How to get into Fables?

[ryerye17]

I'm mostly of continuity but something about subverting the traditional children stories in Fables interest me.

How to begin? There seems to be a lot of on-goings right now. And one-shots and minis and I'm a bit confused. I wanna start hopefully either from the very start or maybe just a good jumping point.

[another_version]

I'm not sure what would be a good jumping on point mid-way through the series, but Fables started off with the Fables title, and then got Jack-of-Fables as a spin off series. Later it got a prequel OGN called 10001 Nights of Snowfall. Last year the franchise got the Prose Novel Peter & Max, and the 6-Issue miniseries Cinderella started. During The Great Fables Crossover there was a new 3-Issue miniseries that was part of the alternating order between it, Fables, and Jack of... during the crossover. Later this year there is going to be another Fables OGN:

http://vertigo.blog.dccomics.com/201...artland-cover/


Like I said, I have read it from the beginning so I'm not exactly sure what would be a good jumping on point later in the series, but if you have the time/money I would start from the beginning.

[grifter78]

I'm mostly of continuity but something about subverting the traditional children stories in Fables interest me.

How to begin? There seems to be a lot of on-goings right now. And one-shots and minis and I'm a bit confused. I wanna start hopefully either from the very start or maybe just a good jumping point.

I started with the 1st trade "Fables: Legends in Exile" and have been catching up with those only. I'm not going to mess with the spin-offs until I'm caught up in the trades. So far, I can follow everything just fine with the trades. Great series!

[ThePhenom]

I'd say the most ideal jumping on points are Vol. 1, Vol. 2 and Vol. 12. The main storyline in Fables ran through trades 1 to 11, and despite it's ending it's pretty essential to the series as a whole. Thus the only real way to read Fables is probably from one (though I think two is where it becomes the series it is now).

Someone's already mentioned the spinoffs: 1001 Nights is the most essential reading, and Jack is actually a pretty decent read (but only relevant to the core series during the crossover).

[BeastieRunner]

I just started reading Fables this week. I started with the first two trades. I'll worry about the minis and such later (if I'm interested in them).

[passer-by]

I'm mostly of continuity but something about subverting the traditional children stories in Fables interest me.

How to begin? There seems to be a lot of on-goings right now. And one-shots and minis and I'm a bit confused. I wanna start hopefully either from the very start or maybe just a good jumping point.

From the very start would be best, IMO.

I.e. from the first trade "Legends in Exile", not from "1001 Nights of Snowfall", which, even though a prequel, is best read around the 6th trade or so.

I'd suggest you try at least the first three trades - Legends In Exile, Animal Farm and Storybook Love, because some people say they weren't impressed with the first trade and only warmed up to the series around or after the second. The first two are reprinted in a gorgeous HC, btw.

Me, I was hooked at the first issue after I read it for free at the DC site.


And there aren't "a lot of ongoings". Just the main book Fables and the spin-off Jack of Fables. That's all. As for the one-shots (like the brilliant Last Castle), they're collected in the trades together with the main story at the right moment.


As for the novel "Peter & Max" that was mentioned above, I recommend reading it after Fables #50 - and the 8-page comic at the end after Fables #75.

The Great Fables Crossover comes much later, so you needn't bother yourself with it right now (besides, the trade just came out, so it's all collected there when you reach that point). Same with the Cinderella mini.

[Vigomatic V17]

I think it's safe to largely ignore the spinoffs and minis for the moment.
I always think it's best to start at the beginning, so that will be my recommendation here.

Otherwise, maybe Volume 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers would be a good place to start, as it's when things really heat up with the book's main protagonist.

I also recommend not reading past #75, or Volume 11: War and Peices. It's here where I think the series really "jumped the shark" and you need to know about what was going on in the inferior Jack of Fables series for the widely panned "Great Fables Crossover"

I hope you enjoy it!

[carabas]

Otherwise, maybe Volume 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers would be a good place to start, as it's when things really heat up with the book's main protagonist.

But only of you don't mind skipping past all of the world-building and some of the best stories featuring said protagonist.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Start with volume one - the book has an accumulative effect, so I can't imagine it reads as well without going from the beginning.
That said, maybe grab the second volume as well - I wasn't that fussed about the first one, but the second put it right up there on the 'buy as soon as they come out' list.
The prequel graphic novel can really be read - or not read - any time, I'd maybe pick it up around volume four or five, which is when it came out.
The Jack Of Fables spin off series has a clear lead out for the character within Fables, so you should be able to pick when the best time to start that one is.

[passer-by]

The prequel graphic novel can really be read - or not read - any time, I'd maybe pick it up around volume four or five, which is when it came out.

In theory, yes, but the stories there work much better if you're already familiar with the characters - especially Flycatcher, but not just him.
I said it's best to read it around the 6th Fables trade, but around vol. 4 or 5 is fine as well.
P.S. It came out around vol. 7, I think. At least the HC.

[Vigomatic V17]

But only of you don't mind skipping past all of the world-building and some of the best stories featuring said protagonist.

Whoops, I should have originally written "antagonist!" I hope it still made sense.

Otherwise I do think you're right. Like I said, I'm not really familiar or sold on the concept of a "jumping on point" when it's just as easy and far better to start at the begining.

[snarkbunny]

I hand out the first three volumes when I want to introduce someone to Fables.

Volume 1 Legends in Exile- introduces you to the world and to Willingham's storytelling/dialoguing style. I like Willingham's storytelling, in fact it was his dialogue as well as the concept that hooked me on Fables in the first place but it doesn't seem to be universally appreciated. While I'm fond of the first volume (and rereading LiE makes me appreciate just how much was set up in the first story-arc for later pay off), it can feel a bit like taxiing down a runway or an appetizer. You sense the potential but some people find it not quite filling enough.

Volume 2 Animal Farm- introduces to the other major part of the world and to Mark Buckingham's wonderful art. Bucky is the regular/main Fables artist. I personally think the plot is stronger in the "Animal Farm" arc and this is where I think the series really takes off.

Volume 3 Storybook Love - this is where I think really start experiencing the full range in Fables and where you really start to get into the long term story arcs, and Willingham starts the good rug shifting (not the bad sort where the reader feels betrayed but the sort where the reader goes "Whoa! didn't see that coming" but it works with the past and makes you really want to see what happens next")

One of Fables' strength is that the creative team does shake up the status quo quite significantly and the changes stick.

[passer-by]

By the way, vol.1 is penciled by Lan Medina and I prefer him to Mark Buckingham (whose work I like too, mind you, but less).
Especially Medina's Snow White... aaahhh...
But Bigby too, and most of the others.

I like the way Medina draws Fables characters.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

In theory, yes, but the stories there work much better if you're already familiar with the characters - especially Flycatcher, but not just him.
I said it's best to read it around the 6th Fables trade, but around vol. 4 or 5 is fine as well.
P.S. It came out around vol. 7, I think. At least the HC.

Yeah, wasn't sure when it came out.

On second thought, I'd probably suggest either reading it after Mean Seasons Or Arabian Days and Nights, if only because personally, I found them to be rather dull - comparatively - where as the prequel is pretty good.

For those who have read them all - I'm pretty certain he changed direction regarding Snow White and the dwarfs.
Having read the prequel story, on re-read, the jokes in earlier volumes seem in rather bad taste.

[passer-by]

Why?
Boy Blue did tell Beauty and Beast in vol.1, "Whatever you say, NEVER mention the dwarves". And he was pretty scared when Beauty brought it up a bit earlier.
And then we got the explanation in the GN, which I found logical, considering the general tone of the book.
Can't remember other mentions of that, especially not jokes with Snow White.

The only possible discrepancy would be that the other Fables, including Boy Blue, are not supposed to know what happened. Even Prince Charming only had doubts, though he probably got a pretty good idea of what had happened. But Snow White told him that this would never be discussed. Unless he spread the rumour later on, but that doesn't sound too much like him - and again, even he wasn't 100% sure.