| This article is about the in-universe comic books. You may be looking for the real-world comic series Fables by Bill Willingham. |
| “ | Why put us through all this work every night, just so you can make a meager extra twenty-seven dollars and thirty cents each week? | „ |
| ~ Magic elf to Beauty, Fables #100 — "Celebrity Burning Questions" |
The Fabletown comic books are fairy-tale versions of real-life superhero comics, sold at Nod's Books in Fabletown. They first appear in Fables #15 — "Into the Woods: Storybook Love Part Two."
Description
The Fabletown comic books[1] were fairy-tale versions of real-life superhero comics, such as The Uncanny Oz-Men[4] (Uncanny X-Men), The Stalk Thing[4] (Swamp Thing), The Tin Man[4] (Iron Man), The Fairytale Four[4] (Fantastic Four), Red Hood (an issue called "Little Riding Returns"),[4] The Un-Mundy,[4] F-Men[5] (X-Men), Ms. Z[5] and Heynong Man.[3]
These comics were created exclusively for Fable readers[1] and could be purchased at Nod's Books in Fabletown, in their special comic nook.[4] They were crafted by elusive magic elves who were secretly employed by Beauty, and they hit the shelves every Wednesday for eager fans to devour.[1]
History
Fables in exile
Exiting Nod's Books, Pinocchio, Flycatcher, and Boy Blue carry a stack of the most recent comic books. As they make their way across the street towards their apartment in the Woodland, the trio discusses the latest rumors surrounding Snow White and Bigby's alleged affair.[4]
Later, sitting on the steps of the Woodland, Pinocchio, Ambrose and Boy Blue begin chatting about their favorite comics. Pinocchio brings up an interesting point – they have no idea who is responsible for creating the comics they love so much. Flycatcher remarks on the strangeness of the lack of creator credits on the first page, a common practice among mundy comic books. Boy Blue chimes in, questioning the profitability of making comics exclusively for Fable readers. He claims that they are the only three customers, but Pinocchio interjects to inform him that a bunch is sent to the Farm each week for Mrs. Shoe's children. Flycatcher adds that John Barleycorn also purchases them, and Bufkin is known to buy a few as well. But now, Bufkin refuses to purchase any more copies of The Un-Mundy series. He's despised it ever since the writers killed off a character known as Mysterious Man in a ridiculous accident involving soft pretzels. Bufkin couldn't bring himself to support such a far-fetched storyline with his hard-earned money. Flycatcher points out that the number of issues each week is still relatively small. Pinocchio makes a decision to prioritize solving this mystery with the help of the other two. They will work quickly and diligently to uncover the truth.[1]
After a short while, the trio approaches Beauty, who is tending to the counter at the bookstore. Despite their pleas, Beauty refuses to share her secret and blatantly lies to their faces, stating that she has no idea either. She explains that the owner is hardly ever present, and she simply works there as an employee. Her only knowledge is that the comics arrive with their usual shipment of books every Tuesday, right on schedule for Wednesday's release date. She bids them goodnight and expresses regret that she couldn't assist them more, but assures them that they can return next week, when a fresh selection of comics will be available for purchase. After the trio departs, Beauty heads to her office, where the elves are hard at work on next week's comics. She reminds them that they have a lot to accomplish tonight if they want to have this batch ready by Wednesday. She believes now is the moment for the Mysterious Man to make his dramatic resurrection, as she is determined to entice Bufkin into purchasing The Un-Mundy once again, no matter what. Moreover, she determines that they will accelerate the developing relationship between two other characters, Eric and Lucy, as Flycatcher constantly expresses his admiration for that particular storyline in The Fairytale Four. An elf dares to question her reasoning for making them work tirelessly every night, just to earn a mere twenty-seven dollars and thirty cents more each week. Beauty responds matter-of-factly, stating that the reason for the extra twenty-seven thirty each week is because it's essentially pure profit. With their free labor and obligation to her for the next three hundred years, she stands to gain everything. One of the elves grumbles under his breath about possibly returning to the shoe department, where he feels more fulfilled in his work.[1]
As Bigby reveals the existence of their unknown sibling Ghost to his cubs, he casually sips from a coffee cup adorned with the Stalk Thing logo.[6]
When Jack Horner is a prisoner at the Golden Boughs Retirement Village, he plays an arcade game based on The Un-Mundy in his cottage. Gary the Pathetic Fallacy comes by to take him to see Mister Revise, but Jack refuses to meet with him until after he has beat this high score. Gary gets rid of the distraction by using his magic powers to make the game come alive and walk away.[2]
Amidst the battle against the Adversary, Boy Blue makes his way to Wolf Manor, the central hub for war planning. Upon his arrival, Snow White leads him to one of the guest rooms where he is greeted with a surprise – his long-lost friend Pinocchio, whom Blue hasn't seen in years, is waiting for him. Blue catches sight of Pinocchio sitting on the bed, engrossed in reading Fabletown comics.[7]
Mister Dark's conquest
Pinocchio comes back to Fabletown and reconnects with his old friends, falling right back into their familiar routines. As he walks out of the bookstore with Flycatcher and Boy Blue, each with a pile of the latest comic books in their arms, the trio chats happily. Suddenly, both Pinocchio and Flycatcher notice the presence of gangrene in Blue's injured arm, as his fingers have begun to rot.[8]
After the Fables are forced to relocate to the Kingdom of Haven in the Homelands, a sitting Pinocchio has a collection of comics in his lap as he shares with Flycatcher and Bigby his plans for a Fable superhero team. Afterward, with comics in hand, he puts forth the idea to Ozma that the Fables should organize their own superhero group to confront Mister Dark. Ozma believes he is making a compelling point.[9]
Aftermath
While exploring the barn at the Farm, Bonny Lamb stumbles upon a box and curiously asks about its contents. The milkmaid says these are Pinocchio's stuff, and Luna chimes in, saying that the books contains books that Pinocchio didn't want taking up space in the blacksmith's lodge. To prevent his father Geppetto from throwing them away, he stashed them in the barn for safekeeping. As soon as Bonny Lamb opens the box, she is ecstatic to find it filled with comic books. The milkmaid cautions her not to touch others' belongings, but Luna interrupts and tells her it's a waste of time; Bonny Lamb always lives in her own fantasy world. Nevertheless, Bonny Lamb eagerly flips through the pages of the comics, and is inspired to create her own superhero animal Fable team who call themselves the Just Us League of Animals,[5] with "Just Us League" being a reference to the Justice League.
As she tidies up the Wolf cubs' scattered comics and toys in Wolf Manor, Snow White is interrupted by Maddy, who has come to speak with her.[10]
The Everaftering
After Fabletown falls and magic is introduced into the mundane world, the comics are sold in E. Hamilton, a tobacco shop in Washington, DC, which houses a secret entrance to the headquarters of the secret Fable intelligence organization known as the Shadow Players.[3]
Appearances
Fables
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Jack of Fables
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Fairest |
Everafter: From the Pages of Fables |