The all-star team of writer Bill Willingham and artist Mark Buckingham guest penciler Jim Fern and guest inker Craig Hamilton are back…  Uh oh.

I can’t say that I was a big fan of issue #82 where “guest” artists were also utilized (I’m not counting The Great Fables Crossover issues, because that had a crazy schedule and the team had to expand).  I don’t mean to cast aspersions on the work of these fine gentlemen, but to compliment Mark Buckingham.  Along with brilliant writing, the key to Fables’ success has been the beautiful and consistent penciling of Buckingham.  They’ve spoiled us by keeping the team together for such a long run.

This story is not the fanciful tale that we’ve grown accustomed to.  It takes us back in time to the glory days of the empire.  We’re introduced to Dunster Happ and his rise through the Emperor’s Scorcery Corps.  If we didn’t know better, we might think they were the good guys.  This is a case of the bad guys dealing with the worse guy.  The worse guy is Mr. Dark, the vile creature that currently has taken over Bullfinch Street and is threatening the Fables.

Pleasantly, we can pull away from the art comparisons that were made in issue #82 because none of the Fables appear in this issue.  Jim Fern has a more realistic style that fits this story.  The highlight is the battle scene with a blood-red sky on page eight.  The depiction of Mr. Dark portrays pure evil, so much that I felt a slight shiver when staring at his face.

I understand and appreciate the need to flesh out the character of Mr. Dark and to tell his tale, but now I’m ready to see the Fables again.

2.5 out of 5