Bibliophilia: Fables

I read a lot. Newspapers, magazines, blogs, forums, novels, reference books, manuals. One thing I really like to read is graphic novels. Or “more sophisticated comic books” to the uninitiated.

One in particular I absolutely fell in love with, and if the number of awards is any indication, many agree with me just how fantastic it is.

Fables by Bill Willingham and an assortment of very talented artists.

The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore – (King Cole (as in Old...) is the mayor of Fabletown. Snow White, divorced from the philandering Prince Charming is the deputy mayor. Cinderella, who owns the Glass Slipper Shoe Store is actually a covert spy. Big Bad Wolf has reformed his ways and taken on human form. He is now the sherrif of Fabletown and goes by the name Bigby Wolf. Goldilocks is now a psychotic eco-terrorist. Hansel is a feared witch-hunter. Boy Blue (as in Little...) appears as a meek office clerk with a valiant past. The Wicked Witch is now Frau Totenkinder and lives on the 13th floor of the Woodlands tower and creates spells to help Fabletown. Rapunzel needs to have her hair cut three times a day. Flycatcher is the prince who has been turned into a frog) – referring to themselves as “Fables” – who have been forced out of their Homelands by “The Adversary” (oh, I’m not going to give away who it is...) who has conquered the realm. The Fables have traveled through portals to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. Fables who are not in human form and thus unable to blend in with human society – (Three Blind Mice, The Three Pigs, etc.) – live at “the Farm” in upstate New York.

I had known of the series for a while, but what really made me want to read it were the stellar covers by James Jean. Several of my tattooist friends rave about him. And I have to agree. I know this may sound hyperbolic to some people, but I think James Jean may be one of the greatest artists – EVER. He seems to have complete mastery of any and all mediums, possesses a stunning conceptual vision, and he is amazingly prolific. His rough sketches are often more impressive than many peoples finished pieces.

I had seen Fables at the library, but it always seemed to be the collections that featured issues 47 to 54. Didn’t really want to start reading it that far in, so I reserved the first collections, and started from there.

I cannot say enough good things about Fables. I’m a huge fan of Sandman, and I dare say.....I find it shocking to even admit this....I think I like Fables even more than Sandman. Wonderful stories that draw you into an incredibly rich and well thought out world. Highly recommended reading. If you don’t want to rush out to buy them all on the basis of my recommendation, rush out to your library and see if you can reserve them there.

Oh, and a few of the stellar covers that James Jean created for Fables, and that intrigued so much I had to read the books themselves. After seeing and loving the covers, seeing and reading the actual stories that inspired the covers was great. Do rush out and buy a copy of his Fables:Covers. 75 of the covers, as well as sketches that led up to the final piece. Well worth the money.

 I could go on and on and on, but let me post these last three, among my particular favourites. The first because it's just a stunning image. But the last two especially. The early fables dealt primarily with European and to a lesser degree North American folklore. Issues 42 to 47, the Arabian Nights (and Days) story arc delved into some of the Arabian fables. Those two covers blew me away.