Fables, Vol. 19
Trade Paperback | Kindle Edition
Written and Created by Bill Willingham
Illustrated by Mark Buckingham, Shawn McManus
Inks by Steve Leialoha
Colored by Lee Loughridge
Lettered by Todd Klein
Cover by Mark Buckingham
Vertigo Comics
Release Date: December 24, 2013
Cover Price: $16.99

Bill Willingham gives us another installment of his nigh-legendary series in Fables, Vol. 19. Before this trade paperback continues the story of the exiled “Fables” in Fabletown, NY, the first third of this edition features the collected back-up stories of Bufkin, the flying monkey with no wings and Lily, his miniature-sized girlfriend.

The collected back-up stories are illustrated by Shawn McManus. His slightly-cartoonish style works well for Bufkin’s revolution in Oz. Couple that with Willingham’s writing, and this self-contained story masterfully transitions from a revolutionary war against a tyrant, into an adventurous love story that follows the odd-couple of Bufkin and Lily until their beautiful end.

G.I. Joe: Roots of Retaliation Trade Paperback
Written by Larry Hama
Pencils by Larry Hama, Mike Vosburg, John D’Agostino, Frank Springer & Marshall Rogers
Inks by Randy Emberlin, Andy Mushynsky & Steve Leialoha
Colors by George Roussos & Bob Sharen
Letters by Rick Parker
Original Edits by Denny O’Neill & Bobby Chase
Collection Edits by Justin Eisinger & Alonzo Simon
Collection Design by Chris Mowry
Cover by Jonboy Meyers
Cover Colors by Anthony Washington
IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 27, 2012
Cover Price: $14.99

Collected in this trade paperback, G.I. Joe: Roots of Retaliation, are 5 different stories all dealing with characters that are (I’m guessing here) featured heavily in the upcoming movie. Yes, we all know that G.I. Joe: Retaliation has been pushed back until Spring of next year, but know that you have all that extra time, it’s a great oppertunity to take a look back at these classic G.I. Joe issues and find out just how these characters made their debut back in the day.

This collection runs the gambit of classic G.I. Joe stories, all from the classic Marvel Comics run written by Larry Hama. It’s a great blast from the past, as we get a look back at the introduction of the Red Ninjas, Roadblock, Duke, Flint, Lady Jaye, and the original Joe, Joe Colton. Over the years, these characters have changed quite a bit, and that doesn’t even include all the different incarnations of the characters like in the cartoons, other comic series, action figure bios.

The annual Fables panel at the San Diego Comic-Con played to a full house on Saturday, largely thanks to a scheduling snafu that had many fans waiting for the Venture Brothers and Adult Swim panel that would be happening in the same room right after it.

After some not so gentle ribbing from Fables creator Bill Willingham about getting the Venture Brothers fans to read a book, the panel went into full swing. The best thing about the SDCC Fables panel is that every year the creators give away a one-page story that is only available at the panel. This year’s story is a prophecy told to Ambrose, one of Snow White’s and Bigby Wolf’s children, and according to Willingham, the story sets up everything that will happen in the book after Issue #100. This was reason enough for me to come to this panel, but fortunately, there was plenty of news to go around.

The big item that was being pushed by the panel was the forthcoming Fables prose novel, Peter & Max. The novel, which will be out in October and will cost about 23 bucks for 400 pages, deals with the adventures of Peter Piper and Max Piper (also known as the Pied Piper). The novel, written by Willingham, will feature illustrations by Steve Leialoha, as well as an 8-page comics story that will tie the novel into the regular series. The art shown at the panel looks great, and as a Fables fan, this is one I’m eagerly anticipating.