Willingham and crew continue to do a great job with this entertaining and imaginative series. For those of you who came in late: fairy tale characters are real - and living in exile in New York. War has driven them from their homelands, and inner divisions have threatened their secretive society in our mundane world.

The story moves smoothly, with all the things that a long-lived series needs: old threads to wind down, new ones to explore, and continuity to pull us along. The old involves Bigby wolf, living in self-imposed exile. It turns out that his unique skills can help Fabletown in a daring counter-attack against the nearly-unstoppable opponents. A year-long search ends his absence and, at the same time, starts a new phase in the ongoing war. Another new element arises near the end of this collection, when emissaries form a tottery alliance with the cloud kingdom at the top of Jack's beanstalk. Continuity comes from Jack's family, the charming litter of six-plus-one children and their mother, Snow White, and their new life together.

I recommend that you read these books in order. Collections 1 through 7 set the background of events and characters taken for granted in this, the eighth. I really just recommend that you read them, though. The series sustains its energy well and, even more than at the beginning, I really want to follow the lives of these wonderful characters.

-- wiredweird

This is a welcome addition to the series. It was a little shorter than I would have liked but it left me satiated.

My second favorite of the series so far. So much happens in book 8... Things readers have been waiting on since book 5 come about and there's romance and violence and politics and general badassery from my favorite characters. Can't wait to get the next one!

This volume carries up to Fables 50th issue. And I've got to tell you, it is worth it. Wow!

Fables is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read and vol. 8 slaps on another coat of greatness paint onto this already well painted series...I don't think that makes any sense. Anyway this was a good read and I can't wait for vol. 9.

The premise of this wonderful series is to rewrite and expand the world of fairy tales. They characters of which has entered our world fleeing a great evil. Lots of fun, smart and witty, typical american style illustrations for the most part, but nice. Some similarities of premise to the Sand Man series, but not quite as inventive or as extensively research and deep. Start at #1 for the best read.

Bill Williangham, Fables: Wolves (Vertigo, 2006)

Willingham takes a small time-out from the big story arc to resolve a smaller one: where did Bigby run off to, anyway? Willingam has been setting this up for a while, and ties together a bunch of loose ends with called-in favors and the like in this entry in the series, and "satisfying" ends up being an understatement. When Wolves is on, it's one of the best in the series so far. It's not always on, unfortunately (Mowgli's search for Bigby lags in a number of places), but that shouldn't stop you from plowing into this one as soon as you get the chance. *** ½

Another awesome book in the Fables series. Wolves doesn't have as much slam-bang action as some of the other trades, but has more than enough great dialogue and unique situations to make up for it. I thought the big issue 50 could have been a little stronger, but then again Willingham packs a LOT into that one issue. The Cinderella one-shot at the end is very funny and charming. The best stories, still, are those at the beginning starring a grown-up Mowgli the Jungle Boy.

Compared to some of the past books, this one is very upbeat and refreshing. It's a nice break from the string of murders and crisises that have plagued the Fables cast since the beginning.

Not at all recommended for first-time readers. Really. Anyone who wants to get into Fables should start at volume 1 and work their way up gradually.

Bill Willingham is hard to beat as a comic book writer. His use of characters to drive his plots is unbeatable. I actually want to know the people in these stories. Bigby Wolf has made it into the pantheon of classic comic book characters for me, and the rest of the cast is also very strong. Willingham doesn't sacrifice other literary devices to strengthen his characters. The storylines are great and the settings are rich, detailed, and well thought out.

The art is also very strong. Though it's a bit too refined for my general tastes, it compliments the stories very well. I think most people would find it very accessible and visually interesting.

If you like twisted fairy tales and comics, this title is for you.

Bill Willingham is hard to beat as a comic book writer. His use of characters to drive his plots is unbeatable. I actually want to know the people in these stories. Bigby Wolf has made it into the pantheon of classic comic book characters for me, and the rest of the cast is also very strong. Willingham doesn't sacrifice other literary devices to strengthen his characters. The storylines are great and the settings are rich, detailed, and well thought out.

The art is also very strong. Though it's a bit too refined for my general tastes, it compliments the stories very well. I think most people would find it very accessible and visually interesting.

If you like twisted fairy tales and comics, this title is for you.

Well, herein we finally find out.

We've been hanging in there, pining away for more stories about the fates of the central characters in this ensemble cast, whom we met at the very beginning of the first story in the series. Ever since _The Mean Seasons_, when Bigby went away because the only person whose smell he likes (Remember he's a wolf: The Wolf!) couldn't decide to throw her lot in with him. Understandably, I suppose, because she was a practical girl and, let's face it, their history together had its ups and downs. She also had so cubs to take care of, and there were political issues with having Bigby around.

So we waited and waited (well, _I_ did!) and followed Boy Blue into the Homelands to reveal the Adversary, and the fates of an assortment of others dealing with folks from other cultures--all the while chuckling at Willingham's built-in jokes, very often of the political kind, and usually with a strong libertarian slant.

In _Wolves_ too, there a lot of implied politics and social commentary, but it all fades into insignificance before the central issues: where's Bigby, what's he been doing, and how is this thing with Snow going to play out? _Is_ it going to play out? Whatever happened to the aberrant 'Zephyr' cub of Bigby and Snow's; the one that kills living creatures because it likes their breath?

As a bonus there's also another story, involving that sexy spy, Cinderella; who is like a female James Bond, and so much nicer than that psycho Goldilocks (whom we're sure to meet again one day, even though she had an axe buried in her head last time we saw her plunge into a river).

As usual, the action is rough and tough, with few punches pulled; though in general the tone of the stories is gentler than those compiled into the previous two books. As fairytales for adults go, there is nothing better, and I'm of a mind, now that the story has gone the way it goes, to start the whole series all over again. It's great bedtime literature, and if, like me, you grew up with fairy tales, it's a homecoming of sorts. Thing is, in real life you can never go back--and often you really don't want to either--but FABLES on the whole takes me back to something familiar at the same time as it is firmly facing into the future.

On a purely professional basis and since I write novels and scripts myself, it was instructional to have the entire script to one of the 'episodes' collected into this volume added at the end. Been meaning to tackle this kind of medium myself, and for those similarly inclined there are valuable pointers for method and style.

Well, herein we finally find out.

We've been hanging in there, pining away for more stories about the fates of the central characters in this ensemble cast, whom we met at the very beginning of the first story in the series. Ever since _The Mean Seasons_, when Bigby went away because the only person whose smell he likes (Remember he's a wolf: The Wolf!) couldn't decide to throw her lot in with him. Understandably, I suppose, because she was a practical girl and, let's face it, their history together had its ups and downs. She also had so cubs to take care of, and there were political issues with having Bigby around.

So we waited and waited (well, _I_ did!) and followed Boy Blue into the Homelands to reveal the Adversary, and the fates of an assortment of others dealing with folks from other cultures--all the while chuckling at Willingham's built-in jokes, very often of the political kind, and usually with a strong libertarian slant.

In _Wolves_ too, there a lot of implied politics and social commentary, but it all fades into insignificance before the central issues: where's Bigby, what's he been doing, and how is this thing with Snow going to play out? _Is_ it going to play out? Whatever happened to the aberrant 'Zephyr' cub of Bigby and Snow's; the one that kills living creatures because it likes their breath?

As a bonus there's also another story, involving that sexy spy, Cinderella; who is like a female James Bond, and so much nicer than that psycho Goldilocks (whom we're sure to meet again one day, even though she had an axe buried in her head last time we saw her plunge into a river).

As usual, the action is rough and tough, with few punches pulled; though in general the tone of the stories is gentler than those compiled into the previous two books. As fairytales for adults go, there is nothing better, and I'm of a mind, now that the story has gone the way it goes, to start the whole series all over again. It's great bedtime literature, and if, like me, you grew up with fairy tales, it's a homecoming of sorts. Thing is, in real life you can never go back--and often you really don't want to either--but FABLES on the whole takes me back to something familiar at the same time as it is firmly facing into the future.

On a purely professional basis and since I write novels and scripts myself, it was instructional to have the entire script to one of the 'episodes' collected into this volume added at the end. Been meaning to tackle this kind of medium myself, and for those similarly inclined there are valuable pointers for method and style.

Fables is hands down the best written comic series out there right now. Willingham perfectly combines classic fairy tales with the modern world. Every Fables TPB is simply perfect. I would recommend this series for any comic book reader that wants a little more plot in their stories.

Where is Bigby? Will Mowgli be able to find him? If he does, can he get him to come back? Those are the questions driving this volume of Fables. Mayor Prince Charming needs Bigby back as he is the only one capable of carrying out the plan against the adversary. And what of Snow White and the cubs? Bigby's family has to stay on the farm and Bigby is not allowed to go there.

Well, we find out just what can lure Bigby back and what loophole the Mayor has found in the rules. We also learn the details of the plan and just how Fabletown plans to hold off the ravaging hordes of the Adversary. Really quite clever. The plan is handles so quickly that it is almost anticlimactic. Remember, this is a character driven story, not action-driven. Most of the story is about the Fables themselves and how they react to the situations.

As an added bonus, the volume includes the script for a pivotal issue. Now you can see how an issue goes from story to comic. Interesting in an intellectual way but after just reading the same story in comic-format, it lacked a little something. There is also a map of the Fabletown holdings and their relation to surrounding areas. Nice extras but the real treat is the story itself. Check it out.

Eighteen months ago, a clerk in a comic story recommended this series to me. Based on my long experience with comics, I knew the flakiest ideas are the best. Still I admit to being skeptical of a colony of folklore figures living secretly in New York.

Well I am well and truly hooked. This is my eighth graphic novel and I am more than satisfied. In order to get the full effect, of the series I recommend you start at the beginning. This book ties together several plotlines that have been developing in the comic for years. Mr. Willingham just keeps hitting balls out the park.

At this point if you're new to the series, be apprised there are spoilers ahead.

When we last left Bigby Wolf, disgusted about being unable to live with his family, he has disappeared. Prince Charming, Mayor of Fabletown, needs him back. He and the Travellers have devised a plan to strike back at Adversary as retribution for the attack on Fabletown. However the only one who can successfully pull it off is THE BIG BAD WOLF. Prince Charming dispatches Mowgli to find him.

It takes a wolf to find a wolf.

Meanwhile Snow White, the mother of Bigby's children, is maintaining the fiction that Daddy is away but still in contact with his children. We all know Mowgli would find Bigby. We all know Bigby would come home and perform this mission. We know Bigby would return to Snow White.

Ah but the journey is the purpose of reading this series and therein lies the joy. Exactly how these events would transpire is the beauty and the brilliance of the story. Prince Charming, his staff and Bigby need to work for the Pentagon. We'd be out of Iraq in a month. There is no way I was able to anticipate how these events would transpire and the sheer elegance of the plan. A magic beanstalk? Cinderella? C4????!!!

That's enough for now. But if Bigby thinks he's retired......




T

This is the eighth collection of the ongoing "Fables" comic book series, reprinting issues 48-51. This is NOT the point where you should jump onboard--the payoff here is largely an emotional one built on character interactions that have developed since the very first issue. There's certainly plenty of action, but it's best appreciated if you've been following these characters since the beginning.

Our stars this time are Bigby Wolf and Snow White and their seven children, along with Rose Red, Cinderella, and Mowgli. On the domestic front, we see Snow and company hanging out at the Farm, wondering if the vanished Bigby will ever deign to reappear. Meanwhile, Mowgli has succeeded in tracking him down to send him on a secret mission through the Cloud Kingdoms and into the Homelands to strike at a very special enemy. The fact that Pinocchio has a cameo here should give away who the target is.

Some plot threads get wrapped up in this arc, and it looks like the stage is being set for new storylines and with a focus on different characters for at least awhile.

Included in this volume are a map of the Farm and Willingham's script for Issue 50, which are nice bonuses.

If you aren't reading Fables, you have no idea what you're missing. The eighth volume of the series, taking us from issue 48 through 51, is still great. The series only gets better with age; it started off well, improved, and is able to continually find new ways to entertain instead of relying on old plot devices to keep audiences coming back.
The 2-party Wolves storline is the culmination of a story that started all the way back in the third trade paperback, when Bigby Wolf learned that he had impregnated Snow White. She eventually gave birth to his cubs, who were forced to live at the Farm due to their inhuman appearance. The Farm is an annex of Fabletown, a refugee colony for Fables in our mundane world. Fables that cannot pass for human are relegated to the Farm so that no "mundy" finds out about the existence of Fables. Bigby is not allowed to go to the farm due to the things that he has done to certain non-human Fables back in the Homelands, so he left Fabletown for good after Beast replaced him as sheriff. However, the new mayor, Prince Charming, realized that he would need Bigby's help for something important, and he employed Mowgli, of the Jungle Book, to get Bigby back. Wolves finally shows Mowgli's hunt for Bigby, showing two master hunters/trackers/wilderness survivors doing what they do best. The double-sized Issue 50 reveals why Charming needed Bigby, and brings together 2 Fables in marriage. Finally, the stand-alone story Big and small is a continuation of a story from the previous issue and showcases another one of Cinderella's missions. Cinderella may be perceived as a bratty store clerk by most other Fables, but in reality, she is a spy employed by the Sheriff's office who undertakes missions for the safety of Fabletown. Her latest mission is a diplomatic trip to the Cloud Kingdoms, which is where Jack had visited when he planted his magic beans.
Bill Willingham is a master of storytelling. He takes the characters from fairy tales we read growing up and twists them into new and compelling characters. Fables is a must read for any comics fan.

Just got this a few days ago and plowed right into the story. I love it. I have to admit that I was so initially put off by the idea of the fables characters that I didn't buy this series right away. Now, I'm buying all books in the series and wouldn't consider otherwise. This story reunites Bigby Wolf and Snow White. You figure out the rest. Great read! It even has some of the story boarding that was done for the comic at the back. And although I've seen this in other graphic novels, I really found this to be amusing and a great extension of the book.

And of course, don't start here silly people. Start from the beginning or this won't make much sense.