Fables, Vol. 08: Wolves

This is an outstanding book! It very nearly stands alone from the series; there's enough history woven into it to make the story make sense. But I think having read the previous books makes this one all the richer.

I don't entirely like how Bigby's face is drawn - in a lot of frames, he seems to have forgotten to put in his dentures. But that's the closest to a complaint I have about the art; it's otherwise outstanding. Some of the cover art is breath-taking.

And I do believe I have a massive crush on Mowgli. He's all grown up and terribly appealing in this series. I hope we get to see more of him (and I don't just mean his body, but I won't cry about that either) in the next books.

This is the eighth installment in the Fables series. I really enjoyed this installment, we finally get a reunion between Bigby and Snow! We also get to learn more about Snow’s children.

In this installment Mowgli finally finds Bigby and Bigby is given a mission to the Cloud Kingdom. If Bigby can complete his mission there’s a chance that him and Snow can finally be together once and for all.

I liked this book much better than Arabian Nights (and Days); we finally get some resolution around the whole Bigby/Snow relationship. We also get to meet their children in more detail and follow as they learn to control their powers.

Additionally we are introduced to a new kingdom called the Cloud Kingdom. Fabletown desperately wants an alliance show more with the Cloud Kingdom.

Cinderella also played a much bigger role in this book; I enjoyed her character and am curious to see what happens with her in the future.

The book includes the original “script” from one of the scenes at the end and this was an entertaining read as well.

Overall a fun addition to Fables; I really enjoyed this installment and am curious to see what happens next. Definitely recommended for fans of the Fables comics. Also recommend for urban fantasy fans or fans of fairy tale retellings. show less

It's not as bad as the previous volume, but this is still tepid stuff. Willingham is now displaying his politics in bright, blazing colors - he literally stops the story dead to go into a pro-Israel rant - and the misogyny present in the Bigby/Snow White relationship has come to the fore. (It's really somewhat distressing, too, because I expected it to be a slightly eye-rolling point of conflict, not the lead-in to their wedding!) Frankly, Willingham needs to step away from the soap operatics and focus on the war storyline; I don't agree with every political comparison he's making, but at least I feel like he knows where he's going. The relationship stuff is weak in comparison.

this saga really hits maturity in #8. there's just so much backstory and characterization now to draw on. and the canvas extends well past Fabletown and the Farm, and the mundy world beside it, into the Cloud (aka the Cloud Cuckoo) realms. and the series goes right on dusting off old fairy tales and finding good uses to fold them in. fun stuff, well woven.

What Willingham has done in Fables is to create a world, and a true world of this nature provides some joyful problems for the reader. The problem is the pace of the work. I constantly want to know more about everyone, and there simply isn't room to move the plot any faster. I say it is a joyful problem because I would trade these characters for anything. I could not cut the parts about the Homelands in favor of advancing Snow White's story. I would not abandon Boy Blue's problems just so I could see how Prince Charming is doing as mayor. I greedily read each new volume the second I get it for that small step towards a resolution it gives, and love every frame.

And the world of Fables just keeps getting larger. Last volume introduced show more some of the Eastern fables such as Sinbad, while this volume brings us into the cloud world of the giants. Still, there is plenty of news from Fabletown and also the Farm, as well as another forage into the Homelands, this time by Bigby. Issue #50 advances THAT particular plot a great deal and in a direction I had not expected, so I am interested to see what will become of this new course. show less

Merideth says: Oh! Bigby! I'm so happy to see you again!

My love for Bigby Wolf, the former sheriff of Fabletown is almost absolute. In the world of comic book crushes, Bigby is only second to Nightwing and Christian Walker. So any book that focuses on him is going to be A-O.K. with me.

I do want to praise Willingham and company for the elegant way that Bigby returns to Fabletown. It manages to incorporate a trip back to the Homelands, Bigby doing what Bigby does best and the sentimental reunion with Snow, all without breaking the previously established laws of Fabletown.

I also enjoyed the Secret-Agent Cinderella at the end of this volume. The Giant Kingdoms are a trip, and watching Cindy manuever in this environment is wonderful. show more (cross-posted from MeriJenBen) show less

Oh! Bigby! I'm so happy to see you again!

My love for Bigby Wolf, the former sheriff of Fabletown is almost absolute. In the world of comic book crushes, Bigby is only second to Nightwing and Christian Walker. So any book that focuses on him is going to be A-O.K. with me.

I do want to praise Willingham and company for the elegant way that Bigby returns to Fabletown. It manages to incorporate a trip back to the Homelands, Bigby doing what Bigby does best and the sentimental reunion with Snow, all without breaking the previously established laws of Fabletown.

I also enjoyed the Secret-Agent Cinderella at the end of this volume. The Giant Kingdoms are a trip, and watching Cindy manuever in this environment is wonderful.