Fables Volume 1 | Legends in Exile
Currently one of the best (and most popular) titles being published by Vertigo Comics, Fables is something unique in the graphic novel landscape, it gets better with every additional volume. Traditionally (at least for the past few years) Vertigo Comics tends to publish new titles in bulk. What I mean by that is that they’ll release several new series at around the same time. Title such as 100 Bullets, Y The Last Man and Fables began their publishing life around the same time, which happened to coincide with the end of the sublime Preacher series. Vertigo was trying to find a Preacher replacement to be it’s flagship title. Instead it got two series that in my eyes could fit the bill. I’ve already spoken about the greatness that is 100 Bullets, so it’s time for me to introduce you all to Fables.
When I first heard of this series I was slightly sceptical. In a move that surprised even myself I bought a trade paperback based on the dynamic art of the cover artist alone. You see this was the first time I actually saw the amazing work of James Jean. He’s since gone on to win an Eisner (the Oscars of the Comic Book world) and deservedly so, however I saw him when he was still wet behind the ears. The cover just had that European cool about it. So I started flipping through the book to see if the interior art could possible live up to the cover. Once again I was surprised by what I found, Lan Medina knocked this one right out of the park and for a good long while was in my eyes the definitive Fables artist. In future reviews I’ll explain what this means but needless to say Mark Buckingham (the artist on all the subesquent volumes) is the definitive Fables artist (and all around nice guy), however Lan serious is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination; and there is plent of imagination in these pages.
It’s a very simple setup for the story, something terrible has happened in the land where Fables live, as the Adversary has gone through and sought to conqure everything in his path. This has lead Fables to seek asylum elsewhere. They found this asylum in New York City where they live and work in a place they’ve called Fabletown. They interact with the mundies (that’s people like you and me) without them knowning who they are. The mayor of Fabletown is Snow White and the Sheriff is Bigby (the Big Bad Wolf). This volume serves as an introduction to the cast of characters and setting up the entire premise of the series. Did you know that Snow White had a sister? Apparently so, she’s called Rose Red and this story revolves around the mystery of her murder.
Willingham manages to make me laugh several times throughout this first story arc. There is no need to tell you that obviously the three little pigs are wary of Bigby, however after getting kicked out of their homeland everyone was exempt from their previous deeds. One of the pigs was squatting at Bigby’s house because all non-human looking fables have to stay uptown in an area they’ve called the Farm. I’m not going to ruin the dialogue between them because it’s very funny. Also the introduction of Prince Charming is priceless and worth the admission entry alone.
Willingham has seriously done his homework here and many have said this before so it doesn’t hurt for me to say it as well, but this is the book that Willingham was born to write. It’s funny, it’s clever, it keeps you on your toes always wanting to come back for more, just like any good Fable should.