Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, dc, fables, fairest, vertigo

Review: Fairest #7

Published Sun, 09 Sep 2012 12:00:16 -0500

Louis Falcetti writes for Bleeding Cool;

The most recent Fables spinoff, Fairest, has been until now a somewhat insular affair. It's not that it hasn't been good, not at all. From the Adam Hughes covers to the Phil Jiminez pencils in the first story arc, not to mention Willingham's always interesting, fun scripts, it's definitely been a worthwhile buy. A worthwhile buy, for Fables fans. I mean, obviously right? Nothing has happened within the title to really warrant too much noise from the world outside of that tight knit, dedicated fandom base. Nothing until Fairest #7.

Why is Fairest #7 something to take note of? For one thing, it's a script by Matt Sturges, who I can only imagine is filling in for Chris Roberson who left amid some hoopla months ago. Matt Sturges may just be doing a favor for friends, since fans will notice that since House of Mystery ended he's been notably absent from the weekly books. I talked to him last November at NYCC and he told me that he was pulling back from comics for awhile, wanting to concentrate more on an OGN and other non-comic projects. As a big fan of House of Mystery and Jack of Fables that news bummed me out. Then I see his name this week on the cover of Fairest. But that's not all. Who's he paired with?

Freakin' Shawn McManus. McManus has been providing simply stunning backup material for the main Fables book for a few months now, so seeing his name as an illustrator for the entire issue made me instantly giddy. McManus belongs to that class of comic artist with the emphasis on artist. He pencils, inks and colors this issue resulting in a beautiful, scary, sad book that actually has a huge reveal in it featuring one of Fabletown's more prominent characters.

Sturges writes an engaging slice of off-beat noir but it's McManus who really shines. He utilizes the same masterful characterization and control that made A Game of You arguably the most powerful and disturbing volume in Gaiman's Sandman. Fairest is done in black and white, but there's no such things as just black and white to an artist with McManus' range and abilities as the reader is treated to a variety of shades adding excellent depth and style. It's all black and white until someones throat gets ripped open, (hopefully) no one's mom said, but that's the way it is in this book for when something bleeds we see it and the contrast is striking.

The name of the issue is "Lamia" and for those not familiar with the mythological creature (if you were Supernatural fans you would be, tsk.) a Lamia is a woman who becomes a child-eating demon. There are many different versions of the myth and most of them sound like ancient sexism unveiling itself through over the top metaphors and horrific, serpent based ultraviolence. Believe that this story goes to some pretty dark places, but even a casual read of the wikipedia page for Lamia will show you much worse.

Nothing is black and white in the story, not the actual plot and certainly not the art. A powerful one-shot that will surely have repercussions in other Fables titles, Fairest #7 is an issue that all fans of comic art should purchase.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!