Review by Frank Plowright

Turning Pages pairs two three-chapter stories, the title story preceded by a look at Jack’s days in the 1880s as Smilin’ Jack Candle, leading a gang of armed robbers. Fables fans will be pleased at the presence of Bigby Wolf, sent to track Jack down, and he comes to dominate events.

Co-writers Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges start by pinning Jack’s exploits against monumental events occurring elsewhere at the same time, such as the Krakatoa eruption and iniquitous laws being passed. However, as interesting as the cataloguing is, what would be preferable is a better story. Bigby and his talking horse aren’t greatly entertaining, and the slow pace indicates padding. However, while much of the inevitable showdown is little better, right at the end there’s a phenomenal insight into Jack’s malign personality.

The addition of Russ Braun as joint regular artist is welcome not only for the quality he provides, but for also enabling better quality art from Tony Akins. Without the pressure of a monthly deadline, his pages are more imaginative and plain better drawn, although not as well drawn as those provided by Braun for the title story.

That returns to the present day, picking up after the events of Americana, and as the ‘Turning Pages’ title suggests, it focuses on the three Page sisters introduced working at the Golden Boughs confinement facility. Each has committed indiscretions with Jack, but there’s only one who doesn’t currently regret it. The three sisters are in three different places, and Warden Revise is becoming increasingly unhinged at the impending arrival of Bookburner and his mission to erase all Fables.

The differences between Fables and Literals are expounded in what may be a prelude to The Big Book of War, but is also as good a story as has appeared in Jack of Fables to date. It supplies emotional weight to the Page sisters, effectively continues the theme of using literary devices, and delivers a few surprises along the way. It might also be noted the quality is partially down to minimal use of Jack’s one-note personality.

This is combined with The Big Book of War in the second Jack of Fables Deluxe Edition, and the overall ranking reflects the combination of one good story and one page filler.