Fables vol. 14: Witches

While we’re on the subject of series that have maintained a consistently high standard of quality throughout their run, let’s talk about the latest volume of “Fables.”  With the utter destruction of all reality averted in “The Great Fables Crossover” and the various cast members returned to their proper books, we now return to the matter of Mr. Dark’s occupation of Fabletown.  Though he is seemingly all-powerful and indestructible, the volume kicks off with the story of the people who managed to imprison him the first time around — a thread that will pop up again later on in the volume.  However, as the title implies, the main arc featured here focuses on the magic-using contingent of the cast and their various machinations.  From Frau Totenkinder’s solemn preparations to take out Mr. Dark before she leaves this world, to Ozma’s political maneuvering to make sure she’s Totenkinder’s proper successor, and Baba Yaga’s efforts to get out of  her new prison, the ladies clearly have a lot on their plate.

There are lots of seemingly impossible and/or unwinnable situations and moral conundrums set up in this volume — including the efforts of winged monkey Bufkin and the head of Franenstein’s monster to defeat both Baba Yaga and an all-powerful djinn — but writer Bill Willingham resolves them with ease and style.  You can’t help but be impressed with the straightforwardness of Bufkins re-bottling of the djinn.  As for the other stories — the boxing of Mr. Dark and the trial of Mr. Brump in Flycatcher’s kingdom — their resolutions are given added weight by amount of sacrifice in the former and the stakes contained in the latter.  All of the stories also feature great art from series mainstay Mark Buckingham, appropriately creepy art from Jim Fern, and impressively detailed art from David Lapham.  It’s another good volume in a series that continues to be worth your time and money.