Changes: Fables Vol 1 1

Revision as of 20:08, 13 August 2007

Old Tales Revisited

"Take my advice. Some topics are best never brought up. Never discuss personal hygiene with a bridge troll. Never trade casserole recipes with a Black Forest Witch. But above all, when talking to the Deputy Mayor -- never mention the dwarves!"

--Boy Blue

Summary

Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Month: July
Year: 2002

Credits

Editor in Chief: Karen Berger
Head Writer: Bill Willingham
Cover Artists: James Jean and Alex Maleev
Pencilers: Lan Medina
Inkers: Steve Leialoha
Colourists: Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh and Zylonol
Editors: Mariah Huehner and Shelly Bond

Synopsis

Cast of Characters:

Bigby Wolf
Boy Blue
Jack of Fables
Prince Charming
Rose Red (in flashback)
Snow White
Johnny
Lady Beauty
Lord Beast
Molly

Locations:

New York City

Fabletown

Gottfried's Steakhouse

I Am the Eggman Diner

The Woodland "City Hall"

The Woodland Luxury Apartments

Items:

Excalibur

First Appearances: Bigby Wolf (a detective); Boy Blue (an intern for Snow White); Jack of Fables (an opportunist); Johnny (a doorman); Lady Beauty (a Fable); Lord Beast (a Fable); Molly (a waitress); Prince Charming (a Fable); Rose Red (Snow White's sister); Snow White (Deputy Mayor of Fabletown)
Final Appearances: No final appearances

Synopsis: Fables are characters of legend and fairy tale. Exiled from their enchanted homelands, they have immigrated to Earth where many reside in New York City. Those who cannot pass for human are taken to a place in upstate New York called the Farm. Snow White is the Deputy Mayor and Director of Operations of Fabletown (the Fable community in New York). Currently, she is attempting to quell a domestic dispute between the Beauty and the Beast.

Elsewhere in the city, a young man known as Jack (ala Jack the Giant-Killer) races into the office of detective Bigby Wolf. He tells Bigby that something terrible has happened to his lover, Rose Red, and pleads with Bigby to investigate. Rose Red also happens to be Snow White's twin sister.

Bigby informs Snow White, and he takes Jack to Rose's apartment where they discover that the room is a veritable abattoir of blood, however, there is no sign of Rose Red. Possessions are strewn all about the place, and the words "No More Happily Ever After" are written in blood on the wall. Bigby performs a cursory inspection of the room, then suddenly flies into a frenzy. He pins Jack against the wall and accuses him of the murder of Rose Red.

Notes

Fables is an ongoing comic book series published under DC's Vertigo imprint. The cover to each issue contains a "Suggested for Mature Readers" disclaimer.

This issue is reprinted in Fables: Legends in Exile and Fables: Special Edition #1.

Boy Blue is not to be confused with Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys.

Boy Blue makes reference to the Black Forest Witch. The Black Forest Witch is a legendary character known for tormenting the children, Hansel and Gretel. The Black Forest Witch doesn't make an actual appearance in this series until issue #3.

The character of Rose Red was originally introduced in the Grimm Fairy Tale, Snow White and Rose Red.

Trivia

The idea of fairy tale characters living in the modern world is also a prominent plot device used in the Changeling: The Dreaming role playing game module by White Wolf, Inc.

Jack of Fables is literally the personification of every "Jack" that has ever appeared in a fairy tale. He is also known as Jack the Giant-Killer, Jack (of Jack and Jill), Little Jack Horner, Jack O'Lantern and Jack Be Nimble.

Prince Charming, as he appears in this series, is the amalgamation of every "Prince" archetype frequently seen in various fairy tales. He is the same Prince that seduces Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

Bigby Wolf is the phonetic re-spelling of Big B. Wolf, or Big Bad Wolf. Bigby is an amalgamation of the Wolf responsible for destroying the homes of the Three Little Pigs, as well as being the tormentor of Little Red Riding Hood. The idea of the Big Bad Wolf as a detective was also used in the 2006 computer animated feature film, Hoodwinked.

One of the relics seen in Snow White's office is the mystical sword of King Arthur, Excalibur.

Zylonol is mis-spelled as "Zylenol" in the credits for this issue.

External Links

References

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