Russell’s rendition of Hugh in all his finery is a monument to callous hypocrisy, with a permanently pasted smugness to his face. Beyond that, it remains a sad commentary on how the entitled see themselves. It’s pointed, heartbreaking and very funny. During the winter when Hans goes cold and hungry the miller’s justification for not inviting his alleged friend to share his food and fire is a desire not to induce envy as it would spoil his good nature. There is, however, not a shred of reciprocation. Hans enjoys listening to the more erudite man expound on friendship, and doesn’t begrudge him the armfuls of flowers and herbs to which he helps himself from Hans’ garden. The former is the most blatant social commentary of Wilde’s fables, contrasting the wealthy and pompous Hugh the miller with Hans the gardener. They’re well matched, both bleak and with a broad cynical streak, yet very entertaining. Artistically this has been a great success to date, and we’re here presented with The Devoted Friend and The Nightingale and the Rose. Craig Russell, six years after the last, indicated a plan to transfer them all to comic format. Oscar Wilde wrote nine fairy tales in total, and the appearance of this fourth graphic novel of adaptations from P.
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