Fables #129 wraps up the five-part “Snow White” story arc, and also catches Snow and the others up with the parallel events of “Cubs in Toyland,” which ended in issue #121. Here’s the official description from Vertigo:

Snow White’s life has been shattered in more ways than one. With no one else to turn to, to save her from the ruthless Prince Brandish, who claims to be her only legitimate husband, she has no other choice but to take up arms in her own defense. She received fencing lessons from Prince Charming long ago. Will she remember them well enough now?

Fables has always had a reputation for female empowerment, and Bill Willingham makes sure to live up to it once again, as Snow must save herself. It’s a suitably powerful moment that the whole arc has been building to. There’s also a focus on Bigby’s predicament; this being comics, being turned to glass isn’t the death sentence it might appear to be, although reviving him will be no small task.

Besides Snow’s fist pump moment, the primary emotional response is a feeling of finality. For nearly two years now, Fables has been methodically revealing the fates of Snow and Bigby’s children, which was the great promise of the series since before the defeat of the Adversary. One more child’s place in the prophecy is revealed here, and it’s such a quiet moment, you can’t help but feel that things are slowing down.

Mark Buckingham‘s art is a tad shaky in the beginning, in a scene concerning the marriage negotiations between Beast and the Lady of the Lake. The Lady’s head and the flow of her hair seem off. The rest of the book is top-notch, however. Rose Red emotes beautifully. Buckingham continues to use strong vertical panels to give the action a cinematic feel. It’s a particularly effective technique for Snow’s duel with Brandish.

Even though there’s still plenty left to do and no end has been announced for the series, as of this issue, it feels like we’re getting close. More storylines are being tied up than added. If Fables can keep turning out issues like this one, the series’ eventual end will be poignant indeed.

4/5

Zac Boone controls the horizontal and the vertical. Follow him on the twitter.