Fables #22 Review

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Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Cinderella Libertine

Written by: Bill Willingham
Penciled by: Tony Akins
Inked by: Jimmy Palmiotti
Colored by: Daniel Vozzo
Lettered by: Todd Klein
Cover Artist: James Jean
Assistant Editor: Mariah Huchner
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics

The ex-wives meet…

When multiple ex-wives of a man meet, problems can most definitely arise. While I myself am not a divorcee, hell I’ve never even been married, I have seen firsthand just how dicey these situations can become. In the case of Prince Charming, who’s quite the dastardly sort in the pages of Fables, it’s hard to feel sorry for the man that screwed over Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. This opening sequence, to an all-inclusive tale sets the stage perfectly for our first real look at Cinderella.

Bill Willingham’s work on Fables can be described in one word: brilliant. His ability to continually weave new storybook characters into his overall narrative keeps the book fresh and full of surprises. This is just the type of story that comics need more of these days. For $2.50 you get a neat one-off story that introduces us to some new characters, while adding to the main narrative, while all building to a satisfying conclusion.

They’ll always have Paris.

Following Cinderella’s meet with Prince Charming’s other ex-wives we follow Cindy on what she calls, “a wild and wanton European vacation.” She’s actually meeting up with her secret squeeze Ichabod Crane. Sadly, at least for Cindy, this version of Crane looks nothing like Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow. This guy’s best described as a bony, lecherous, mess. The site of Ichabod in the throes of passion with the vivacious Cinderella is enough to make you want to hurl.

The story helps build on our knowledge of Fabletown and what has happened since the fables fled their homeland and the adversary. The story is a wonderful parable, which works so well with a book featuring a fairy tale cast. Since its all-inclusive storytelling, I’m not going to give much else away about the story. Like I said, everything plays out to a dramatic and fitting end. The book’s almost worth buying for just the last page, which features some rather hilarious digs towards the French that I couldn’t help laughing at.

Filling in the holes…

There is a lot of hole-filling in this issue. First, there’s the obvious joke about Cinderella and Ichabod’s heated affair, which I won’t make the obvious comment about…well I guess I did. Then you’ve got the fact that this issue actually comes in the middle of a storyline that’s been unfolding the last few months concerning Prince Charming’s run for Mayor of Fabletown. Couple that with the fill-in artwork by Tony Akins and Jimmy Palmiotti and you’ll see what I mean.

Even though this is a classic fill-in issue, it works marvelously. While it’s not really a part of the ongoing storyline it relates to it quite well. Plus the artwork by Akins and Palmiotti is absolutely wonderful. There’s no distracting change in tone from the usual work by Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha. Blatant sex and greed are always welcome in a Vertigo book, especially when they’re not put in for shock value, but they actually work to advance the overall storyline. All told an outstanding issue!