Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #1

Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Shawn McManus

The first Cinderella mini-series by Roberson and McManus was a lot of fun (even if I passed it over at first), so I didn't have to think twice before adding this new offering to my pull-list.

Cinderella has been working for centuries as a spy for the powers that be in Fabletown.  Previously, she was answerable only to Bigby, but after Beast took over the role of sheriff, he has been sending her on missions.  None of this is known by the rest of the Fables, who think that she is more or less a flighty socialite.

This new series opens with a flashback to early-80s Russia, where Cindy, in nothing more than a bikini, is tracking down some powerful Russian Fables, and looking to find out the secret of their own Fabletown.  She is interrupted in her mission by a Fable only referred to as Codename: Silverslippers (we later find out who she is, but I'm not going to tell).  It seems that the two become something of nemeses to each other.

In the modern day, during the evacuation of the farm (seen in Fables #100), evidence shows up that suggests that Silverslippers is back and causing some problems, so Cindy heads back into town to get ready to deal with her.

It's interesting that this book is more tied in to current Fables continuity than the last one; I wonder if there will be some kind of connection later on.  Roberson is a good writer.  I only tried out the first Cinderella book on the strength of his work on I, Zombie, and I have yet to be disappointed.  McManus is always a great artist, and this is the type of story where his somewhat exaggerated style works best.