Fairest #1: Wide Awake by Bill Willingham

Bill Willingham continues to expand on his Fables world and fame with a new spin-off series, Fairest.  Following the fair maidens, Sleeping Beauty and the Ice Queen, we learn of their adventures after the fall of the Adversary (from the Fables series).  The infamous Ali Baba, Prince of Thieves, is off on his usual adventures of thievery when he meets a "genie" that promises him riches beyond belief.  All he has to do is awaken the beauty that lies asleep in a guarded tent.  Upon his arrival, he finds two beauties that give him more than he could have ever imagined.

Fairest is a fun read.  It continues to build on the already elaborate world of Fables, becoming more and more complex, and making it easier to fall into the world the more you read.  However, it is still not comparable to the original series or my favorite spin-off so far, Cinderella.

One VERY important note . . . At the end of the adventures of Sleeping Beauty and the Ice Queen, we are rewarded with an extra tale of Beauty and the Beast.  This little addition BLEW me away!  I had to re-read it to allow it to soak in and it has left me wondering if this little plot twist will eventually be incorporated into the original series.  I sure hope so because I want  . . . I NEED . . . to see more on this little extra!

What are your thoughts on the Fairest spin-off?  What do you think of the other spin-offs to the world of Fables?