Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile

Ok, I admit it, I was a comic book collecter as a kid. I still have a couple boxes full in the garage at home. The oldest book I have is a copy of Mad Magazine issue number three if I recall. The collector books show it worth some $$, but good luck finding a buyer. So when I was reading Adam Duritz new newsletter (he is the frontman for Counting Crows) and he highly recommends a series of graphic novels I made a note of them. This weekend I ran down to a local bookstore to pick up the first volume.

What the novels consist of are a collection of the comic book series into a single book format. For example Volume 1 is filled with comic book issues 1- xx (I don't have that detail handy, does it matter?). Volume 2 would be issue xx--xx. Ok, now that I have explained that.

This series is about the characters from fables we grew up with. Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Little Boy Blue, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc. etc. In the book, these characters are referred to as Fables. The Fables all existed, and are very real, they were spread out amongst different worlds (not Earth) and have been forced to flee their homelands to Earth by the Adversary, and live amongst us Mundys (humans). They have taken human form, through magic spells, and for those who cannot, they live at The Farm. Their community is called Fabletown in which the Big Bad Wolf (Bigby) is the sheriff in human guise.

Have I lost you yet? Stick with it, a little bit longer. I haven't read too much yet, so I can't provide too many details on the Adversary, but if you didn't figure it out, he is the bad guy.

Snow White, now divorved from Prince Charming, is unofficially in charge of Fabletown. Just to emphasize this is not for the kiddies, They were divorced when she caught the prince sleeping with her sister Rose Red.

Ok, so I really haven't done much besides explain the backstory, let me real quick give you what the current story is....

The series opens with a uncomfirmed murder in Fabletown. Rose Red's apartment is covered in blood, and she is missing. Bigby is called in and begins the investigation, where we get most of what I typed above in the backstory. As he travels around interviewing the suspects (Bluebeard, Jack (from the beanstalk) Prince Charming) we learn the background of the series to come.

So far, it is a great read, if this continues, I will be looking to purchase the following volumes. Like I mentioned above, this is not for the kids, language, violence, sex, it is definitely aimed at an older audience. I am actually surprised they are getting away with depiciting the Fables, in this way. I can't imagine Disney appreciates Prince Charming as a playboy, who uses women for their money, and for sex, bouncing around between them. He is actually trying to sell his title off, to afford his lifestyle right now where I stopped reading last night.


So far;
Rating: 4 out of 5
Might go up, might go down, I'm about 3/4 way through this, with plans to finish it tonight.
Most likely, I'll be ordering the rest at the same time.



Fables Vol 1: Legends in Exile
Author: Bill Willingham
Amazon Price: $9.99
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Vertigo (December 1, 2002)