All Purpose Fables Thread

[nilzero]

The Cinderella minis essentially stand on their own. The books reference characters more than events.

[Confuzzled Mutie]

The Cinderella minis essentially stand on their own. The books reference characters more than events.

Cool. Thanks for the answer. I guess I will skip Fables and Jack and directly go for Cindy then.

[Adset]

i thought cinderella was rather poor, myself. i found myself reading it and not giving a hoot, but continuing to buy it because it had 'fables' on the cover.

i found the literals crossover very tedious. i really began questioning the direction of the book post-war, but then witches hit the stands and it was fantastic. very much enjoyed rose red, too. i don't know if they fit the 'quality', per se, of where you left off (i thought sons of empire, the good prince, war and pieces, and the dark ages were all extremely well done), but i do think fables has found its stride again.

[nilzero]

Cool. Thanks for the answer. I guess I will skip Fables and Jack and directly go for Cindy then.

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You're welcome. The rest of Jack of Fables also stands on its own. Although they replace Jack which might be a selling point for some. The Great Crossover Event had Jack's story in the Fables book and vice versa.

[The_Ronin]

Once upon a time I was a religious Fables fan and consumed every Fables and Jack of Fables TPB that I could come across. But I stopped at The Dark Ages when my favorite character was put to bed in the finale of that TPB. I just lost the will to continue after that(Americana happened to be my last Jack TPB).

This was also the time that I discovered Vaughan titles like Y and Ex Machina and suddenly, Willingham's writing didn't seem all that impressive anymore (and when directly compared to BKV, all the sexist and stereotypical aspects of Willingham's work suddenly shone like oil spilled garbage washed upon shore). Now I didn't set out to deliberately compare the two writers, it just so happened that I immediately started to read Y post The Dark Ages. After getting spoiled by Vaughan's brilliant characterizations, I just didn't have any desire to revisit Fabletown (or The Farm rather because that was where I last left the Fables). Also, in order to get back, I needed to get 3 TPBs (2 Jack TPBs and 1 Fables)in quick succession as I quit just before the cross-over. I just felt it was too much effort and too much investment with not enough pay off.

Wanted to ask you guys whether it is worth plunging back into the series. Will I be able to enjoy the cross-over TPB if I don't follow upon Jack and the Literals post Americana? Also, I felt the series had past its prime (for me it was the Animal Farm to Homelands era, though I was intrigued by the Hansel character and the two war-centric TPBs which came after). Is anything after The Dark Ages as strong in quality as the TPBs I mentioned? One of the main reasons I want to return is for all the Roberson penned Cinderella related spin-off minis. Could I directly pick From Fabletown, With Love off the racks and understand what is going on without reading the cross-over and the Fables TPBs which came after? Questions, questions.

I am not sure anything on the stands will be worth it if you compare it to Y: The last man

[The Adventurer]

Personally I like Fables a LOT more they Y-The Last Man or Ex Machina. Both of which I started reading, but eventually quit before their runs were over. Fables I have never dropped.

[The Adventurer]

Oh hey there wish fullfilment.

BUFKIN IS GETTING A REGULAR BACK UP FEATURE IN FABLES STARTING IN FABLES 114! Its not an ongoing series but I'LL TAKE IT!

FABLES #114
Written by BILL WILLINGHAM
Art by MARK BUCKINGHAM and STEVE LEIALOHA
Backup story art by SHAWN McMANUS
Cover by JOAO RUAS
On sale FEBRUARY 11 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS
The most harrowing epic since the series’ inception starts when Snow and Bigby’s cub Therese receives a Christmas gift from an unknown admirer. This red plastic boat may hold the key to a deep, disturbing secret that will incite a series of soul-crushing events for the denizens of Fabletown.
This 8-issue storyline will boast a backup feature that follows Bufkin’s (mis)adventures in Oz painted by fan-favorite Shawn McManus which will be a great entry point for new readers.

[Adset]

Personally I like Fables a LOT more they Y-The Last Man or Ex Machina. Both of which I started reading, but eventually quit before their runs were over. Fables I have never dropped.

my dirty little secret is that i have never liked anything brian k vaughn has ever written. like, ever.

[The Adventurer]

Pride of Baghdad was pretty good.

[skylight]

story arc beginning with #114 sounds epic!

[DeeSnider]

Wanted to ask you guys whether it is worth plunging back into the series. Will I be able to enjoy the cross-over TPB if I don't follow upon Jack and the Literals post Americana? Also, I felt the series had past its prime (for me it was the Animal Farm to Homelands era, though I was intrigued by the Hansel character and the two war-centric TPBs which came after). Is anything after The Dark Ages as strong in quality as the TPBs I mentioned? One of the main reasons I want to return is for all the Roberson penned Cinderella related spin-off minis. Could I directly pick From Fabletown, With Love off the racks and understand what is going on without reading the cross-over and the Fables TPBs which came after? Questions, questions.

Sounds like you got off the bus just in time to miss the worst of the series. If I were you, I'd skip the crossover entirely. Not to spoil anything, but I don't think you'll be the least bit lost if you do. Also, Jack never really joins back up with the main series before it ends, and as others have mentioned, it doesn't even feature much of Jack as we've known him.

I would definately get back on board with Witches though, and I think Vol 15 is my favorite since March of the Wooden Soldiers. I won't say it's completely back to it's highest level of quality, but for a long time reader, I think #100 is worth it alone.

[Adset]

Sounds like you got off the bus just in time to miss the worst of the series. If I were you, I'd skip the crossover entirely. Not to spoil anything, but I don't think you'll be the least bit lost if you do. Also, Jack never really joins back up with the main series before it ends, and as others have mentioned, it doesn't even feature much of Jack as we've known him.

I would definately get back on board with Witches though, and I think Vol 15 is my favorite since March of the Wooden Soldiers. I won't say it's completely back to it's highest level of quality, but for a long time reader, I think #100 is worth it alone.

yep

honestly, i read the literals crossover and i just pretend it never happened. jump back on with witches and enjoy.

[Jake Fury]

I really need to catch up on my Fables reading. Vols 1-4 are stellar.

[Confuzzled Mutie]

Sounds like you got off the bus just in time to miss the worst of the series. If I were you, I'd skip the crossover entirely. Not to spoil anything, but I don't think you'll be the least bit lost if you do. Also, Jack never really joins back up with the main series before it ends, and as others have mentioned, it doesn't even feature much of Jack as we've known him.

I would definately get back on board with Witches though, and I think Vol 15 is my favorite since March of the Wooden Soldiers. I won't say it's completely back to it's highest level of quality, but for a long time reader, I think #100 is worth it alone.

yep

honestly, i read the literals crossover and i just pretend it never happened. jump back on with witches and enjoy.

Sounds good. Witches it is. Again, thanks for all the help, guys. Appreciate it. =)

[snarkbunny]

Sounds good. Witches it is. Again, thanks for all the help, guys. Appreciate it. =)

And you get the pleasure of reading Bufkin's first starring story. Which is awesome.