Fables 17: Inherit the Wind

**This review contains spoilers**I found the seventeenth volume of the Fables series to be a fascinating entry to the series. I loved all of the new plot lines that have come up in the trade. The cubs inheriting the North Wind's Kingship was an interesting storyline, as is the prophecy Ozma told little Ambrose. One thing that bothered me was not hearing anything about Ghost regarding the prophecy or the contest for the heir to the North Wind's title. I know he's a secret to everyone but Snow, Bigby, and his siblings but surely THEY would have mentioned him, and how does he feel about all of this? We know what all of his siblings think but not Ghost yet. I'm not naive enough to think that it won't come up later in this storyline BUT it'd be nice to hear him get acknowledged in this Cub-centric arc.The storyline with Bufkin in Oz is also really fun, he and his crew of friends grew on me fast. I was afraid at first that I'd think of Bufkin's adventures as the B-plot but it actually managed to keep my attention just as much as the other stories.I'm really enjoying the parts with Mrs. Spratt shedding her old image (and a lot of weight) and wanting revenge on the Fables she grew to resent is an inspired idea. I cannot say how much I love that new plotline! I always just thought of Mrs. Spratt as being a background character who was only as hateful as she was because she was just a miserable person (or the fact that she was a widow after Ghost accidentally killed her husband) but seeing what she had to go through being one of the few unattractive fable women among plenty of gorgeous ones who are more well known and regarded highly for their beauty in the stories they hail from, yeah, I see why she treated people the way she did in the past. It had to have been rough on her. I was really looking forward to reading more about what she plans to do after the last TPB, but here there was really not much of anything advanced in regards to her story, just a little bait to keep us all intrigued. It's good but I'd have liked to have learned more.One of my favorite parts in this TPB would have to be Rose Red becoming a paladin of hope. I really loved how Willingham used the stories of The Little Match Girl, the Goose Girl (The False Bride), and Santa Claus. I'm really impressed that he picked such good characters for the agents of hope. I guess I should point out that it does bug me a little that The False Bride made it sound as if in her story that her punishment (being put in a barrel with iron nails in it and then having the barrel rolled down the cobbles, killing her) was done just as a regular punishment... but in the actual story she was asked what punishment was deserving for what she did to the true bride. She said that such a person deserved nothing less than being killed in that manner. So she set HER OWN punishment. I thought if Bill Willingham had her say that part it would have added a greater level to her being the Spirit of Hope for Revenge.Other than that plotline, we get a bit more side stories involving the lustful Porky Pine the porcupine who is horny for human women. I'm pretty sure he showed up in some other arc but it's interesting to see how he gained the unusual fetish he has. Also an interesting side story involving a powerful sorcerer Abra Kadabara who has been the unspoken reason the Adversary's forces hadn't struck in Fabletown (until he is killed by Dorothy in a tie-in to the 2nd Cinderella miniseries). Fascinating stuff! Also there's a pretty fantastic backstory of the turtle with the cup on its shell from the background of the Rose Red trade.Suspense seems to be the theme with this volume. As other reviewers have pointed out Bill Willingham has really been setting many new and interesting twists in the Fables universe. Like a lot of the other reviewers on here, I do also wish that he would give some stories proper resolution before doing so many, but having been a Fables fan since I was 13 (way back when the first trades came out) I can already tell that when he resolves each of these, he's going to make them amaze his readers.The art is fantastic in this trade by the way. As always Mark Buckingham is phenomenal. He just keeps getting better and better, I adore the way he draws his characters and the expressiveness in his drawings has been even more pronounced now. The guest artists do a fantastic job as well. I always love when P. Craig Russell lens his art to a Fables story.All together I'd highly recommend this trade. It's a great continuation of current story arcs and has a lot of crucial suspense building moments that will leave the reader begging for more.

Since its inception back in 2002, Bill Willingham's Fables has captivated readers with its sharp, imaginative writing, implausible but believable plots (if that makes any sense), and truly multifaceted, fascinating characters. The basic premise, of course, is brilliant--take the famous fairy tale and fable figures of yore and set them inside the "real" world, where they live, roam, and otherwise behave like regular human beings, unless, of course, circumstances dictate otherwise. And with outside dangers and peril always afoot, circumstances often do.This latest volume, Inherit the Wind, continues Willingham's complicated yarn, with the focus now set on which of Snow White and Bigby's seven cubs will become the new North Wind. Bufkin's ongoing adventures in Oz also continue to unfold, as does Miss Sprat's evil plan to exact revenge on the Fable community. Unfortunately, each tale crawls at lethargic speed, and almost smacks of being filler in parts. Only a foreboding prophesy involving the cubs, and the North Wind's eventual selection, redeem the rather uneventful plot.Surprisingly, the final two chapters fare better, despite having only a cursory connection to the other storylines. The first follows Rose Red on Christmas Eve as she learns the true meaning of hope, providing a quintessential Fables tale full of philosophical musings, tantalizing questions, and heartfelt sentimentality. The second is a collection of whimsical short stories of varying quality, but each is entertaining in its own right and one even provides a hint or two of what awaits the Fable people in the future.As for the art, Mark Buckingham's pencil work is merely adequate here, feeling uncharacteristically rushed in parts. A notable exception is Rose Red's story in chapter five, which features the sharp, lush illustrations for which he's famous. The final chapter also features solid work by a number of guest artists, but the final piece by Adam Hughes is easily the most striking, with his depictions of Bellflower (and a voluptuous farm girl) being absolutely stunning.Ultimately, Inherit the Wind feels more like a middling prelude to what one hopes will be a weightier story in the next installment. Readers will probably enjoy what's here, but like eating an appetizer, will still hunger for the main course. Let's hope the next one delivers.

It is possible I am simply starting to lose interest in this series, but this volume seemed to slow down significantly from the previous few. The main storyline in INHERIT THE WIND was one that I was excited about and really expected to enjoy, but the book as a whole just sort of seemed to wander aimlessly from topic to topic. All of the primary stories (Snow and Bigby's cubs being tested for taking over for the North Wind, Red Rose's trials as she takes on a new role, and Bufkin's ill-fated adventures in Oz) take place in very magical-seeming settings, emphasizing the fantasy aspects of Fables, but moving away from the old mundane-world focus of some of the earlier series entries. I think this detracts from what the series set out to do, imaging magical creatures and peoples living in our real-life modern world, which was what attracted so many to the series. I am still excited about seeing this venture through, and will definitely be reading any future volumes. Still highly recommended as an artistic and thoughtful graphic novel series.

Pretty good story, but it seemed short by comparison to some of the past volumes. I did enjoy it though.

I've been reading Fables for about five years now, and that has given me some perspective. This volume is stronger than the low point of the Great Fables Crossover (which almost made me quit reading Fables all together) and volumes five and seven. It is not as good as number ten. It is squarely in the middle good but not great. I think the development of the cubs is interesting and I appreciate the return of certain old friends, I also like the development of Spratt. I just feel like this volume is designed to set-up further installments. That being said, I can't wait to see where it goes.

This is a brief volume with a main story concerning the choosing of the new North Wind, a Christmas one-shot about Rose Red and a series of mini stories. At first sight these mini stories seem to be the weak link but peer closer and you see they do subtly weave into the main plot.The art is good as always but seems to have a bit more polish. Brighter colours and more detail on the faces seems to be the order of the day. The Mini stories also get to showcase new artists and styles.Not the greatest book in the series but still an integral part and a Thumbs Up!

Working my way through the series - different tone from Neil Gaiman who set the scene but never the less what an imagination

fab

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.The main story being told in this issue is the titular story in which an heir to the North Wind must be found. This becomes the beginning of a new story arc that will carry over now in which the cubs will feature more as main characters. Throughout this story there are also various sideline stories as well: one of major note follows Bufkin in the new land of Oz carrying over from last volume and is proving interesting. Also of smaller note both Rose Red and Miss Sprat have their own storyline as well. This arc leads us to many new beginnings (since much was wrapped up last volume). Not a lot really happens though, not much excitement or reveals but storywise things are being set up for the new story arcs. After this main portion of the book we are treated to two smaller stories. The first is a Christmas issue which takes Rose Red out in search of finding Hope in a cross of Dickens' A Christmas Carol and The Cricket on the Hearth. Finally, the end section is a series of small vignettes which tell tales from "In those days" back to the times before or during the rule of the Adversary. Most of these have nothing to do with the overall story arc, but they do tell interesting little tidbits of background information and there are a couple which hint at what is in store for a couple of characters further down the line. Overall a passable issue, but nothing really happens, except for finding the heir to North Wind, as this is otherwise a set-up issue for the new paths the story will be taking.

C'è poco da fare, la serie è sempre ad altissimi livelli, anche questo numero è una corsa costante contro l'ignoto e i "nemici", mai un attimo di tregua per Fabletown. Mi è piaciuto, me lo sono goduto, non vedo l'ora di avere il tempo di leggere gli altri volumi!