Jack of Fables: The (Nearly) Great Escape - VOL 01 [Paperback]

All customer reviews posted at the time of this writing would have you believe that if you enjoy Fables, you will necessarily enjoy its spin-off Jack of Fables. Not so fast! I want to encourage you to at least proceed with caution.

I only recently discovered Fables and have quickly read the entire series. I love myth, fairy tales and fantasy and I think the Fables series is wonderfully entertaining (though it arguably features more intrigue and mystery than standard fantasy fair). Bill Willingham's characterizations are believable and endearing, his stories are sweeping and epic, and the artwork and design are remarkable (paneling and layout are unlike anything else I have seen).

Other reviewers note that Jack may be the least likable of the Fables characters in the original series. But whereas he is self-serving and self-pitying in Fables, there was something underneath that made him tolerable if not likable. Yes, he was a jerk, but he was not devoid of all merit. Through the first two books of this series, his jerk factor has really escalated. Perhaps it's just because the focus now resides so squarely on him. Perhaps even more likely it's because these tales are primarily narrated in a first person voice. You get inside Jack's head and thoughts and his arrogance and braggadocio are just overwhelming. He constantly tells the reader how much better he is than everyone (including the reader), he closes each story with a teaser for the next in which he lauds himself and insults the reader or where he tries an infantile trick or insult to get you to read on. Whereas I assume this is supposed to be humorous, it falls completely flat for me. It lacks wit and seems amateurish.

And this brings me to the real problem plaguing this series. Both Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges are credited as writers. Whereas I do not know what actually occurs, I had to wonder if Matt Sturges wasn't the primary or almost exclusive writer. Willingham may have editorial control or input (and it is certainly his character), but I cannot believe that he is directly responsible for this. Willingham has amazing talent as demonstrated in Fables, but it is not in evidence here. The plotting feels telegraphed and the pacing is frenetic. Aside from the writing, the beautiful artwork and design of the original are also missing.

In fairness, some of the magic is still here. You meet more fairy tale characters which has its own inherent fanciful appeal. Plus you get some back story and tie-ins to the Fables series. The idea of the Golden Boughs Retirement Community and its mission to remove all magic from the world (fable or otherwise) has wonderful potential. In fact, if that plot device were rolled into Fables, I imagine we would have a great story. But the writing and presentation here are just sub par.

I got and read the first two books but I will not be getting any subsequent volumes. Whereas the vocal few seem to love this series, it is not a foregone conclusion that liking the original Fables means you will also like this spin-off. By all means proceed to look into this series for yourself, but do so with caution.

Jack of Fables gets his own spin-off series! I have to admit, at first, I was sort of like, why? But, now I understand. It's because Jack kicks butt! In case you don't know, Jack also goes by Jack of the Beanstalk, Jack B. Horner, Jack of the Tales, and apparently Jack Frost in colder climates.

When we last saw Jack in the Fables comics, he had become a huge player in the Hollywood scene, with fame, money and lots of girls, only to have it all taken away from him by the sheriff of Fabletown, The Beast (from Beauty and the Beast, of course). Left to fend for himself, we meet up with Jack as he walks along a highway with the million dollars Beast let him keep. Suddenly he is picked up with a strange woman and two bagmen (men who are, well, bags, it's weird I know) and taken to a place called The Golden Boughs Retirement community. There he finds Goldilocks (missing from the Fables comics for awhile as well) and other various and sundry fable characters many of whom are very obscure. Someone did their research! Among them are Mother Goose, the Pathetic Fallacy, and a quick little guy called Sam. There are also cameos by Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Toto, and many others.

There Jack meets a rather nefarious guy called Mr. Revise who runs The Golden Boughs. Mr. Revise's mission is, apparently, imprison fairy tales until the world at large forgets about them, making them less magical. Mr. Revise's sinister intent is to do away with them and rid the world of magic forever

As I said before, I was surprised when they decided to spin-off Jack. Now that I can see where the story is going, I totally understand. This series looks to be completely separate from the Fables universe (no Adversary, none of the regulars from that comic) and has a great story going. The parallels to our own world and the issues we face with censorship are expertly addressed in the story arc with Mr. Revise and the Golden Boughs. I can't wait to see where Bill Willingham and crew go with this in the next part of the series.

And, as always, the art was simply amazing, especially James Jean's beautiful covers. And, I would advise catching up on the Fables comics, not because this can't stand alone because I think it really can, but because they are just so fantastic they need to be read too!

Bill Willingham's "Fables" series has already taken some of the world's best-loved characters in a new and thoroughly modern direction. Now, Jack of the Tales -- a.k.a. Jack the Giant-Killer, Jack Horner, Jack Frost, John Trick and Jack B. Nimble -- has broken with the fold (OK, he was banished) and is out on his own. It doesn't take him long at all before he's tossed unwillingly into the Golden Boughs Retirement Community, where the dread Scissorman keeps story characters captive until they fade from the collective subconscious and lose their power.

On the bright side, the revolutionary and homicidal maniac Goldilocks is there, not at all dead as previously believed, and without Baby Bear to sate her, she's willing to get kinky with Jack. (There's nothing explicit, but this isn't a book for youngsters.) But Jack wants to escape the inescapable, and with the help of Humpty Dumpty, a handful of fairies, a large flock of birds and an elderly Sambo, he just might do it.

Anyone who enjoys the "Fables" series will love this. And since everyone should enjoy "Fables," you might as well pick up your copy now.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.NET editor

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