Part of an ongoing series revisiting graphic novels and collected editions from days gone by....

The first few chapters of Homelands, I suppose, were something of a test run for the later spinoff series Jack of Fables. Jack, the protagonist of various legends and fairytales, is something of an amoral trickster, and he has fled Fabletown with a horde of stolen wealth and a disaffected Lilliputian for warmer climes. In this case, that means Hollywood, where he uses his money to set up a movie studio and produce a trilogy of exaggerated films about his own exploits -- increasing his popularity exponentially and, thusly, increasing his resistance to harm, aging and death.

Clever. Of course, he should treat the people around him better if he expects loyalty....

From there, we travel to the eponymous Homelands, where Boy Blue seeks revenge on the Adversary who stole their lands while rescuing his lost love, Red Riding Hood. Armed with a mystical cloak of protection and teleportation, as well as the vorpal blade of "Jabberwocky" fame and various useful enchantments, Blue is making incredible progress through enemy territories in his quest.

Unfortunately, a mid-level bureaucrat in employ of the Adversary (or, as he now prefers, "Emperor") notices seemingly unrelated incidents that expose Blue's movements, and a warning is sent to the Snow Queen to protect the Emperor from danger. Nevertheless, Blue succeeds in his plan, and the Emperor is assassinated.

Except he isn't. Come on, you didn't expect it to be over so quickly, did you?

However, the true identity of the Emperor is revealed, and it's not someone you would have expected ... although, in retrospect, there are clues.

Meanwhile, a trusted member of the Fabletown community is unmasked as a traitor. Oh, and Mowgli (of The Jungle Book fame) comes to Fabletown.

This series continues to ratchet up the excitement and tension, as players move across the board toward an inevitable cataclysmic battle. Let's hope it's not too soon, however, because I am enjoying the ride! (And, I'll be honest, it's been so long since I read this series, I don't remember all that much of what's coming!)