| Author: Anthology | Series: Fablewood Anthology |
| Rating: 8 | Reviewer: Damon |
| Genre: Graphic Novel | Publisher:Ape Entertainment |
| Pages: 75 | |
| Binding: Paperback |
What this means to me is that Fablewood has a very broad appeal, which for a graphic novel is a home run
Fablewood Anthology edited by William Ward is being released by Ape Entertainment in January 2008. From my understanding this is just the first in a set of Anthologies that is being released, and we can all be thankful for that. Since each story is written and drawn by different people it gives a very diverse feel to the project where you will find a bunch of stories that you enjoy, making it worth the price of admission. I have broken the review down by story. We also decided to do something new here and do a dual review with both Patrick and myself adding our thoughts.
Solace by JP Ahonen
Damon: I enjoyed the story, it was about hope, but without being too preachy. That is a fine line sometimes and the artist did well with it. I enjoyed the art, it has a bit of a Bone feel to it.
Patrick: It is a good tale that shows how we can sometimes be so engaged with our own struggles that we fail to realize others’s struggles. Also, I can see how something like the Aurora Borealis can be so awe-inspiring.
Die a Hero Written by Steve Kinder, Art by Kevin Crossley, Lettered by Jason Arthur
Damon: This is one story that just did not do it for me. The story is overused, and this rendition did not really bring anything new to the table. On a personal preference I really did not care for the artwork either, it felt a bit incomplete to me. It was short though, so it did not interrupt the flow of the anthology.
Patrick: The art immediately caught my attention; it has a gritty feel underneath the cartoony theme. I did not care for the story all that much as it did repeat itself (on purpose). However, someone being labeled a hero because they died while on a mission that he volunteered for after no else was interested? I would rather be alive and not be labeled a hero than dead.
A Vicious Circle Written & Lettered by Eleanor Cooper, Art by J.J. Nass
Damon: The story was pretty funny, and the artwork was good as well. It was like a weird outtake from a summer of a Harry Potter type situation, but crazier and funnier. At the end the characters gives us a moment like you would find in an episode of "The Office". It is something you can see happening though when you mix magic and teenagers.
Patrick: The events in this story developed beyond the capabilities of the characters, and I thought it was rather funny. At one point the main character “interacts” with the reader, which I did not enjoy.
The Spirits & the Woods by Scott Hallett
Damon: Some of the ghosts reminded me of "Gloop" and "Gleep" from The Herculoids cartoon, in a good way. The artwork was colorful and captured the mood in each frame. The story was also also done nicely, there is a lot of innuendo and hidden meaning on spirits and ancient evil of the lyre. The author gave us enough to finish the story, but also left us with the ability to fill in a lot of what happened before in our imagination. I like stories that make you think, top notch.
Patrick: Wow, well, I was completely lost with this story. I am not exactly sure what some of the characters were supposed to represent and there were multiple times I had to reread the previous slide to make sure I had not skipped one.
Mandala by Joe Infurnari
Damon: It was a little gruesome, but the story, well visual story, was done nice. I had to read this one a few times before I "got it".
Patrick: The presentation of this story was interesting; it took from eastern and western convention (The first thirteen scenes were all on the right side while the next thirteen were all on the left side, and the reader has to read the last ones upwards.) To further complicate things, there were no words spoken. However, there were several different meanings I can think of for what transpired.
Blessings Written by William Ward, Penciled & Inked by Ryan Ottley, Colored by Manny Trembley, Lettered by Jason Arthur
Damon: The artwork was superb, but it felt like the story, or in the case of such a short piece, inferred story, was lacking. I think if given a little more time for a setup, the finale would have been a little more poignant. Again though a nod to the artwork and coloring as it was very well done.
Patrick: While short, it had a 300 type of feel: few versus many. In this case, one soldier took out several, but there is definitely an underlying theme.
J’nee, Where Are You? Written, Penciled, & Colored by Joe Suitor, Lettered by David Hedgecock
Damon: The story was great, it shows that woman troubles are universal in both time and space. Throw in a woman (or fairy), a guy, and some of his best friends (snow beasts) and you are in for something. I felt cold reading this piece, which can be attributed to the excellent drawing of the snow capped mountain that it takes place on. The last two panels made me laugh, in a good way.
Patrick: There was nothing I could do but smile with this one. There are countless tales of the difficulties men have with women, why would one think that would stop with female fairies? Talking abdominal snowmen like creatures added a nice touch.
The Ancient Pact by Axel Machain
Damon: It is a changing world, even for people that adhere to the ancient ways. I guess that is what happens to creatures that live longer then humans. A fairy that is pretty much put into a fight club situation, hey you know you can't talk about it after. Artwork fit the story .
Patrick: There is an appeal to putting confident bullies in there place, but to realize that fairies would have the potential to do so is even more intriguing. This was a nice read as it hinted at past times, how they have changed, and while the present is different it can still be worthwhile.
Under the Midnight Sun Written by Chris Studabaker, Art by Dusty Neal, Lettered by Studabaker & Neal
Damon: It is a powerful story, but the art style was not to my tastes at all. This diminished the story in a way. I also felt that it did not fit the overall theme and art that is going on in the rest of the book. Different strokes though for different folks. Probably my least favorite story in the book.
Patrick: There are three days left to Halloween, but to me, it was another Wednesday. After reading this story, I am feeling the creepiness that accompanies the thirty-first day of the tenth month. However, it did not have anything to do with the story, but the art. The main characters are shadows, but with human faces. I am sure it was not the artist’s intention, but looking at them gave me goose-bumps.
Unworthy by Daniel Lafrance
Damon: What do you get with good art and horrible lettering? This is not a question we should have to ask, but yet we do. The story though of having to face two losing decisions though is good. When you are between a rock and a hard place, what will you do?
Patrick: Wow! This was by far the best story so far. The art was good, but the story surpassed it. Her self-worth was diminished by the actions she was forced to take. That is powerful.
Fish by Sarah Mensinga
Damon: It is almost like geek speak, but of the mermaid kind. I loved it. Artwork fits the story and the symbol story is told, in a time frame befitting the situation at hand. This was one of my favorite stories in the book. On re reading you find so many little nuances, that I missed the first time.
Patrick: This was a nice tale; it was short, sweet, and simple.
Sometimes the best things in life are the same way.
A Tale of Two Shifters Written by Troy Dye and Tom Kelesides, Penciled by Collin Fogel, Colored by Dustin Evans, Lettered by Jason Arthur
Damon: Also one of my favorite stories. The things you think are important as a youth really are not that important when you think about it. It has impetuous youth and elder wisdom. This story really has it all. Artwork is also top notch. I like the fact that this is going to be a miniseries. This is something I am going to have to get a hold of to read the whole story, and that is a good thing.
Patrick: I enjoy watching young individuals learn from their elders the family trade, but does it always seem that the elder gets caught or is killed because of something the younger one did? Regardless, it was nice to see that the younger learned an even greater lesson from what happened.
The Cloudleapers of Blue Pine Mountain by Jonathan Dalton
Damon: The twist at the end was good, even if this is a story that has been told more then once. The artwork though held the story back a bit in my opinion, and wished that it had a different feel to it. Still though, always trying to do the right thing does not mean everything will turn up roses in the end.
Patrick: When people try to do the right thing, it can sometimes
backfire on them. This is the case with this story. The tale itself was on the slower side. The most exciting part is when a monkey started talking, you can do the math.
Fablewood is a wonderful anthology with enough diversity in both story and art to appeal to everyone. Overall even grading on a story by story basis, it moves to the front of the class. What I enjoyed most about doing the review with another reviewer (Patrick) was that you can see how our tastes differ and that something I may not have given two thumbs up to, he has. What this means to me is that Fablewood has a very broad appeal, which for a graphic novel is a home run. I can not wait till the next anthology.
Other Reviews of works by Anthology
