In which we have the first Fables reality volume not written by Bill Willingham; In which we get to see a lot more of the superb Fables' Rapunzel; In which we get a first look at the Japanese Fables; In which we get yet more sneaky sneaky Totenkinder scheming. Superbly rendered by Inaki Miranda portraying and merging Japan of the past and the ultra modern present; and the Western blond paleness of Rapunzel with Japanese colour, fashion and textiles. Very much an image led volume although the Jap...

Rapunzel reveals her backstory of her travels into the Hidden Kingdom and how she created friendships but also enemies. When news reaches her that her children may still be alive she travels to Asia with some allies to find them.Artwork was very good on average. OVERALL GRADE: B plus.

Rapunzel fights dirt. In a boxing ring, my money is on her.Once again, the series changed the Disney image I had of a princess. This time Rapunzel isn't only a survivor, but an entrepreneur who sells hair extensions for a living. But behind that peaceful exterior, Rapunzel suffers. Her newborn babies were stolen from her and she cannot miss an opportunity to find them, even if it means risky her life. The action was fast-paced, introducing a change of scenery as we traveled with her to Japan. Wh...

As expected, this doesn't nearly enough reach the quality of the main series. Altough Fairest #1-7 on the first tpb was a decent Briar Rose story, on the second one "The Hidden Kingdom" the lack of talent narrative is evident and Willingham's style of story-telling is missed. And I was so hyped for the moment Japanese myths and legends would be implemented in the universe, although not in so poor a manner. Seems like a waste Japan was used so offhandedly when it could produce at least 2-3 main a...

The art gets 5 stars. The story, though, just isn't my cuppa' tea.Donated to me by a friend. Since I haven't read other parts of "Fairest" or "Fables", I'm sure I missed some stuff. Also I didn't understand many of the references to things from Japanese culture.

3.5 starsLauren Beukes takes over for Willingham and it shows a bit.And while this one wasn't quite as good as the first volume, but it was still a really interesting look at a character that (as of yet) hasn't played much of a part in the main Fables story.Rapunzel goes to Tokyo to find her lost children and we get a story of her lost years.You do find out a bit about her new origin story and how she came to be in the tower. Also, that there's a tie between her and Frau Totenkinder that was int...

I find these volumes in the Fables world to be some great storytelling. This story has been developing for long story now and it's still so good and so interesting. The story keeps adding new characters and developments that make sense and aren't so ridiculous. Thinking about fairy tales, fables and nursery rhymes, there are infinite amounts of stories and characters out there and it really makes for a rich world. It somehow feels so natural and normal in the story telling. The team behind this

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. News of "Fairest" had me excited. I thought that having a new perspective on the Fables from different writers was going to be exactly what their world needed. Then the first issues hit and it was Willingham on the writing chores. Damnit. A few issues later and a different arc and aha! We got it. Lauren Beukes. This is what I'd hoped this series would become, would be. An edgy, surreal and bold take on the histories of the women of Fabletown.

Now this was much better than the previous volume of "Fairest". Still a lot of male characters around that seem to only be there to assert a male presence (I'm not saying that this spin-off should be all-female, just that being "about the women of Fables" should not translate into "about the women of Fables as seen/told by the men". Which is exactly what the "bonus" issue does, mind you.Other problem I had : I was really happy that Rapunzel (view spoiler)[turned out bisexual (hide spoiler)], I j...

Once again, Bill Willingham and company have created a fresh spin on a fairy tale. And he takes Rapunzel to a very adult and at times disturbing journey to the Land of the Rising Sun. Rapunzel has been looking for her children for many, many years. Even though she was forced to forget them, she never really does. That was a poignant note in this story. An interesting touch was that Rapunzel's hair grows continually, and she experiences very rapid growth spurts of her hair under strong emotion. Y...

This was a good story and good art in the tradition of the Fables series (where it spins off from), but I found it somewhat incomprehensible at points. Perhaps it was the tie-ins to Japanese folklore (of which I am ignorant) or asides to build plot, or rapid shifts into and out of flashbacks, but I was lost at several points, and I know this tale could have been so much better with a little more inclusiveness for the audience (a skill at which Mr. Willingham excels, without talking down).Not eno...

So, I really wish they would stop making excuses to bring Jack back. No more flashbacks, he's dead, move on. Also, aside from the covers, subpar drawing, but that's nothing to the stupid story. Japan and Rapunzel, with tons of characters you didn't care about or even know the name of. Felt kind of like a weird Japanese horror film/7 samurai mashup with lesbians, because, why not just make Rapunzel a lesbian... the only redeeming factor was the little final story with Renard Fox. Aside from that,...

That was a creepy mess.

The Hidden Kingdom was quite good. I am always a fan of any story, fantasy or sci-fi, that can create an interesting world. The story of a second group of Fables who fled to Tokyo and set up their own version of Fabletown was different.The Rapunzel aspect of the story was certainly different. The cast of characters, heavily influenced by Japanese lore, and their relationships are told in a past and present narrative. Without being spoilery, Rapunzel finds out that her twin children are alive. Sh...

This 2nd installment of 'Fairest', a spin-off from 'Fables', gives us some history on Rapunzel. She of the hair has more of a past - and more skeletons in her closet - than you might expect.I like the concept of this series - to give us some backstory of the ladies fair that we don't get in the main series because they aren't really part of the larger arc, per se, though there's a part of me which wonders why the ladies story can't be fit into the wider world and why they need to be shunted to t...

Oh-ho, look what jumped up into my hands just a week after finishing Fairest, Vol. 1: Wide Awake! I'm unexpectedly up-to-date with the graphic novels, $15 short on my rent, and very excited about how much I enjoyed Fairest, Vol. 2: Hidden Kingdom.The heroine of this volume is Rapunzel, or - if you're an aficionado of Japanese rather than European folktales - Okiku, the doomed servant of the Banchou Sarayashiki (The Dish Mansion of Banchou). Lauren Beukes, who wrote this installment, did a clever...

I read interview of Lauren Beukes and got immediately interested in her work. Started reading one of her shortstories and was completely sold after few pages (she reminds me of William Gibson in a very good way). Since I heard she also writes comicbooks I just had to pick up "Fairest". So Lauren Beukes (writer of vol.2) was the reason I started from vol.1 which was quite a disappointment.Good thing that vol.2 "The Hidden Kingdom" is very much better storywise than vol.1 "Wide Awake".Story is abo...

Fun setting, highly entertaining and surprising take on a character that is hindered a bit by bad pacing at the tail end (intended spelling) of the tale.Rapunzel has always been one of those background characters in fables that I wished had more story time, well my prayers are answered and this tale is all Rapunzel. It is both interesting and at the same time frustrating due to the setting, pacing and the story:World: It's Japan, Rapunzel went to Japan? Apparently so, and for the most part the b...

The story was good and the art by Inaki Miranda was great. Miranda got the familiar characters like Frau Tottenkinder exactly right, something no other guest artist has done. And the other art is fantastic, it's a real pleasure to see all of the detailed and gorgeous panels. The little story at the end was fine, it wouldn't have mattered to me if it wasn't there, but it was kind of cute with a dark twist at the end. I'm seriously not into the covers though. I am not now or will ever be a fan of

I thought this volume was a lot stronger than Fairest, Vol 1: Wide Awake but it was still lacking something. I liked the characters and their motivations but I was expecting more. I think part of the problem is that each story/character is contained to ONE graphic novel and there isn't as much time to expand upon a story line as I would like so it feels rushed and compact rather than explained fully. I will be continuing with the series though because I love love love it.Books and Ladders | Quee...