To be perfectly honest I don't usually read comic books, or graphic novels, as they're called now. I enjoy them, I appreciate them, I just don't go looking for them. However, a friend recently lent me a couple in a series called Fables.
The concept is that all of the characters from fairy tales, fables and nursing rhymes actually all existed in a land far far away. These characters, (who refer to themselves as Fables) lived in separate kingdoms and didn't really interact with each other. This changed when an evil presence fell into their world and began gathering an army. This army served someone they called 'the adversary' who methodically began killing them and taking their land. Through the use of magic, the remaining citizens of the fairytale world escaped to our world, leaving behind their land, fortunes, titles and way of life.
The comics are set in present day New York City, where the Fables live in a clandestine community. The Fables that can't pass as human live in on an isolated private farm in upstate New York.
It's interesting to see what our world does to fairy tale creatures. Snow White, for example is the town's mayor. A lonely, icy cold woman who rules with her mind, not her heart is many centuries divorced from Prince Charming. Charming, as we soon discover is a womanizer and con man who uses his looks and um. . .skills to live off the salary of his girlfriend of the week. Jack,(of the Beanstalk fame) is a smalltime, get rich quick con man. Beauty and the Beast are seeking marriage counseling, and Cinderella is taking fencing lessons. Meanwhile at the farm, Goldilocks is a revolutionary political activist, bossing around the three bears whose house she invaded.
The comic is beautifully drawn and skillfully written. Murder mystery, suspense thriller, and all the beautiful people and creatures you miss from your bedtime stories. . . with a little sex and violence thrown in. This is a comic for mature audiences. And it's Fun!!
Here the wikipedia entry for Fables.
1 comment:
I may actually have to pick that one up. My brother just started managing a B&N and offered me some books to read on my 2-week summer break. So... I was finally going to finish some Gregoy Maquire (Lost, Wicked, Son of a Witch), and then this would be the perfect dessert.
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