Truly Very Pretty To Look At And Fun To Read, Too

Fairest In All The Land hardcover
DC Vertigo
Bill Willingham, writer
Many, too many artists to list them all

If I didn't already know Bill Willingham was winding down his Fables universe of titles, this beautiful volume might make me suspect. It presents an engaging mystery story, just like the very first volume of Fables did way back in 2002. It also takes readers on a quick tour through the various Fables realms and touches on a number of the characters from the series, especially ones who have appeared in this spin-off title, tying up some loose ends along the way.

The point of a stand-alone story such as this one is to be accessible to new readers unfamiliar with the long history Willingham has crafted for these characters, hopefully enticing them to buy other volumes in the series. Willingham does a good job of telling any new readers the significant background on characters, enough so at least that I suspect someone new to the franchise certainly could follow the story. But there is so much a reader unfamiliar with the Fables universe would miss, it almost seems sad for a new reader to pick up this volume.

This story is set firmly among the current events in the Fables and Fairest shared universe, and is narrated by the Magic Mirror. The Mirror and the other various inhabitants of Fabletown's former business office have been cut off since the destruction of the building that linked them in time and space to the rest of the Fables characters. They are trapped physically, confined to their single expansive room, but through the Mirror, the inhabitants of the business office can peek in on happenings elsewhere.

In doing so, they witness the murders of a number of prominent Fables citizens back home in New York and watch as the survivors try to solve the mystery before anyone else dies. Cinderella, Fabletown's super spy, is enlisted by his honor, King Cole, to lead the investigation, much to her consternation. And the business office denizens try to assist using their own magical abilities where possible.

The hardcover includes an introductory and a concluding chapter, both illustrated prose. In between are more traditional comic panels, each scene being illustrated by a different highly talented artist, 31 of them in all. With that many artists, any comics fan should be able to find something visual to appreciate within these covers, and as stated above, the narrative is a delight to read.