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Fables
Legends In Exile – TPB 1
[Reprints 1-5]
2002
[Mature Readers]
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics
Writer: Bill Willingham
Pencils: Lan Medina
Inks: Steve Leialoha & Craig Hamilton
Colors: Sherilyn van Valkenburgh
Letters: Todd Klein
Price: $9.95 US/R139.00 SA
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Vertigo has become known as the place for some of the more imaginative
ideas in the comics business today. Fables is a
prime example of the brilliantly imaginative work that they have
to offer.
A secret community of fairytale characters live amongst normal humans
in the heart of New York City. A murder takes place
amid the Fables and it’s up to Bigby Wolf [Big Bad Wolf],
the head detective of Fabletown, to track down the truth.
This is one great story which will keep comic fans highly entertained
and interested throughout the book. Bill Willingham
[Sandman Presents…, Proposition Player]
blends classic fairytale characters into a modern day setting seamlessly
and manages to tell an awesome tale of intrigue with a touch of
fantasy. It’s this odd mixture of reality and fantasy that
makes this book so wildly entertaining. Willingham uses the intertwined
tales of different fables to add to his own storyline and each fairytale
character he employs in the story adds a bit of him/her to the growing
narrative. The appearance list includes The Big Bad Wolf,
Snow White and Cinderella to just about any Fairytale/Fable
character you can imagine.
Although the tale is based around these magnificent and far-reaching
characters it is a rather basic story underneath it all. Not simple
by any means, as it is both intricate and very well thought out,
but more in the vain that it follows a classic ‘whodunit’
murder mystery format. Of course through the use of his
clever characters Willingham’s book comes to life in an interesting
and twisted kind of manner which makes a standard plot stand out
as something completely original and far from the norm.
The art by Lan Medina is nothing altogether flashy
but is rather of a believably realistic approach which suits the
story at hand. He manages to blend together the wild fantasy elements
and everyday life pretty much seamlessly. His artwork is amazingly
consistent and his ability to pay attention to the finer details
in each panel is really great to look at. The effort put into the
panel design is well received and is fitting to the rest of the
fairytale elements found throughout the book. Medina uses a number
of clefs and classic designs around the panels
to keep this traditional and yet original design feel together.
A great escapist piece of comic book goodness. A fantastical
murder mystery mixed in with some of the most famous fairytale
characters this side of Wonderland, a true imaginary getaway. An
original tale that’s sure to please many an avid comics’
reader.
Score 9/10
Reviewed By:Iain Duncan
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Comic Reviews
