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In that one story they simply won't forget, at least they never knew my name This article is about a subject whose real name is unknown, and is known only by a title, nickname, alias or description |
| “ | When things look darkest, Boy Blue will come back, blazing in blue light! He'll be holding a great sword with which he'll cut off the head of this new adversary and anyone else who ever troubles us! Then we will all go to live with him in a perfectly restored Homelands empire, but one where Blue rules peacefully and benevolently. And we'll all be made kings of different worlds and continents and kingdoms in the restored empire, and Blue will be the loving emperor over us. | „ |
| ~ Brock Blueheart making a speech to the other animal Fables about Boy Blue's return, Fables #82 — Waiting for the Blues (An Epilogue of Sorts for The Dark Ages)" |
Brock Blueheart, previously nicknamed Stinky, is an animal Fable that resides at the Farm. He first appears in Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm." He becomes infamous for starting a cult dedicated to the resurrection of his old friend, Boy Blue.
History
Missy Skunk
"Stinky" was bequeathed with his nickname after an encounter with Missy Skunk. According to Stinky, he fell down her hole once, which shouldn't be enough to warrant such a disreputable nickname. Rose Red labels the encounter as an interspecies romance, but Stinky claims there was no romance because she was a skunk.[3] However, he later reveals to Bigby Wolf that he actually doesn't mind the sobriquet, and confesses that his tumble into Missy Skunk's den was not an accident: In a drunken stupor, he found her alluring and she used her charm to seduce him.[6]
Goldilocks' revolution
Stinky appears in the barn, present at a gathering of Fable creatures discussing whether they should take up arms against the Adversary. Coincidentally, Snow White arrives at the Farm just as she does twice a year to check on the Fable community there, and walks in on them. Stinky and the rest of the group are shocked when they notice her sudden presence in the room.[7]
New leadership
Following Rose Red's assumption of leadership at the Farm, Stinky steps in as her assistant.[5] The two of them handle the day shift, while Mustard Pot Pete oversees the night shift.[3]
Following Prince Charming's failure to fulfill his promise of granting transformations to all non-human Fables upon assuming the role of Mayor of Fabletown, Rockford J. Raccoon and Stinky engage in a heated argument. Rockford criticizes Charming by labeling him as a bastard and proposes visiting the city to request changes from the new Mayor, but Stinky disagrees and expresses faith in the ability of handsome princes to succeed in the end. Rockford is puzzled by Stinky's unwavering belief, yet Stinky attributes it to the storybooks.[8]
Threat of Mister Dark
Following the demise of Boy Blue, Stinky establishes[1][4] the Cult of Blue,[9] a religious group devoted to honoring his departed friend.[1] He passionately conveys to his fellow animal Fables that Blue will rise again and assume the role of a Messiah.[1][4] Taking on the name Brock Blueheart, he urges his adherents to don a simple blue scarf or handkerchief around their necks as a symbol of their allegiance. He adopts the name Brock Blueheart, and encourages his followers to wear an unadorned blue scarf or handkerchief around their neck to show their support.[1]
When Jack and Rose Red have loud sex, Brock,[10] very unaware how Rose was before she came to the Farm,[11] believes that Rose is Blue's true love and insanely thinks Jack is Boy Blue's reincarnation and even makes him wear a blue scarf.[10] He even gets the other animal Fables to attack Jack' son, Jack Frost, believing him to be bad. Despite Beauty's best and easiest attempts to explain Red's troubled past, Brock and the others quickly turn on her and try to hurt her and Jack; but Beauty finally succeeds in convincing him that Jack is a mere impostor. While Red is hidden safely at Wolf Manor,[11] Jack returns to the Farm, only to be kicked out by Brock and the others.[12]
With Rose Red still in a near comatose state and refusing to take leadership of the Farm, Brock and his Cult of Blue are one of the forces that rises up to fill the power vacuum (the other contender being Geppetto). The two prospective leaders meet with Ozma to discuss a truce, where Geppetto's bodyguard Prince Aspen insults Brock. In a rage, Brock transforms into a hulking badger bearing armor and a hammer, however, his new powers are quickly outmatched by the dryad. With the Fables' allegiance almost equally split, Brock seems to have a decent chance of wresting leadership[13] until Rose comes to her senses through the help of Colin's ghost. Although she quickly takes back the reins, she decides to restructure the leadership to include both Brock and Geppetto as her advisors.[14]
Kingdom of Haven
Although the North Wind defeated and killed Mister Dark, Stinky's still under the illusion that Boy Blue's still a cult figure and that he killed Mr. Dark.[15]
Goodbye to the Farm
Brock staying in the religion game
As a result of some of the human Fables accidentally being transformed into animals during a glamour casting, the Farm is partially wrecked.[16] Standing amidst the ruins of the Farm, Brock and a cadre of Fable creatures confront the new reality that Fabletown in New York City has been laid bare to the mundys and it is only a matter of time before they find their way to the Farm as well. The White Rabbit ponders where they will go when the mundys descend upon them, but Brock reminds him that he can go anywhere he wants, as they are finally free to roam wherever they choose. However, Brock plans to stay put, confidently stating that no mundy marauders will drive him from the only home he's known in ages.[17]
Upon Bigby's urging, Brock finally moves on from his Boy Blue cult, but he remains involved with religion. He is last seen on an unnamed world, preaching to the animal residents that "Brock Almighty, the great sky badger," will come down from his cosmic den and unite all mammal-kind under his banner of holy jihad. The feathered creatures will fall submit to the furred, and the six-legged insects and eight-legged arachnids will bow before them. His followers' rallying cry is "no more than four!" (legs).[18]
Physical description
| “ | Until today, Stinky's eyes were a normal badger brown. Now, they're bright blue. Interesting, huh? Make me wonder if there isn't a touch of real power behind these tall tales he's making up. | „ |
| ~ Clara to Grimble, Fables #83 — "The Great Fables Crossover, Part 1 of 9: The Call" |
Brock is an anthropomorphic badger. Initially, his eyes were a typical shade of badger brown; however, following the inception of his new cult, they inexplicably transform to a striking blue, a manifestation of his deep-seated belief.[1]
Powers and abilities
- Immortality: Like most Fables, Brock is extremely long-lived.
- Blue magic: Brock Blueheart is able to wield "blue magic," a form of magic empowered by his faith in the messiah figure of his cult, Boy Blue. Due to Brock's belief in Blue, he is also able to manifest a more powerful form at times, in the form of a giant badger (about twice the height of a normal human being and three times as wide). When he changes, he is endowed with gauntlets, epaulets, and a large hammer. However, Prince Aspen says that his new powers are grounded in the religious beliefs that he is helping to cultivate, and are therefore weaker than that of an established fairy tale.[13]
Weaknesses
- Brock has the conventional weaknesses and vulnerabilities of any ordinary Fable, as well as a few unique to him.
- Belief: Brock's magic is based on his own beliefs and that of his followers, and magic based on beliefs and religion is extremely weak and easily destroyed by proper magic, as revealed during a skirmish.[13]
Appearances
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Trivia
- According to the Fables Encyclopedia, Brock Blueheart is an original character created by Bill Willingham,[19] meaning that he is not Mr. Badger from The Wind in the Willows, or Grimbard the Badger from the literary cycle of Reynard the Fox. Ironically, Grimbard the Badger[20] is also known as Grimbard the Brock,[21] as "brock" is a British English word for "badger."[22]
- He sometimes speaks in badger-related idioms, such as "great badger's sett,"[23] and "I swear to brock" rather than "I swear to God."[24]
- During a small portion of the volume "Snow White," his eyes inexplicably stop being blue.
Etymology
Brock named himself "Brock Blueheart" in memory of Boy Blue,[1] with "brock" being a British English word for "badger,"[22] used especially as a form of address in stories.[25]
Although Brock is usually referred to as "Stinky" (even in the "Who's Who In Fabletown" section of every volume), he has explicitly stated that it is not his real name.[1][3] Brock was bequeathed with the nickname after an encounter with Missy Skunk, in which he fell down her hole. Although he claims that nothing happened between them,[3] he later admits that his tumble into Missy Skunk's den was not an accident: In a drunken stupor, he found her alluring and she used her charm to seduce him.[6]
References
See also
| Fabletown | |
|---|---|
| Governing body | King Cole • Snow White (formerly) • Prince Charming (formerly) • Beauty • Ichabod Crane (formerly) |
| Inhabitants | Beast • Bigby Wolf (formerly) • Flycatcher (formerly) • Trusty John • Grimble • Bufkin • Cinderella • Mowgli • Hobbes • Pinocchio • Briar Rose • Doctor Swineheart • Rapunzel • Kay • Edmond Dantès • Crispin Cordwainer • Thrushbeard • Fairy Witch • Frau Totenkinder • Ozma • Fairy Witch • Morgan le Fay |
| Places | Grand Green Florist Shop • Chateau d'If Fencing Academy • Edward Bear's Candies • Ford Laundry • Nod's Books • Lewis Antiques • I Am the Eggman Diner • Yellowbrick Roadhouse • Web 'n' Muffet Market • The Woodland Luxury Apartments • The Glass Slipper Shoes • Branstock Tavern |
| Unique items | Magic Mirror |