#710 = VOYEUR #2 by Leah Williams and David Baldeon (Ignition Press, October 2025) This would make a great crime/romance movie on one of the streaming channels.
Back Cover Synopsis: The Koi Kingfisher resort in Southeast Asia is a great place to steal away from the pressures of regular life.
It’s also a great place to steal.
When gallery owner Madeline arrives on the island the last thing she is expecting to do is meet an international art thief posing as a security guard - - but that’s what she finds when she tracks down the man who has been spying on her through the resort’s closed-circuit cameras. She’s the only one who knows Rook is not who he seems, but he also sees her differently than everyone else. Sparks soon fly, and a sexy adventure begins.”
Issue #1 spotlighted Rook. This issue turns the lens towards Madeline, whose business may not be entirely legitimate. She’s exposed Rook’s art theft maneuvers and expects part of the take for her silence. She’s cleary manipulating and teasing him, as she seems to be bisexual (while vacationing, she plans to scatter the ashes of her former lover).
David Balderon uses a lot of short, horizontal panels to illustrate the story. There are many very effective pages where Madeline is the stationary centerpiece and only the scenery around her changes. (As in preparing for travel, taking a taxi to the airport, then waiting to board the plane, and then in flight).
I thought VOYEUR might be the weakest title in a particularly strong opening line-up for Ignition Press; but this one has it’s claws in me as well. FOUR STARS.
#711-715 = FABLES, VOLUME ONE: LEGENDS IN EXILE by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina (10th Anniversary Edition, Vertigo Comics, 2012)
The premise of this series is highly imaginative and lends itself to a myriad of story-telling possibilities.
FABLES is an epic worthy of comparison to THE LORD OF THE RINGS. What if the characters from fairy tales, legends, and mythology were real and living in a place hidden from the rest of civilization? And, what if they were being forced to leave because of an invading force (the Adversary) that is spreading darkness across their realm?
So those who are able to maintain a human guise create an underground community, Fabletown, within New York City. Those non-human characters and animal characters move to The Farm in Upstate New York.
King Cole is the figurehead ruler of Fabletown, while all the work of management is being done by Snow White. The Big Bad Wolf, Bigby Wolf, is the sheriff/law enforcement. The first story arc is a police procedural/murder mystery with Bigby investigating the disappearance of Rose Red (Snow White's sister). The evidence is a trashed and bloody apartment, where the blood residue has been identified as belonging to her.
There are adult situations throughout Volume One, and none of these characters behave in typical fairy-tale whimsical fashion. They all face real-world challenges, conflicts, sex and violence. The art style is a perfect blend of whimsy and realism, very appealing and providing a level of comfort.
Snow White is independent and assertive, and resents references to her prior life with the Seven Dwarves. Rose Red is more of the carefree, rebellious little sister. Bigby is a chain-smoking workaholic who has to control the ferocious wolf inside him. Jack (of Beanstalk fame) is a rogue.
Beauty and the Beast are in need of marriage counseling. Beast appears human, but his horns and fangs begin to show anytime they argue, putting his ability to blend in alongside everyday New Yorkers at risk. Prince Charming is faux royalty, a womanizer and a con man. The other womanizer who likes to murder after marriage is Bluebeard, who has his sights set on Cinderella. He had a brief engagement to Rose Red, which makes him one of several suspects in the alleged murder.
Pinocchio, who was turned into a real boy by the Blue Fairy, is miserable. As he puts it: "But who knew I'd have to stay a boy forever? That ditzy bitch interpreted my wish too literally . . . I'm over three centuries old and I still haven't gone through puberty . . . I want to grow up, I want my balls to drop, and I want to get laid."
The final chapter is a classic "parlor room" scene, where Bigby uses the occasion of the annual Remembrance Ball to gather all the suspects in the same room and reveal who the murderer is.
A great beginning. I'm excited to see what other directions the story goes in future volumes. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#716-#720 = FABLES, VOLUME TWO: ANIMAL FARM by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics, 2003 - Twelfth Printing)
The second story arc in the Fables series is not as light-hearted as the first volume. This tale of the non-human and animals living on The Farm staging a revolt against Fabletown is violent, even brutal in places, and puts characters in enough peril to cause me to worry for them.
Just when I think Willingham may not want to break the mood/atmosphere of this series and kill some characters - - he goes ahead and does just that. (At least they weren't the ones I was worried about). That serves as a notice that just because this is a series about some beloved characters from fairy tales, fantasy, and mythology - - it doesn't mean that any type of story is off limits.
Snow White and sister Red Rose leave Fabletown and head upstate to The Farm for an inspection/review that also serves as an opportunity for the often-at-odds sisters to bond together.
That doesn't work out too well, as Rose ends up sympathizing with the insurrectionist movement.
The Farm was set up as a sanctuary for those Fables who are unable to disguise their appearance either due to size, deformities, or just plain being talking animals. I loved the introduction of some familiar characters from Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. After remaining hidden from the view of the regular word and years and years of isolation, the inhabitants of The Farm revolt, led by the ruthless Goldilocks and The Three Little Pigs.
Snow White stumbles across the plan and then finds herself a captive. The story details how she escapes and manages to stage a counter-attack. Great character development and some interesting secondary characters get the spotlight as well.
Mark Buckingham takes over on art chores with this second story arc, and has a long run with the series. His art is similar to Lan Medina's work on the prior volume, and adds more expressiveness and even more detailed backgrounds to the same blend of whimsical and realistic. FOUR STARS.
#721-#724 = CRYPTOLOGY #6 magazine (TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2025) For their sixth issue, CRYPTLOLOGY produces a theme issue focusing on zombies in comics and film. It’s the absolute best issue of this magazine so far. If you’re a fan of horror comics, horror films and love to know the background and history of some famous, infamous, as well as lesser-known works you should be reading this magazine.
This is a professional production on glossy paper. Every article is heavily researched and goes beyond the superficial details to get to the heart of the matter. The contributing writers are extremely knowledgeable and have a love for the genre that shows through. Writer/Editor Peter always writes an engaging article, and his collection of horror comics from the 1950’s (pre-code era) must be massive.
The highlight this issue is an extensive article on the zombie art of the late great Bernie Wrightson, with plenty of examples. There are ten extensive articles on zombies in film and radio; and six stories regarding excessive horror comics and zombies in comics. FIVE STARS.
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