What do you think?
Rate this book
Fables
Fables, Vol. 19: Snow White
With Castle Dark now back in the hands of the Fables, mysteries both young and old begin to challenge the residents of Fabletown. Bigby and Stinky set off from Fabletown in Rose Red's blood-fueled sports car to track down the two abducted cubs. Unfortunately for Snow White, besides suffering the trauma of having two of her cubs go missing, a long forgotten secret uncovered in Castle Dark threatens to sabotage her and Bigby's marriage.
This volume also collects the backup adventures of Bufkin and Lily from issues 114-121, as well as their full length adventures found in issue 124.
Collecting: Fables 124-129 & material 114-123
This volume also collects the backup adventures of Bufkin and Lily from issues 114-121, as well as their full length adventures found in issue 124.
Collecting: Fables 124-129 & material 114-123
168 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2013
48 people are currently reading
2519 people want to read
About the author
Bill Willingham
994 books2,828 followersIn the late 1970s to early 1980s he drew fantasy ink pictures for the Dungeons & Dragons Basic and Expert game rulebooks. He first gained attention for his 1980s comic book series Elementals published by Comico, which he both wrote and drew. However, for reasons unknown, the series had trouble maintaining an original schedule, and Willingham's position in the industry remained spotty for many years. He contributed stories to Green Lantern and started his own independent, black-and-white comics series Coventry which lasted only 3 issues. He also produced the pornographic series Ironwood for Eros Comix.
In the late 1990s Willingham reestablished himself as a prolific writer. He produced the 13-issue Pantheon for Lone Star Press and wrote a pair of short novels about the modern adventures of the hero Beowulf, published by the writer's collective, Clockwork Storybook, of which Willingham was a founding member. In the early 2000s he began writing extensively for DC Comics, including the limited series Proposition Player, a pair of limited series about the Greek witch Thessaly from The Sandman, and most notably the popular series Fables
In the late 1990s Willingham reestablished himself as a prolific writer. He produced the 13-issue Pantheon for Lone Star Press and wrote a pair of short novels about the modern adventures of the hero Beowulf, published by the writer's collective, Clockwork Storybook, of which Willingham was a founding member. In the early 2000s he began writing extensively for DC Comics, including the limited series Proposition Player, a pair of limited series about the Greek witch Thessaly from The Sandman, and most notably the popular series Fables
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
February 14, 2022
I hope this is leading up to something good.
Bufkin leads a revolution, and I'm glad to see both he and Lily get a HEA of sorts. He was my least favorite character and his adventures in Oz were my least favorite storylines. In that sense, I'm glad he's out of the way and all of the romance nonsense was wrapped up in the most palatable way possible.
I kind of liked Beast's solution to his problem with the Blue Fairy. Arranging a marriage contract between her and Gepetto (who has no idea what's happening) is bound to be interesting.
Bigby is out on a mission to find the missing cubs. This volume is happening simultaneously with volume 18 Cubs in Toyland and both volumes end with the same scene. Bigby is traveling worlds with Stinky, using Briar Rose's magical car.
You can read how she got that in Fairest, Volume 1: Wide Awake, if you're interested.
If you're reading the Fairest series, you'll also understand a bit more about Ambrose's part in the narration of the story.
The main meat of the story comes from Mrs. Spratt's fencing teacher revealing himself as Brandish, the enchanted bear prince that Snow agreed to marry as a child.
He claims that a promise to marry is marriage under the old laws, claims Snow as his wife, and locks her in his tower.
Because fairytales gotta be fairytales.
The rest of Fabletown, due to some powerful magic spells used by Brandish and some of their own archaic laws, are unable to help Snow escape. While the 13th Floor witches try to find a way around the enchantments, Mayor Cole sets about trying to enact laws that will give them the power to help their friend.
Bigby and Rose make their way to Fabeltown to help her, but ultimately it will be up to Snow to put an end to her creepy ex-fiance.
While not quite as dark as the last volume (not sure you can get darker) this one is still a hard pill to swallow in places. Still a good story, though.
Looking forward to seeing how Willingham wraps it all up for all of these characters that I've come to love.
Bufkin leads a revolution, and I'm glad to see both he and Lily get a HEA of sorts. He was my least favorite character and his adventures in Oz were my least favorite storylines. In that sense, I'm glad he's out of the way and all of the romance nonsense was wrapped up in the most palatable way possible.
I kind of liked Beast's solution to his problem with the Blue Fairy. Arranging a marriage contract between her and Gepetto (who has no idea what's happening) is bound to be interesting.
Bigby is out on a mission to find the missing cubs. This volume is happening simultaneously with volume 18 Cubs in Toyland and both volumes end with the same scene. Bigby is traveling worlds with Stinky, using Briar Rose's magical car.
You can read how she got that in Fairest, Volume 1: Wide Awake, if you're interested.
If you're reading the Fairest series, you'll also understand a bit more about Ambrose's part in the narration of the story.
The main meat of the story comes from Mrs. Spratt's fencing teacher revealing himself as Brandish, the enchanted bear prince that Snow agreed to marry as a child.
He claims that a promise to marry is marriage under the old laws, claims Snow as his wife, and locks her in his tower.
Because fairytales gotta be fairytales.
The rest of Fabletown, due to some powerful magic spells used by Brandish and some of their own archaic laws, are unable to help Snow escape. While the 13th Floor witches try to find a way around the enchantments, Mayor Cole sets about trying to enact laws that will give them the power to help their friend.
Bigby and Rose make their way to Fabeltown to help her, but ultimately it will be up to Snow to put an end to her creepy ex-fiance.
While not quite as dark as the last volume (not sure you can get darker) this one is still a hard pill to swallow in places. Still a good story, though.
Looking forward to seeing how Willingham wraps it all up for all of these characters that I've come to love.
April 23, 2021
In which we find out what happened to Bufkin, Lily and Hangy; in which we get some insight into Bigby's past; in which Castle Dark becomes Fableland version 2; in which Snow White and her marriage are tested to the limit by her past!
It begins with the out of kilter, yet wonderful Bufkin saga, followed by a very interesting Bigby backstory as we get to see him as the Big Bad Wolf; but it's the main Snow White story where yet again the creators capture the dark underbelly of fairy tales to a tee, as well as the pain, the horror, the highs and the lows - another brand new (awesome) 21st century fairy tale! Easily the best volume so far, and that's 2 successive volumes of Fables' greatness! 9 out of 12.
It begins with the out of kilter, yet wonderful Bufkin saga, followed by a very interesting Bigby backstory as we get to see him as the Big Bad Wolf; but it's the main Snow White story where yet again the creators capture the dark underbelly of fairy tales to a tee, as well as the pain, the horror, the highs and the lows - another brand new (awesome) 21st century fairy tale! Easily the best volume so far, and that's 2 successive volumes of Fables' greatness! 9 out of 12.
April 6, 2023
Not as epic as last volume which i finished on 3 reading sessions in 2 days, it was even longer then this one.
Bufkin story : even though its very good what was missing from it, maybe linking it and making it relevant to the main story of fables, it was worthy of a limited series outside of the main storyline i feel that it held me down and slowed me, but great for him and Lilly how they have lived their lives together <3
As for the story of snow and her first husband, also not as epic as most of the fables storylines, but none the less, it will effect the storyline exponentially! now where did i get that word from hmmm :P
Bufkin story : even though its very good what was missing from it, maybe linking it and making it relevant to the main story of fables, it was worthy of a limited series outside of the main storyline i feel that it held me down and slowed me, but great for him and Lilly how they have lived their lives together <3
As for the story of snow and her first husband, also not as epic as most of the fables storylines, but none the less, it will effect the storyline exponentially! now where did i get that word from hmmm :P
July 2, 2022
Bufkin's gets his sendoff after he confronts the Gnome King in the backup stories from the last arc. I enjoy the Bufkin stories, but then again I've always liked Baum's further adventures in Oz.
The main arc is about Snow White's family. The main push of the rest of Fables is all about Snow White and Rose Red. Bigby gets a magical car from Briar Rose. (See Fairest, Volume 1: Wide Awake to find out how she got the car.) He's off to find Dare and Therese who are missing. This arc takes place in parallel to Cubs in Toyland. Prince Brandish rears his misogynistic head, kidnapping Snow and forcing Bigby to return for a duel. Meanwhile Beast's time is up and the Blue Fairy returns for Gepetto. Beast cleverly gets out of trouble for the moment but we'll see where this leads. All in all, more fairy tale goodness from Willingham and Buckingham.
The main arc is about Snow White's family. The main push of the rest of Fables is all about Snow White and Rose Red. Bigby gets a magical car from Briar Rose. (See Fairest, Volume 1: Wide Awake to find out how she got the car.) He's off to find Dare and Therese who are missing. This arc takes place in parallel to Cubs in Toyland. Prince Brandish rears his misogynistic head, kidnapping Snow and forcing Bigby to return for a duel. Meanwhile Beast's time is up and the Blue Fairy returns for Gepetto. Beast cleverly gets out of trouble for the moment but we'll see where this leads. All in all, more fairy tale goodness from Willingham and Buckingham.
April 6, 2014
This will be the last volume of Fables I will be reading, because I hated this one so much I never want to touch another one.
First the prologue story, which follows on what happened to Bufkin the flying monkey. The last time we saw him (3 volumes ago!), he was about to be hanged for treason in Oz, the land of his birth. I suspect the author must have heard all the complaints about not knowing what happened next, but instead of hearing them and giving us a proper story, he gave us this - once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-heroic-flying-monkey-that-freed-Oz-from-a-tyrant-then-went-on-lots-of-adventures-that-we-don't-get-to-see-and-have-lots-of-children-in-various-implausible-ways-then-dies-of-old-age-the-end. NOW STOP TALKING ABOUT FUCKING BUFKIN!. The author must really have hated us to give us this, either that or he was bored of the character. Oh, and I hated the art as well.
Ugh
This prologue is as nothing compared to the main story though. It is entitled Snow White and it says a lot about what is supposed to be one of the main characters that it has taken 19 volumes for her to have her own titled story. In it, her long lost first fiancee reappears (or to be more exact, reveals himself after hiding in plain sight), and promptly locks her up in a tower until she learns how to submit to him. The man is a complete monster, a misogynist and wife beater, a bully and a cheat, but my real ire is with the author who inflicted this creature on us. This was a horrible, horrible story to have to read, and it really doesn't matter that Snow White gets to decide her own destiny in the end, because the cost is so high with . I can't begin to describe how much I hated this story.
Double Ugh with an Ugh sauce.
First the prologue story, which follows on what happened to Bufkin the flying monkey. The last time we saw him (3 volumes ago!), he was about to be hanged for treason in Oz, the land of his birth. I suspect the author must have heard all the complaints about not knowing what happened next, but instead of hearing them and giving us a proper story, he gave us this - once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-heroic-flying-monkey-that-freed-Oz-from-a-tyrant-then-went-on-lots-of-adventures-that-we-don't-get-to-see-and-have-lots-of-children-in-various-implausible-ways-then-dies-of-old-age-the-end. NOW STOP TALKING ABOUT FUCKING BUFKIN!. The author must really have hated us to give us this, either that or he was bored of the character. Oh, and I hated the art as well.
Ugh
This prologue is as nothing compared to the main story though. It is entitled Snow White and it says a lot about what is supposed to be one of the main characters that it has taken 19 volumes for her to have her own titled story. In it, her long lost first fiancee reappears (or to be more exact, reveals himself after hiding in plain sight), and promptly locks her up in a tower until she learns how to submit to him. The man is a complete monster, a misogynist and wife beater, a bully and a cheat, but my real ire is with the author who inflicted this creature on us. This was a horrible, horrible story to have to read, and it really doesn't matter that Snow White gets to decide her own destiny in the end, because the cost is so high with . I can't begin to describe how much I hated this story.
Double Ugh with an Ugh sauce.
October 15, 2013
I got this book off NetGalley and realised only upon downloading that I had missed vols 14-17. When I opened to a chapter about Bufkin and a girlfriend character I did not recognize, I thought I'd just let this book go. It's a good thing that I remembered that all the Fables books contain multiple threads and plotlines. So I skipped through to the Snow White/Bigby/Beast arc.
The artwork is now recognizable enough, even with the different styles and works decently. I'm not as sure about the storyline though. For one, this feels like a sequel-style rehashing old twists (another dark side/Homelands enemy, lesser known fable characters in chauvinistic/archaic avatars). I was very disappointed with how the Snow White character has shaped up. After a wonderful start as a strong modern woman who is the real force behind Fabletown, and a reaffirmation of this in 1001 Nights of Snowfall, Snow White falls back into the damsel-in-distress mode waiting to be saved by husband and child.
I didn't really understand the Brandish character and his backstory though that may have been because of the issues I missed (if he was introduced earlier). He also looks too much like Prince Charming in a brown wig.
It wasn't fun watching Bigby die and in such a flimsy way. After an amazing build up of Bigby as the unconventional hero in the early issues, ridiculing him in The Great Fables Crossover was folly enough. Now to have him die such an undramatic, sissy death is severely disappointing.
Finally, as a so far interested Fables follower, I have to ask, who's left in this story universe to interest me? All the interesting characters are gone and replaced by minor characters with unimpressive storylines. I'm not sure I'm continuing with the series after this.
The artwork is now recognizable enough, even with the different styles and works decently. I'm not as sure about the storyline though. For one, this feels like a sequel-style rehashing old twists (another dark side/Homelands enemy, lesser known fable characters in chauvinistic/archaic avatars). I was very disappointed with how the Snow White character has shaped up. After a wonderful start as a strong modern woman who is the real force behind Fabletown, and a reaffirmation of this in 1001 Nights of Snowfall, Snow White falls back into the damsel-in-distress mode waiting to be saved by husband and child.
I didn't really understand the Brandish character and his backstory though that may have been because of the issues I missed (if he was introduced earlier). He also looks too much like Prince Charming in a brown wig.
It wasn't fun watching Bigby die and in such a flimsy way. After an amazing build up of Bigby as the unconventional hero in the early issues, ridiculing him in The Great Fables Crossover was folly enough. Now to have him die such an undramatic, sissy death is severely disappointing.
Finally, as a so far interested Fables follower, I have to ask, who's left in this story universe to interest me? All the interesting characters are gone and replaced by minor characters with unimpressive storylines. I'm not sure I'm continuing with the series after this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2019
Wow. Twists, turns, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...
Oops, sorry, not The Princess Bride. No giants. Otherwise, quite awesome.
Suggest reading earlier volumes first, however, to understand the background of... well... just about every character. Oh, and you will need Fairest, Vol. 1: Wide Awake to understand Briar Rose, who is not Rose Red... The Fableverse is getting quite complex.
Oops, sorry, not The Princess Bride. No giants. Otherwise, quite awesome.
Suggest reading earlier volumes first, however, to understand the background of... well... just about every character. Oh, and you will need Fairest, Vol. 1: Wide Awake to understand Briar Rose, who is not Rose Red... The Fableverse is getting quite complex.
June 9, 2023
I may not have cared too much for the danker Bufkin side-story but the continuation of the story in Fabletown Castle was cracking stuff. On to the next volume!
February 27, 2014
I think this volume confirms that I'm ready to stop buying this series (which means I'll still read it, of course, just to find out what happens to the various characters). It's just not really doing it for me, even though its events should be intriguing. There's just something about the nature of the threats that the characters face that seem kind of contrived, as if Bill Willingham is casting about for new stuff to cause them problems, but then also wrapping them up too quickly. Snow White having a secret "husband" that predated Prince Charming and Bigby Wolf should be a big deal, but we learn so little about the guy (except that he's a sexist jerk, so we can boo and hiss at him), how he got his magical powers, and what exactly he wants (to rape Snow, apparently; did I mention the booing and hissing?), that he seems more like a device to get the characters where Willingham wants them to be by the end of the volume. The early years of the series were characterized by a massive threat hanging over the characters, one that we only slowly learned about, so when the big confrontations came, they seemed epic. And even after that was over, other events took time to play out, rather than appearing, being confronted, and ending before we fully understand what is going on. At this point, Willingham seems like he's casting about for something to do with the world he's created, which doesn't bode well for its continued existence (which isn't lasting that much longer anyway, but this sort of thing makes me think that, like happens so often with long-running TV series, it's limping to a close rather than reaching anything resembling a planned conclusion).
January 16, 2022
Even though the subtitle this time is "Snow White," the first third or so of this volume is devoted to the story of Bufkin the flying monkey and Lily Barleycorn and how they eventually free Oz from the tyranny of the Nome King. Told in very brief, 2 and 3 page chapters, with sumptuous art, this is Fables at its best, telling a story filled with equal amounts of humor, horror, and emotion. I especially liked what happens to the two following their adventures in Oz. Even though they aren't suited for romance, they have their moments, and the story comes to a very nice and fitting close. The rest of the volume charts what happens when Bigby Wolf sets off to search for his missing children, leaving Snow White behind to deal with the pompous Prince Brandish, to whom she once made a childish promise to marry. He plans to hold her to this, despite her marriage to Bigby and their children--if he kills the wolf and the cubs, it will be like it never happened and they can start anew. Figuring a way out of this mess proves difficult. Also, in the background, Beast is involved in negotiations to wed Geppetto to the Blue Fairy. The large battles (the Adversary, Mr. Dark) have given way to smaller conflicts, but they're equally important. The whole thing makes for yet another example of why Fables is one of the best comics currently being published.
April 10, 2025
While this volume brings the unexpected ending of Bigby, still the story is going no where, the first part concludes the revolution in Oz led by the monkey, but is that really it? there is no tie-in to the main narrative? apparently not, since part two starts with the note 'back to the main narrative' so this Oz thing looks like a side track, or a conclusion for the monkey's part in the story...
Now, that Bigby's gone, a big part of the formula is disrupted, he is, and has been a big part of the story so far, and is a major attaction of the series, actually he is the star, playing the leading role, if he's really out, then I'll be thankful that the whole thing is nearing its end....
MiM
Now, that Bigby's gone, a big part of the formula is disrupted, he is, and has been a big part of the story so far, and is a major attaction of the series, actually he is the star, playing the leading role, if he's really out, then I'll be thankful that the whole thing is nearing its end....
MiM
November 9, 2024
Ecco un volume sorprendente, sotto tutti gli aspetti.
L'inizio, con il ritorno a Oz per la ribellione, e col racconto di quanto accade in seguito a Bufkin, la sua complicata storia con Giglio, le avventure insieme alla Corda.
Divertente e quasi commovente.
E poi si va alla portata principale (condita dal quadrilatero Fata Turchina-Dama del Lago-Bestia-Geppetto): Bianca Neve.
E il misterioso maestro di scherma reclutato dal Signore Oscuro per formare l'infermiera, di cui ora scopriamo la vera identità e la vera personalità. Che si rivela molto, molto più oscura di quanto chiunque potesse supporre.
Un mostro sotto ogni aspetto, traboccante di potere, che elimina un altro degli Eroi di Favolandia (che sta restandone pericolosamente a corto, ultimamente). Il più inatteso (prima di queste storie, visto che il narratore anticipa parecchie cose), il più doloroso.
C'è l'accenno alla possibilità di una futura resurrezione, ma chissà. Intanto non c'è.
E ci si è ricollegati alla chiusura dello scorso volume, col ritorno di un'adulta Therese.
Avrei dato anche cinque stelle, ma la passività con cui Favolandia accetta la prigionia di Bianca è inaccettabile, anche solo per tutti i trascorsi passati...
L'inizio, con il ritorno a Oz per la ribellione, e col racconto di quanto accade in seguito a Bufkin, la sua complicata storia con Giglio, le avventure insieme alla Corda.
Divertente e quasi commovente.
E poi si va alla portata principale (condita dal quadrilatero Fata Turchina-Dama del Lago-Bestia-Geppetto): Bianca Neve.
E il misterioso maestro di scherma reclutato dal Signore Oscuro per formare l'infermiera, di cui ora scopriamo la vera identità e la vera personalità. Che si rivela molto, molto più oscura di quanto chiunque potesse supporre.
Un mostro sotto ogni aspetto, traboccante di potere, che elimina un altro degli Eroi di Favolandia (che sta restandone pericolosamente a corto, ultimamente). Il più inatteso (prima di queste storie, visto che il narratore anticipa parecchie cose), il più doloroso.
C'è l'accenno alla possibilità di una futura resurrezione, ma chissà. Intanto non c'è.
E ci si è ricollegati alla chiusura dello scorso volume, col ritorno di un'adulta Therese.
Avrei dato anche cinque stelle, ma la passività con cui Favolandia accetta la prigionia di Bianca è inaccettabile, anche solo per tutti i trascorsi passati...
March 11, 2018
I'm way behind on this series - I haven't even finished reading the collected trade paperbacks I bought over a year ago.
Volume 19 in the venerable Fables series is showing its age. It's still a good series, but it's reached the point so many high concept series do - once you've gotten past the Unstoppable Enemy and existential threat with which you began the series, once you've continued and had your heroes face more existential threats, more epic battles against epic Big Bads, more huge revelations and major character deaths...how do you continue without just serving up more of the same? At this point, you're in the same box as a long-running superhero series. How many times can Superman "die" before the audience yawns?
The difference, of course, is that with a single creator/writer, the Fables series is better able to maintain its continuity, but eventually Willingham is going to repeat himself. In this case, the first half of Volume 19 is about Buffkin's war to liberate Oz from the Nome King. Told in short, comical chapters despite the rather gory massacres of Oz civilians and soldiers alike, Buffkin is the main character for a while, and Willingham actually takes us far into the future, telling us the final fate of Buffin the wingless flying monkey and his doll-sized girlfriend, many, many years in the future.
Then it's back to Fabletown and Bigby Wolf's search for his missing children. While Bigby is out driving between worlds in a magic car, the latest Big Bad is Snow White's first husband. Well, technically her "betrothed," who insists that marriage vows are eternally binding even if she was a child and the marriage was never consummated. This is no Prince Charming - he's a smarmy, evil, misogynistic cad, but an unfailingly polite one. Lawful Evil to the core. It's a battle of wills between him and Snow, but naturally it's Bigby Wolf who comes running to the rescue, which leads us to the huge twist that appears to set the tone for what is the remaining run of the series.
Was this story good? Yes, Fables is still enjoyable after all these years, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth, as evidenced by the way Willingham needs to deploy these huge plot twists to keep the series interesting. This volume seems a little muddled, a little bit like the series in a place of seeking direction for the grand finale.
Volume 19 in the venerable Fables series is showing its age. It's still a good series, but it's reached the point so many high concept series do - once you've gotten past the Unstoppable Enemy and existential threat with which you began the series, once you've continued and had your heroes face more existential threats, more epic battles against epic Big Bads, more huge revelations and major character deaths...how do you continue without just serving up more of the same? At this point, you're in the same box as a long-running superhero series. How many times can Superman "die" before the audience yawns?
The difference, of course, is that with a single creator/writer, the Fables series is better able to maintain its continuity, but eventually Willingham is going to repeat himself. In this case, the first half of Volume 19 is about Buffkin's war to liberate Oz from the Nome King. Told in short, comical chapters despite the rather gory massacres of Oz civilians and soldiers alike, Buffkin is the main character for a while, and Willingham actually takes us far into the future, telling us the final fate of Buffin the wingless flying monkey and his doll-sized girlfriend, many, many years in the future.
Then it's back to Fabletown and Bigby Wolf's search for his missing children. While Bigby is out driving between worlds in a magic car, the latest Big Bad is Snow White's first husband. Well, technically her "betrothed," who insists that marriage vows are eternally binding even if she was a child and the marriage was never consummated. This is no Prince Charming - he's a smarmy, evil, misogynistic cad, but an unfailingly polite one. Lawful Evil to the core. It's a battle of wills between him and Snow, but naturally it's Bigby Wolf who comes running to the rescue, which leads us to the huge twist that appears to set the tone for what is the remaining run of the series.
Was this story good? Yes, Fables is still enjoyable after all these years, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth, as evidenced by the way Willingham needs to deploy these huge plot twists to keep the series interesting. This volume seems a little muddled, a little bit like the series in a place of seeking direction for the grand finale.
December 18, 2015
For the first time, I feel that a "Fables" volome is a letdown... I didn't like the storyline and the new "villain," and on top of that it was so painful to let go of a third favourite character in a row...
November 8, 2013
Keep ripping my heart out won't you? Gaw. Snow and Bigby, the pain, the pain. At least Bufkin ended well.
February 3, 2014
That was a hard ending to cope with.
November 22, 2018
WHAT?????? That ending!!!!
July 23, 2015
Oh what an arc! Heartbreak and consequence.
I am biased so if you have read up to here in Fables I imagine you will be too. Bigby and Snow are in my opinion one of the two best characters in modern comic books and any story with them (be it they just sitting in a coffee shop chatting) is gonna be 5 stars for me. So if you don't want a biased fanboy rave then you should stop reading right now:
World: It's Buckingham art, it's static and he has a distinct style, but it's his and it's awesome. The framing is nice and full of charm and the facial expressions of the characters is just superb. The world building in this arc is not that great, we do see a couple of locals with Bigby but overall this story is about characters and mainly it's about Snow and Bigby and that's a wonderful thing.
Story: Heartbreaking. I won't say more as that would ruin the story for you, but just like other Fables arcs, multiple storylines are taking place and not all of them get resolved in this arc. There is a main story at the core of it and it's a terrible and wonderful story at the same time. The situation with Snow is infuriating obviously and although it did come somewhat out of left field I still found it compelling. Not to mention the end of the arc. I will say that it ended a bit too easily but I also of course found it utterly heartbreaking. It's good if you like Fables and these characters, if you don't I imagine you would find this story quite average.
Characters: Snow and Bigby, what else is there to say. They are complex, flawed and wonderful character that we've been reading for over 120 issues. The other characters in this arc old and new act like Willingham characters which is a very positive thing. I can't say much about this arc in terms of characters as that would completely defeat the purpose of experiencing this arc.
If you love Fables you are still reading, if you don't this arc will not make you a fan.
Onward to the next book!
I am biased so if you have read up to here in Fables I imagine you will be too. Bigby and Snow are in my opinion one of the two best characters in modern comic books and any story with them (be it they just sitting in a coffee shop chatting) is gonna be 5 stars for me. So if you don't want a biased fanboy rave then you should stop reading right now:
World: It's Buckingham art, it's static and he has a distinct style, but it's his and it's awesome. The framing is nice and full of charm and the facial expressions of the characters is just superb. The world building in this arc is not that great, we do see a couple of locals with Bigby but overall this story is about characters and mainly it's about Snow and Bigby and that's a wonderful thing.
Story: Heartbreaking. I won't say more as that would ruin the story for you, but just like other Fables arcs, multiple storylines are taking place and not all of them get resolved in this arc. There is a main story at the core of it and it's a terrible and wonderful story at the same time. The situation with Snow is infuriating obviously and although it did come somewhat out of left field I still found it compelling. Not to mention the end of the arc. I will say that it ended a bit too easily but I also of course found it utterly heartbreaking. It's good if you like Fables and these characters, if you don't I imagine you would find this story quite average.
Characters: Snow and Bigby, what else is there to say. They are complex, flawed and wonderful character that we've been reading for over 120 issues. The other characters in this arc old and new act like Willingham characters which is a very positive thing. I can't say much about this arc in terms of characters as that would completely defeat the purpose of experiencing this arc.
If you love Fables you are still reading, if you don't this arc will not make you a fan.
Onward to the next book!
February 2, 2015
The adventures of Bufkin were amusing but a bit too long, I was itching to get to the main story.
However, had I realized the main story was going to revolve around an insignificant nothing of character suddenly being this unstoppable force I wouldn't have been so eager.
I think what was even worse than everyone standing around being useless, was they kept being polite to him, as if what he was doing was a perfectly proper, normal circumstance.
At least Rose got a few digs in.
And, unlike on TV, I didn't have to suffer through his dialogue, I stopped reading it after he locked Snow in the room.
Definitely not a worthwhile read, and I wonder if it would be possible to skip it all together, since it looks as if volume 20 is going to pick up where 18 left off.
However, had I realized the main story was going to revolve around an insignificant nothing of character suddenly being this unstoppable force I wouldn't have been so eager.
I think what was even worse than everyone standing around being useless, was they kept being polite to him, as if what he was doing was a perfectly proper, normal circumstance.
At least Rose got a few digs in.
And, unlike on TV, I didn't have to suffer through his dialogue, I stopped reading it after he locked Snow in the room.
Definitely not a worthwhile read, and I wonder if it would be possible to skip it all together, since it looks as if volume 20 is going to pick up where 18 left off.
September 15, 2015
Well that was just astonishing. Having to see the Wolf family's side of things during the time where two of the cubs were at Toyland was surely great. Now, having Bigby dead as of the end of this volume just makes this whole storm of stories interesting, especially how it is with the Wolf family now. Granted I'm still curious as to what happens next now that Therese is back since most of this volume didn't try touching that yet. I cannot wait to get a start on the next volume now.
June 18, 2015
There's a lot of tales to cover in this one, including the heroic tales of Bufkin, but the major focus is upon Snow White and her continued ordeals.
OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus.
OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus.
July 29, 2016
I've heard through the grapevine that Fables will be ending its run with issue 150. While I've had a lot of fun with this series and seeing how Willingham has developed the idea of fairy tale characters come to life, living in our world, I have to say I'm glad that he's opting to end it. The series is still going strong, and Willingham has proven that he has enough ideas to keep it from becoming too stale, but there have been some re-hashing of old ideas that have popped up along the way. The recurring theme of Gepetto and his war has grown a little tiresome, though it seems like, with this volume, Willingham is starting to look at taking that in a different direction. I'll have to wait to see what happens.
This collection starts off rather poorly, with a throwaway story about the Oz characters rebelling against the Nome King. This story must have taken 2-3 issues to tell in the periodical printing, and had I been reading the series through the individual issues, I would have gotten a little fed up with it. It seemed rather pointless and uninteresting, which is a shame, since Willingham's other "cleanse the palate" interludes have been a lot better than this one. I'd recommend skipping over it all together, if you can.
The rest of the collection is pretty standard fare, with Brandish returning to claim Snow White as his bride, while Bigby is out trying to find where their missing children are. Snow White falls unwillingly into the "damsel in distress" here, though she still retains enough of her independence and fortitude to try to get out of the dilemma on her own. Brandish is just too powerful, and has planned too far ahead for her to be able to outwit him. In the end, the story isn't about outwitting him, but simply overpowering him, and even though Bigby returns to save her, she still manages to be the one to get rid of Brandish (though not without paying a price of her own). Since Brandish is a stereotypical male chauvinist character, it's fitting that she be the one to defeat him.
I'm curious to see how Willingham will end the series, and I get the feeling that this volume is setting the stage for how it's going to develop. I'm curious to know, though, if it will end with a happy ending, or if it will end in destruction and disaster. Given how Willingham has run the series so far, I could honestly see it going either way.
This collection starts off rather poorly, with a throwaway story about the Oz characters rebelling against the Nome King. This story must have taken 2-3 issues to tell in the periodical printing, and had I been reading the series through the individual issues, I would have gotten a little fed up with it. It seemed rather pointless and uninteresting, which is a shame, since Willingham's other "cleanse the palate" interludes have been a lot better than this one. I'd recommend skipping over it all together, if you can.
The rest of the collection is pretty standard fare, with Brandish returning to claim Snow White as his bride, while Bigby is out trying to find where their missing children are. Snow White falls unwillingly into the "damsel in distress" here, though she still retains enough of her independence and fortitude to try to get out of the dilemma on her own. Brandish is just too powerful, and has planned too far ahead for her to be able to outwit him. In the end, the story isn't about outwitting him, but simply overpowering him, and even though Bigby returns to save her, she still manages to be the one to get rid of Brandish (though not without paying a price of her own). Since Brandish is a stereotypical male chauvinist character, it's fitting that she be the one to defeat him.
I'm curious to see how Willingham will end the series, and I get the feeling that this volume is setting the stage for how it's going to develop. I'm curious to know, though, if it will end with a happy ending, or if it will end in destruction and disaster. Given how Willingham has run the series so far, I could honestly see it going either way.
March 7, 2014
Knowing now that the monthly series is ending in the next 18 months (or so) there is a nagging thought at the back of mind. How much of the last two TPBs are set up for the final story lines? If this volume is setting up bigger stories I don't care. There are a couple of plot threads left hanging, but the major story points are resolved and that makes this a very satisfying read on its own.
The first story is essentially the career of Bufkin, the former (he lost his wings) flying monkey from Oz. This is a tale of rebellion in Oz, and Bufkin and Lilly's later adventures. A light hearted, and well executed piece (and satisfying too).
The second and heavier, more epic, in its own right, story revolves around Bigby's search for his and Snow's children and the return of Snow's husband(?!) who is not Bigby. Bill Willingham crafts a wonderful villain here, and a tale that may evoke tears from some.
If you are a fans of fairy tales this series is for you. If you like the Once Upon a Time Shows on ABC television read these TPBs instead because they are much better than the shows.
The first story is essentially the career of Bufkin, the former (he lost his wings) flying monkey from Oz. This is a tale of rebellion in Oz, and Bufkin and Lilly's later adventures. A light hearted, and well executed piece (and satisfying too).
The second and heavier, more epic, in its own right, story revolves around Bigby's search for his and Snow's children and the return of Snow's husband(?!) who is not Bigby. Bill Willingham crafts a wonderful villain here, and a tale that may evoke tears from some.
If you are a fans of fairy tales this series is for you. If you like the Once Upon a Time Shows on ABC television read these TPBs instead because they are much better than the shows.
November 6, 2014
Bigby, no! Just...no.
Love the series, but lately the triangular shape of a shark fin, the harbinger of a toothy fish that gets jumped, has been popping up in the Fables waters. My sense is this: following the events with Mr. Dark, the writer lost story momentum, and is now just casting around aimlessly for a way to continue the series and make his editor happy.
The Bufkin storyline was too superficial, too cute and kiddy for this series, while Snow and Bigby's tried to be daring (Ooo, kill off a main character!), and ended up feeling forced and contrived. The Bufkin story was Disney safe. Snow White, once a strong female character, is reduced to a hapless damsel in distress (probably, because as with many female characters who become mothers, the writer thinks it necessary to reduced her to a mindless maternal machine who is "all about her children.").
The strength of the series was its emotional depth, complex narratives and clever snarky humor, all of which were absent in this volume.
Three stars because, despite its flaws, Vol 19 was good, light on-a-plane reading.
Love the series, but lately the triangular shape of a shark fin, the harbinger of a toothy fish that gets jumped, has been popping up in the Fables waters. My sense is this: following the events with Mr. Dark, the writer lost story momentum, and is now just casting around aimlessly for a way to continue the series and make his editor happy.
The Bufkin storyline was too superficial, too cute and kiddy for this series, while Snow and Bigby's tried to be daring (Ooo, kill off a main character!), and ended up feeling forced and contrived. The Bufkin story was Disney safe. Snow White, once a strong female character, is reduced to a hapless damsel in distress (probably, because as with many female characters who become mothers, the writer thinks it necessary to reduced her to a mindless maternal machine who is "all about her children.").
The strength of the series was its emotional depth, complex narratives and clever snarky humor, all of which were absent in this volume.
Three stars because, despite its flaws, Vol 19 was good, light on-a-plane reading.
October 3, 2019
Vol 19 "Snow White" was a rather important issue, in that many important events take place.
The first part of the book concludes Bufkin's adventures in fighting the Gnome King who has taken over OZ. That part of the story was ok and is one of the primary reasons this book got a three star rating.
But it is the events in the second part of the book that really stand out. Werian Holt, the fencing instructor, turns out to be Prince Brandish who also happens to be Snow White's husband. He lays claim to Snow White and the resulting conflict with Bigby Wolf is one of the major points of this story. But I shall say no more since that would be spoilers.
Meanwhile, in the background Gepetto is maneuvering about for a strategic marriage with the Blue Fairy.
I am not sure how I feel about the ending of the Brandish/Snow/Bigby conflict. It was a bit underwhelming. Had this issue focused more on that conflict instead of Bufkin, it might have eked out a 4 star rating. But the actual conflict was rather silly and the ending left a bit more to be desired.
The first part of the book concludes Bufkin's adventures in fighting the Gnome King who has taken over OZ. That part of the story was ok and is one of the primary reasons this book got a three star rating.
But it is the events in the second part of the book that really stand out. Werian Holt, the fencing instructor, turns out to be Prince Brandish who also happens to be Snow White's husband. He lays claim to Snow White and the resulting conflict with Bigby Wolf is one of the major points of this story. But I shall say no more since that would be spoilers.
Meanwhile, in the background Gepetto is maneuvering about for a strategic marriage with the Blue Fairy.
I am not sure how I feel about the ending of the Brandish/Snow/Bigby conflict. It was a bit underwhelming. Had this issue focused more on that conflict instead of Bufkin, it might have eked out a 4 star rating. But the actual conflict was rather silly and the ending left a bit more to be desired.
October 19, 2014
Willingham never disappoints.
February 20, 2018
This was a disturbing volume for a few reasons. First off it has the apparent death of a major character, and I say apparent because in this series death isn't always permanent. What was even worse though was the domestic abuse type story of Snow White and her first husband who imprisoned her and came across as the most disgusting villain in the history of this series, and there have been some really evil ones.
The Bufkin storyline was more lighthearted and a very entertaining story of Oz, but the main story was so dark it took things down a notch. The series seems to just keep getting darker and darker, and I don't know about that direction, especially as the series is winding down.
The Bufkin storyline was more lighthearted and a very entertaining story of Oz, but the main story was so dark it took things down a notch. The series seems to just keep getting darker and darker, and I don't know about that direction, especially as the series is winding down.
April 8, 2021
Why even start a Bufkin story arc if you give it a haphazard rush job ending like this?
Main story (is there one lately?), Prince Brandish or Mr. Patriarchy is so badly written as a sexist idiot at every opportunity in Willingham's attempt to virtue signal as a male feminist. Whoever she was, I hope she read your comic and awarded you with sex, bro.
So naturally, Snow White with main hand broken beats the best swordsman ever in one on one with her off-hand, while Brandish shouts "MEN ARE STRONGER AND HAVE MORE STAMINA THAN WOMEN!!!".
Even though he had shown exceptional dexterity and skill in a previous fight with Bigby Wolf and has a magic sword that is 100 magic weapons combined into one, spell protections etc., she dispatches him almost without effort, piercing his heart. Hah! Take that Toxic Masculinity.
Then in the same volume we have Blue Fairy all excited about marriage proposal from Gepetto, her ex kidnapper and torturer! Wtf dude? Whatever. Nothing matters.
Also Briar Rose is back, even though we last saw her still asleep, taken by goblins. I guess this is explained in some spinoff, which is not included in this volume. Willingham can't be bothered to insert a short explanation in his main series.
This series should have ended with Adversary beaten. I can't wait to see how he ruins the ending.
Main story (is there one lately?), Prince Brandish or Mr. Patriarchy is so badly written as a sexist idiot at every opportunity in Willingham's attempt to virtue signal as a male feminist. Whoever she was, I hope she read your comic and awarded you with sex, bro.
So naturally, Snow White with main hand broken beats the best swordsman ever in one on one with her off-hand, while Brandish shouts "MEN ARE STRONGER AND HAVE MORE STAMINA THAN WOMEN!!!".
Even though he had shown exceptional dexterity and skill in a previous fight with Bigby Wolf and has a magic sword that is 100 magic weapons combined into one, spell protections etc., she dispatches him almost without effort, piercing his heart. Hah! Take that Toxic Masculinity.
Then in the same volume we have Blue Fairy all excited about marriage proposal from Gepetto, her ex kidnapper and torturer! Wtf dude? Whatever. Nothing matters.
Also Briar Rose is back, even though we last saw her still asleep, taken by goblins. I guess this is explained in some spinoff, which is not included in this volume. Willingham can't be bothered to insert a short explanation in his main series.
This series should have ended with Adversary beaten. I can't wait to see how he ruins the ending.
March 10, 2014
I was a little confused when I picked this up and it said it was reprinting the same issues plus six more. It turns out that they removed the backup stories from the last book and printed them here, instead. I'm not totally sure how I feel about that. The backup stories wrap up Bufkin and Lily’s adventures (in Oz and elsewhere), and maybe would have broken up the flow of the story of Fables, Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland, which definitely had a darker tone. That said, the writers chose to put those stories as backup rather than a single issue, so maybe it makes sense to reprint them as originally released? *shrug*
In any case, the Bufkin-in-Oz story has turned out to be so dragged out that I lost interest. The main story, takes place prior to the conclusion of Fables, Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland and shows what Snow and Bigby were up to. I'm going with four stars, but honestly it wasn't my favorite story, especially with how much I lived the last volume. The villain-of-the-volume seemed to come out of nowhere, and while creepy, never felt especially fleshed out. The death at the end was telegraphed such that it didn't have much emotional resonance for me, especially since . In any case, Fables continues to entertain.
In any case, the Bufkin-in-Oz story has turned out to be so dragged out that I lost interest. The main story, takes place prior to the conclusion of Fables, Vol. 18: Cubs in Toyland and shows what Snow and Bigby were up to. I'm going with four stars, but honestly it wasn't my favorite story, especially with how much I lived the last volume. The villain-of-the-volume seemed to come out of nowhere, and while creepy, never felt especially fleshed out. The death at the end was telegraphed such that it didn't have much emotional resonance for me, especially since . In any case, Fables continues to entertain.
February 14, 2014
This is the nineteenth trade paperback in the Fables series. It was a good installment in this series and I enjoyed reading it. The 20th trade paperback in this series will be called Camelot and is scheduled to release July 2014.
The first set of chapters is about Bufkin helping Oz in their revolution. Then the majority of the book is the Snow White story arc. In Snow White, Snow White's first and original husband shows up. He is a very evil man with strong magic, and he is threatening Snow White. As if Snow White doesn't have enough to deal with in regards to her missing children…
Bigby and Smelly take off in Rose Red’s blood powered magic car to search for his and Snow White’s missing children, while Snow White deals with the problem of her original husband showing up.
This is a pretty dark Fables, Snow White is in a very bad place. She is upset over her children and then when her original husband shows up things get a lot worse for her. He is abusive and cruel.
The artwork throughout is very much in the style of previous Fables installments. It is well done, depicts the characters nicely, and is easy to follow.
I thought learning more about Snow White’s past was intriguing. It was also interesting to see the Fables moving into and claiming Castle Dark as their new base of operations.
Overall this was an excellent read. I really enjoyed the story, especially the Snow White part of it. Highly recommended to fans of the Fables series or to fans of urban fantasy graphic novels in general.
The first set of chapters is about Bufkin helping Oz in their revolution. Then the majority of the book is the Snow White story arc. In Snow White, Snow White's first and original husband shows up. He is a very evil man with strong magic, and he is threatening Snow White. As if Snow White doesn't have enough to deal with in regards to her missing children…
Bigby and Smelly take off in Rose Red’s blood powered magic car to search for his and Snow White’s missing children, while Snow White deals with the problem of her original husband showing up.
This is a pretty dark Fables, Snow White is in a very bad place. She is upset over her children and then when her original husband shows up things get a lot worse for her. He is abusive and cruel.
The artwork throughout is very much in the style of previous Fables installments. It is well done, depicts the characters nicely, and is easy to follow.
I thought learning more about Snow White’s past was intriguing. It was also interesting to see the Fables moving into and claiming Castle Dark as their new base of operations.
Overall this was an excellent read. I really enjoyed the story, especially the Snow White part of it. Highly recommended to fans of the Fables series or to fans of urban fantasy graphic novels in general.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews