This issue features Rose Red finally coming out of her depression and reclaiming authority over the farm. It’s full of moments that illustrate everything that’s always been great about her character but was missing – intentionally – for far too long. Most of the issue deals with her trying to put the chaos that the farm’s become into some kind of order, but meanwhile, another important Fable is on her way home to defeat the Dark Man in single combat!
We’re two issues away from #100, and it feels like it. The tension has been ratcheted up and the disparate plot threads from the past two years seem to be tying together neatly. And it doesn’t hurt that we get great character moments from Rose Red, Snow White, and Bigby. These three have become an unlikely family over the last 98 issues, and it’s nice to see them acting that way again.
It almost goes without saying – and it shouldn’t! – that Mark Buckingham’s art is as good as it’s ever been. It just wouldn’t be Fables without the unique look he brings to the book. And the cover by Joao Ruas is phenomenal. It’s nice to see that James Jean’s departure from Fables hasn’t stopped the series from putting out the most consistently exceptional covers on the stands.