Question about Jack of Fables

[NimNams]

I'm a latecomer to the Vertigo series Fables, and I have a question about the offshoot series, Jack of Fables. Without any spoilers, about when should I start reading this series? Is it completely separate from the main line, or will it ruin things for me if I start reading before a certain arc?

[FanboyStranger]

I'm a latecomer to the Vertigo series Fables, and I have a question about the offshoot series, Jack of Fables. Without any spoilers, about when should I start reading this series? Is it completely separate from the main line, or will it ruin things for me if I start reading before a certain arc?

I don't think it would necessarily ruin either Jack or Fables proper if you just dove into Jack, but Jack begins after issues 34-35 of Fables, which are collected in the Homelands TPB. Jack has been self-contained so far, and the first reference to Jack in Fables since his disapperance was in the latest issue.

[snarkbunny]

I agree with FanboyStranger, I think it would be best to start Jack of Fables anytime after you've read up to Homelands.

[DeeSnider]

I actually got back into comics right as Jack of Fables was starting, so I started reading it before I read any of Fables. I'm still not caught up in Fables, but so far there hasn't been anything I've read in Jack that I wished I hadn't.

From a total newbie perspective, I also think Jack of Fables #1 was a great entry point to the central concept of both books.

[snarkbunny]

I actually got back into comics right as Jack of Fables was starting, so I started reading it before I read any of Fables. I'm still not caught up in Fables, but so far there hasn't been anything I've read in Jack that I wished I hadn't.

From a total newbie perspective, I also think Jack of Fables #1 was a great entry point to the central concept of both books.

I agree with you on Jack being a terrific starting point. JoF #1 does give away the ending to the Hollywood Jack story and to some degree "March of the Wooden Soldiers"' ending as well.

[NimNams]

Thanks for the quick help! I'm about to start Homelands, so I guess it make sense to hold off on JoF for a bit longer.