Whenever a mini or series that we didn’t particularly enjoy, ends, my coworkers and I put up a sign that says “Great jumping off point!”  In the case of this week’s Avengers/Invaders, we may have made a sign that said “Avengers/Invaders 12: Who lives?  Who dies? Who cares?  Celebrate a great jumping off point in the Avengers/Invaders title, particularly if you’re near a bridge.”

I didn’t particularly enjoy this series.  But, unlike Avengers/Invaders (I’m not reading or reviewing it, so I’ve got to put my shots in somewhere), I don’t think The Great Fables Crossover is a terrible comic.  It’s just not for me.  It’s very much Metafiction.  And if you like writing that references itself being written, you’ll probably like this.  And if you’re a huge Fables fan, there’s a good chance you’ll like this.  But the crossover is, well, over, for now, and you’ve likely already made up your mind, if you’ve read it.

If you didn’t read the series, and are eagerly awaiting the trade paperback (due out February 9, 2010), know this: you can safely skip this trade paperback, and not miss any cool stories about the new Big Bad in the Fableverse.  What you miss out on is seeing Bill Willingham talk to the readers about his post-Fable War writing process via his comic.  While he doesn’t Grant Morrison himself into the story, I would be shocked to hear him say that Kevin Thorn isn’t supposed to be a representation of what he went through as a writer, after he’d completed his intended story, and had to decide how best to continue it, or if he should continue it at all.   Did he make his dialogue with himself interesting enough to justify it being in the pages of his comic?  Yes.  His side story of Jack Frost (and, to a lesser extent Jack Horner) was entertaining enough to distract me from the main story, which I didn’t like.  But I didn’t like it because I’ve read a lot of metafiction, and it bores me.  But, as metafiction goes, it was presented well.  And Willingham has a great ear/pen for how his characters speak, which is a big plus.

Art-wise, Buckingham has been a rock for this title.  His interiors have nearly always been a perfect compliment to Willingham’s writing.  I’m also really pleased with the covers he has made.  Jean left massive combat boots to fill as a cover artist.  And while Buckinghan’s shit kickers are a different size and brand, he certainly wears them as well as James Jean wore his.  I could see myself buying this cover as art. hanging it somewhere in my room.

Not near the bed.