Fables - Volume 7: Arabian Nights (And Days) by Bill Willingham

Books Completed: 22
Completion Date: January, 2009
Pages: 144
Publication Date: June 28, 2006

Reason for Reading: Next Book in the Series. Graphic Novel Challenge.

Collecting issues #42-47 of writer Bill Willingham's Eisner Award-winning creation, FABLES: ARABIAN NIGHTS (AND DAYS) opens a new front in the struggle between the Fables and the Adversary as the worlds of the Arabian Fables are invaded — leading to an unprecedented diplomatic mission to Fabletown and a bad case of culture shock! This seventh volume of the popular Vertigo series also includes "The Ballad of Rodney and June," the 2-part story of forbidden love among the Adversary's wooden soldiers, and features stellar Art by Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Jim Fern, Jimmy Palmiotti and Andrew Pepoy.

This is the last book that I currently own in this series. Makes me sad! I plan to get the next two books when I order the new Patricia Briggs book, but I still have to wait! Mind you, I have pretty much read the entire series in a month, so slowing down a bit would probably not be a terrible thing. It's reached the point that even the book descriptions are getting to be spoilers, but it is so hard to review books the farther you get in a series and not ruin it for others!

Anyway, this story includes Sinbad as a character! I thought he was a nice addition. There is also a mention of Aladdin, but he doesn't actually show himself. Sinbad is the leader of a delegation that has come to Fabletown seeking asylum and safety fron the Adversaries army. He also brings a Djinn with him, which might be a spoiler... Anyway, there are language barriers, Prince Charming is not much of a diplomat, so things do not go very smoothly at all. It seems that Mowgli was supposed to be here to greet this delegation, but he has already left Fabletown for other work. The different languages are shown in different style fonts. This was a cool way to do it, some of the other graphic novels I have read lately have '<' and '>' around the text to signify it is another language. Whatever way works, I guess.

There is also a story in this collection that takes place behind enemy lines. “The Ballad of Rodney in June” is a love story between two of the Adversary's soldiers. It was a nice story, actually. We got to see more of what it was like behind enemy lines, and it was also a chance to see the adversary as more than just the destroyer of all the lands! I thought it was a great contribution to this edition.

Now, I am just going to say that everyone should read this series, and shut up because honestly, it is hard to not spoil everything!