Recommended Reading - Fables by Randy Lander Last Updated: November 11, 2005 Publisher: DC Comics Frequency: Monthly Price: $2.50 Status: Ongoing Series (5 trades are currently available, collecting issues #1-33, and the series is currently on issue #43) Jumping-On Points: The first Fables trade (Legends in Exile) is the ideal jumping-on point, and is bargain-priced at $10 for 5 issues, containing the arc that introduces most of main the characters and centers on a murder-mystery. Those seeking an issue to jump on with might consider #42, which begins an arc in which the Arabian fables make their way into the mostly Euro-centric Fabletown. Creators: Written by Bill Willingham Illustrated by Mark Buckingham & Steve Leialoha (with occasional guest artists) Colors by Daniel Vozzo Lettering by Todd Klein Edited by Shelly Bond Website: Bill Willingham's official website (Features news about Fables and other Willingham projects, a biography and bibliography and a message board) The Basics: Driven out of their homelands by a destructive tyrant known as The Adversary, the characters from the worlds' stories (such as Snow White, the Big Bad Wolf, the Jack of Tales and Pinocchio) set up an underground community in New York City called Fabletown, but murder, intrigue and even war seems to follow the beleagured community, and The Adversary isn't done with them yet. My Overview: Fables is, quite simply, the book that Bill Willingham was born to write. His flirtation with fantasy impinging upon reality has been seen in series like the truncated Coventry or his first Vertigo miniseries Proposition Player, but Fables really takes that idea and puts it forth in what is probably the best modern fantasy series since Neil Gaiman's Sandman. And truth be told, while I loved Sandman, I love Fables more. Imagine... every character from every story, with roots that reach deep into our childhood minds, played out in a more modern, sophisticated tableau that incorporates plenty of humor but also exceptional characterization and a sense of mystery that ranges from the small (Is Rose Red dead, and who killed her?) to the large (who is the Adversary, and why does he/she do what he/she does?). Willingham leaped a major series hurdle with the revelation of the Adversary's identity, revealing the answer to one of the series' big puzzles in an exceptionally satisfying way and proving that he can close as strongly as he opens, which bodes well for Fables as a complete body of work when all is said and done. That's the general overview, but really, it is the small elements of Fables on an issue-by-issue basis that make it so damn good. Terrific dialogue, reversals of fortune, a fearlessness about status quo change even amongst major characters and a limitless supply of new characters whose modernization always seems to take the most interesting route makes for an always surprising and always entertaining read. Buckingham, Leialoha and Vozzo serve as the regular artists, and they provide a style of artwork that captures the mundane aspects of the fables' world with a constant hint of their fantastical natures, and when they get to open up, as with the siege of fabletown during the "March of the Wooden Soldiers" arc, they really go to town. This might be my favorite Vertigo series ever, even including Preacher, Sandman and Y: The Last Man in consideration... at the very least, it's very much in competition in terms of quality with those series. Who's It For?: Fans of Sandman and its incorporation of mythology of varying stripes into a fairly unified whole, anyone who loved a good fairy tale when they were younger and wants to see what they might look like if they'd grown up, fans of immortality-based stories like Highlander, fans of the fantasy or crime genres (especially fans of both). Currently Available Trades: Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile (Collects Fables #1-5 plus the "Wolf in the Fold" short story by Bill Willingham) Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm (Collects Fables #6-10 plus cover sketches by James Jean and character sketches by Mark Buckingham) Fables Vol. 3: Storybook Love (Collects Fables #11-18) Fables Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers (Collects Fables #19-21 and 23-27 plus Fables: The Last Castle and a "Who's Who in Fabletown" feature) Fables Vol. 5: The Mean Seasons (Collects Fables #22 and 28-33, plus an updated "Who's Who in Fabletown" feature) Reviews: Fables #1 Fables #2 Fables #3 Fables #4 Fables #5 Fables #6 Fables #7 Fables #8 Fables #9 Fables #10 Snapshot: Fables #11 Snapshot: Fables #12 Snapshot: Fables #13 Fables #14 Snapshot: Fables #15 Fables #16 Snapshot: Fables #17 Fables: The Last Castle Fables #18 Fables #19 Fables #20 Snapshot: Fables #21 Fables #22 Fables #23 Snapshot: Fables #24 Snapshot: Fables #25 Fables #26 Snapshot: Fables #27 Fables #28 Fables #31 Fables #33 Fables #34 Snapshot: Fables #35 Fables #37 Snapshot: Fables #40 Recent Issues: FABLES #41 Synopsis: The Adversary stands revealed, and he finishes telling the story of his rise to power to Pinocchio and Boy Blue. Boy Blue also reunites with an old friend who has some surprises for him, but Blue might have a surprise or two for the Adversary before his scheduled execution as well... Review: The finale of "Homeland" seals it, in my mind, as the best Fables story since the story began. To really get the full impact of the story, you have to have read the stories that have gone before, which is the only thing keeping me from calling it the best Fables story, period, but Willingham provides a satisfying answer to the big mystery that has driven the series since very early, "Who is the Adversary?" and does it in such a way that he leaves plenty of dramatic material for future issues of the series. The revelation of Boy Blue as something of a war hero has also been a fantastic element of this arc, and the last page reveal of the issue throws all of the events in a whole new light and makes you reconsider the abilities of another long-lived fables character. Highlights: The highly believable and well-crafted tale of the Adversary's origins, the uncertain but clearly long-term friendship of Pinocchio and Boy Blue put to the test, the bittersweet resolution of the Blue/Red Riding Hood story and the big revelation about the nature of Blue's excursion into the Homelands. Quote: "I find it hard to believe that you were some big-time swashbuckling warrior hero before I met you in Fabletown. And now hearing all the amazing things you did fighting your way here. Holy fucking wow, man! You're like some kind of giant superhero!" -Pinocchio FABLES #42 Synopsis: The Arabian fables begin to arrive and find a most unwelcome greeting in Fabletown, requiring Beauty and Prince Charming to call on a surprising ally to defuse tensions. Meanwhile, Red Riding Hood continues to get acquainted with her savior and Mowgli reports in on progress related to his mission from Charming. Review: I have to admit, I hadn't even considered that we'd seen mostly European fables in this book until it was brought up in the solicitation for this issue and the Adversary's speeches in the previous issue. It's a great curveball, an introduction of a new batch of characters who should cause no end of trouble, drama and humor, and Willingham's take on Sinbad and his retinue is a great step in the right direction. There's a terrific screwball comedy vibe going on in this issue, and Willingham's dialogue is paced and written so well you can hear the back and forth and get the desired laughter effect from it. I also quite enjoyed that Charming, despite having proven better equipped for the mayor's job than I would originally have thought, just completely mucks up this important reception. There are plenty of laughs in this issue, but there are also several moments that seem to represent potentially dangerous gathering storms, and that mix of pure entertainment and serial suspense is about as perfect as you can ask for in comics. It seems worth noting that Buckingham and Leialoha continue to impress on their artwork as well, and I love their designs for the modernized Arabian fables, especially the clean-cut, obviously handsome Sinbad in a flashy modern suit but sporting a touch of his heritage to give him the Arabian flavor. Highlights: A terrific gag involving Flycatcher's curiosity and the uncertainty of the Arabian fables about greeting customs, the new relationship building between Red and Blue, the pidgin English and nonsensical Arabic spoken back and forth between the newly arrived visitors and Prince Charming, the exquisite demonstration of skill from a character we've not seen much of in several issues and that surprising (but perfectly in character) last page that can only spell trouble for the future. Quote: "You... oddly-formed... person! Where... king? Where... sex... bicycles? Where... officers? Where... Jungle... Girl?" -Yusuf, trying to speak English to Flycatcher FABLES #43 Synopsis: A moment with Prince Charming inspires Beauty to talk with her husband, King Cole continues his negotations with Sinbad and the arabian fables delegation and Frau Totenkinder talks with Beast and the inhabitants of the farm about the deadly weapon that the fables have brought with them and how it might be dealt with. Review: One of the great elements about Fables is Willingham's ability to translate modern idioms into a more classically fantasy-based society, and that's exactly what he's doing with the arabian fables story arc. The story that is going on here is a clash of cultures, with weapons of mass destruction and global conflict lurking in the background and careful diplomacy (with an eye towards military engagement as a last resort) essential to resolving things. Basically, Willingham is playing out the meeting of western and middle eastern culture that is so prevalent in modern society by using fable analogues, with a very clever substitution of genies as weapons of mass destruction and a classically nefarious vizier for the more extreme elements of middle eastern culture. Of course, he steers clear of any deep political commentary, avoiding what must have been a temptation to play up Prince Charming's cluelessness and aggressive tendencies in order to link him to a certain world leader of the west. Instead, we get King Cole, playing the Jimmy Carter role and having a grand old time doing it, and it really is enjoyable to see a character we have previously seen only as a dowdy has-been reliving some of his glory as an accomplished diplomat and strategist. But then, one of the really neat things about this arc so far has been seeing unexpected strength in some of these characters. The revelation of the depth of Beauty and the Beast's relationship, not to mention the skill that Beast has displayed in his role of sheriff, is surprising, given that I had expected a certain degree of failure so that Snow White and Bigby would be set up to look more heroic by their absence. Instead, as Willingham drives home with a few choice bits of dialogue, the management style of Charming, Beauty and Beast is a different one, but not necessarily an inferior one, to the regime run by Cole, White and Bigby. I also quite enjoyed the setup of the power of the genies, the foreshadowing of what could set one free to rain destruction and the almost inevitable (but still effective) unveiling of those events toward the end, providing a solid "what will happpen next?" page-turner of a cliffhanger. Highlights: Beauty's speech to Prince Charming, King Cole's clever maneuvering with Sinbad (especially regarding the slaves), the revelations about both the genies and the North Wind, seeing the progress that Bigby and Snow's children have made and just seeing Snow White and Rose Red in these pages again. Quote: "He promises to respect your venerable custom to keep slaves. In return, he trusts you'll respect our venerable custom to hang slavers wheresoever we find them." -King Cole, showing off his gift for diplomacy Email Randy Lander comments about this column.