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

The kingdom of the Arabian fables are the latest target of the Adversary's invasion forces when Arabian Nights (& Days) begins, so a new group of mythical beings are seeking refuge in the mundane world. But when the Baghdad delegation, led by Sinbad, arrives in Fabletown for a conference arranged by Mowgli (and promptly forgotten by the beleaguered mayor, Prince Charming), things quickly go ... badly.

There's the language barrier, of course -- a hurdle overcome only be reenlisting the aid of the former mayor (and, it turns out, a masterful diplomat), King Cole. But there's also an ambitious adviser in Sinbad's entourage who unleashes a djinn when negotiations don't turn in the direction he favors.

A German witch, infamous for her taste in gingerbread architecture and cannibalism, again plays a crucial role in solving Fabletown's problems.

Red Riding Hood, meanwhile -- bewildered by her sudden arrival in Fabletown and ostracized because of the harm wrought by Baba Yaga while wearing Hood's form -- tries to make nice with Boy Blue, who is still incarcerated for (supposed) crimes against Fabletown and who is still heartbroken to learn the Hood he fell in love with was another duplicate created by the Adversary. At the same time, Blue continues to reveal the intelligence he gathered while rampaging through the Adversary's various kingdoms on his mission of vengeance and rescue. Oh, and Hood is also making nice with Ambrose, the fabled Frog Prince, which might cause a rift between friends down the road.

Elsewhere, Mowgli continues his efforts to find the missing Bigby (Big Bad) Wolf. Bigby has been absent since Snow White, the mother of his cubs, moved the pack to Fabletown's upstate Farm because of their nonhuman appearance -- a community where Bigby, due to his past depredations, is forever banned.

In what is perhaps the strangest chapter, a soldier in the Adversary's wooden army falls in love with a wooden medic/carpenter -- the first female, I believe, that we've seen among the woodfolk -- and they petition the Emperor to get the Pinocchio treatment so they can be human, marry and, you know, do what birds and bees do. The Emperor consents ... but there's a price they'll have to pay, which will no doubt play into future chapters.

Bill Willingham's magical world has expanded quite a bit in this installment, with Middle Eastern fables taking their place among a storybook population dominated so far by their European counterparts. This just keeps getting better!