Snow White and the Big Apple

Fables written by Bill Willingham

The graphic novel or comic book, with its compelling stories and beautifully wrought drawings, has emerged as something no longer seen as the cute step-sibling of pure prose, interesting but lacking literary merit, but a praiseworthy form of literature in its own right.

DC Comic’s Vertigo imprint is currently publishing one of the best comics out there: Bill Willingham’s Fables.

The premise is simple: Our traditional fable characters have been forced out of their traditional homeland by the mysterious Adversary and now occupy a single street in New York City, as well as a farm upstate. To live in harmony and not give themselves away to the Mundane (Mundy) world they have formed Fabletown. All Fabletown citizens signed the Fabletown compact that forgave their previous sins committed against fablekind.

The joy of this series lies in Willingham’s portrayal of some of the best and most loved fairy tale characters. Snow White is the Deputy Mayor of Fabletown, and is a strong willed and dignified woman. Old King Cole is the bumbling but lovable Mayor for Life. The Big Bad Wolf (aka Bigby) has been re-imagined as a werewolf and acting sheriff of Fabletown. Cinderella is one of Bigby’s kick-ass clandestine agents (she owns a Fabletown shoe shop as well). Even Little Boy Blue, the Frog Prince, and a flying monkey have important roles to play in the story.

Fables is filled with plot twists and intrigue. It is one of those series that you stay awake long into the night to read. I continuously found myself thinking “o.k. … just one more section and then I’ll go to bed” while reading the series. The writing is flawless, the graphic artist amazing.

Fables is still being published by DC Vertigo. The story arch with the Adversary has finished and a new threat is attacking Fabletown. You can read the first 82 issues in a series of 12 graphic novels or go to the local comic store and pick them up one at a time.

You should read this.