Bullet Points:  Raging Bullets online DC Comics TPB/HC reviews 
 

Fables # 1 the 25 cent issue 
 

by 
 

Matthew G. Guy 
 

November 29, 2006 
 

Readers may think Matthew, why are you reviewing a highly successful comics franchise from Vertigo known by one name, Fables.  Simple when they give free samples of a new product you give a try, you like it then you buy the product.  Well the people at Vertigo had a bright idea put the first issue of Fables out for a mere 25 cents (almost free) included is a 6 page preview of 1,001 Nights of Snowfall hardcover hoping that others would try a new title in trade form & buy the single issues of the title and purchase the hardcover in the process.  To say the least I was the last to come the Fables bandwagon yes even after Comic Geek Speak did a Book of the Month on the first trade Living in Exile I passed on the offer until the right time came along.  So I will give two reviews, one is on the first issue & the second review is on the 6 page preview of the hardcover.  The writer & creator of the series is Bill Willingham, penciller is Lan Medina, inker is Steve Leialoha, colorists are Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh & Zylonol Studios, letterer is Todd Kelvin, editors are Shelley Bond & Mariah Huehner and the cover artist for the first issue is James Jean.  So lets now move on to the review. 
 

The issue opens up to a introduction by Bill Willingham on the inside front cover.  The setting is in the real world in New York City for the people of Fabletown.  Then we see Jack (of the Beanstalk fame) running into Bigby’s office (the Big Bad Wolf in human form) telling him a crime has just been committed.  Then we move onto Snow White, she serves as the director of operations in Fabletown talking to Lord Beast (a creature that talks in British English that is hard to understand) & his wife, Miss Beauty.  The couple complains to Snow White that need money desperately so that Lord Beast can hide his animial like appearance from the general public but she denies the request telling them they are in lack of funds from taxes & donations.  Snow White tells them of the rules of the town & of their enemy, the Adversary.  They couple protests wanting to talk to the mayor, King Cole the mayor of Fabletown about the matter but she says while he will be sympathetic & show concern there is little he can do about the matter as well.  The couple leaves Snow White’s office. 
 

Bigby enters Snow White’s office soon after the couple on a pressing matter of the disappearance of her sister Rose Red.  He tells her of the situation but at first she doesn’t seem phased by the news.  We then meet Prince Charming (Snow White’s ex) at a restaurant while he attempts to walk out on the check, but the waitress seems smitten by his charm & then the two decide to go back to his place for some sex.  Snow White then decides to tag along with Bigby concerning her sister and go to her apartment for answers.  Bigby & Snow White trade barbs back and forth as they enter the apartment.  It is then we learn that Bigby is the sheriff of Fabletown. We see Jack guarding the entrance to Rose Red’s apartment.  Bigby tells Jack & Snow White to wait outside the door as he begins the investigation.  We see that the apartment is a real mess all over & blood everywhere.  We see a message in blood on the wall “No More Happily Ever After”.  Bigby continues his investigation searching for clues and notices a lock is missing from the refrigerator and finds the lock that matches the refrigerator in a drawer.  It is then that Bigby arrests Jack for the disappearance of Rose Red.  Jack pleads that he is innocent to Bigby. Snow White asks “Is he the one?” and Bigby replies “We’ll See” as the first issue of Fables ends. 
 

Next is the second introduction by Bill Willingham concerning the new hardcover, 1,001 Nights of Snowfall with some background information on the project.  The six page preview tells the origin story of Bigby (Big Bad Wolf) in the world of fables.  The North Wind changes his form into a wolf and calls himself North as he meets a She-Wolf named Winter. For two seasons they stay together but soon the North Wind leaves her and changes back into wind form leaving her behind.  Soon after he leaves, North has cubs.  The six brothers are large and powerful in part to their magical nature of their father.  One cub grow and grow, his name is Bigby.  A retelling of the fables concerning the three pigs and little red riding hood but soon he turns his thoughts of prey towards men.  And Bigby really started to grow bigger & bigger with each human kill as he devours his prey as the preview ends.  Included are ads for the new hardcover, the seven trades of fables (soon to be eight trades by the end of 2006) & the upcoming trade of a spin off called Jack of Fables that is slated for release in February along with ads for other Vertigo titles such as Preacher, 100 Bullets, Y the Last Man, & Sandman from Neil Gaiman plus a list of new titles from Vertigo including DMZ, Loveless, American Virgin, The Exterminators & Testament. 
 

The geniuses at Vertigo succeed in making me a fellow Fables convert after reading this special issue.  The art was indeed powerful that matched the intense story Willingham was trying to tell to his readers of old (and new) in this issue.  The preview of the hardcover was treated in the same manner as the first issue.  I have already ordered the first trade.  I will purchase the hardcover after the Christmas holidays & Fables 56 the Christmas issue.   
 

Here Is How The Bullet Fired (For Me for the first issue not the preview) 
 

Art: 10 out of 10 Raging Bullets   
 

Story: 10 out of 10 Raging Bullets 
 

Cover Art: 10 out of 10 Raging Bullets 
 

Extras: 10 out of 10 Raging Bullets (preview pages of the Hard Cover) 
 

If You Like This Try:  The first trade of Fables Living in Exile, if you liked that trade try the other Fables trades including its spin off, Jack of Fables.   
 

The Bottom Line:  This is the best of the best that Vertigo has to offer and that is after reading DMZ (another great title in its own right).  Willingham & the artists behind the title poured the heart and soul into this mythical universe using public domain characters and make them his own.  This title has mature themes so I would suggest strongly that you be at least 18 before reading this title.  This is not for the kiddies for a bedtime story, but rather for adults that want a escape from the normal superhero fare that DC Comics provides for something different that is truly delightful to read.   This title comes with my highest recommendations to read this issue (or the first trade) as soon as possible so take a trip into Fabletown and see for yourself what Fables has to offer you. 
 
 

 

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