Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
New York : DC Comics, c2002.
Description
When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters have created their own peaceful and secret society within an exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown. But when Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Fabletown's sheriff, a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the killer is Bluebeard, Rose's ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.
User reviews
LibraryThing member theokester
I've heard good things about this series and have almost picked it up many times over the past year or so. I finally broke down and grabbed a copy a couple of weeks ago and I'm really glad I did.
I've enjoyed a lot of the "fairy tale retelling" stories that have been coming around lately, some more
The character development and presentation was excellent. I loved the adult depth given to these characters that are otherwise fairly 2-dimensional. Seeing Jack (of Beanstalk fame) as a conniving, lying, scheming, unsuccessful con-man of sorts was great. Snow White as the semi-snobbish clean cut acting-leader felt a little flat at first, but as the story went on and we saw more into her personality, she became even more intriguing. Prince Charming was great as the over-confident schmoozer. But my favorite had to be the portrayal of "Bigby" (as in "Big Bad" Wolf) as a sort of noir detective for the fairy tale folks. Having just recently read Red Harvest, I had a feel for the hard-boiled detective and really liked Bigby's portrayal.
The art in this novel was well done and a lot of fun. The central art was clean and nice and helped the story along….while at the same time, the artist had a lot of fun along the periphery by adding in small details that added humor or tension to the scenes and may not even be picked up on (I'm sure I missed a lot of the subtleties).
The story was engaging and very interesting. At the heart of this particular book (the first in the series), there was some focus on introducing us to the characters. By doing it through the course of a murder mystery, it allowed the author to provide backstory without it sounding like contrived monologues. The mystery itself was a lot of fun and very engaging. I wish I could say I had it figured out before the very end…but I can't. I did suspect something along the lines of what happened, but not exactly as it played out, which (in my opinion) is the way a good mystery novel should be framed (the reader shouldn't be able to figure things out too easily, but should feel like they came just inches behind the detective).
I was a little turned off by the amount of swearing in the book (I would love to have been able to share this with my kids, but the language will definitely make me keep it out of their hands for at least the next few years). There were a couple of scenes of violence which were a little over the top (especially for young readers), but weren't overly graphic or offensive. And the one "sex scene" and the couple of suggestive panels we in the PG to PG-13 range. Overall, a movie version of the book would probably receive a PG-13 rating, possibly pushed to R if they decided to overplay the language/violence or expound on the sex. If the language was toned down a bit, it could probably be a solid PG.
Overall, this was a great read and a very fun world filled with wonderful characters. I'm definitely planning to follow this series (from the B&N shelf, it looks like there are 10+ books already). I may have to increase my book allowance so I can catch up more quickly.
****
4 stars
I've enjoyed a lot of the "fairy tale retelling" stories that have been coming around lately, some more
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than others. What I found even more fun about this premise is that the fairy tale characters have been dislocated from their fairy tale worlds and are now living in our world…trying to 'fit in' but also striving to maintain their own identities.The character development and presentation was excellent. I loved the adult depth given to these characters that are otherwise fairly 2-dimensional. Seeing Jack (of Beanstalk fame) as a conniving, lying, scheming, unsuccessful con-man of sorts was great. Snow White as the semi-snobbish clean cut acting-leader felt a little flat at first, but as the story went on and we saw more into her personality, she became even more intriguing. Prince Charming was great as the over-confident schmoozer. But my favorite had to be the portrayal of "Bigby" (as in "Big Bad" Wolf) as a sort of noir detective for the fairy tale folks. Having just recently read Red Harvest, I had a feel for the hard-boiled detective and really liked Bigby's portrayal.
The art in this novel was well done and a lot of fun. The central art was clean and nice and helped the story along….while at the same time, the artist had a lot of fun along the periphery by adding in small details that added humor or tension to the scenes and may not even be picked up on (I'm sure I missed a lot of the subtleties).
The story was engaging and very interesting. At the heart of this particular book (the first in the series), there was some focus on introducing us to the characters. By doing it through the course of a murder mystery, it allowed the author to provide backstory without it sounding like contrived monologues. The mystery itself was a lot of fun and very engaging. I wish I could say I had it figured out before the very end…but I can't. I did suspect something along the lines of what happened, but not exactly as it played out, which (in my opinion) is the way a good mystery novel should be framed (the reader shouldn't be able to figure things out too easily, but should feel like they came just inches behind the detective).
I was a little turned off by the amount of swearing in the book (I would love to have been able to share this with my kids, but the language will definitely make me keep it out of their hands for at least the next few years). There were a couple of scenes of violence which were a little over the top (especially for young readers), but weren't overly graphic or offensive. And the one "sex scene" and the couple of suggestive panels we in the PG to PG-13 range. Overall, a movie version of the book would probably receive a PG-13 rating, possibly pushed to R if they decided to overplay the language/violence or expound on the sex. If the language was toned down a bit, it could probably be a solid PG.
Overall, this was a great read and a very fun world filled with wonderful characters. I'm definitely planning to follow this series (from the B&N shelf, it looks like there are 10+ books already). I may have to increase my book allowance so I can catch up more quickly.
****
4 stars
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LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
This is the first compliation of the Fables: Legends in Exile comic. In this series, fairy tale characters have been exiled from their land and come to live in New York among the "mundanes". Old King Cole is the mayor of Fabletown and Snow White is second in command. In this volume, Snow White's
A very imaginative concept and unforgetable characters. I'm certainly looking forward to the next volume.
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sister Rose Red has been murdered and Mr. Wolf (Fabletown detective) has to get to the bottom of it. A very imaginative concept and unforgetable characters. I'm certainly looking forward to the next volume.
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LibraryThing member cspooner
Fables is a fantastic take on old fairytale favourites, revamping characters more famously known for Disney adaptations. Snow White is now in charge of the Fable community, a section of Manhatten where the more human looking characters can live in relative peace from the 'Mundys'. This is a very
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enjoyable graphic novel: it looks great, the people are gripping, it's funny in places and really gets you involved in the story. My only real gripe is that it's quite short, and as soon as the momentum really gets going the book ends. Show Less
LibraryThing member TPLThing
The premise of this graphic novel is that a mysterious force has overridden those strange lands we’ve all read about in fables, with the result that many of the characters we know from those tales have come into our own world to seek refuge. What’s interesting here is that many of the
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characters play out their same basic dramas in a contemporary setting. Of course, this causes many of these characters to be seen in a different light. Take Prince Charming, for example. With three wives from the storybooks (you didn’t really think they were different prince charmings, did you?), he could be seen as a bit commitment-challenged. In this book we get glimpses of the prince charming his way into mortal women’s beds and also their pocketbooks. Writer Bill Willingham knows his stuff, and the end result is a thoroughly engrossing series that will have readers rethinking stories they haven’t visited in years. Show Less
LibraryThing member krypto
Wonderful graphic novel with fairy-tale characters living in modern day New York. Often this kind of tale is told badly, with the characters simply there to be the butt of easy sex jokes or similar, but this (except for one moment) stays just the right side of tasteful and you end up caring about
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the various personalities. Snow White and the Wolf are the main protagonists, and it's fun to spot cameos both obvious and subtle. It's still 'mature' in nature - there's violence and sex from the outset - but it's part of the tale and makes for an entertaining read. The first of a long-running series. Show Less
LibraryThing member tdfangirl
I've wanted to start reading Fables for quite a while. A friend of mine did some of her Master's work on the series, and I'm all about fairy tales and modern adaptations. So I was overjoyed when my boyfriend gave me [book: Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile] as a graduation gift. I finally sat down
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and read it the other day, and... wow. This is everything I'd hoped it would be.This volume both sets up the Fables world and draws the reader into a murder mystery. All of the fairy tale creatures were forced from their world centuries ago by the conquering Adversary, and they've set up shop in New York City, calling their new settlement Fabletown. The story begins with Jack (of beanstalk fame) dashing across town to find Bigby (of "Huff, puff" fame), Fabletown's detective. There has apparently been a brutal murder, and Bigby must solve the mystery.Along with finding out what happened to Rose Red, Bigby must work with her sister, Snow White, who happens to be second-in-command to the mayor of Fabletown. "Legends in Exile" gives the reader not only a great murder-mystery but also begins building wonderful tension between Bigby and Snow White.I've promptly added all of the other Fables collections to my Amazon wishlist. This stuff is addictive. Show Less
LibraryThing member samantha.1020
From the back of the book:
Who killed Rose Red? In Fabletown, where fairy tale legends live alongside regular New Yorkers, the question is all anyone can talk about. But only the Big Bad Wolf can actually solve the case- and, along with Rose's sister Snow White, keep the Fabletown community from
My Thoughts:
This was my 1st foray into graphic novels and I enjoyed the experience. It seems everyone and their brother are enjoying graphic novels and it convinced me that I must give them a try. I started with the Fables series as Ladytink and a few others seemed to be really liking these so it seemed like a good place to start. And it was! Legends in Exile is a fast-paced whodunnit filled with fairy tale characters. It was an easy read that I finished in one sitting...I just couldn't put it down. I knew that there were clues that I was missing but I just didn't care and let the story take me along for the ride. The pictures added to the story for sure and it was a neat experience all around. Except this is an adult story and it kept catching my son's attention. He wanted to know what Mommy was reading (usually he could care less) and wanted to look at all of the pictures too. There wasn't anything awful just not the type of book that I wanted him looking at :) So we busted out a Hulk graphic novel for him and he was content looking at his own pictures. There isn't much else to say about this one except if you are like I was and on the edge on whether or not to give graphic novels a try...well, just try them. It was definitely a worthwhile experience and I will be reading more in the future!
Who killed Rose Red? In Fabletown, where fairy tale legends live alongside regular New Yorkers, the question is all anyone can talk about. But only the Big Bad Wolf can actually solve the case- and, along with Rose's sister Snow White, keep the Fabletown community from
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coming apart at the seams.My Thoughts:
This was my 1st foray into graphic novels and I enjoyed the experience. It seems everyone and their brother are enjoying graphic novels and it convinced me that I must give them a try. I started with the Fables series as Ladytink and a few others seemed to be really liking these so it seemed like a good place to start. And it was! Legends in Exile is a fast-paced whodunnit filled with fairy tale characters. It was an easy read that I finished in one sitting...I just couldn't put it down. I knew that there were clues that I was missing but I just didn't care and let the story take me along for the ride. The pictures added to the story for sure and it was a neat experience all around. Except this is an adult story and it kept catching my son's attention. He wanted to know what Mommy was reading (usually he could care less) and wanted to look at all of the pictures too. There wasn't anything awful just not the type of book that I wanted him looking at :) So we busted out a Hulk graphic novel for him and he was content looking at his own pictures. There isn't much else to say about this one except if you are like I was and on the edge on whether or not to give graphic novels a try...well, just try them. It was definitely a worthwhile experience and I will be reading more in the future!
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LibraryThing member jorgearanda
The setting was very promising --fairy tales characters live hidden in New York after being exiled from their magical kingdoms--, but this first volume on the graphic novel series didn't deliver on those promises: The novelty wore off quickly, and the murder mystery plot that spans the volume
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turned out to be inconsequential. Good artwork, but I don't think it will make me go and get the rest of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member PhoenixTerranReviews
Fables is one of the many comic series that has been calling to me for quite some time, and yet I have managed to put off reading them for just as long. Not only does Fables catch my eye every time I'm in the comic shop, it also came highly recommended to me by several people whose opinions I
I absolutely love the premise behind Fables, which is of course introduced in Legends in Exile Actually, the title gives a pretty good indication of it. Characters of legend, fables, myths, and fairy tales from all of the world have fled to New York, pursued by an entity known only as the Adversary who has taken over their wealth, properties, and homelands. Those that are human seeming live in disguise in the New York City with Old King Cole as the Mayor, Snow White as his second in command, and a complete cast of others keeping the refugees together in some semblance of a community known as Fabletown, while their inhuman counterparts remain on a large farm in upstate New York.
Beyond the general introduction to the story so far, there is a murder mystery to be solved by the Fabletown sheriff Bigby Wolf (aka Big Bad Wolf, among other things). Snow White's sister Rose Red has gone missing--her apartment is in shambles and blood is everywhere. Bigby has plenty of suspects, from Rose's on-again off-again boyfriend Jack (of beanstalk and giant-killing infamy), to her lover Bluebeard (yes, that Bluebeard), and even Snow White herself. Overall, the mystery plot-line wasn't that great, but I loved the interactions between characters from completely different stories. Bigby was a personal favorite.
The short story wasn't anything spectacular either, but it was enjoyable. It gives more background for several of the characters, particularly that of the Wolf. None of the characters are explicitly identified, but it's fairly obvious which characters are implied. The story was a lovely addition to the volume and lent a bit more substance to it as a whole.
The artwork is very well done and very consistent (inconsistency is a pet peeve of mine). Completely in color, and generally realistic--these are fairy tales we're talking about--it was a delight to look at. As already mentioned, I love the concept behind Fables. Even though the first volume wasn't a particularly strong introduction to the series, there were enough highlights that I'm definitely going to have to pick up the next volume Animal Farm.
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trust. So, when I discovered that the local branch of my public library has the series, I snatched up the first volume, Legends in Exile, which collects issues one through five in addition to a previously unpublished short story.I absolutely love the premise behind Fables, which is of course introduced in Legends in Exile Actually, the title gives a pretty good indication of it. Characters of legend, fables, myths, and fairy tales from all of the world have fled to New York, pursued by an entity known only as the Adversary who has taken over their wealth, properties, and homelands. Those that are human seeming live in disguise in the New York City with Old King Cole as the Mayor, Snow White as his second in command, and a complete cast of others keeping the refugees together in some semblance of a community known as Fabletown, while their inhuman counterparts remain on a large farm in upstate New York.
Beyond the general introduction to the story so far, there is a murder mystery to be solved by the Fabletown sheriff Bigby Wolf (aka Big Bad Wolf, among other things). Snow White's sister Rose Red has gone missing--her apartment is in shambles and blood is everywhere. Bigby has plenty of suspects, from Rose's on-again off-again boyfriend Jack (of beanstalk and giant-killing infamy), to her lover Bluebeard (yes, that Bluebeard), and even Snow White herself. Overall, the mystery plot-line wasn't that great, but I loved the interactions between characters from completely different stories. Bigby was a personal favorite.
The short story wasn't anything spectacular either, but it was enjoyable. It gives more background for several of the characters, particularly that of the Wolf. None of the characters are explicitly identified, but it's fairly obvious which characters are implied. The story was a lovely addition to the volume and lent a bit more substance to it as a whole.
The artwork is very well done and very consistent (inconsistency is a pet peeve of mine). Completely in color, and generally realistic--these are fairy tales we're talking about--it was a delight to look at. As already mentioned, I love the concept behind Fables. Even though the first volume wasn't a particularly strong introduction to the series, there were enough highlights that I'm definitely going to have to pick up the next volume Animal Farm.
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LibraryThing member ChristaJLS
After being driven out of their homes by the unknown Adversary, the characters of our most treasured fables are now living among us in the real world. New York City to be exact. While they were once separated, sticking to their own worlds and characters, they are now drawn together and forced to
These comics were recommended to me a number of times, so when I saw the first volume on sale on the Book Depository website I thought “why not?” I fully expected this book to be a short and silly read with some nice pictures. I was partially right. The premise is kind of silly. I mean come on, the Big Bad Wolf has reformed his ways and become the detective of the underground Fabletown? Seems a little farfetched to me. Silliness aside, however, this was actually a well written comic book. It was dark and gritty and there was quite a few surprises and I legitimately didn't see the ending coming at all. The style of writing and even the drawings themselves kind of reminded me of old school Batman comics.
The artwork was pretty good, not anything to write home about but still pleasing to look at. What really stood out, was the periodically throughout the comic there would be these full page paintings, usually of a particular character and I found those absolutely gorgeous (see example on the right). The whole thing was very bright and colourful and made for an overall enjoyable read. I definitely think I'm hooked on this series now. It was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to any fantasy and/or comic fans out there. Only major flaw, you'll more than likely find yourself flying through it as it is a very fast and easy ready. Thankfully they're not as a expensive as most graphic novels you find nowadays so they also won't break the bank.
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co-operate with one another. Especially when one of their own, Rose Red, sister to the beautiful Snow White, has gone missing. Staring a myriad of beloved (and not so beloved characters) including, the Big Bad Wolf, Little Boy Blue, Bluebeard, Prince Charming, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Fables takes you deep into a world that you've never dreamed of.These comics were recommended to me a number of times, so when I saw the first volume on sale on the Book Depository website I thought “why not?” I fully expected this book to be a short and silly read with some nice pictures. I was partially right. The premise is kind of silly. I mean come on, the Big Bad Wolf has reformed his ways and become the detective of the underground Fabletown? Seems a little farfetched to me. Silliness aside, however, this was actually a well written comic book. It was dark and gritty and there was quite a few surprises and I legitimately didn't see the ending coming at all. The style of writing and even the drawings themselves kind of reminded me of old school Batman comics.
The artwork was pretty good, not anything to write home about but still pleasing to look at. What really stood out, was the periodically throughout the comic there would be these full page paintings, usually of a particular character and I found those absolutely gorgeous (see example on the right). The whole thing was very bright and colourful and made for an overall enjoyable read. I definitely think I'm hooked on this series now. It was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to any fantasy and/or comic fans out there. Only major flaw, you'll more than likely find yourself flying through it as it is a very fast and easy ready. Thankfully they're not as a expensive as most graphic novels you find nowadays so they also won't break the bank.
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LibraryThing member keeba
The first story arc in Willingham's Fables series collected in trade paperback. The premise of the series: fairy tale creatures live in exile in New York city after escaping an omnipotent enemy in their fabled homelands. King Cole is their mayor, Snow White is his second in command and 'Bigby Wolf'
More fun than ABC's Once Upon A Time, Rose Red is a party girl, Prince Charming is a faithless wastrel and Jack (of bean stock fame) is a scam artist loser with one get-rich-quick scheme after another.
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is the sheriff. In the opening story, someone has murdered Snow's sister, Rose Red, and Bigby is on the case.More fun than ABC's Once Upon A Time, Rose Red is a party girl, Prince Charming is a faithless wastrel and Jack (of bean stock fame) is a scam artist loser with one get-rich-quick scheme after another.
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LibraryThing member krizia_lazaro
It was a quick and 'light' read. I loved the characterization of these old characters. I loved them when I was small and i loved them even more now that I'm older. :)
LibraryThing member thundermuse
Once upon a time, in many lands far away, the Fables lived happily (and oftentimes unhappily) in their fairy tale and storybook worlds. United by a common foe known only as the Adversary, the Fables were forced to flee to safety in our world, where they set up residence in New York. Their new
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community is shaken when Jack (of beanstalk fame) finds Rose Red’s apartment trashed and covered in her blood. As Rose’s current boyfriend, Jack is the prime suspect, but it’s up to Detective Bigby Wolf and Deputy Mayor Snow White to put this case to rest before Bluebeard tries to take revenge on Jack for murdering his fiancé! This first volume of Fables also includes a prose short story about the invasion of the Adversary’s armies and the Fables’ escape from their homelands. Show Less
LibraryThing member lunanshee
I love this graphic novel. Fairytale characters are re-introduced and reconstructed in this groundbreaking new series. I love fairytales and it is wonderful to see characters I love (and hate) in new and interesting roles!
LibraryThing member extrajoker
The Fables graphic novels had caught my eye more than once at the comic shop, and I finally decided to give them a try. (I am always a little wary of committing myself to a new series of anything; single-volume graphic novels and movies demand less time and money than long-running comics and tv
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shows.) The characters are grittily real, despite their fairy-tale origins, so it's easy enough to suspend my disbelief and fall into the story. From the very beginning, this series has beautiful art, interesting plot twists, and some really great lines. Show Less
LibraryThing member tapestry100
Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina collects the first 5 issues of the Fables series published by the DC Comics imprint, Vertigo. It follows the adventures of the surviving occupants of the fairy tales who have been exiled into the mundane real world after their
The story arc, "Legends in Exile," is basically a set up to the rest of the series. It lays the groundwork of the back story of the Adversary and introduces the characters and the concept of Fabletown. This is definitely not the fairy tale characters of our childhood; these characters are grown-up, NYC-hardened versions of the fairy tales of old. I'm interested to see where this story goes.
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kingdoms have been overtaken by the Adversary. The story arc, "Legends in Exile," is basically a set up to the rest of the series. It lays the groundwork of the back story of the Adversary and introduces the characters and the concept of Fabletown. This is definitely not the fairy tale characters of our childhood; these characters are grown-up, NYC-hardened versions of the fairy tales of old. I'm interested to see where this story goes.
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LibraryThing member ragwaine
My best friend absolutely loves this series and I found a bunch of them at the library so I'm trying it out. It was fun and at times funny. I like the overall idea of fairy tales being chased into the modern world by some dark force. But I've never really been one for the "urban fantasy" genre (if
I like my fantasy well... fantastic. References to real modern real world things takes me out of the story and make it seem kind of silly. So overall I'd give...more My best friend absolutely loves this series and I found a bunch of them at the library so I'm trying it out. It was fun and at times funny. I like the overall idea of fairy tales being chased into the modern world by some dark force. But I've never really been one for the "urban fantasy" genre (if that's what it's called).
I like my fantasy well... fantastic. References to real modern real world things takes me out of the story and make it seem kind of silly. So overall I'd give this closer to 3.5 stars. I'll probably read a couple more of them to see if it gets to be more to my liking.
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that's what it's called).I like my fantasy well... fantastic. References to real modern real world things takes me out of the story and make it seem kind of silly. So overall I'd give...more My best friend absolutely loves this series and I found a bunch of them at the library so I'm trying it out. It was fun and at times funny. I like the overall idea of fairy tales being chased into the modern world by some dark force. But I've never really been one for the "urban fantasy" genre (if that's what it's called).
I like my fantasy well... fantastic. References to real modern real world things takes me out of the story and make it seem kind of silly. So overall I'd give this closer to 3.5 stars. I'll probably read a couple more of them to see if it gets to be more to my liking.
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LibraryThing member mchrzanowski
This was a most original series. I thought it was interesting to see the somewhat twisted version of the classic fairytales brought to life. While most definitely not for kids, I think it can be enjoyed by a wide audience familiar with the tales.
LibraryThing member nesum
I reread this volume recently, just to relvie the story. Certainly the world Willingham created is less "deep" in this initial telling, but the foundation is there. In truth, the whole thing could not have been laid out at first, but this little murder mystery does a good job in introducing the
Just as Neil Gaiman's Sandman series starts small and grows exponentially, so too does Fables, and I am amazed at how naturally and how wonderfully the world has grown from the first volume to the latest. Each volume pushes open more doors while remaining true to the original core. It's a wonderful read.
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major characters and conflicts.Just as Neil Gaiman's Sandman series starts small and grows exponentially, so too does Fables, and I am amazed at how naturally and how wonderfully the world has grown from the first volume to the latest. Each volume pushes open more doors while remaining true to the original core. It's a wonderful read.
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LibraryThing member mdomsky
All the fairy tale creatures of old have created a secret community in New York City to hide from an enemy known only as the Adversary. When one of the fable apartments is found trashed and covered in blood, its occupant missing, the sheriff of Fabletown is charged with solving the mystery.
This
This
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mystery is heavy on characters, but easy to follow because they are all familiar: the Big Bad Wolf, Snow White, Bluebeard, Prince Charming, and so on. The modern take on the fables is lots of fun, and there is a considerable amount of humor besides. Show Less
LibraryThing member qarae
If you enjoy the occasional graphic novel, I recommend this series. All of the Fables that we know and love from all of the bedtime stories, Disney movies, and Grimm's faery tales are forced to emmigrate from their homes by the Adversary and immegrate to the only land not yet fallen, our land. All
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of the fables that can pass as human live in a burrough in NYC, and all the animal like fables live on a farm in upstate New York. Action, adventure, mystery, and love. Show Less
LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan
What if characters from fairy tales were real? What if they lived in the real world? How would they survive? How would magic and modern technology interact? That's part of the premise of the Fables series published by DC Comics' Vertigo line. In this series, the Homelands--the worlds of the people
--J.
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and creatures in our storybooks--have been invaded and conquered by an entity known as the Adversary, causing many to seek asylum in other dimensions. A fair number have ended up in our world, making their home in an apartment complex in New York State. They run their own little community there, complete with a mayor, sheriff and staff. In this first collection, Rose Red, the sister of deputy mayor Snow White, has apparently been murdered. Sherriff Bigby Wolf has to solve the case. Who killed Rose Red? Was it her boyfriend Jack Horner? Her former lover, Prince Charming? Was it suicide? Or is it something even more diabolical? All in all, Mr. Willingham weaves an interesting tale, giving a new twist to many characters whom we've loved for years.--J.
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LibraryThing member theforestofbooks
I really enjoyed this. Great dialogue which had me laughing out loud in places. The crime aspect of the story a little transparent but not enough to detract from the enjoyment. Artwork is brilliant though I feel I maybe falling a little in love Snow White (I think it must be the dark hair!) Looking
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forward to reading the rest of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookgirlokc
I was recently introduced to the fantastical and captivating world of graphic novels through Bill Willingham’s Fables.
I have long admired the cover art of the Fables collections and, as I love fairy tale retellings and fractured fairy tales, I have no idea what took me so long to pick up the
Each volume is beautifully told and illustrated. The stories pull the reader in. They draw on the familiar characters of childhood fairy tales, albeit wonderfully fractured and grim. The tales range in mood from whimsical to touching or tragic. Each volume draws the reader further into the world of Fabletown and I try not to devour them all in one sitting. I can’t say enough how wonderful these graphic novels are.
I have long admired the cover art of the Fables collections and, as I love fairy tale retellings and fractured fairy tales, I have no idea what took me so long to pick up the
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first volume. I am ecstatic that I finally did! I haven’t been this excited over a story since reading The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly last year. I can’t get enough!Each volume is beautifully told and illustrated. The stories pull the reader in. They draw on the familiar characters of childhood fairy tales, albeit wonderfully fractured and grim. The tales range in mood from whimsical to touching or tragic. Each volume draws the reader further into the world of Fabletown and I try not to devour them all in one sitting. I can’t say enough how wonderful these graphic novels are.
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LibraryThing member RHLibrary
David Eicke:
This weekend, I started reading a series of graphic novels by Bill Willingham called FABLES, and I think I’m hooked. The concept of the series is that all the characters from the world’s fairy tales and, well, fables, have been exiled from their homelands by some nebulous force
We find out that things didn’t exactly work out to be “happily ever after”: Snow White and Prince Charming have divorced and he now womanizes female wait staff. Beauty and Beast are having marital issues. Big Bad “Bigby” Wolf is now the Bogartesque sheriff of Fabletown (the underground fable community within NYC), and is investigating the ostensible murder of Rose Red. Jack (of beanstalk fame), her boyfriend, is a prime suspect.
The mix of noir-detective mood with a cast of mythic Shrek-like characters is just bizarre. And bizarre in a really good way. Now I just have to find Volume 2. And 3. And 4…If I’m going to be addicted, I might as well be well-supplied.
This weekend, I started reading a series of graphic novels by Bill Willingham called FABLES, and I think I’m hooked. The concept of the series is that all the characters from the world’s fairy tales and, well, fables, have been exiled from their homelands by some nebulous force
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called the “Adversary” and forced to live in New York City and surrounding areas. We find out that things didn’t exactly work out to be “happily ever after”: Snow White and Prince Charming have divorced and he now womanizes female wait staff. Beauty and Beast are having marital issues. Big Bad “Bigby” Wolf is now the Bogartesque sheriff of Fabletown (the underground fable community within NYC), and is investigating the ostensible murder of Rose Red. Jack (of beanstalk fame), her boyfriend, is a prime suspect.
The mix of noir-detective mood with a cast of mythic Shrek-like characters is just bizarre. And bizarre in a really good way. Now I just have to find Volume 2. And 3. And 4…If I’m going to be addicted, I might as well be well-supplied.
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Awards
Eisner Award (Nominee — 2003)
International Horror Guild Award (Nominee — 2002)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2004)
Language
Original publication date
2002
Physical description
118 p.; 26 cm
ISBN
1563899426 / 9781563899423
DDC/MDS
| 741.5973 |