“I’m going to fall in love today.” That’s not the sort of thing you tell yourself every morning… Your Major Spoilers review of Everafter: From The Pages Of Fables #9 awaits!
EVERAFTER: FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES #9
Writer: Dave Justus & Lilah Sturges
Arist: Travis Moore
Colorist: Michael Wiggam
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editor: Ellie Pyle
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Everafter: “Tension prevails and emotions flare as the Shadow Players monitor the hostage situation at Plano South Senior High. With options dwindling, Bobby Speckland intervenes with a message for the young captors. Across town, Tanner locks horns with Bo and Connor at the height of their breakneck escape from some vindictive giants of Texas folklore-who are hot on their heels with an arsenal of weaponized livestock.”
OVERRUN BY FABLES
This issue begins with a prediction, followed quickly by the arrival of Bobby Speckaland, a young “mundy” who gained magical powers in the wake of the unleashing of Fable magic. He has come to investigate a disturbance at Plano High School, where he successfully infiltrates, moments before the Plano Goat Man attacks with a herd of mostly beheaded livestock. A frenzied motorcycle chase ensues, while animate scarecrow Feathertop tries to figure out what exactly is happening. Thanks to a character who can only be described as a cartoon frog, everything gets put together, just in time for Connor Wolf (the son of Bigby and Snow White, I believe) to discover a coded message from Bobby indicating that, while he has been inside for a couple of hours, from his perspective it has been sixteen years…
A LOT OF THE SAME CHARM
The thing about Fables that was both charm and curse was the intricacy of the storylines and the sheer number of characters in play, something that Everafter shares with it’s precursor. On the one hand, I really enjoyed getting thrown into such an exciting story, and the basic structures and character archetypes are clear, but on the other, I want to know more about everyone in this issue. (That’s probably a selling point, as I’ve already put the first 8 issues in my cart at my digital comics retailers.) Travis Moore’s art is fascinating throughout the issue, rendering quiet conversations with Bo Peep and high-speed motorcycle chases with equal skill, and the final page reveal is wonderfully expressive work. The greatest part of the issue is the first page, which guarantees that I’ll be picking up the next issue based on its simple beauty and the strength of the presentation and facial expressions.
THE BOTTOM LINE: GOTTA FIND THE PREVIOUS EIGHT NOW
In short, Everafter: From The Pages Of Fables #8 is a strong individual issue, one that immediately convinced me to pick up the previous issues to find out more about this world and its characters, dealing out awesome visuals, strong character moments and a truly fascinating hook for a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars overall. If you were into ‘Fables’…
Actually, you’re probably already reading this comic if you were into ‘Fables’, but nonetheless, you should check it out.
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Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.