"Sons of Empire" is the latest in Bill Willingham's Eisner Award-winning series "Fables" graphics novels. In the previous edition, "Wolves", Bigby Wolf successfully executed a brilliant plan conceived under the leadership of Prince Charming as retribution for the Empire's attack on Fabletown. As payment for this, his years of service as well as Snow White's dedication, they are given a house as well as the valley formerly occupied by the sleeping giants.
Back in the Empire, the ruling inner circle debates as to what to do in response to the Fabletown attack. "Debate" isn't the proper word. What the Adversary and company want is nothing short of the destruction of Fabletown and our mundane world. The main issue is not `should they' but `how should they'.
Anyway Lord Hansel is dispatched to Fabletown as the new ambassador for the Empire. That's `Hansel' as in "Hansel and Gretel" as in the two kids who pushed Frau Totenkinder into her oven. Overnight, Prince Charming and company realize their world will never be the same again. They either step up their game or die.
Meanwhile, Bigby Wolf and family have settled down to domestic bliss in their first Christmas together. However as her Christmas present, Snow White asks that Bigby visit his father with his family. Of course the problem is Bigby blames his father for his mother's death......
At the same time, Pinnochio finds out on a personal level what a monster his `kindly' Geppetto is.
It is interesting in how Mr. Willingham's characters evolve. Prince Charming is proving to be an excellent wartime Mayor of Fabletown. Even when he is angry he is still able to think clearly and act decisively. In this way he is a lot like his wife Snow White. Boy Blue may have the love of his life underneath his nose.... Bigby Wolf is a sensitive, caring father.
But don't forget he's still "the biggest, baddest wolf of all!"
This graphic novel is not at the same level as "The March of the Wooden Soldiers" or "Wolves". What Mr. Willingham is doing is redirecting the series and refreshing it with new plotlines and new characters as well as tying up a few loose ends while building up to a climax. Even so, this is a worthy addition to the series.