GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Fables, Vol 15: Rose Red
Title: Fables, Vol 15: Rose Red
Author: Bill Willingham
Illustrators: Mark Buckingham
Series: Fables (Vol 15)
The following review has spoilers for previous volumes in the Fables series. Any spoilers for Rose Red are placed under a cut.
Ever since the death of Boy Blue, Rose Red has wallowed in depression, neglecting everything from basic hygiene to her duties as head of the farm. Her time in isolation is filled with hallucinations, beginning with the severed head of one of the three little pigs, and eventually moving to her mother. When she sees the image of her mother, Rose Red begins to think back on her childhood with Snow White, and her deepest regrets of early adulthood. Meanwhile, Frau Totenkinder has drawn all of her strength together for one epic battle with Mr. Dark. Will the powers of one witch be able to take down such an unstoppable force?
I'm impressed. Despite being at its fifteenth volume with Rose Red, Fables has delivered one of its strongest collections. The graphic novel is worth reading for the first arc alone, which focuses Rose Red's back story. This is is an example of Fables at it's most fairy tale-like, as the beginning of Rose and Snow's story is very much a straightforward retelling of "Snow White and Rose Red." The deeper we get into the story, the darker it becomes, resulting in tragedy for both sisters. This arc is an great example of how Fables does such a good job of handling female characters, a task that the more mainstream titles often struggle with. Rose is a wonderfully flawed character. Yes, she has made terrible mistakes, but you can't help but see where she's coming from and feel sorry for her for it.
Another example of Fable's awesome female characters can be found in “Single Combat." This massive hundredth issue of the series focuses on Frau Totenkinder's epic battle with Mr. Dark. This is a truly great issue, starting with the tense build up in the first pages, and continuing to its shocking conclusion. It's impossible not read "Single Combat" and not wonder where the series will go next.
Final Thoughts: If you're already this far in the Fables series, there's really no reason not to continue further. Rose Red, the fifteenth volume in the graphic novel series, really hits all of the right notes. The storyarc focused on Rose Red is a great example of compelling characterization and storytelling, while “Single Combat" has fantastic suspense and action. This is a volume not to be missed. Five Stars
Author: Bill Willingham
Illustrators: Mark Buckingham
Series: Fables (Vol 15)
The following review has spoilers for previous volumes in the Fables series. Any spoilers for Rose Red are placed under a cut.
Ever since the death of Boy Blue, Rose Red has wallowed in depression, neglecting everything from basic hygiene to her duties as head of the farm. Her time in isolation is filled with hallucinations, beginning with the severed head of one of the three little pigs, and eventually moving to her mother. When she sees the image of her mother, Rose Red begins to think back on her childhood with Snow White, and her deepest regrets of early adulthood. Meanwhile, Frau Totenkinder has drawn all of her strength together for one epic battle with Mr. Dark. Will the powers of one witch be able to take down such an unstoppable force?
I'm impressed. Despite being at its fifteenth volume with Rose Red, Fables has delivered one of its strongest collections. The graphic novel is worth reading for the first arc alone, which focuses Rose Red's back story. This is is an example of Fables at it's most fairy tale-like, as the beginning of Rose and Snow's story is very much a straightforward retelling of "Snow White and Rose Red." The deeper we get into the story, the darker it becomes, resulting in tragedy for both sisters. This arc is an great example of how Fables does such a good job of handling female characters, a task that the more mainstream titles often struggle with. Rose is a wonderfully flawed character. Yes, she has made terrible mistakes, but you can't help but see where she's coming from and feel sorry for her for it.
Another example of Fable's awesome female characters can be found in “Single Combat." This massive hundredth issue of the series focuses on Frau Totenkinder's epic battle with Mr. Dark. This is a truly great issue, starting with the tense build up in the first pages, and continuing to its shocking conclusion. It's impossible not read "Single Combat" and not wonder where the series will go next.
Final Thoughts: If you're already this far in the Fables series, there's really no reason not to continue further. Rose Red, the fifteenth volume in the graphic novel series, really hits all of the right notes. The storyarc focused on Rose Red is a great example of compelling characterization and storytelling, while “Single Combat" has fantastic suspense and action. This is a volume not to be missed. Five Stars