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| “ | By staying here, I'm a living symbol of your lasting redemption. Who can continue to doubt you've reformed, after one of your old enemies, a succulent piggy, survives sleeping in your apartment? I hate it up on the Farm, Biggs. I'm a sophisticated pig and I belong in the city. | „ |
| ~ Colin to Bigby Wolf, Fables #2 — "Chapter Two: The (Un)Usual Suspects" |
Colin Pig is a Fable pig who lived at the Farm. He first appears in Fables #2 — "Chapter Two: The (Un)Usual Suspects" and is one of the Three Little Pigs, more specifically the pig who made a house built of straw. Goldilocks' revolutionary forces executed Colin, yet Hope continues to employ his form as a medium to communicate with Snow White and Rose Red in their dreams for many years.
History
Background
Colin Pig[1] constructed a home for himself made out of straw back in the Homelands. One day, the Big Bad Wolf came and blew the house down, and then tried to make supper out of him.[3]
The Farm
After escaping the Homelands, the Three Little Pigs were sent to live at the Farm along with the other Fables who could not pass as humans.[5]
Colin, tired of being confined to the Farm, started to sneak away from time to time.[5][6] During one of his getaways, he encountered the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Woodman on the New Jersey Pine Barrens and proposed to escort them to Fabletown, yet they politely refused, appearing to anticipate Dorothy Gale's return to fetch them.[7]
At one point, Goldilocks and Colin make their way to Fabletown, hoping to have a conversation with the authorities there. Standing in line outside the Business Office, Goldilocks comments on the typical behavior of Fabletown to keep them waiting, comparing it to animal apartheid. Colin suggests they should just return to the Farm instead.[8]
The city pig
Having long ago made amends with the Big Bad Wolf (now known as Bigby Wolf), Colin makes a habit out of taking up residence inside of Bigby's studio apartment at the Woodlands. Bigby often sends him back to the Farm, but Colin always escapes and returns.[3][6]
On one of his visits, Bigby offers Colin a cigarette and a glass of whiskey, both of which he gratefully accepts. Then, Colin confronts Bigby about his obvious feelings for Snow White.[6] Upon returning to his apartment, Bigby discovers Colin asleep on the couch, softly murmuring about the movies Gordy and Babe in his slumber. Bigby makes an unsuccessful attempt to rouse him.[9] While Snow White is present in Bigby's apartment, assisting him as he recovers from a gunshot wound, Colin offers his insights regarding Bigby's inquiry into Ichabod Crane and Bloody Mary.[10]
Subsequently, Colin stands beside the truck, prepared to commence his journey back to the Farm. In an effort to facilitate the transition, Bigby presents him with a gift of whiskey and cigarettes; however, Colin dismisses it as "bread and circuses" and declines the offer. The two engage in a verbal exchange of insults.[11]
Goldilocks' revolution
Colin, Dun and Posey grow discontent with being remanded to the Farm,[5] so they conspire to stage a revolt.[4] Colin's cousins send him on a mission to Fabletown, working under the guise of a malcontent "pig in the city." His mission is to seek out others sympathetic to the animals' cause and recruit them.[5]
Colin spends the night at Bigby's apartment. As he smokes Bigby's cigarettes, he says Bigby owes him for his attacks before the General Amnesty. But there are limits to Bigby's patience, and he is sending Colin back to the Farm. He presents him with a breakfast option; however, upon discovering that it consists of ham and eggs, Colin declares that Bigby remains a monster.[3]
Colin is securely tied with ropes and placed in today's truck heading upstate to the Farm. As the vehicle drives past the I Am the Eggman Diner, Colin observes Snow White having a late breakfast with her ex-husband, Prince Charming. Shortly thereafter, Colin is observed sprinting down Bullfinch Street outside the Woodlands, with torn ropes encircling his body.[3]
The next day, Colin is peacefully slumbering in the Woodland garden in the evening.[12]
Colin is one of the few non-human Fables who are in attendance at the Remembrance Day festival at the Woodland building. While many of the guests dance away in the ballroom, Colin sneaks into the kitchen to get a bite to eat.[13]
The day after the celebration, Colin finds himself peacefully slumbering in the Woodland garden once more.[14]
Soon after, Snow White discovers his presence and arranges to personally bring him back to the Farm. Along with her sister Rose Red, Snow White drives Colin back and reunites him with his cousins. It is at this time that Snow White first learns about a secret conspiracy between the three pigs and many other occupants of the Farm. Afterward, Snow White and Rose Red sit down for tea with Dun and Posey in their cozy brick house. As they start to make their way out, Colin endeavors to stall for time by asking them to stay, insisting that the night is still young. However, his attempts are in vain. Once their guests leave, Dun proceeds to question Colin, who was supposed to get the key to the Woodland Business Office and make contact with people who would help the uprising. Colin is forced to admit that he failed in his mission.[5]
That evening, Colin is beheaded by Goldilocks' revolutionary forces for failing in his mission to recruit Fables in the city to their cause. His head is affixed to a fence post in the middle of the road as a warning to others and "literary reference."[5] Colin's remains are buried by Goldilocks and her allies in the woods.[4]
Legacy
Colin's severed head somehow continues to communicate with Snow White[15] and Rose Red in their dreams.[16] Eventually, it is revealed that the mysterious figure is Hope[17] masquerading as Colin.[18]
Appearances
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Original source
Colin is based on the first little pig from the story of "The Three Little Pigs," and the dead pig's head on a stick from the novel Lord of the Flies. Hope taking on Colin's form while communicating with Snow White and Rose Red in their dreams, is a reference to the novel, in which one of the characters has an imaginary dialogue with the severed pig's head.
References