Fables (comics)
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Fables is a Vertigo comic book series created and written by Bill Willingham. It takes place in a continuity of its own, and is unrelated to the larger DC Comics continuity. The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore who have been forced out of their native lands by a mysterious enemy known as the Adversary. They travel to our world and form a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. (However, fables of non-human appearance must live at the "Farm" in upstate New York.)
Willingham reinterpreted many of the characters, evident in the divorce of Snow White's and Prince Charming due to infidelity on the part of the latter. The former acts as deputy mayor of Fabletown. The other principle character is Fabletown's chief of security, the Big Bad Wolf, who not only has reformed, but has gained the ability to take on human appearance.
Each story arc takes the form of a different genre: The first is a murder mystery, the next a political thriller, and then a caper tale.
Various artists have worked on the title. The covers are strikingly done by James Jean. The majority of the interior work has been down by Mark Buckingham. Other artists include: Bryan Talbot, Lan Medina, P. Craig Russell, and Linda Medley.
Major Characters
- Bigby Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf, Gaffer Wolf) - Having reformed from his violent ways, he became the cigarette smoking, trenchcoat-clad chief of security. He is extremely cunning and resourceful and is an excellent detective. He can change between a wolf and a human. Despite his reformation, he can still be vicious if he believes the situation calls for it. He developed feelings for Snow White and the two have a litter of seven children together. He recently quit his position as the sheriff (due to the election of Prince Charming as mayor). He fought in both of the world wars. Due to Snow White's possession of a lycanthropy-stained knife, he is now a werewolf; although, his wolf form is actually that of his more traditional shape.
- Snow White - Having divorced her husband, Prince Charming, she became the deputy mayor of Fabletown. She has a tough, no nonsense attitude and is considered an "ice queen." In truth, she does care a great deal about her family and friends. Her relationship with her sister Rose Red is strained, since she was the one who had the affair with Charming, but they eventually reconcile. She also at first rebuffed Bigby Wolf's advances, but later she realizes she cares for him. When she bore Bigby Wolf's children (only one of which appears human), she quit her position as deputy mayor to live at the Farm.
- Prince Charming - While he is charming and handsome and brave, he is by nature a womanizer and liar and general rogue. Naturally, he has political ambitions and he recently was elected mayor of Fabletown. His previous wives in chronological order include Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
- Blue Boy (Little Boy Blue) - Snow White's assistant and gopher. He has a great admiration for her. He like to play the blues on his horn. At one time, he had a brief romance with Red Riding Hood. After the election of Prince Charming, he quit his position in the government and left to look for Red Riding Hood.
- Jack of The Tales (Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Jack Horner, and many other fairy tale character named Jack) - A rather benign schemer always looking for quick ways to get rich. His plans always come to naught. They include selling the remaining magical beans, joining the Confederate army during the Civil War, and starting an online business. He briefly dated Rose Red.
- Rose Red - Sister to Snow White, one-time mistress of Prince Charming, ex-girlfriend of Jack Of The Tales, and briefly fiancee of Bluebeard. She currently manages the Farm, and dotes on her nieces and nephews.
- Bluebeard - The former nobleman and serial killer has reformed, or rather pretends he has. Now he is involved with various shady dealings in Fabletown. He is the nemesis of Bigby Wolf and was later killed by Prince Charming in order to seize his vast assets.
- Goldilocks - The girl who broke in to the Three Bears house has grown up. Now she is a gun-toting Leftist political agitator. She was supposedly killed, but being such a popular myth, she may come back to life.
- Pinocchio - A wooden boy brought to life, Pinocchio seemed perpetually angry, possibly due to the fact that he's several hundred years old but has yet to go through puberty. He found out his father Gepetto was still alive, and apparently a captive of the Adversary. He would have returned to the homelands to find his father, but was beheaded in a battle.
Numerous other characters have made important appearances, including Old King Cole, Flycatcher (the Frog Prince), the Three Bears, the Three Little Pigs, Baba Yaga, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Red Riding Hood.
Collections
- Fables: Legends in Exile
- Fables: Animal Farm
- Fables: Storybook Love
- Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers
- Fables: Mean Seasons
External links
- Once Upon A Time (http://www.lindseyonline.net/fables/)
- Fabletown Library (http://www.geocities.com/silva_shado/fables.htm)