Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham
I think I’m the last one to start reading this series but I’m so glad that I finally have. Not everyone is a huge fan of stories that take fairy tales out of their normal context and put them into a different one, but I’ve always enjoyed that. And that’s exactly what Fables is.
The basic story behind Fables is that all of the creatures and folk of fairy tales and stories have been exiled from their land after a great evil has taken it over. They have set up shop in no place other than New York. Here in New York, King Cole reigns supreme while Snow White oversees everything as Mayor of the Fable world. They must remain secret from the mundanes (that would be us normal folk). Every fairy tale character you can imagine makes appearances throughout the comic.
In volume 1, we are faced with a crime scene. Rose Red, sister of Snow White has gone missing and her apartment is found completely upturned and covered in blood by her boyfriend Jack (of the beanstalk fame). Bigby aka the big bad wolf sets to solving the mystery in these first 5 issues that are gathered in volumed one.
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. It’s such a refreshing read brought to us by Vertigo with amazing writing by Bill Willingham and a fantastic art team. I loved the James Jean covers and would really like to get some prints of some of them. I’ll have to look into that. I’m sure I’ll be picking up Volume 2 soon!
I enjoyed this one as well – was my first Graphic Book read
He used to sell prints of the Fables covers on his site for fairly reasonable prices. Not sure if he still does. It is an amazing series, isn’t it. I really like the art in it as well as the stories and the James Jean covers are like icing on the cake.
I really need to continue with this series. I loved the first two volumes but I have yet to pick up another. I’m glad you enjoyed it as well!
I’m guessing that because they have “changed the names” of the fairtale folk is why this could be done??? (thinking of what’s going on with JK Rowling right now)
It’s about time too :p I have only read the first two if I am honest but have 3 and 4 to read for definite this year. If I get time I will get up to date with them before 10 comes out later this year. If not I know what I will be reading next year… Glad you enjoyed it and are hoping to continue with the series.
Oh, this sounds soooo fun! Now, I’m really excited that I put this on my graphic novels challenge list! (When I made my list, I really had NO idea what I was doing…but so far, so good!)
Sally, Wasn’t it great? I can’t wait to read more of it!
Carl, I’m going to have to go check that out and see if the covers are still available. Yeah, everything about this series is great from what I can tell. Really enjoying it. Is it still in production?
Nymeth, Hope you continue reading! I’m really looking forward to the second volume. I’m going to go pick it up soon. These GNs can get expensive though, huh? lol
Deslily, I guess…they’ve changed the name of some of the characters but not all of them. I think that the copyrights are open now on most of the fairytale characters though. Snow White is still Snow white as is Bluebeard and a few others. The JK Rowling stuff is a mess! I would not want to have anything to do with that case!
Rhinoa, I can’t wait to keep reading this series. I wanted Vol. 2 right away, but don’t have it yet, so I’ll be heading to the bookstore soon! Do you know how many volumes they’re going to have in all? Or are they still publishing the series in comic form?
Debi, You are going to LOVE this series. Definitely won’t be disappointed with this one. There’s so much to love about it…the art’s great, the story’s great. And especially now that you’ve been doing all of that fairy tale work with Annie, I think you’ll really appreciate it!
This is such a joy to read! You’ll definitely enjoy the other volumes. When I signed up for the Graphic Novels Challenge I actually placed a parallel list that would allow me to finish the succeeding volumes I don’t have yet. More like a Fables challenge (at least for me).
No, you’re not the last one to read these…I am! But they look like so much fun, I’ll have to take care of that right away.
Don’t worry you aren’t the last one
I haven’t read them, but I’ve got a request in at my library now. Thanks for your great review!
Yes, it is still going on as a monthly comic and the collections come out fairly regularly. I am waaaaay behind on reading it but it doesn’t stop me from buying each issue every month. Those Jean covers are too lovely to resist.
Lightheaded, I’m sure I will like the other volumes, I can’t imagine any of them being bad after this one! If I would’ve known more about this series before signing up for the GN challenge I would’ve done the same thing and just made it a Fables challenge :p Loving this series!
Robin, Yay! You’ll really enjoy these. They’re great and right up your alley!
Kim, Glad that you put the request in at your library. I think you’ll really enjoy them. There’s not much not to like about them.
Carl, Awesome to hear that it’s going on as a monthly comic…I may start picking up the monthly issues just to collect the covers as they come out. They’re great!
Thanks so much for this review, Chris – I’d never even heard of this series, and I love things like these! Talk about missing the bus…
You’re not the last! I know about the series but haven’t started it. Your review makes me want to read it soon! If it’s still a montly thing, we can ask the guy at the comic shop who holds stuff for us to add it to our pile, and then just get the tpbs for earlier in the series. That’s how I read Strangers in Paradise, and it worked great!
Is that a graphic novel? I love the cover and it sounds good. So far, I haven’t read any graphic novels, but I’m slowly warming up to the idea.
You definitely aren’t the last! This series has been on my “to acquire” list for ages, but somehow I never seem to pick it up. I think it is time to bump the first volume up to the top of the list!
I was recommended this by a colleague and then I forgot to have a look at it on my break. It sounds really good, now I want to read it!
Darla, You’ll most certainly LOVE this series…I think it’s right up your alley. I know you share that love of Graphic Novels with me. Read it! lol…
Dewey, I just found out from Carl that they’re still publishing these monthly too, so you can get the trades and then continue them once a month with the single issues! I wish I would’ve discovered them before your GN challenge….I would’ve just made my whole challenge list the Fables books!
Nancy, Yes it is indeed a graphic novel! It would be a really great introduction to the world of Graphic Novels. My favorites of all times are Gaiman’s Sandman Series. It’s unbelievable. You may be turned off by the first volume of that one “Preludes and Nocturnes” but if you do decide to read Sandman, I still recommend that you read that one…it’s important to the series I think. But definitely pick up Fables, I think you’d like it!
Quix, Oooh, get it! You’ll love this one. The James Jean covers are awesome, it’s worth it for that alone, but the story itself is incredible. You’ll love it!
Valentina, You should definitely read it..your colleague has great taste
If you like fairy tales and urban fantasy type of stuff, you’ll enjoy this!
OK, thanks. I’ll look for Fables, next time I’m in the Big City.
This one looks good.
This one looks good. Pretty cover!
Great looking story. I am finding so many new titles to check out by jumping around from the Bookworms Carnival!
Gee, I already commented on this a couple of months back
So now you should see my post on the James Jean cover art for the Fables comicbook. Kidding 
I read about this series at someone else’s blog and it sounds very intruiging – I may have to check it out – thanks for the review
Wow! I haven’t heard of this series before. I am definitely behind on checking out graphic novels and this one sounds so interesting. Thanks!
the cover looks interesting too, I will have to broaden my horizens with graphic novels:)
I haven’t read any of this series yet either, so you aren’t the last one! I think I’m going to have to pick it up!