Fables -- Should I bother?

[LightningRunner]

I've read Legends in Exile (thought it was completely forgettable) and 1001 Nights (thought it was decent), and I'm torn between continuing on to read Animal Farm. My local library doesn't have it, so it would mean me purchasing another trade of a series I'm not initially into. Does the series get better? I'm most interested in hearing from others who were really unimpressed with the first trade.

[dancj]

I quite enjoyed the first trade, but I found the 2nd to be a big improvement and the 3rd to be a big improvement again.

[KaOs-KrEaToR]

IMHO i loved this series...vol. 1 was decent but it really gets good at about 3 & 4

[vazel]

Wow this has the be the most often discussed topic I've seen on this forum. Yes it does keep getting gradually better and peaks in March of the Wooden Soldiers and Homelands arcs after which it sort of levels off. It's a great series.

[Ryan Day]

It gets better, but I don't think it ever becomes a truly great series. I read the first 4 volumes, and thought it was entertaining, but didn't demand that I keep coming back for more.

A lot of people love it, and I understand why, but I don't think it's really more than a light, entertaining read. Which is excellent - comics need more of that sort of thing - but it doesn't quite line up with either my tastes or my standards.

[Chino]

The first arc does the series no justice, seriously. If the book interest you in the least, give it at a few more arcs. Get through March of the Wooden Soldier and see how you feel about it. I've never read anything like it before, always tights and capes but I honestly love it now. :biggrin:

[Ben Akers]

It gets better. The story tightens, and the characters become much more interesting.

[rwe1138]

Helldamnyes.

[octothorp]

Most definitely, yes, you should read Fables. It's one of the best out there. Jack of Fables is also a must-read. Enjoy! :biggrin:

[CoreyB]

Yeah, I'm the same way. I read the first trade and thought it was fine but had no driving desire to keep reading. I kept hearing people say that it gets better around the 3rd trade, so I finally got around to getting the second trade (or maybe I got it as a present - I can't remember). I thought that was decent too. Good enough certainly. Then I read the second Y trade and was so absorbed by the characters and world. It made me realize that, so far for me, Fables is constructed well but doesn't pull me into the world and make me forget I'm reading a comic created by several people.

[ducbanguyen]

Read it! The first storyline was just in case it was going to get cancelled, but since it did well, book 2 gets right into the plot that is revealed with each book. Give it a chance.

[stealthwise]

I'd say no, but I've always found the series to be mediocre at the high points. It does improve slightly after volume two, but I gave up after volume four.

[dancj]

Then I read the second Y trade and was so absorbed by the characters and world. It made me realize that, so far for me, Fables is constructed well but doesn't pull me into the world and make me forget I'm reading a comic created by several people.
I'm still waiting for Y to really grab me. I guess after 8 TPBs I should accept that that's probably not going to happen

[CoreyB]

I'm still waiting for Y to really grab me. I guess after 8 TPBs I should accept that that's probably not going to happen

Yeah... probably not.

I don't even know why I stopped getting the singles. One of my feverish purges to cut back on comics, most likely. I really enjoy the series. But I suspect if it's not doing it for you by now, it just won't happen. It's too bad but nothing is for everyone.

[dancj]

It's passable enough that I'm around for the last two trades. It's strange because I love Ex Machina and Runaways

[CoreyB]

It's passable enough that I'm around for the last two trades. It's strange because I love Ex Machina and Runaways

For some reason Ex Machina didn't hold me. I think I'm going to give it a second chance in trades, though.

[mauisunset]

I'm in the same boat with Y, Fables, and EX, but Ex grabbed me the most and I think the other two, at least, are much-overrated.
I'd sayno.

But if you do have a library card,or the equivelent money for the tpb and never read it, check out the real Animal Farm (novel).

It's only about ten billion times better.