Fairest 8 Review Short Version: I have enjoyed the previous entries in Fairest, but the previous arc felt very much like a (very well done) side story. However, Lauren Beukes’ work here feels very much like the real thing in both scope and tone. Everything about Beukes’ story about Rapunzel’s journey into Japan (at least the start of it) feels interesting and – if you are at all interested in Fables – I would recommend you get on board.
Fairest 8 Writer: Lauren Beukes
Fairest 8 Artist: Inaki Miranda
Fairest 8 Review
Fairest 8, The Hidden Kingdom Part One, begins Lauren Beukes’ work on the Fables spinoff. Rapunzel, whose hair grows four inches each hour, receives a mysterious missive via origami crane indicating that there may be information about her children in Japan. Still, in order to get out of the Fables’ lands, she has to make a deal with a witch so that her hair doesn’t give her away. Fairest 8 is a great first issue for the arc and I’m willing to say you should probably go ahead and buy in if you are at all interested in Fables. While the previous arc was a light-hearted take on the series, The Hidden Kingdom looks ot be as big, interesting, gritty, and fascinating as the real thing and it’s only getting started. Inaki Miranda’s art work really nails all of the characters, while having a certain style about his drawings. The stuff in Japan towards the end of the issue is really great. The issue takes its time setting up Rapunzel’s travel restrictions, her relationship with her stylist, her relationship with Frau Totenkinder, and giving a little equal screen-time to Jack (who looks to be causing trouble along the way) before the gas is hit at the end of the issue. Fairest 8 is a great start to the new arc of the series and I’m pretty excited to see where we go to next.
