|
Author
|
Comment
|
sally e
Registered User
(1/13/06 11:55 am)
|
Bill Willingham's Fables
Has anyone read these fantastic (in all senses of the word) graphic novels? I recently discovered them and have been devouring them. It's not only a clever idea (all the characters and creatures from all the old tales--including fairy tales, fables, folk tales, and classics like the Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio, etc.--have had their lands invaded by an enemy called the Adversary. Many of them escaped into this world and they set up a community in New York City, with the exception of the creatures/people who wouldn't be able to "pass,"--your dragons, giants, three little pigs, what have you--who live on The Farm, upstate), it's actually really well written, with great adventures and brilliant little touches (Prince Charming's ex-wives include Snow White, Briar Rose and Cinderella; Rose Red is resentful of Snow White for getting all the attention after they grew up, stuff like that). There are five volumes out with a sixth to be released this month.
I discovered these on my own so wasn't sure if they were recognized in the fairy tale/fantasy world as well as the comic book world. I'd love to hear other peoples' thoughts on them.
|
Helen J Pilinovsky
Registered User
(1/14/06 11:34 am)
|
Re: Bill Willingham's Fables
Oh,
is the sixth coming out this month? Thanks for the heads-up;
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it!
There's an interesting kind of a Venn-diagram overlap between comics fans, fairy tale afficionados, and those who love both - Fables definitely addresses that audience. There are a couple of threads in the archives which discuss Fables, I think, as well as works from the same sub-genre (i.e., Aria, Night Mary, and the web-comic "No Rest For the Weary"), which might make for interesting reading if you're looking for other people's thoughts on similar materials.
Regarding Fables: love 'em. Both for the deconstructionist fairy tale re-telling of interpreting old tales through the lens of modernity, and for the skillful blending of fairy tales from different cultures: the story-line that had Baba Yaga going up against the witch from Hansel and Gretel definitely provided food for thought! Be interesting to compare that view of naming conventions with the one that Gaiman and Vess used in the original Books of Magic mini-series ....
|
|
