Review: Camelot (Fables 20) by Bill Willingham

Camelot, volume 20 of Bill Willingham's Fables series, set us up for the grand finale of the entire story arc and the Fable characters' ultimate quest of good over evil. Although this volume has a transitional feel, the plot lines and character development all move forward, hinting at what's to come.

Rose Red: The main focus of  Camelot is on Rose Red's embracing of the mantel of hope and her resurrection of the Arthurian round table, with new knights who have new causes. The foundational ideal is second chances, which has the unfortunate side effect of causing a rift between Rose and her sister, Snow White.

The Wolf family: The Wolfs must cope with their various crises, and some of the best scenes of the book involve one or the other of this family. As in Snow White (which I reviewed yesterday), these are still emotional and changing times for the family.

Geppetto: In a short piece about the Geppetto, we learn that the old woodcarver still has a few tricks up his sleeve. We'll have to wait to see if he uses them for good or ill.

Camelot art and general thoughts: The artist for the majority of volume 20 is Mark Buckingham, who really excelled here, particularly in the panels that depicted the after/next life. Super work. Although this volume acts as a bridge to the end of the series, it returns to the classic Willingham humor and epic storytelling. If you've made it this far into Fables, you'll want to read this volume carefully, so you'll be ready for the end. This isn't my favorite Fables volume, but I think it's an important installment.

Final story: Camelot ends with a two-part story called "The Boys in the Band." The members of Boy Blue's old band take it on the road, ending up in an alternative Scotland, where they have some action-packed adventures. The story is drawn by Steve Leialoha, who took a somewhat minimalist approach. The darkly inked panels work well for the tale, which hints at some of what's to come in the final two Fables volumes.

published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2014
ISBN-13: 9781401245160
Source: Bought (see review policy)
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