Fables # 140

Written by Bill Willingham
Illustrated by Steve Leialoha
Colours by Lee Loughbridge
Letters by Todd Klein
Published by Vertigo

Back in time in medieval Scotland, Briar Rose, Puss in Boots, Pete, Joe, Danny and Seamus have to fight the evil witch queen Baobhan Sith and her enchanted hounds.

This is another great slice of fairy tale magic given some modern grit.  The second of a two part story, it's good to see a tight, compact adventure.  The characters are well drawn and there is some good banter between them.  As always the story blends action and comedy perfectly.  although there is kind of an elegiacal sense around this issue.  It has been announced that Fables will come to an end with issue 150 and there is a sense here that the process has already begun of wrapping the comic up.  It's definitely going to be sad to see it go.

The artwork as always is detailed and distinctive.

Cover art by Nimit Malavia

   

Captain Marvel # 3

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Illustrated by David Lopez
Colours by Lee Loughbridge
Letters by Vc's Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel

Carol Danvers is a former United States Air Force pilot who was caught in the explosion of an alien device called the Psyche Magnitron, which gave her superpowers which she uses to fight for the forces of good as Captain Marvel.  Tic is a refugee from the poisoned planet Torfa, who was heading to Earth to recuit the help of the Avengers.  Captain Marvel is taking her home when they  encounters the Guardians of the Galaxy.  Tic immediately recognises one of them, Star-Lord, as the son of the king of the Spartax, the sworn enemies of her people who are part of the Alliance that are trying to evict Tic's people from Torfa.

This is a good issue of a comic that has developed a very strong fan-base.  The story is intriguing with an interesting moral dilemma, and the unfortunate Tic is a strong character.  Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel is a great hero, strong, intelligent, tough but also compassionate, there is a level of heart in this series which is missing from many other superhero comics.

The artwork is detailed and colourful with distinctive character designs and real dynamism in the action scenes.