Review: Fables 22: Farewell by Bill Willingham

Oh my, what to say about the final volume of the Fables series? Fables 22: Farewell by Bill Willingham) is a collection of "final stories," illustrated by Mark Buckingham and a host of other artists, which conclude some story arcs and leave others in a satisfying place.

The chapters within this volume range from a single page to several, and there are at least two prose (non-illustrated) segments as well. I particularly liked the stories about the Wolf family (Bigby, Snow, and the cubs), the Lady in the Lake, Rose Red, and King Cole. We get a peek into the distant future and learn what will become of the characters and their families . . . kind of.

I say kind of because some of the story arcs end right at a moment of transition, meaning that Willingham has shown us the characters' paths but is not leading us down them. It's up to us to figure out what may happen next. In other cases, we are given something more definitive (deaths, happily ever afters).

In general, I liked Farewell. I'm okay with some ambiguity, and I don't think the Fables universe will ever be fully at peace or at rest. I'm not so sure what I think about the integration of the mundy world (I don't want to say more for fear of spoilers), but I can live with it.

I thought it was fun that all the Fables artists had a chance to add to this final volume, but at the same time I was grateful that Buckingham drew the bulk of the book. I totally understand why so many artists contributed to Farewell, but the variety of styles meant that some of the continuity between stories was lost. Still, all in all the art -- especially the fold-out cover and fold-out end to the final story -- was fabulous. The scan is an example of Buckingham's work.

There a few extras in the back of the book, including notes from Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham, some reproductions of swag, biographies of all the people who worked on the series, plus a key to the fabulous cover.

I'm sad to say good-bye to Fables. I enjoyed the crazy journey and learning about how the Fables characters coped in our world while trying to defeat the enemy who exiled them from their own worlds. It may be the end to main Fables stories, but I'm happy to have a few spin-off volumes left to read.

Good luck to the Fables team in the years to come. I can't wait to see what else they have to offer us.

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4 Companion Volumes for Fans of Series: Reading on Topic

I admit right from the start that I'm kind of cheating because the featured books don't share subject matter but instead share a genre of sorts.

Today's Reading on Topic is compendiums, encyclopedias, and annotated editions of favorite series. It's in these tomes that we discover the inspiration for and deeper history of the stories and worlds that have found a place in our hearts. Turn to such companion volumes to see familiar characters and landscapes in a new light.

Pamela Smith Hill, ed., Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Before Wilder published her famous children's books about her childhood as a pioneer on the High Plains,  she wrote an autobiography. Although never published, it formed the foundation of her later novels. In this volume, Hill supplements the details of Wilder's real-life tales with period photographs, maps, historical research, and more. This is an absolute must for all Little House fans. (South Dakota State Historical Society, 2014, ISBN: 9780984504176)

George R. R. Martin (with Elio M. Garcia Jr. and Linda Antonsson), The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones. Fans of the Ice and Fire series are well aware of the complex politics and history of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. This beautifully designed and illustrated companion volume fills us in on the kings, the prominent families, the lands, and the castles of Martin's beloved series. Impress your friends by learning the names of all the major dragons and the history of the most obscure corners of Westeros. (Bantam, 2014, ISBN: 9780553805444)

Jess Nevins, Bill Willingham, and Mark Buckingham, The Fables Encyclopedia. This amply illustrated volume provides fans with all kinds of fascinating background material for the long-running Fables series. Willingham comments on specific characters and panels, and Buckingham reveals the inspiration behind some of his drawings. No matter how many times you've read the trade volumes of this popular comic, the encyclopedia is bound to give you new insight and information. Spoiler alert: You'll want to have read up to issue 121 as well as 1001 Nights of Snowfall before starting. (DC Comics, 2013, ISBN: 97814012439510)

Diana Gabaldon, The Outlandish Companion: Volume One. Newly updated, this companion volume to the first four Outlander books offers hours of escape into Claire and Jamie's dual-time-period world. You'll find synopses of the books, family trees, theories of time travel, and FAQs. I particularly loved the guides to Gaelic vocabulary and pronunciation. Even better, the new edition includes information about the making of the hit TV series based on the books, complete with behind-the-scenes photographs. (Delacorte Press, 2015, ISBN: 9781101887271)

Bonus Reads: Last year I wrote about Elizabeth Peters and Kristen Whitbread's Amelia Peabody's Egypt, which is the companion volume to the fabulously funny historical mystery series starring a world-famous family of archaeologists. Outlander lovers should be on the lookout for Diana Gabaldon's The Outlandish Companion: Volume Two. This volume is scheduled for a fall 2015 release and will cover the remaining books in the series plus the Lord John Grey books.

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Review: Camelot (Fables 20) by Bill Willingham

Camelot, volume 20 of Bill Willingham's Fables series, set us up for the grand finale of the entire story arc and the Fable characters' ultimate quest of good over evil. Although this volume has a transitional feel, the plot lines and character development all move forward, hinting at what's to come.

Rose Red: The main focus of  Camelot is on Rose Red's embracing of the mantel of hope and her resurrection of the Arthurian round table, with new knights who have new causes. The foundational ideal is second chances, which has the unfortunate side effect of causing a rift between Rose and her sister, Snow White.

The Wolf family: The Wolfs must cope with their various crises, and some of the best scenes of the book involve one or the other of this family. As in Snow White (which I reviewed yesterday), these are still emotional and changing times for the family.

Geppetto: In a short piece about the Geppetto, we learn that the old woodcarver still has a few tricks up his sleeve. We'll have to wait to see if he uses them for good or ill.

Camelot art and general thoughts: The artist for the majority of volume 20 is Mark Buckingham, who really excelled here, particularly in the panels that depicted the after/next life. Super work. Although this volume acts as a bridge to the end of the series, it returns to the classic Willingham humor and epic storytelling. If you've made it this far into Fables, you'll want to read this volume carefully, so you'll be ready for the end. This isn't my favorite Fables volume, but I think it's an important installment.

Final story: Camelot ends with a two-part story called "The Boys in the Band." The members of Boy Blue's old band take it on the road, ending up in an alternative Scotland, where they have some action-packed adventures. The story is drawn by Steve Leialoha, who took a somewhat minimalist approach. The darkly inked panels work well for the tale, which hints at some of what's to come in the final two Fables volumes.

published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2014
ISBN-13: 9781401245160
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Cubs in Toyland and Snow White by Bill Willingham

As the brilliant Fables series by Bill Willingham winds down to its end (only two more volumes left, one in May and one this summer), I'm catching up with the last three already-published volumes. Today I cover Fables 18 and 19, and tomorrow I focus on Fables 20. Then I'll be caught up, left to wait for the next issue.

If you are new to Fables or want to know about the spin-offs and other related series, you absolutely must read Kelly's awesome guide. The latest edition can be found over at Book Bloggers International (click the link), and you'll want to bookmark the post because you'll return to it a lot.

Here are my thoughts on Cubs in Toyland (#18) and Snow White (#19). A number of things happen in these volumes, some of which tell us the ultimate fates of characters who have been around from the very beginning.

• The Cubs: Three cubs play big parts in these volumes. Therese learns that it isn't always great to get what you wish for but if you accept the consequences of your actions you can sometimes find a way to make amends. Darien learns what it means to be the pack leader. Ghost provides help when it's most needed.
• Bufkin: When we last saw him, Bufkin--the unwinged flying monkey--was in great trouble. Thanks to his fellow Ozians, he escapes death but doesn't necessarily escape danger. He and his friends have many heroic adventures until they settle in for their final years.
• Bigby and Snow: Wow! A lot happens to our favorite couple, and I can't really talk about any of it without revealing major spoilers. Their story appears in Snow White, although we learn some interesting things about Bigby at the end of Cubs in Toyland. I hate to be so vague, but you'll thank me later for staying silent.
• General thoughts on Bufkin: I haven't been a huge fan of Bufkin, but I ended up pleased with the direction his life took. I was surprised by the humor, action, and even love included in his story arc. Shawn McManus drew the chapters focused on Bufkin. He used bright colors, and I thought he was especially good at rendering facial expressions. Well done!
• General thoughts on the Wolf family: So many emotions in these chapters, and I couldn't get enough of them. What a roller coaster ride--plus Snow White ends on a bit of cliff hanger. Argh! But I loved how the final panels circled around to pick up the loose threads of Cubs in Toyland. The Wolf family story was drawn by Mark Buckingham, who is my favorite Fables illustrator. He draws an awesome Bigby.
• Other stuff: In these two volumes, we learn more of Mrs. Sprat (now known as Leigh Duglas), Geppetto, and Beast (as in Beauty and the). We also discover something surprising about Leigh's former sword master. All of this promises to affect the future of the main characters and maybe of Fabletown itself.

Have I mentioned how sad I'm going to be when the final book comes out in July? Fortunately, I haven't yet read all the spin-offs, so I can stay with the Fable characters a little longer.

Both published by DC Comics / Vertigo
Cubs in Toyland, 2013, ISBN-13: 9781401237691
Snow White, 2014, ISBN-13: 9781401242480
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Super Team (Fables 16) by Bill Willingham

If you're into comics then you probably already know that the long-running Fables series is coming to end this summer. There is a collected volume coming out sometime this spring and then the last one will be published in June (I think).

I'm determined to be caught up with the series before the last volume hits the bookstores, so you can expect several Fables reviews in the coming weeks.

As always with long series, there is no way not to spoil the earlier plot lines, but I won't give away anything in this volume: Fables: Super Team, Volume 16.

Short take: Oh how I loved this installment. Super Team reminded me of just how funny Willingham can be.

The main story line of volume 16 is Pinocchio's hair-brained scheme to hand-select a group of Fables characters and redefine them as superheros (to be known as the F-Men, although women are included). He's even come up with caped costumes and a series of identifying symbols. In the scan at the right (from near the beginning of the book), Ozma has just tried on her costume for the first time, and Pinocchio is telling her how the superhero universe works.

Of course, the ultimate plan for Pinocchio and all the Fables characters is to find a way to defeat Mr. Dark once and for all. Some of the action in this book takes us to Dark's new headquarters in Darkland, where he's developed an interesting relationship with Mrs. Sprat. Meanwhile, sideline stories focus on Beauty and the Beast; Bufkin and the Magic Mirror; and Snow, Bigby, and their family.

Super Team has everything you want out of a Fables issue: jokes, action, plot twists, and a satisfying end with a hint of what we can expect in the next volume. An added bonus is that the bulk of the book was drawn by (or at least under the direction of) Mark Buckingham. He may be my favorite of the various Fables artists because I so easily relate to his interpretations of the characters.

Super Team ends with a short story titled "Waking Beauty," which is illustrated by Terry Moore. The artistic style of the story is a departure from the main book, but is very appealing. Some of the panels (like the one shown at the left) have incredible details. Willingham didn't forget the humor here either -- check out the sign with instructions for the princes who hope to rouse Beauty from her sleep.

Before moving on to volume 17, I'll be taking a detour by reading Werewolves in the Heartland, which is a Bigby-centric story. I thank Kelly from The Written World for writing what I consider the definitive guide to reading the Fables books and the spin-offs. Check out her "So You Want to Read Fables" post.

Note on the images: All rights remain with the original copyright holder. Click the images to see them full size.

Published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2011
ISBN-13: 9781401233068
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Fables 15: Rose Red by Bill Willingham

It's my understanding that the long-running Fables series, by Bill Willingham and his team of artists, is coming to an end this spring with two final books: number 21 in April and number 22 in June. I've loved most of the main story arcs, and I'll be sad to say good-bye to my friends in Fabletown.

Of course, there are several spin-off books and series. I've already read the Jack of Fables books, but I still have the Cinderella books, a Bigby book, and the Fairest series to look forward to.

The title of volume 15 is Red Rose, and the collected issues focus on two main story lines plus a number of extras. As always, I'll avoid spoilers for this volume, but I can't help but reveal what's happened earlier in the series.

Rose Red and Snow White: The first part of the book includes tales of Rose and Snow's childhood and how they ended up on separate paths. We also learn the true story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (hint: those dwarves weren't really all that nice) and how she met her prince. I really enjoyed this story arc and especially loved the panels that showed the two as little girls (see scan).

Frau Totenkinder / Bellfower: The second part of the book focuses on Totenkinder, now transformed and calling herself Bellflower. This section moves at a swift pace, as the powerful witch tries her hand at both defeating Mister Dark and finding a new life. Lots of action and unexpected twists; you'll have to read the book to see if she succeeded in either quest.

Extras: The final part of volume 15 consists of some short pieces featuring Thumbelina, the Three Blind Mice, and Pinocchio. Although the Pinocchio story ended on an intriguing note, I didn't love this part of the book.

The Art: The Rose Red chapters were penciled by Mark Buckingham and Inked by Steve Leialoha and others. The colors are vibrant and the facial expressions and body postures are lifelike and convey so much more than just the words do. Buckingham and Leialoha were responsible for much of the Totenkinder chapters, and the details and darkness of those panels enhance the story perfectly.

I was less taken by the art in the short stories: the color range in the Thumbelina panels is primarily limited to greens and browns, and I found the lack of detail in the drawings to be disconcerting after the richness of the earlier stories. The art for the Mice adventure has a smudgey appearance, which felt like a good fit.

Recommendation: Rose Red renewed my interest in the Fables series, which was waning after the Jack books and the Great Crossover volume. The endings of the stories included in volume 15 promise changes--some that will have broad repercussions on all the Fables and some that will affect just a few characters on a more personal level. I rate Rose Red as one of my favorite issues.

Published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2011
ISBN-13: 9781401230005
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Fables 14: Witches by Bill Willingham

It's been a very long time since I reviewed a volume in Bill Willingham's imaginative Fables series. I read all the Jack of Fables spin-off arc and then came back to the main story through volume 13: The Great Fables Crossover.

Now that Jack is out of the limelight and the Literals seem to have been banished, the story returns to the destroyed Fabletown, the Farm, and the regained Homelands. I was happy to see familiar faces and to get a hint at where the main story may be going.

This post assumes you've read the previous volumes, but there are no spoilers for Fables 14: Witches. Click on the scans to see them full size.

• What happens? There are three story lines. One focuses on Frau Totenkinder, Ozma, and the other spellcasters; one takes us to the lost Fabletown Business Office, where Bufkin has been trapped; and the other takes us to Ambrose in the conquered Homelands.
• The witches: The power seems to be shifting on the thirteenth floor, as Frau Totenkinder takes on her youthful form and leaves (in secret, she thinks) the mundie world in hopes of finding a way to conquer Mr. Dark. Meanwhile Ozma  is plotting a way to take advantage of Totenkinder's absence.
• Bufkin: Stuck in the Business Offices with only Franky and the Magic Mirror to talk to, Bufkin is getting restless. When he discovers that Baba Yaga has gotten free, he realizes it's up to him to defeat her. He is at a loss until the Magic Mirror reminds him of all his book learning
• Ambrose/Fly: Although he's determined to have a negative-free kingdom, Ambrose soon learns that it will be impossible. Forced to dispense justice from the throne, he struggles with how he can remain kind yet strong.

• Thoughts on the story: I'm so happy to be back to the old Fables. I love the mix of humor (much of it adult) and action. Some of the characters are truly frightening, but then we see a puppy Dalmatian (one of the 101!), and he's just so darn cute (see the scan above right) we temporarily forget Mr. Dark. It was fascinating to see Bufkin in a new light, to learn the Magic Mirror's story, and to see Ambrose find some peace and balance. Although the collection doesn't end on a major cliffhanger, the seeds are planted for the next volume, and I can't wait to read it.
• Artwork: The illustrations in Witches are great. I love the rich colors and the characters were well drawn. I haven't been a fan of all the artwork in the past, but this volume is a winner. The bad guys look bad, the creatures are expressive, and the action is easy to pick up on. Bravo to the team of artists, which includes Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Lees Loughridge, and Todd Klein. The cover is by Joao Ruas, who also created the covers for the individual issues (see the scan to the left).

Published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2010
ISBN-13: 9781401228804
Source: Bought  (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Sven the Returned by Brian Wood

One of the graphic novel series I read this summer was Brian Wood's Northlanders, which is historical fiction that takes place during the time of the Vikings. Instead of focusing the entire fifty-issue series on a single character or plot line, Wood wrote seven independent story arcs, each of which is set in a different location and in different years, spanning roughly from the 700s to the 1200s. Here are my thoughts (with a minor spoiler) in a bullet review.

What's it about? The first volume, Sven the Returned, is set in the Orkneys in 980 BCE. Sven, the son of a Viking lord, left his northern home when he was a boy, rejecting his inheritance as much he felt his family rejected him. He eventually ended up in Constantinople, where he made a good a life for himself as a Varangian. When he learns of his father death, however, Sven decides to return to the islands to claim his wealth and defeat his uncle, who has taken over the lands.

The good. I was initially drawn to the series because it was about Vikings and because I loved the artwork (by Davide Gianfelice) (click the scans to see full size). I also appreciated that the story was fairly realistic, with almost no fantasy or myth elements. You should be aware that Northlanders is most definitely an adult series, with plenty of violence and some sex.

The not so good. Sven wasn't a very sympathetic character and came off as selfish and greedy. This made it difficult for me to feel sorry for his situation and to root for him to regain his inheritance, especially because he wanted the money and didn't really care about what happened to the people. In the end, he showed a better side of himself, but it was not enough and a little too late. Furthermore, the women in the book, were not very well developed, although I liked Enna, a Scotswoman, whom Sven met when he was living in Orkney wilderness.

My main problem with the book had to do with the setup of the comic itself. There were quite few instances in which Wood resorted to descriptors instead of illustrating what was happening. For example, instead of demonstrating a change in seasons through the artwork, Wood includes a narrative bubble that reads, "Months pass, winter comes" (p. 84). In another instance, instead of showing us through facial expressions that Sven is attracted to a young woman, Wood adds a thought bubble that says "And she had my heart" (p. 112).

My final complaint was that the ending was fairly predictable and that a few plot points were glossed over or dropped.

General thoughts. Unfortunately I can't wholeheartedly recommend Sven the Returned. In fact, for the reasons I discussed, I don't plan on reading more of Brian Wood's Northlanders series. On the other hand, it's important to remember that each story arc in the series is independent, and the other collected volumes may be much more successful.

DC Comics / Vertigo, 2008
ISBN-13: 9781401219185
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Bullet Review: The Unwritten: Inside Man (Vol. 2) by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

In July 2012, I reviewed the complex and intriguing start to a literary graphic novel series: The Unwritten by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. I have no explanation for why I waited eighteenth months before reading volume 2. It's a shame because the premise is unique and the story is a genre-bending mix that has something for everyone.

In a nutshell, Tom Taylor's father, the world-famous author of the Tommy Taylor wizard books (kind of like Harry Potter), has disappeared. Although Tom has spent years living under the shadow of his namesake (some reviewers have said the inspiration is A. A. Milne's son, Christopher) and wants desperately to be treated as person separate from his father's fictional character, he also wants to find his dad.

This review doesn't spoil volume 2 but assumes you've read volume 1.

• What happens? In Inside Man, Tom Taylor is transported to France, where he is imprisoned while awaiting his trial for the murder of six people (see the end of volume 1). Besides trying to avoid his enemies and hoping to be proven innocent of murder, Tom wants to resume searching for his missing father, abetted by Savoy (you'll find out who he is in the book) and Elizabeth Hexam, whom we've already met. In the midst of chaos, Tom discovers something startling about himself.
• Thoughts on the plot. The story is not told in a linear fashion, and the plot backs up in time a couple of times to catch us up with the present so we understand what brought each character to the moment of action. Carey pulls this off well, and I was easily able to follow along. As with the first volume, Inside Man weaves real life with fantasy/magic, literary references, and historical events. I don't think the book is difficult to understand, but the complexity of the plot invites you to pause, so you can try to unravel the ultimate mysteries of the main story arc: who exactly is Tom Taylor and what happened to his father?
• Comment on reviewing. I realize you may be scratching your head, wondering what the Unwritten books are all about. That's because it's almost impossible to review these books without spoiling them completely.
• Notes on the artwork. I like the muted colors and the expressive drawings, and I'm especially impressed with the way Gross's illustrations reflect the different aspects of Tom's adventures. For example, the style changes when the action moves from Tom's present-day situation to scenes that portray historical events. The pages that represent blog posts, a Twitter stream, newspapers, and a Web search have immediately recognizable looks and help create another layer to the novel. The scan is from Tom's introduction to prison and was picked to avoid spoilers (click to enlarge).
• Recommendations. Although Unwritten is not a particularly deep series (at least not so far), it requires some attention, so don't pick these graphic novels expecting a quick, light read. I recommend them for people who like books with interwoven layers, stories within stories, and stories about stories; mystery fans; and maybe even fans of Harry Potter. I'm hooked and have promised myself not to wait forever before picking up volume 3.

Published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2010
ISBN-13: 9781401228736
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Thoughts: Jack of Fables Volumes 6 to 9 by Bill Willingham

As many of you know, I've been working my way through Bill Willingham's wonderful graphic novel Fables series. A while back, I had reached the point in the main story line at which I had to veer off and read the Jack of Fables subseries. I reviewed the first five Jack books separately, but got stalled in my reading because Jack's story just doesn't interest me as much as the core books.

I miss the main Fables stories, so this weekend I decided to quit dragging my feet and finish up with good ole Jack. Now I can't wait to get back to Fabletown and all my favorite Fables characters.

If you don't know who Jack of Fables is, he's also known as Jack Horner, Jack the Giant Killer, and Jack B. Nimble. He's a troublemaker who believes he's the greatest Fable of them all. He's constantly scheming and always selfish, and he thinks he's God's gift to Fable women.

Here are the highlights of the final four books starring Jack:

• The Big Book of War (Jack of Fables 6): Jack learns who his real father is, with some surprising repercussions. We also discover that the original fairy tales were different from the stories we humans have told for centuries and learn why Mr. Revise hid the ancient books, rewriting the stories for human consumption.
• The New Adventures of Jack and Jack (Jack of Fables 7): Jack Frost, Jack's son, enters the story. He is an innocent who decides to become a hero for hire. Meanwhile, Jack of Fables has angered one of the artists and is now a fat, ugly guy who eventually turns into a dragon.
• The Fulminate Blade (Jack of Fables 8): Jack Frost discovers his powers and becomes a true hero, even though he's not always the brightest bulb in the lamp.
• The End (Jack of Fables 9): Jack Frost is hired to kill a dragon; yes, that dragon is none other than his father, Jack of Fables. Meanwhile, the Page sisters are attempting to find all the original fairy tale books, and many ex-pat Fable creatures have decided to move back to Fabletown to rejoin their colleagues. All roads lead to the dragon's den, where chaos ensues.

Although Jack of Fables becomes a tiresome character, Bill Willingham's witty dialogue, detailed drawings, and trademark humor are found throughout all these novels. In addition, they each contain interludes with Babe the Blue Ox, who has been shrunk to miniature size. He spends most of his days dreaming up his ultimate fantasy life.

I don't think I'm alone in my opinion that the Jack books are not Willingham at his finest. I much prefer to read about Fabletown, situated in a magical part of New York City, and the upstate New York Fable Farm, where the creatures who can't pass unnoticed in the human world live.

Regardless, I'm not sorry to have gotten to know Jack, and I suspect we'll see him again. I'm also looking forward to reading the much more successful Cinderella spin-off and the Fairest subseries. There are also a couple of stand-alone graphic novels that tie into the greater Fables world.

According to my friend Kelly, I was supposed to stop at Jack of Fables 6 to read the The Great Fables Crossover book, but I forgot, so I'll get to that one next. For a great post about how all the Fables books are interrelated, check out Kelly's "So You Want to Read Fables...?" over at her blog The Written World. She provides an easy-to-follow reading order guide plus a brief history of the series and subseries.

Published by DC Comics / Vertigo
Vol 6: 2009 (ISBN-13: 9781401225001)
Vol. 7: 2010 (ISBN-13: 9781401227128)
Vol. 8: 2011 (ISBN-13: 9781401229825)
Vol. 9: 2011 (ISBN-13: 9781401231552)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Jack of Fables: Americana by Bill Willingham

In Americana, the fourth installment of Bill Willingham's Jack of Fables books, Jack is (as usual) looking for easy money to put him back in the lap of luxury. But before he can put his latest scheme in motion, he has to put Humpty Dumpty together again. And that he does.

Setting out with the egg, Pathetic Fallacy, and Raven (a Native American Fable), Jack jumps a train to Americana, the home of the New World Fables. There we meet various people of legend, including Huck Finn and Roaring Twenties gangsters.

Unfortunately for Jack, his enemies have hired the great Natty Bumpo to track him down. That guy was one serious tracker, and no matter where Jack hides, Natty eventually finds him. Thanks to the self-sacrificing Paul Bunyan, Jack and his friends escape capture. Will they find the legendary golden treasure? And if they do, will they be able to hold on to it?

Although the story line in Americana is not my favorite of the fable books, Willingham and his team are at their funniest. There are several (adult) laugh-out-loud moments that make the book well worth your while. The scan (click to enlarge) is from when Jack tries hiding out in Canada. Apologies to my friends north of the border, but I had to share this page.

The book ends with tangential story of the Fables putting on Hamlet, starring Alice of Wonderland fame. Although a few scenes made me chuckle, I'm not quite sure what it has to do with the larger story arc. Perhaps I just missed it.

As with all the Fables books, a number of artists worked on Americana, and this entry was nicely drawn. The drawing style varies a bit throughout the series, and Americana's illustrations were visually appealing to me. In the scan, you can see what a great job Jack did when he reconstructed Humpty Dumpty.

Buy Jack of Fables: Americana at a bookstore near you.
DC Comics / Vertigo, 2008
ISBN-13: 9781401219796
Rating: B+
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Review: Jack of Fables 3: The Bad Prince by Bill Willingham

If you've been following my Fables reviews, then you know I wasn't all that crazy about the first two entries in Bill Willingham's Jack of Fables spinoff series. I'm so glad I decided to keep reading, though because volume 3, The Bad Prince is one of my favorite Fables installments.

Here are the major plot lines as best as I can do without including spoilers. Jack is on the run from a questionable organization that is out to control the memories of the Fable beings and thus strip the world of magic. The person in charge is named Mr. Revise. In The Bad Prince, we learn more about the background of Revise and his family.

While Jack and his new sidekick, the Pathetic Fallacy (who now wants to be known as Gary), are wandering around the American Southwest, they're picked up by one of Revise's minions. That adventure proves to be an eye-opener for our buddy Jack. He learns something about his origins, and we witness an event of great significance. Jack, however, is so busy stewing over his origins that he hasn't yet realized what happened.

Finally, somewhere in Manhattan, a Mundy (human) may be about to expose the Fables and their Fabletown home to the world at large. Click on the scan to see the first page in this story arc. There are no spoilers on the page, and you'll get an idea of artwork.

As always, there is quite a bit of humor (visual and verbal) in the story. In addition, I like the artists for The Bad Prince, and despite the cover, Jack is pretty handsome in this book.

I'm now looking forward to the next Jack books, the great cross-over book, and my return to the main Fables series.

The story is by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges, and the art team includes Tony Akins, Russ Braun, Andrew Pepoy, Daniel Vozzo, and Todd Klein. The cover art is by Brian Bolland.

Buy The Bad Prince at an Indie or at a bookstore near you. This link leads to an affiliate program.
Published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2008
ISBN-13: 9781401218546
Rating: B+
Source: review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Tall Tales by Jeff Smith

I loved the nine graphic novels that made up the Bone series by Jeff Smith, so when I saw there was another Bone book, I knew I had to read it.

Tall Tales by Jeff Smith with Tom Sniegoski consists of four stories told by Smiley Bone to four young Bone Scouts (well three Bones and Bartleby, the rat creature) whom he has taken on a camping trip.

One story is a previously untold episode that takes places within the time line of the original Bone series and involves Smiley's cousins Fone Bone and Phoney Bone. The other tales introduce us to "the roughest, toughest Bone that ever lived": Big Johnson Bone, the founder of Boneville.

The humor is what you'd expect from Smith: a mix that ranges from innuendo to sarcasm to slapstick to laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the tales about Big Johnson--a Bone version of a Davy Crockett type of folk hero--and hope we get to see more of him in the future.

The artwork is terrific. Smith conveys quite a lot with a simple facial expression and body posture. He provides enough detail to set the scene without stifling the reader's imagination. The following scan is from one of the Big Johnson tales (click to enlarge):

To learn all about Jeff Smith and the Bones, visit his website Boneville.

Tall Tales at an Indie

Tall Tales at Powell's

Tall Tales at Book Depository
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Published by Scholastic / Graphix, 2010
ISBN-13: 9780545140966
YTD: 105
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Fables 3--Storybook Love by Bill Willingham

The third entry in Bill Willingham's Fables series, Storybook Love, is a collection of short graphic stories about the fable creatures (from fairy tales and folk tales and some early novels) who were long ago exiled from their homes and are now living among the mundies (humans) in the New World.

A few of the stories give us additional background on some characters, like the role Jack (of beanstalk fame) played in the American Civil War and how the Lilliputians found their wives. The main stories are a continuation from Fables 2: Animal Farm, and set us up for the next book in series.

There is plenty of action in these stories, and at times it is near impossible to stop reading until the end of the scene. In addition, there are plenty of instances of what I call art humor. My favorites in this book have to do with the businesses in Fabletown, for example, one bar is called the Yellow Brick Roadhouse, and Nod's Books is advertising its comics nook.

Although I recommend reading the Fables books in order, there is a synopsis of the first two volumes at the beginning of Storybook Love so you can get caught up with the series. Remember though, these are not your childhood fairy tales; they are full of wheeling and dealing, bloody fighting, and sex.

There is a long list of artists on the title page of the book, but Mark Buckinham and Steve Leialoha are listed on the cover. The consistency of the characters, the details in the drawings, and the facial expressions are terrific and help keep me coming back to these books.

Storybook Love at an Indie

Storybook Love at Powell's

Storybook Love at Book Depository
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Published by DC Comics / Vertigo, 2004
ISBN-13: 9781401202569
YTD: 96
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Fables 2--Animal Farm by Bill Willingham

Fables 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham continues the story of how the fairy tale, nursery rhyme, and folk tale creatures have been adapting to life in the mundane world. (For a bit of background, see my review of Fables 1.)

Volume 2 takes us from the city to the special farm in upstate New York where the nonhuman creatures live. They are sick of having their movements restricted and have taken up arms to reclaim their traditional homelands. Their rebellion is discovered by Snow White, who must find a way to stop it.

As with the first volume, the dialogue is sprinkled with quick one-liners, a bit of sarcasm, and some adult humor. Look carefully at the drawings so you don't miss the art humor (is that a literary term?). Here are two pages: one showing Snow White and Reynard the Fox; the other is of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. Enjoy!

I'm slowly collecting the remaining volumes in the Fables series: Thanks to many people over at the Graphic Novel Challenge blog and on Twitter for letting me know about Willingham's work.

Animal Farm at an Indie

Animal Farm at Powell's
Animal Farm at Amazon
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Published by DC Comics, 2003
ISBN-13: 9781401200770
Challenges: 100+, 2010, Graphic Novels, Buy and Read
YTD: 8
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+

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Review: Fables 1--Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

I had heard a lot of great things about the Fables series of graphic novels by Bill Willingham. So I bought the first few books and read the first volume, Legends in Exile, for the fall Read-a-thon.

This first book in the series includes some background material so we understand how all the different characters from fairy tales, legends, and fables ended up together and in the world of the mundanes (as we normal beings are called), but really the novel is a murder mystery.

As with all mystery books, it's difficult to write a summary without giving away too much. It starts out when Jack (of beanstalk fame) discovers that his girlfriend (Rose Red) is missing and her apartment is splattered with blood. He races to the head of security, Bigby Wolf (as in Big Bad), and reports the crime. Wolf then confers with Snow White, director of operations, and an investigation is started.

That's the bare-bones version. The fun of this book comes from the sarcastic humor, quick one-liners, and (for lack of a better word) art jokes. For example, in one panel, Bigby, who is drawn as a human, has a wolf shadow. In another of King Cole's home, you see three fiddles in the background. I enjoyed studying the art as much as I did reading the story.

I couldn't find any samples of the pages to post here, but Amazon has a "look inside" feature, so you can get an idea.

I had enough fun with volume 1 that I'm looking forward to more Fables. My understanding is that there are quite a few of them, so I have a lot of good reading ahead.

Legends in Exile at an Indie

Legends in Exile at Powell's
Legends in Exile at Amazon
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Published by DC Comics, 2003
ISBN-13: 9781563899423
Challenges: 100+, 999, Clear Off Your Shelves
YTD: 81
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+

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