the things that happen in here will tear at your heart. Boy Blue is still struggling with the injury he received in the battle. Rose Red is depressed because she realizes she has feelings for him. Not to mention the Fables just don’t get a break when a huge evil is released into their world.

There is also a lot going on with trying to reinstate the Fables into their various Homelands. The Homelands are a mess since there is no leadership there. You have Fables that were born in America and want to choose their Homeland and you have people raiding the Homelands for treasure...as I said an absolute mess.

It is a great installment and love where the story is going. I am curious to see how the Fables will combat this latest evil challenge. The illustration was in keeping with previous novels. I wasn’t all that keen on the illustration for the first part with Pinocchio, it was too simple, the rest of the installments were very well done though.

Overall an excellent installment in the Fables series. I was a bit worried after the last book what the new storyline would be; but Willingham did an excellent job of dealing with the aftermath of the war and in addition started a new and engaging storyline. This whole series is highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy and/or fairy tale retellings. ( )