Fables (comics)
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| Fables | |
 |
|
| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Vertigo |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Dark fantasy |
| Publication date | 2002-present |
| Number of issues | 85 |
| Main character(s) | Bigby Wolf Snow White Boy Blue |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Bill Willingham |
| Penciller(s) | Mark Buckingham, Lan Medina, Steve Leialoha, Craig Hamilton |
| Letterer(s) | Todd Klein |
| Creator(s) | Bill Willingham |
| Collected editions | |
| Legends in Exile | ISBN 1-5638-9942-6 |
| Animal Farm | ISBN 1-4012-0077-X |
| Storybook Love | ISBN 1-4012-0256-X |
| March of the Wooden Soldiers | ISBN 1-4012-0222-5 |
| The Mean Seasons | ISBN 1-4012-0486-4 |
| Homelands | ISBN 1-84576-124-3 |
| Arabian Nights (and Days) | ISBN 1-84576-278-9 |
| Wolves | ISBN 1-4012-1001-5 |
| Sons of Empire | ISBN 1-4012-1316-2 |
| The Good Prince | ISBN 1-4012-1686-2 |
Fables is an ongoing Vertigo comic book series created and written by Bill Willingham, starting in 2002.
The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore – referring to themselves as "Fables" – who have been forced out of their Homelands by a mysterious enemy known as the Adversary. They have traveled to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. Fables who are unable to blend in with human society (such as monsters and anthropomorphic animals) live at "the Farm" in upstate New York.[1] It takes place in a continuity of its own, and is unrelated to the larger DC Comics continuity.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Willingham reinterpreted many of the characters, evident in the divorce of Snow White and Prince Charming due to his infidelity. The former is deputy mayor of Fabletown as the series begins. Another principal character is the Big Bad Wolf (calling himself "Bigby"), who has not only reformed, but gained the ability to take on human appearance, and serves as Fabletown's sheriff at the series' beginning.
Earlier story arcs each take on the form of a different genre: the first is a murder mystery, the next a conspiracy thriller, and then a caper story. More recently Willingham has explicitly tied his series to a pro-Israeli political stance, stating "Politically, I'm just rabidly pro-Israel and so that, as a metaphor, was intended from the beginning." He adds, however, "as much as politics are going to intrude in Fables, that's as far as I think I'm willing to go. It's impossible to keep them out entirely. We're all political creatures whether we cop to it or not. [...] Yeah, it's not going to be a political tract. It never will be, but at the same time, it's not going to shy away from the fact that there are characters who have real moral and ethical centers, and we're not going to apologize for it." [3]
Various artists have worked on the title. Until recently the covers were done by James Jean, who has left the book after issue 81. The new cover artist is João Ruas. The majority of the interior work has been done by Mark Buckingham, who reportedly will be given the reins to the story if Willingham becomes unable to continue it.[4] Other artists include: Bryan Talbot, Lan Medina, P. Craig Russell, Mike Allred, and Linda Medley.
[edit] Spin-offs
July 2006 saw the debut of a spin-off series, Jack of Fables, that focuses on Jack Horner. That series is co-written by Willingham and former Clockwork Storybook author Matthew Sturges.
1001 Nights of Snowfall is a prequel to Fables written by Willingham. It was initially released in hardcover on October 18, 2006.
At the Fables Panel at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con, an illustrated Fables novel - titled "Peter and Max"[5] - was announced as being written by Willingham and illustrated by Steve Leialoha. It will center around Peter Piper and his brother Max, who will later grow up to be the Pied Piper.
A Fables crossover with Jack of Fables called: The Literals, was also announced, with Matthew Sturges writing the first part of the three-issue mini-series, which is projected to be in stores in 2009. Also announced was a spin-off mini-series called: Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love. Written by novelist and publisher Chris Roberson (another of Willingham and Sturges' fellow Clockwork Storybook alumni), the miniseries will be drawn by Shawn McManus,[6] and is expected (according to Comic Book Resources' Timothy Callahan) to "answer the question of what happened to Cinderella's fairy godmother."[5]
[edit] Characters
The main characters of Fables are public domain figures from folklore, mythology, and literature. Bill Willingham has said the only considerations in deciding whether or not he chooses to use a character are "is the character or story free for use?" and "do I want to use it?"[7] Most of the characters seen so far are from European stories.
[edit] Story arcs
1001 Nights of Snowfall (graphic novel): Based on the One Thousand and One Nights, tells a story from a time early in Fabletown's history when Snow White was sent as an emissary to the Arabian Fables. The Sultan's Vizier secretly presents Snow to Sultan as his next wife in order to delay his daughter Scheherazade from suffering the same fate. Snow must amuse the Sultan with a new story every night to prevent him from executing her at dawn, as he has done with all his former wives.
A Wolf in the Fold (prose story from the Legends In Exile trade paperback): Explains the history of Bigby Wolf and Snow White, and how they came to the mundane world.
Legends In Exile (issues 1 to 5): The introduction to Fabletown. Sheriff Bigby Wolf investigates the apparent murder of Rose Red.
Animal Farm (issues 6 to 10): A revolt occurs on the Farm, a place for inhuman Fables.
Bag 'O Bones (issue 11): A tale set during the American Civil War in which Jack finds a way to cheat Death.
A Two-Part Caper (issues 12 and 13): A mundane journalist finds out about the Fables and they have to decide how to react.
Storybook Love (issues 14 to 17): Bluebeard hatches a plot to rid himself of Bigby and Snow by enchanting them, and the homicidal Goldilocks attempts to kill the pair. Charming decides to run for Fabletown Mayor.
Barleycorn Brides (issue 18): Bigby tells Flycatcher the story of a Smalltown tradition.
The Last Castle: (Prestige format one-shot): Boy Blue relates the tale of the last stand against the Adversary's forces in the Homelands.
March of the Wooden Soldiers (issues 19 to 21 and 23 to 27): Prince Charming runs for Mayor of Fabletown while the community deals with the apparent escape from the Homelands of Red Riding Hood. The Adversary sends his first troops into Fabletown to begin an assault.
Cinderella Libertine (issue 22): Cinderella's apparently frivolous lifestyle is revealed to be a front.
War Stories (issues 28 and 29): Bigby's adventures during World War II.
The Mean Seasons (issues 30 to 33): Snow gives birth and realizes she must relocate to the Farm. Bigby isn't allowed there and instead exiles himself. Snow encounters Bigby's estranged father, North Wind. One of her children is revealed to be quite different than the others, so she sends him to find his father.
Jack Be Nimble (issues 34 and 35): Jack goes to Hollywood and sets up a film studio. Spins off into Jack of Fables.
Homelands (issues 36 to 38 and 40 and 41): Boy Blue goes on a mission to the Homelands with the aim of assassinating the Adversary and learns the Adversary's identity.
Meanwhile (issue 39): What has been going on in Fabletown during Blue's adventures.
Arabian Nights (and Days) (issues 42 to 45): A delegation of Arabian Fables led by Sinbad visits Fabletown to discuss an alliance against the Adversary.
The Ballad of Rodney and June (issues 46 and 47): A side story of the seemingly ill-fated love of Rodney and June, two members of the Adversary's forces.
Wolves (issues 48 and 49): Mowgli searches for the missing Bigby and brings him a message from Fabletown.
Happily Ever After (issue 50): Bigby returns, delivers a warning to the Adversary and marries Snow.
Big and Small (issue 51): Cinderella continues her mission in the Cloud Kingdom, but in order to treat a sick giant king must be turned into a mouse and enlist the aid of Smalltown's resident medic.
Sons of Empire (issues 52 to 55): The Adversary calls a conference of the Imperial elite to decide what to do about Fabletown. Pinocchio has to face up to his divided loyalties.
Jiminy Christmas (issue 56): Santa Claus' existence as a Fable is addressed.
Father and Son (issues 57 and 58): Bigby decides that the time has come to square things with his father, the North Wind. On a hunt, his children encounter Bigby's siblings, who have become more beasts than men.
Burning Questions (issue 59): Readers were invited to participate in a contest by asking Willingham questions of unresolved events in the series. Here, they are answered.
The Good Prince (issue 60 to 63 and 65 to 69): Flycatcher, who has never fully accepted the death of his wife, must face up to his past.
The Birthday Secret (issue 64): A peek inside the Witching Well and the birthday of Bigby's children.
Kingdom Come (issue 70): Boy Blue and Rose Red discuss their relationship. Flycatcher's offer is brought to the Farm. Plans are made to begin the war.
Skullduggery (issue 71 to 72): Cinderella repays her debt to Frau Totenkinder by going on a mission down South.
War and Pieces (issue 73 to 75): Fabletown and the Empire go to war.
Around the Town (issue 76): Fabletown's newest member is given a tour, much to the displeasure of some of the other residents.
The Dark Ages (issue 77 to 81): A new era begins as the residents of Fabletown face the aftermath of the war. New challenges arise at home and in a distant land a dark power is awakened.
Waiting for the Blues (issue 82): An epilogue to "The Dark Ages".
The Great Fables Crossover (issue 83 to 85): Bigby and Beast get into a violent fight that demonstrates the influence of the dark powers present. Rose Red sinks deeper and deeper into depression. Stinky starts a religion foretelling Boy Blue's heroic return, which a returning Jack Horner takes advantage of before he encountering his son the new Jack Frost. In an interesting twist, the issues are more focused on Jack than on the other Fables.
Meet Dunster Happ (issue 86): A story about Mister Dark, and how he ended up trapped in his magical box
Witches (issue 87 to 91):A 5 part story which also features Bufkin
Rose Red (issue 92 to )
[edit] Awards and praise
As of 2008, Fables has won twelve Eisner Awards.
- Best New Series in 2003
- Best Serialized Story in 2003, 2005 and 2006 ("Legends In Exile", "March of the Wooden Soldiers" and "Homelands")
- Best Anthology in 2007 ("Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall")
- Best Short Story in 2007 ("A Frog’s Eye View," by Bill Willingham and James Jean, in "Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall")
The artists involved have won an additional thirteen Eisner Awards.
- Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team in 2007 (Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha)
- Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior) in 2007 (Jill Thompson)
- Best Cover Artist in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 (James Jean)
- Best Lettering in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (Todd Klein)
Fables: War and Pieces was nominated for the first Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story.
Prominent review site IGN has called it "the best comic book currently being produced"[8]
[edit] Television series
A television series based on Fables was put into development by NBC in 2005 for the 2006-2007 Television Season. The show received a script order and was developed by Craig Silverstein and Warner Brothers Television[9] but was not developed any further than the scripting stage.
On the 8th December 2008 it was announced that ABC had picked up the rights to develop a pilot of Fables for the 2009-2010 Television Season. Six Degrees creators and executive producers Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner are writing the script for the hourlong drama, again set up at Warner Brothers Television, while David Semel has come onboard to direct.[10][11]
[edit] Collected editions
The series is being collected in trade paperbacks.
| # | Title | ISBN | Release date | Collected material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fables: Legends in Exile | ISBN 1-5638-9942-6 | April 25, 2003 | Fables #1–5 and the new prose story "A Wolf in the Fold" |
| 2 | Fables: Animal Farm | ISBN 1-4012-0077-X | August 1, 2003 | Fables #6–10 |
| 3 | Fables: Storybook Love | ISBN 1-4012-0256-X | May 1, 2004 | Fables #11–18 |
| 4 | Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers | ISBN 1-4012-0222-5 | November 30, 2004 | Fables #19–21, 23–27, and The Last Castle one-shot |
| 5 | Fables: The Mean Seasons | ISBN 1-4012-0486-4 | April 30, 2005 | Fables #22, 28–33 |
| 6 | Fables: Homelands | ISBN 1-84576-124-3 | January 27, 2006 | Fables #34–41 |
| 7 | Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) | ISBN 1-84576-278-9 | July 5, 2006 | Fables #42–47 |
| 8 | Fables: Wolves | ISBN 1-4012-1001-5 | December 20, 2006 | Fables #48–51, maps of Fabletown and the Farm, script for #50 |
| 9 | Fables: Sons of Empire | ISBN 1-4012-1316-2 | June 13, 2007 | Fables #52–59 |
| 10 | Fables: The Good Prince | ISBN 1-4012-1686-2 | June 4, 2008 | Fables #60–69 |
| 11 | Fables: War and Pieces | ISBN 1-4012-1913-6 | November 19, 2008 | Fables #70-75, sketches by Mark Buckingham |
| 12 | Fables: The Dark Ages | ISBN 1-4012-2316-8 | August 11, 2009 | Fables #76-82 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Irvine, Alex (2008), "Fables", in Dougall, Alastair, The Vertigo Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 72-81, ISBN 0-7566-4122-5, OCLC 213309015
- ^ It is not, as Booklist reported, a spin-off of The Sandman.
- ^ Deppey, Dirk (18 September 2006). "Bill Willingham (excerpts)". http://www.tcj.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=410&Itemid=48. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
- ^ "Fabletown.com Forums: Authors". 2006. http://fabletown.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=970. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
- ^ a b "CCI: Vertigo Voices "Fables" Panel", by Timothy Callahan, Comic Book Resources, July 28, 2008. Accessed July 29, 2008
- ^ Cinderella, Super-Spy: Roberson on the Fables Spin-Off, Newsarama, December 3, 2008
- ^ O'Shea, Tom (2003). ""This is a Wonderful Job": An Orca Q&A with Fables' Bill Willingham". http://web.archive.org/web/20050429103441/http://www.orcafresh.net/interview/in020503.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-31. Interview with Bill Willingham
- ^ Goldstein, Hilary (10 August 2006). "The Ten Best DC Comics". http://comics.ign.com/articles/724/724919p2.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
- ^ Shows A-Z - fables on nbc, TheFutonCritic.com]
- ^ ABC to bring DC's 'Fables' alive, The Hollywood Reporter, December 8, 2008
- ^ Bill Willingham on Fables' Jump to Television, Newsarama, December 9, 2008
[edit] References
- Fables at the Grand Comic-Book Database
- Fables at the Comic Book DB
[edit] External links
- Fabletown Forums
- The Official Bill Willingham Homepage
- Bill Willingham at Wizard World L.A.: Writer Bill Willingham discusses the legend of Fables and his other current and upcoming projects (video)
- Excerpt of interview with cover artist James Jean from The Comics Interpreter #3PDF (946 KiB)
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