This story sets up a lot of framework for what's coming - I haven't read ahead, I just know that 'Fables' has a very, very long way to go and I've gotten the hang of Willingham's foreshadowing.

The 'Sons of Empire' arc introduces readers to the Empire's plans for revenge on Fabletown and the potential conquest of the mundy world. Well, at least the first draft. Nothing will play out that way, it'll be worse. It also takes time to introduce a few new prominent players, most importantly Hansel, who's mania for witch-hunting got him exiled from Fabletown and makes him a perfect tool for the Empire.

'Father and Son' has Bigby and his father, the North Wind, come to an understanding. It's not much, but they're both still alive and on the same side.

There were some great extras, including an issue of short stories answering reader questions about minor characters and loose threads, and even an appearance from Santa Claus.

This series is phenomenal. I don't know when I'll get to the rest of it, but I'll keep my eyes open.

Fables

Next: 'The Good Prince'

Previous: 'Wolves'

This was where I originally left 'Fables' behind. It was more of the same, and I didn't feel the character development or the story at all at the time.

Rereading it, I can appreciate the broad strokes rendered with 'Bag of Bones', where Jack cheats death, 'Barleycorn Brides' and 'A Two-Part Caper' where a journalist finds out, the hard way, not to press Bigby too far. The meat of the collection is the arc where Bluebeard sets Goldilocks to kill Snow White and Bigby and Prince Charming campaigns to be the new Mayor of Fabletown. This still feels like a volume to get through rather than one to savor, but its better the second time around

The pace picks up significantly in the next volume.

Fables

Previous: 'Fables, Vol. 2: Animal Farm'

Next: 'Fables, Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers'

Rebellious, revolutionary feelings stir up on the remote retreat in upstate New York where Fables who can't blend in with humanity live. Snow and Red think they're going on a routine visit to the Farm (and to return the third little pig, Colin, home), but it turns into something much more dangerous.

Groundwork for the series is still being laid, well, it really never stops evolving, but I did have one problem with the story. A key moment is when a character seemingly changes allegiance and quickly rises to an almost-leading role in the revolution. There wasn't any build-up towards that - one panel they make a clueless, androcentric (would that be right?) remark and the next they're being led to the revolution's armory for recruitment.

Everything hinges on that moment and I couldn't see how it went from A to Z other than the needs of the plot to have a face-off.

Anyway, it was still a fun read and a great excuse to have some surreal images of fairy tale creatures like talking flowers and hens bearing arms. Goldilocks and the Three Bears play a big part, too. All good things.

Fables

Previous: 'Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile'

Next: 'Fables, Vol. 3: Storybook Love'

And it actually makes sense in the kind of twisted way that I expected would be the explanation for this.   I actually quite enjoyed this, especially Illyria trying to seduce Connor.  

I love her just taking charge of the situation and saying what she wants and letting him know when she wants it.   It was nice to see.  

Overall, this was far more enjoyable than most of the other Angel books I've read, but I'm not ashamed to admit I'm on a little bit of an Angel burnout.   

I did like the way Illyria had her talk with Angel, and that part was funny to boot.  The general storyline made sense as far as the Buffyverse goes, but I was never fully unchanged by this, by the story, or the execution.  

Nothing wrong with it, it just didn't do it for me. 

Moving onto the next Angel volume.   I only have a couple left, and Angel is not my preferred Buffyverse.  I'd rather be in Buffy, to be honest, although Spike doesn't hurt in these volumes.   He's one of my favorite characters and he made Angel season five no only tolerable, but pleasant for me.   Him and Illyria.