I Love It When Series Come Together

Green Hornet: Year One tpb Vol. 2: The Biggest of All Game
Dynamite Entertainment
Matt Wagner, writer
Aaron Campbell, artist

Matt Wagner has crafted a truly incredible origin story with this yearlong epic. Much like his work with that other great pulp hero for Dynamite -- Zorro -- Wagner dances between the childhood, formative years of his two heroes and their first year operating as masked vigilantes. In this case, the two heroes are Britt Reid -- the Green Hornet -- and Hayashi Kato -- the Hornet's aide, Kato. Their respective stories begin in 1921 half the world away from each other and culminate in their debut and early successes as crimefighters in 1938 Chicago taking down the notorious crime boss, "Skid" Caruso.

Obviously, I've also read the first trade collection of this series, The Green Hornet: Year One Vol. 1: The Sting Of Justice, but I read that volume before I started posting these reviews once again. Both volumes together tell the complete tale of the origin and debut of this dynamic pair. I've never tried Kevin Smith's more modern take on the Green Hornet legend, an ongoing series also published by Dynamite. Smith's comic writing can be a bit uneven for my tastes -- some things I've really liked; other things I've hated. But I was drawn to the Year One nature of this series, and I was NOT disappointed.

Wagner weaves in historical tidbits to help add credence and believability to his narrative. He also provides a staggering amount of detail that I believe is wholly original to his narrative about how Reid and Kato meet each other and join forces. What's more, Wagner's Green Hornet is not infallible. Reid is not perfect, making mistakes along the way; and while he has the heart of a crusader from an early age, he learns his hand-to-hand fighting abilities from the much more physically adept Kato, and gets some engineering help designing his signature Hornet's Sting gun and the Black Beauty from an old friend of his father.

Aaron Campbell deserves kudos for adding to the story by creating such visually accurate depictions of the vehicles, weapons and technology of the 1920s and 1930s. Both these graphic novels feel like watching a well researched period film or documentary of the times.

These two trades make an excellent standalone epic of the origins of the Green Hornet and Kato. But one other factor that enhances my own appreciation of these tales is how well they fit into the narrative of other Green Hornet tales I've read. I reviewed the first 14 issues of Now Comics' Green Hornet series here. That series traced the evolution of the Green Hornet from Britt Reid to his modern-day successor. When that series focused on Britt Reid's Hornet career, however, it chose to depict his final case. Therefore, nothing in those comics contradicts what can be found in these with just a few minor date discrepancies, making them nice companion pieces in my collection.

The Problem Is: Tomorrow Never Seemed To Get Here

The Twelve 1-12
Marvel Comics
J. Michael Straczynski, writer
Chris Weston, artist

This was one of those great, unfinished tales for a couple years. The complete title was The Twelve: A Thrilling Novel of Tomorrow, and I began to wonder if the story would ever be completed because as the old saying goes, tomorrow never seems to get here; it's always today.

The title centers around 12 costumed adventurers active during World War II in the pages of various Timely Comics publications, Timely being the precursor of modern-day Marvel Comics. Some of the characters had no powers whatsoever -- like the Phantom Reporter, Mister E and the Blue Blade. Others had supernatural powers and abilities -- like the Witness, the Laughing Mask and the Black Widow. Some had fantastic powers like Captain Wonder, Rockman and Fiery Mask. But all of them, along with several other colorful heroes, were present in the closing days of the war, when these 12 heroes fell into a secret Nazi trap.

The goal of the Nazis was to try to capture some of the Allies' heroes and dissect them. That plan didn't work out so well for this particular band of Germans, but these 12 heroes were still taken out of commission, being placed in cryogenic suspension and then forgotten until modern times when a construction project unearths their hidden storage area.

The rest of this story highlights the differences between the modern world and the world of the 1940s these heroes left behind, and how these heroes are left to cope and adjust to their unfamiliar surroundings.

Weston's art is crisp and clean and works well depicting both the war-era scenes at the beginning of the story and the contemporary action. He gives each character a distinctive look that allows the reader to instantly know which character from this large cast is in any given panel at a glance, even when they are not in costume.

And Straczynski has crafted a wonderful character-driven tale that presents several mysteries along the way.

I was intrigued by the idea of this series when it was first solicited in early 2008. The first issue published was a 0 issue, which included some preview pages from the story, as well as a couple reprints of Golden Age tales featuring a couple of the characters from the story. Somehow, I missed it at the time, but I've recently learned that there was also a 1/2 issue which included more preview pages and more Golden Age reprints. Then the series proper was released, issues 1-8, ending with a circulation date of December 2008 for that eighth issue.

And then nothing.

There were a number of rumors about why the delay, and as time went on, several promises of the series returning, but nothing panned out until spring and summer 2012 when the last four issues of the title were completed and released. I am happy to say that, despite the long wait, the conclusion to this tale did NOT disappoint. If you've never read this story, or worse, if you started it and gave up waiting for the end, do yourself a favor and seek these issues out. Or, if you prefer, there are trades of the series, as well as a hardcover collection.

Bittersweet Reading

Captain America (2011) 10
Marvel Comics
Ed Brubaker, writer
Alan Davis, artist

I have thoroughly enjoyed Ed Brubaker's run on this title. I came in late during the first Winter Soldier arc and had to seek out copies of the first few issues wherever I could find them. (Thankfully, I wasn't coming in too late to the party, and a local comic shop in my area, Hawg Head Comics, was able to get me set up with what I'd missed; thanks, Mike!)

Anyway, I've been with Brubaker since the beginnings of the rehabilitation of Bucky, the death and replacement of Cap, the return of Cap, the maskless Steve Rogers, the short period of time when Cap and Bucky shared the mantle, and now finally these wonderful arcs with rotating artists as the one, true Cap again wears the star-spangled uniform alone.

The bulk of Brubaker's run has also had more of an espionage feel to it that suits Captain America just as much as being a superhero because he is a soldier. Paired with Nick Fury, Sharon Carter and S.H.I.E.L.D., Cap's adventures should have more of a spy feel to them. Now with this most recent relaunch of the title, Brubaker has brought things full circle, making the Cap stories without Bucky, Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. more straight superhero adventuring. Cap works well in both settings, especially with Brubaker at the helm.

This issue brings the most recent arc, Powerless, to a close as Cap, Sharon and the Falcon finally defeat the new Queen Hydra and Machinesmith, restoring Cap back to full power and overcoming the effects of the madbombs the villains were using on the populace. The ongoing plot running through all 10 issues of this relaunch so far involves a former World War II ally of Cap's turned villain named Bravo. Bravo is a time-displaced hero much like Cap, but rather than spending the intervening years in suspended animation as Cap did, Bravo was helplessly stuck in another dimension. He blames Cap for that situation and is back trying to wreak revenge on the Avenger.

All of this makes for thoroughly enjoyable reading, as I said before, so why "bittersweet?" Because I know that in less than 10 more issues, Brubaker's run will be coming to a close. I will miss this title once he is no longer at the helm, and each wonderful new issue brings that end that much closer.

There's No Denying The Man Can Draw

Batman: Odyssey 1-6/Batman: Odyssey 2 1-7
DC Comics
Neal Adams, writer and artists

I was very eager to get my hands on this series when it was first announced. This was to be the triumphant return of one of the great Batman artists with his vision of the definitive Batman story. Neal Adams and Jim Aparo are probably the two most easily recognizable and iconic Batman artists out there. I already own all three hardcover volumes of Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams, so here was my chance to add a new Bat-tale to my collection by this luminary in the field.

And, of course, the art does NOT disappoint. Adams' Batman is muscled and powerful while retaining a realistic athletic appearance. His layouts allow the eye to easily follow the action across the page, and his graphic storytelling is also spot on. This story is rather complex, so it might be hard to literally follow everything without words, using just the pictures alone, but Adams' panels are not hard to figure out.

As I said, the story is pretty complex, epic even, taking Batman on a true odyssey that stretches the imagination. In fact, this story would almost have to be called an Elseworlds tale because of its scope. The epic moves from Gotham City to a number of underground, hidden societies and incorporates gnomes, trolls, dinosaurs, ancient godlings, henchmen and giant bats -- not your everyday Batman fare! At least not since the late golden age or early silver age!

The main villains of the story are Ra's al-Ghul (naturally, since Adams is the character's co-creator) and Ra's' son, the Sensei, the leader of the League of Assassins. It also involves a handful of other DC characters including Deadman, another character Adams is known for illustrating. Some of the lofty concepts the tale is woven around include Batman's staunch refusal to ever kill his adversaries and his aversion to guns. Another central concept is the theory that Ra's al-Ghul is really the only villain Batman ever faces, that many of the other famous Gotham rogues are merely obstacles occasionally thrown in the Dark Knight's path by Ra's to keep Batman occupied and less likely to uncover other, more sinister plots. This theory helps explain how so many of these rogues are locked in a revolving door of scheming, capture and escape, as well as playing off Batman's refusal to kill his opponents.

Like some of Adams' scientific theories, this story is deep and takes a little effort to unravel completely, but again, it is a very imaginative and highly entertaining journey.

Side note: One more reason this tale would likely be considered an Elseworlds story by most readers is a guest appearance by one of my favorite characters -- Aquaman, or at least, I believe that's Aquaman even though I don't recall anyone else ever drawing him even remotely this way before.

Back To The Basics

Daredevil by Mark Waid tpb Vol. 1 (collecting issues 1-6)
Marvel Comics
Mark Waid, writer
Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin, artists

I'd heard good things about the Mark Waid-helmed relaunch of Daredevil and decided to try out the first trade collection when it arrived. Now that I have, I can honestly say that it is NOT the best thing I've ever read, but it was a very fun and entertaining read.

That's saying a lot for a character who had gone down such a dark path of late. I'd read and enjoyed a lot of Brian Michael Bendis' run with the character, and continued to follow the title and enjoy it through Ed Brubaker's run, but then Andy Diggle took over, and it was just getting too dark for my tastes, and I dropped the book. That's why I didn't sample the Waid issues when they first came out. I didn't know about his new direction and had simply had enough dark.

Waid's run on DD is NOT dark. He explains this in-story as being Matt Murdock's answer to all of the dark craziness in his life of late. The character is making a conscious effort to lighten up and have some fun with life. That's not to say Daredevil is a funny, comedy style book now. Not really when the first arc involves the sound villain Klaw trying to resolidify his body by possessing DD. Also not when DD takes on all of the major criminal organizations in the Marvel Universe at once in the second arc. There is real threat and real danger here. But the Man Without Fear is choosing to face these threats with a smile on his face and an appreciation for being alive when he triumphs, as we all know he ultimately will.

I hear Waid's take on the character has been so successful that he plans to use the same approach to writing a relaunched Hulk title later this year. Comics that are fun to read ... I may just have to get on board for that trend!

A Fun Little Romp With The Promise Of More

All-Ghouls School tpb
IDW Publishing
Marc Sumerak, writer
David Bryant, artist

This series focuses on pretty, popular and smart high school sophomore Becca Norman who, through no fault of her own, ends up with the blame in a major cheating scandal during finals. This leaves Becca with a choice: take an "F" and repeat her sophomore year beginning in the fall or attend a summer make-up term at spooky Darkmoor Academy. Darkmoor is the town's answer to a haunted house, and many monstrous rumors surround the place and its pupils.

Becca decides to try Darkmoor, reasoning that it can't be as bad as its reputation, only to learn that the campus is indeed populated by female, teenage versions of monsters. Needless to say, Becca doesn't immediately fit in, especially with the headmaster's daughter, Elle Diablo, who is quite used to reigning over the other students. Fortunately, Becca also makes a new friend, Wendy, at the school so she doesn't have to face things solo.

This was a fun read illustrated in a cartoony, whimsical style that makes me think it could easily be adapted into an animated series or feature, so if either Sumerak or Bryant are reading, get on that! The series also ends in such a way that the door is left open for more installments while still giving readers a satisfying ending. Give it a try!

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Star Trek Ongoing 7-8
IDW Publishing
Mike Johnson, writer
Joe Phillips, artist

I have enjoyed most of IDW's Star Trek comics, including this run picking up from J.J. Abrams rebooted "Trek" universe film. Prior to these two issues, this title had retooled scenarios from the classic original "Star Trek" series, showing how familiar events have transpired slightly differently in this new timeline. While I have very much enjoyed these not-quite familiar tales, I dared to wish that the creators involved might also try their hands at some completely original adventures along the way.

Johnson and Phillips have expertly done just that with these two issues, crafting a tale that spins directly out of events depicted in the 2009 Abrams film. This tale, titled "Vulcan's Vengeance," was an enjoyable, completely original read that still felt true to the rebooted characters and situations, which couldn't have happened without the destruction of the planet Vulcan in the film at the hands of Nero. There were a couple of story twists involving Spock on a covert mission that didn't fool me for a minute, but the overall mystery behind the identities of the story's villains caught me completely by surprise.

Further adding to my enjoyment of this series is learning that Roberto Orci, one of the chief architects behind the reboot along with Abrams, is serving as a creative consultant on the comic series. Upcoming issues of the comic will help set up the plot for the sequel to the 2009 film, and the events depicted in these issues are considered canon for the rebooted movie continuity. That is something that almost no comics, novels or other media version of Star Trek have ever achieved before.

If you are a "Trek" fan and aren't picking these up, do yourself a favor and seek them out, either in trade or single issue form.

I Thought Bats Was Acting More Sane In The DCnU

Nightwing 7-8
DC Comics
Kyle Higgins, writer
Eddy Barrows and Geraldo Borges, artists

These two issues of Nightwing bring the initial story arc to its conclusion, but also serve to springboard from there, tying Nightwing more closely to the “parent” title and setting up Nightwing’s role in the Court of Owls Bat-verse crossover.

We learn why Saiko believes Dick Grayson is the “fiercest killer in all of Gotham” and what has motivated him to stage this elaborate bid for revenge. Issue No. 7 brings Saiko’s threat to an end and continues to fill in the blanks for Saiko’s motivations through a visit to the Batcave. All of this serves to give a very personal reason for Nightwing to be included in the Court of Owls crossover because his family is a part of the conspiracy. Then issue No. 8 serves as a prelude for the Court of Owls crossover pitting Nightwing against one of the Talons, the Court’s assassins.

This book is still providing straight-on action and adventure with a Nightwing/Dick Grayson character I can still recognize and enjoy. My only complaint about these issues is the characterization of Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Admittedly, I have stayed away from the main Bat titles, and so I have no first-hand knowledge of Bruce’s DCnU characterization outside of Justice League. My understanding from things I’ve read online and backed up by Batman’s depictions in Justice League are that he is a more grounded individual now. He’s still a driven avenger, master detective and brilliant strategist, but he’s not quite the standoffish loner some writers in the last few decades have written him to be. That’s an improvement in my opinion. But his portrayal in this Nightwing cameo is of a secretive, angry, anti-social individual who trusts no one but himself. If that depiction by Kyle Higgins is not accurate with the other Bat-books, then an editor should have corrected it or encouraged Higgins to better explain why it was an accurate portrayal. Since that didn’t happen, I’m left feeling more glad than ever that I’m not buying Batman, Detective or any of the other Batman-focused books.

Justification For Shooting First And Asking Questions Later

Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes 1-6
IDW Publishing/DC Comics
Chris Roberson, writer
Jeffrey Moy, artist

It's just a given when two unrelated teams of good guys meet in the pages of some crossover comic: There will be a misunderstanding that leads them to fight before everyone involved realizes that they are all good guys and they finally join forces to defeat the real bad guys. The exact reasoning or setup behind the misunderstanding varies from story to story; some are better and some are weaker.

Bringing two completely different properties like the original crew of the starship Enterprise and the Legion of Super-Heroes seems like it should be an entertaining mash-up. Not only are each of these groups of people from different realities and genres, they are from different times, as well. The original "Star Trek" is set in the 23rd century, while the Legionnaires are from the 30th. Bringing both together involves enough manipulation that each group could be forgiven for not immediately knowing who the good guys and bad guys are in what they are being confronted with. However, I took issue with the fact that when these two teams find each other, it is clearly the Enterprise crew "throwing the first punch." Once the misunderstanding is resolved, Kirk offers an explanation for his actions, and some others might disagree, but I think the rationalization offered is out of character for Jim Kirk.

Once all of the good guys are friends and join forces, there is what might be another slight continuity gaffe in the pages of this crossover. As the two teams are attacked by an amalgamation of the Fatal Five and several menacing aliens opposed to the United Federation of Planets, Lt. Nyota Uhura from the Enterprise compares one of the combined villains to her Orion roommate from Starfleet Academy. Now the rebooted Lt. Uhura in the J.J. Abrams "Star Trek" film was shown to have an Orion roommate at the Academy, but I don't know that this is canon for the Nichelle Nichols classic version of Uhura, and it is indeed the classic versions of these Star Trek characters who appear to be in this story. Of course, there is also nothing in the classic Trek canon to contradict Uhura having an Orion roommate, so maybe that isn't a change in the Abrams film, but just the way things always were. So, I guess I'm being nit-picky with that observation.

Remove those two things, and this was a fun series throwing these two sets of characters together. The interior art by Moy is very nice. And to further bump up the art scale, covers for the series were illustrated by Phil Jimenez and longtime Legion artist Mike Grell, among others.

All in all, this was a fun series making great use of the histories from both properties to craft a new tale well worth reading.

I'm Curious Enough To Stick With It

Saga 1-2
Image Comics
Brian K. Vaughan, writer
Fiona Staples, artist

The advance artwork for this series caught my eye; the description of what the series would be and Vaughan's name made me decide to give it a try. Both of those facts are somewhat off for different reasons.

I know Vaughan to be a popular writer and I have purchased a few books by him, but haven't actually read many of them yet. I bought and read the first trade collection for Y: The Last Man and liked it enough to want to buy the subsequent trades, but since the story was designed to have a definite end, I opted to wait to read any more until I had them all, and since just haven't made the time yet. I also bought Pride of Baghdad based on Vaughan's reputation and advance solicitation material, but have yet to read the graphic novel. So, I'm really just hoping I'll agree with other folks that he is a good writer.

As for the eye-catching art that first drew my attention, now that I've seen the first few installments of the monthly title, my reaction to the art is uneven. I very much like Staples' depictions of the main characters, Alana, Marko and Hazel. The other recurring characters we've seen so far are also drawn well and consistent, their features not fluctuating from panel to panel making them less than recognizable at times. Even the backgrounds and landscape panels are beautifully rendered. It's more some of the creatures and fantastical elements in Saga which can sometimes seem a tad uneven. Relative sizes fluctuate a bit or a gigantic creature just really doesn't look quite plausible, in some way. It's hard to describe, really. I don't hate the art at all, but sometimes it seems just a bit "off."

The plot so far hinges on a war between two species that has spread out across the known galaxy. Alana was a soldier on one side and Marko a soldier on the other. The two met when Marko was captured and Alana was assigned to be his jailer. Apparently, they fell in love and ran away from the fighting, or tried to. Despite being on the run, the pair has obviously gotten married somewhere along the way, and both factions in the war are trying to recapture the couple for treason. That's the back story.

The series opens with the introduction of Hazel, the child of Alana and Marko, who is born on the first few pages of the story. Moments after Hazel's birth, the new family is surrounded by some of Alana's former comrades. Obviously, they manage to escape or this would have been a very short-lived series, but before Alana, Marko and Hazel can obtain a ship and leave the planet they are on, they find themselves in the middle of the shifting front lines of battle and pursued by bounty hunters hired by Marko's people.

I immediately liked this couple and their newborn, and I'm curious where their story will take them. Maybe that's because my wife and I had our own first child just about a year ago. Whatever the reason, I'm definitely going to stick around for a while to see where Vaughan and Staples take things.

Exactly What I Expected -- Delightful!

Fairest 1-2
DC Vertigo
Bill Willingham, writer
Phil Jimenez, artist

I've read a number of underwhelming books in the past week. I'm not going to name-drop them here as that would serve no constructive purpose and there's more than enough animosity in our little hobby on the "Internets" anyway. I won't even say that any of these books were bad, as I did finish them all instead of dropping them unfinished in disgust. They just weren't as good as I'd hoped when, in some cases, I specifically sought out these particular story arcs and bought titles or issues I might not have otherwise purchased.

That wasn't the case for this newest offshoot from the Fables title by Willingham et al. In fact, although some time has passed, this story begins directly from events in the main Fables title.

The title, Fairest, refers to the beautifully illustrated women who populate the Fables stories from Snow White to Rose Red to Cinderella to Rapunzel to Belle to Briar Rose, to name just a few. In fact, Briar Rose -- Sleeping Beauty, if you don't already know -- is the central character in this first arc, but the story actually begins with a young man named Ali Baba, prince of thieves.

Ali finds himself in the middle of the charred ruins of the Adversary's former Imperial City, looking to loot anything of value left behind. What he finds is a bejeweled bottle that holds not a genie but a "lowly little bottle imp." The imp, it seems, doesn't possess a great deal of magic for granting wishes, but rather has the ability to secure knowledge: he "knows" things. The imp/comedy relief sidekick tells Ali that he only needs to awaken a sleeping princess to get the untold riches and wealth he craves.

For anyone not familiar with the main Fables book, a long-running story theme dealt with these Fable-folk being driven from their native magical lands by an Adversary who seized control of everything and created a vast empire. In a large war between the denizens of Fabletown and the Adversary, the true power behind the Emperor was captured and most of his minions were defeated. The plan included taking out much of the Imperial City with a sneak attack making use of Briar Rose's unique curse: She was smuggled into the city and put to sleep. As anyone who knows the story of Sleeping Beauty knows, once Briar Rose was put to sleep, everyone within the sphere of her curse's influence also fell asleep. Thus were many of the Adversary's most powerful lieutenants caught off-guard and removed from the battle.

So naturally, once Ali Baba finds the sleeping Briar Rose and awakens her with a kiss, she isn't the only one to wake up, and the trio (don't forget the bottle imp) must contend with some mighty annoyed villains, not least of which is the Ice Queen.

This book, like the main Fables title, is a fun read filled with exotic locales, high adventure, smart writing and let's don't forget gorgeous art. Rumor has it that this title will feature different art teams for each of its different story arcs. Who better to kick the series off than with two artists known for drawing beautiful women: Phil Jimenez on interiors and Adam Hughes on covers.

Kudos, gentlemen!

Don't Call Her Aquawoman

Aquaman 6
DC Comics
Geoff Johns, writer
Joe Prado and Ivan Reis, artists

This issue is a solo Mera story focusing on her activities while Aquaman had the solo adventure depicted in issue No. 5, and boy, was she busy. Mera steps out alone to get some dog food for the couple's new companion and finds herself immediately exposed to the dregs of humanity. First, she runs into a lecherous store manager. Then, that leads to a confrontation with the police who are both condescending and aggressive toward the former queen of Atlantis. While battling the officers who refused to listen to her explanations, Mera overhears a call for backup on their radios. She cleverly defuses her own situation and intervenes in a deadly domestic dispute, none of which redeems humanity in Mera's eyes. That moment comes when one person who witnessed the initial altercation between Mera and the store manager performs a simple act of kindness for Mera and offers a hand in friendship. The issue finishes up with Mera arriving back home shortly after Aquaman's return at the end of the previous issue, and the pair are set to investigate the mystery he uncovered in his own adventure.

Interspersed within the contemporary Mera story are some key flashback scenes to her DCnU history. As revealed in the earlier Brightest Day series, Mera's history has been subtly altered. She no longer came innocently from another dimension filled with water-dwelling inhabitants, but instead was sent here to kill Aquaman. She ultimately fell in love with the aquatic hero and betrayed her mission. These flashbacks reveal more of that back story and change in attitude.

All in all, a well-done, done-in-one tale well worth the time and cost. Kudos, gentlemen!

Shades Of Pufnstuf

Fables 114
DC Vertigo
Bill Willingham, writer
Mark Buckingham, artist

You have to be of a certain age and know who Sid and Marty Krofft are to "get" the header for this post, I imagine, but the main point is a young child is led astray by an evil boat in disguise.

I haven't talked much about Fables in this most recent tour of the blogosphere, but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying the book. Month-in and month-out, it is a joy to read, and I bow before Willingham and his illustrators for their creation of this universe. It's just a book I enjoy after this much time, though, and I don't often stop to think about why or try to put the enjoyment into words. I decided to give it a try with this issue, however, since it is the beginning of a new arc, and while Fables arcs tend to run far and wide of the main story most of the time, this one will center on the Wolf family, some of my favorite characters.

For those not familiar with this series, it involves any and all fairy tale and folklore characters you've ever heard of. They are all real and living in secret in our "mundane" world. Most have come to live among the "mundies," as they refer to normal humans, because of a fierce adversary who long ago drove most of them from their traditional homelands. That adversary was revealed and dealt with among many other tales in the first 100 issues of this series. The Wolf family sprang from the courtship and union of Bigby Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf, a werewolf descended from the North Wind, hence his prowess at blowing things down) and Snow White (her name is a little more readily recognizable). These two started off as co-workers in the Fabletown administration, but they didn't really like each other much. Their love story, a fan favorite of the series, evolved over time and has led to a litter of seven children -- three girls and four boys.

It's always fun to drop in on the Wolf family and see their adventures, especially with the addition of the children, six of whom inherited the ability to fly from their grandfather, the North Wind, and the ability to transform into wolf cubs from their father. These six -- Winter, Blossom, Therese, Connor, Ambrose and Dare -- all appear human most of the time. But what of the seventh, you ask? Ghost is aptly named as he is invisible, as all gusts of wind are. Their antics are always fun to read.

The current story arc beginning in this issue is titled Cubs in Toyland, so one can assume the destination the absconding boat has in mind for its passenger. And by the use of the plural form of "cub" in the title, one can further assume that the one child abducted will soon be joined by at least some of her siblings. But this introductory installment concerns itself with a toy boat cajoling young Therese to find some water in which they can play together. Once Therese finds some non-frozen water in the winter landscape near her home, however, the boat grows to a size which can carry her and sets off. Despite its new size, the boat itself still looks quite toy-like, but its reflection in the water looks much more sinister.

All of this happens against a backdrop of other snippets to keep other story lines advancing. For instance, Bigby and daughter Winter are not at home with the rest of the Wolf clan. Recently, the North Wind died and fate has decreed that one of Snow and Bigby's children is destined to be the new North Wind. While Ghost might seem an obvious choice, few people outside his family know of Ghost's existence, since he's invisible. It seems Winter is the one destined to be the new North Wind, as decided in a previous arc. Winter is being trained for her new role by her grandfather's servants, and Bigby has gone along to protect his daughter as she is only 9 years old. We also spend a few pages checking in with the majority of the denizens of Fabletown, who are trying to reclaim their secret neighborhood in the middle of New York City, an area that was recently lost to them in a battle with an entity know as Mr. Dark. If you've never read an issue, most of this background will mean very little, but this series has such wide appeal, I have little doubt most readers who find the basic premise even a tad interesting would enjoy catching up on the story through the various trade collections available.