Fables is fabulous!

[MichikoS]

A great big public thank you to scratchie, who recommended the FABLES series to me some time back in a Zelazny thread.

I have since tracked down the trades and read the entire series, and I am a huge fan. Great stuff, truly. It makes me proud of the medium.

When I compare the intelligence, wit, pathos, and sheer heart of this series to almost anything else being published today, I wince. It's really in a league of its own.

Got any more recommendations for me, scratchie?

Michi

[scratchie]

It tickles me to hear that another Zelazny fan loves this series as much as I do. I wish I had something else in that vein to recommend, but I haven't found anything else current that grabs me like Fables .

The only other titles I can think of that I love as much as Fables are my old standbys, Hate and Eightball (I suppose, technically, Eightball is still "current" and it's still great). Any comics fan who hasn't read either should at least check them out; they're classics, but they're most certainly not for everyone.

Both of those are very "real-world-based" (even with all the outrageous satire and bizarre surrealism, respectively) whereas Fables is the only comic book I can think of that is both deeply rooted in honest human characters and, at the same time, utterly fantastic and "comic booky" in a way that tweaks my inner 13-year-old.

[Slam_Bradley]

I've read the first two trades. I definitely think it's one of the better newer books I've read.

[TheHistorian]

Fables is the only comic book I can think of that is both deeply rooted in honest human characters and, at the same time, utterly fantastic and "comic booky" in a way that tweaks my inner 13-year-old.

Astro City?

[scratchie]

Astro City?Haven't read it but I like what I have read by Busiek. I'll give that one a look.

[devildinosaur]

Haven't read it but I like what I have read by Busiek. I'll give that one a look.

Ah, Fables...a true Willingham favorite of mine.

Along with, uh, Elementals. ;)

[TheHistorian]

Ah, Fables...a true Willingham favorite of mine.

Along with, uh, Elementals. ;)

Hey, early Elementals was good stuff. It turned into a crapfest, but it started out strong.

[Schmakt]

are you reading the Jack spinoff as well?
I thought it would be too much Fables, but I'm really enjoying that one as well

[MichikoS]

are you reading the Jack spinoff as well?
I thought it would be too much Fables, but I'm really enjoying that one as wellYes! It's very good. Jack is such a slippery character that you can't help but be drawn to him. Excellent characterization.

Michi

[Mark Wallace]

A great big public thank you to scratchie, who recommended the FABLES series to me some time back in a Zelazny thread.

I have since tracked down the trades and read the entire series, and I am a huge fan. Great stuff, truly. It makes me proud of the medium.

When I compare the intelligence, wit, pathos, and sheer heart of this series to almost anything else being published today, I wince. It's really in a league of its own.

Got any more recommendations for me, scratchie?

Michi
I'm just "ME TOO!!!"-ing this, even though I'm not on AOL. Bill has finally hit on, and been given the opportunity to do, the one project that is perfect for him.

Fables has joined Nexus as one of the few titles to keep through Hell or high water.

[devildinosaur]

Hey, early Elementals was good stuff. It turned into a crapfest, but it started out strong.

Oh, you aren't kidding about it eventually derailing...but Willingham had NO control over that mess. You can blame Andrew Rev for destroying Comico.

[pmpknface]

FYI - The next Fables book comes out today. The FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL HC.

The 1st Jack tpb is in the new solicits from DC that are only on-line, so that'll be out in 3-4 months.

If any of you out there have not read Astro City, GO READ THAT NOW!!! I'd start at the beginning, but get the collected versions and then thank us. ;)

Now, has any of Willingham's ELEMENTALS been collected? :(

[TheHistorian]

Now, has any of Willingham's ELEMENTALS been collected? :(

I know there was one trade for the first few issues. I think that's it.

[pmpknface]

I know there was one trade for the first few issues. I think that's it.
Thanks. :(

[Mark Wallace]

Thanks. :(

It's not that great a loss. Bill was into it, at the time, and enjoying working on it, but it was far from being his best work -- and the further it went, the crappier it became (although most of the blame for that can't be directed at him).

With Fables, though, you're seeing him at his absolute best. This is true Willingham country. The way he thinks slots in perfectly with the subject matter, and he naturally finds the best paths to follow.

Enjoy him at his best; don't worry about having missed his second best.

(Having said that, there were some beautifully Willingham-esque touches in Elementals, so they're worth picking up from the discount box).

[pmpknface]

That's cool. It sounds like Bill's career has had kind of a trend to it. Have you ever read COVENTRY? It only got 3 issues in, but those 3 issues made me remember Bill's name and constantly look for the next issue every week for YEARS!

The story with that was that Bill didn't like the direction it was going and just stopped it. This was a book he did all the art and writing on. Having it stop was only worse because it's not like the issues were self-contained - there was an ongoing story and I doubt it'll ever get finished. :(

[Mark Wallace]

That's cool. It sounds like Bill's career has had kind of a trend to it. Have you ever read COVENTRY? It only got 3 issues in, but those 3 issues made me remember Bill's name and constantly look for the next issue every week for YEARS!
It's possible that he revealed the rest of the story in a fanzine interview, or something, but I never read those things, so I wouldn't know. Someone here might, though.

The story with that was that Bill didn't like the direction it was going and just stopped it. This was a book he did all the art and writing on. Having it stop was only worse because it's not like the issues were self-contained - there was an ongoing story and I doubt it'll ever get finished. :(
Yup, that's typically Willingham, and the reason why he's been rubber-stamped as "untrustworthy" by the mainstream, for so many years.

It's the same old story: Real artists are sidelined, in favour of fanboys who will produce a comic every month, no matter how crappy it is.

There aren't enough people who hit the balance between producing art and hitting pointless deadlines to keep mainstream comics alive.

Already, more and more of the market is moving to collated editions of the "best of", rather than the monthlies, and that's a trend that looks set to continue.

Sooner or later, the "monthly madness" that sidelines the best and brightest will have to end, and we readers will finally get what we really want: The ability to pick up a pile of comics every month that are actually worth keeping.

Can you imagine your monthly bundle containing nothing but comics by people like Alan Moore, Bill Willingham, Neil Gaiman, and their ilk?

[pmpknface]

It's possible that he revealed the rest of the story in a fanzine interview, or something, but I never read those things, so I wouldn't know. Someone here might, though.

He was just featured in a mag, but I didn't get it. Wanted to, but I knew I'd never get around to reading it all. Maybe I'll pick it up on a light week.

I did get to ask him about it at a con a few years ago (great guy btw) and I don't think he 1) knew where it was going or 2) plans on finishing it. At least, that's what I remember.

Yup, that's typically Willingham, and the reason why he's been rubber-stamped as "untrustworthy" by the mainstream, for so many years.

It's the same old story: Real artists have are sidelined, in favour of fanboys who will produce a comic every month, no matter how crappy it is.

I hear ya, but I'm not gonna bash him for that one. COVENTRY was a creator owned thing through Fantagraphics, and isn't exactly like missing a deadline on ASM during Civil War, ya know? Plus, almost NOBODY does their own story AND art anymore.

There aren't enough people who hit the balance between producing art and hitting pointless deadlines to keep mainstream comics alive.

Already, more and more of the market is moving to collated editions of the "best of", rather than the monthlies, and that's a trend that looks set to continue.

Sooner or later, the "monthly madness" that sidelines the best and brightest will have to end, and we readers will finally get what we really want: The ability to pick up a pile of comics every month that are actually worth keeping.

Can you imagine your monthly bundle containing nothing but comics by people like Alan Moore, Bill Willingham, Neil Gaiman, and their ilk?

Wow... that a nice 'lil rant ya got off on there! ;) I don't know if I agree with all of it, especially with reguards to "moving to collated editions of the "best of", rather than the monthlies."

Certainly we've getting more collected editions, and there have always been late books as long as there's been comics. But I dont' know that we're getting 1 instead of the other. It seems to me that they fuel each other.

The list of creators you've got there is quite diverse and I'm afraid it's just too much to ask for. Alan Moore is almost done with what he wants to do in comics. Neil Gaiman is a movie maker, novelist, and a comic writer 3rd at best. Willingham was gonna write and draw SHADOWPACT for DC, but I know he's gotten fill-ins and he's still writing FABLES.

I think you may want to either:

start waiting for collected editions of stuff by quality creators
or, be more selective in the comics you do buy
or, maybe try out new books and find more creators that produce comics on a regular basis.


We'll always have crap. It's weeding it out that's the tough part. :D

[Schmakt]

Can you imagine your monthly bundle containing nothing but comics by people like Alan Moore, Bill Willingham, Neil Gaiman, and their ilk?

**drool**


Well... add Brian Wood and Ed Brubaker to the mix...
****DROOOOL****

[TheHistorian]

He was just featured in a mag, but I didn't get it.

Comics Journal 278

[pmpknface]

Thank You! :D

[Mark Wallace]

I think you may want to either:

start waiting for collected editions of stuff by quality creators
or, be more selective in the comics you do buy
or, maybe try out new books and find more creators that produce comics on a regular basis.

The reason garbage is produced is because people accept whatever crap is thrown at them, and don't constantly demand quality -- and it's the same in all the ents fields.

A few years ago, I got a contract on a project where I was told I'd be working with a soap-opera writer. I didn't think much of it, because the guy had to make a living, and I've written for worse things.

Once the project started, though, it was all "hooks", "pushes", and catch-phrases, with no-one directing themselves in the directions of creativity, realism, or genuine absurdity (which was what was called for).

I lasted nine days, then took another contract. I couldn't live with that.

The project is still running, and still garbage, because people just don't realise how badly they're being conned by people who produce tripe like that.

Quality doesn't cost any more to produce than garbage; but whatever price you pay for garbage, it's too much (well, anything over 12 cents is, anyway).

We'll always have crap. It's weeding it out that's the tough part. :D
Sure, but weeding out the crap when comics cost 12 cents was one thing.

They don't cost 12 cents, no more. We should get what we pay for.


I'll tell you what else is annoying: My in-line spellchecker seems to have decided to apply all four languages at once, so every single bloody word I've typed into this window is flagged as being badly spelt!

Don't these people realise how much I rely on a spellchecker to correct my idiotic mistakes!

Bloody open source! You can't even bitch about it, because it's free! There oughtta be a law!

[MDG]

Bill Willingham was on NPR this morning talking about a new project.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6533237

[Sean Walsh]

Recently returned to the FABLES fold after several months hiatus (forced off my pull list due to budget, brought back on when I cancelled a few other series) and I think it's going even stronger now than it was before I left (#50).

And that 1001 Nights of Snowfall was just GREAT!! :)

[Mr. Palmer]

I wonder if I'm the only person who prefers the spin-off (Jack of Fables) to the regular series?

[pmpknface]

I wonder if I'm the only person who prefers the spin-off (Jack of Fables) to the regular series?
So far I've only read #1 of that series, but I will be buying it in trades!