Hard to believe Bill Willingham’s FABLES has been around long enough to already merit a seventh trade paperback collection, but here it is nonetheless, in the form of FABLES: ARABIAN NIGHTS (AND DAYS).
Four of the six consecutive issues from the acclaimed, award-winning Vertigo series within comprise the ARABIAN NIGHTS story arc, with the New York headquarters of the Fables (those classic storybook characters living, breathing and hiding in our modern-day world) visited by their Arab emissary, the esteemed Sinbad. The strapping young sailor takes a shine to the American Fables’ way of life, which upsets his slave-loving sidekick, who unleashes a djinn to slaughter all his enemies, thus placing him in total power.
Meanwhile, Prince Charming – Fabletown’s reigning mayor – makes a move for Deputy Mayor Beauty, and it’s probably for the best that her husband – Sheriff Beast – doesn’t find out. Yet.
Those who have never read FABLES may think it all sounds childish. It’s not. And here’s a glimpse as to why: The other two issues tell the story of two of Gepetto’s wooden puppet creations, Rodney and June. They fall in love and want to be made human so they can express their love carnally, which doesn’t go over well with Rodney’s peers: “Do you know what meat does? They shove dead animal and plant matter into one hole and shit runny, stinky, disgusting, worm-infested dung out of another! Several times each day!”
Just when it seems that this story stands alone from the regular FABLES characters, it takes a rather unsuspected turn that I hope plays out in future issues. Since the level of quality from issue to issue is about as solid as today’s comics come, I look forward to them all. –Rod Lott
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OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• FABLES: HOMELAND
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