| Fables | |
|---|---|
Cover page of Legends in Exile |
|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Vertigo |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Contemporary fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy |
| Publication date | 2002–present |
| Number of issues | 112 (As of December 2011) |
| 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 1-4012-0500-3 |
| Arabian Nights (and Days) | ISBN 1-4012-1000-7 |
| Wolves | ISBN 1-4012-1001-5 |
| Sons of Empire | ISBN 1-4012-1316-2 |
| The Good Prince | ISBN 1-4012-1686-2 |
| War and Pieces | ISBN 1-4012-1913-6 |
| The Dark Ages | ISBN 1-4012-2316-8 |
| The Great Fables Crossover | ISBN 1-4012-2572-8 |
| Witches | ISBN 1-4012-2880-1 |
| Rose Red | ISBN 1-4012-3000-8 |
Fables is a comic book series created by writer Bill Willingham, published by DC Comics's Vertigo imprint beginning 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 "The Adversary" who has conquered the realm. The Fables 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]
Contents |
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."[2]
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.[3] Other artists include: Bryan Talbot, Lan Medina, P. Craig Russell, Mike Allred, Craig Hamilton, and Linda Medley.
Jack of Fables was a spin-off series that focused on Jack Horner. It debuted in July 2006 and follows Fables #35 ("Jack Be Nimble" part 2). It is co-written by Willingham and former Clockwork Storybook author Matthew Sturges. The series ended with its fiftieth issue in March, 2011.
The Literals is a three issue miniseries comprising one third of The Great Fables Crossover. It is co-written by Willingham and Sturges, and was published April 2009 through June 2009.
1001 Nights of Snowfall is a prequel to Fables written by Willingham. It was initially released in hardcover on October 18, 2006.
Peter and Max: A Fables Novel is an illustrated novel centering around Peter Piper, his wife Bo Peep and his brother Max, who will later grow up to be the Pied Piper. It is written by Willingham and illustrated by Steve Leialoha. It is available in hardcover and paperback editions, and includes a brief comic-book story that deals with Pete and Bo Peep's adventures after the events in novel.[4]
A spin-off mini-series called: Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love, was announced at the Fables Panel at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con. Written by novelist and publisher Chris Roberson (another of Willingham and Sturges' fellow Clockwork Storybook alumni) with painted cover art by Chrissie Zullo, the miniseries was drawn by Shawn McManus,[5] and (according to Comic Book Resources ' Timothy Callahan) "answers the question of what happened to Cinderella's fairy godmother."[6] Writer Roberson says, "It's 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' meets 'Sex and the City.'" The concluding issue was released in April 2010.[7]
Announced at the Fables Panel at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con, Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland is an original graphic novel written by Willingham with art by Craig Hamilton, and Jim Fern. Bigby Wolf sets out on a quest across the US to find a new location for Fabletown.[8] It will be initially released in hardcover on October 2011.
Announced at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International, a six-issue sequel to Chris Roberson and Shawn McManus' earlier Cinderella series was released in mid 2011; Cinderella: Fables Are Forever.[9]
Announced at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International, Willingham plans to start a series called Fairest, following the lives of some of the female Fables, including Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. The series will start with Willingham as the author, with subsequent arcs handed off to writers of his choosing.[10] It will debut in March 2012 with the first arc written by Willingham and art by Phil Jimenez.
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?"[11] Most of the characters seen so far are from European stories. The major exceptions are Arabian fables and American fables, from the fable world of Americana appearing in "Jack of Fables", such as Paul Bunyan, Black Sambo (now known as Sam) and the Lone Ranger. Most of these characters appear primarily in the Jack of Fables spin-off.
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 Snow 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 must be turned into a mouse and enlist the aid of Smalltown's resident medic in order to treat a sick giant king.
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 (issues 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): Preparation for war begins at the Farm 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 (issues 71 and 72): Cinderella repays her debt to Frau Totenkinder by going on a mission down South.
War and Pieces (issues 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 (issues 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 (issues 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 encountering his son, the new Jack Frost. In an interesting twist, the issues are more focused on Jack than on the other Fables. (Note: Includes Jack of Fables issues 33 to 35 and The Literals issues 1 to 3.)
Boxing Days (issue 86): Mister Dark relates how he came to be trapped in a magical box by a group of imperial warlocks, and the rise of their leader Dunster Happ.
Witches (issues 87 to 91): The leaders and witches of Fabletown discuss how to defeat Mister Dark. Meanwhile Bufkin finds himself trapped in the lost business office with Baba Yaga and many other monsters.
Out to the Ball Game (issues 92 and 93): A story set in Haven, where the local baseball game leads to a murder.
Rose Red (issues 94 to 98): The Farm is in chaos, as various factions vie for control. To restore order, Rose Red must face her greatest foe - herself.
Pinocchio's Army (prose story from the Rose Red trade paperback): A story set during the Rose Red story arc, focusing on Pinocchio and Geppetto.
Dark City (issue 99): Mr. Dark uses his power to construct a new citadel in New York City.
Single Combat (issue 100): The final confrontation between Frau Totenkinder and Mister Dark.
The Ascent (issue 101): Bufkin climbs the Business Office's tree and finds himself in Ev (a neighbor to the Land of Oz).
Super Team (issues 102 to 106): Ozma puts together a team of Fables to mimic the superheroics of comic books.
Waking Beauty (issue 107): The fate of the defeated Empire's thorn-covered capital.
Inherit the Wind (issues 108 to 111): The first results of that enigmatic prophesy about the Cubs.
All in a Single Night (issue 112 ): A Fables takes on A Christmas Carol, focusing on Rose Red.
In Those Days... (issues 113 ): A collection of short, short Fables stories.
Cubs in Toyland (issues 114 to 121 ): Snow and Bigby’s cub Therese receives a Christmas gift from an unknown admirer. This red plastic boat may hold the key to a deep, disturbing secret that will incite a series of soul-crushing events for the denizens of Fabletown. This 8-issue storyline will also have a backup feature that follows Bufkin’s (mis)adventures in Oz.
As of 2008, Fables has won fourteen Eisner Awards.
The artists involved have won an additional fourteen Eisner Awards.
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"[12]
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[13] but was not developed any further than the scripting stage.
On December 8, 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 were writing the script for the hourlong drama, again set up at Warner Brothers Television, while David Semel had come onboard to direct.[14][15]
There has been no news since concerning a series based directly on Willingham's series. Instead, ABC has announced a new series called Once Upon a Time, which features fairy tale characters such as Snow White and Prince Charming exiled in the "real world". The show's creators, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, stated that they "read a couple issues" of Fables but believe that while the two concepts are "in the same playground," they are "telling a different story."[16]
On February 17, 2011, Telltale Games announced they will be developing an episodic game based on Fables.[17]
The series proper is principally being collected in trade paperbacks. Deluxe edition hardcovers are also being produced. The spin-off graphic novel 1001 Nights of Snowfall is available in both hardcover and softcover format.
| # | 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 1-4012-0500-3 | January 27, 2006 | Fables #34–41 |
| 7 | Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) | ISBN 1-4012-1000-7 | 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 |
| 13 | Fables: The Great Fables Crossover | ISBN 1-4012-2572-1 | February 9, 2010 | Fables #83–85, Jack of Fables #33–35 and The Literals #1–3 |
| 14 | Fables: Witches | ISBN 1-4012-2880-1 | December 7, 2010 | Fables #86–93 |
| 15 | Fables: Rose Red | ISBN 1-4012-3000-8 | April 11, 2011 | Fables #94–100 |
| 16 | Fables: Super Team | ISBN 1-4012-3306-6 | December 14, 2011 | Fables #101-107 |
| 17 | Fables: Inherit the Wind | ISBN | July 2012 | Fables #108-113 |
| # | Title | ISBN | Release date | Collected material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 | ISBN 1-4012-2427-X | September 30, 2009 | Fables #1–10 |
| 2 | Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2 | ISBN 1-4012-2879-8 | November 23, 2010 | Fables #11-18; The Last Castle; "A Wolf in the Fold"[18][19] |
| 3 | Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3 | ISBN 1-4012-3097-0 | August 16, 2011 | Fables #19–27 |
| 4 | Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4 | ISBN 1-4012-3390-2 | February 15, 2012 | Fables #28-33, FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL. |
| 5 | Fables: The Deluxe Edition, Vol. 5[20] | TBD | June 2012 | Fables #34-45 |
| Title | Format | ISBN | Release date | Collected material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 Nights of Snowfall | Hardcover | ISBN 1-4012-0367-1 | October 18, 2006 | |
| 1001 Nights of Snowfall | Softcover | ISBN 1-4012-0369-8 | March 5, 2008 | |
| Fables: Covers by James Jean | Hardcover | ISBN 1-4012-1576-9 | November 18, 2008 | Covers from issues 1 to 75, and TP vol. 1 to 11 |
| Peter & Max: A Fables Novel | Hardcover | ISBN 1-4012-1573-4 | October 7, 2009 | An original prose novel set in the Fables universe |
| Peter & Max: A Fables Novel | Softcover | ISBN 1-4012-2537-3 | December 28, 2010 | An original prose novel set in the Fables universe |
| Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love | Softcover | ISBN 1-4012-2750-3 | August 10, 2010 | Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love issues 1-6 |
| Cinderella: Fables are Forever | Softcover | ISBN 1-4012-3385-6 | April 18, 2012 | Cinderella: Fables are Forever issues 1-6 |
| Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland | Hardcover | ISBN 1-4012-2479-2 | September 5, 2012 | |
| Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland | Softcover | ISBN | TBD |
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