This page lists fictional species, sub-species and multispecies featured in Fables and its various spin-off series.
⟶ See also: list of anthropomorphic species
Contents
Species: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Species
A
Angel
Angels are supernatural beings whose appearance is that of a human with wings protruding for their back. They first appear in Jack of Fables #16 — "Jack o' Lantern," in which one of them is guarding the pearly gates, the gateway to Heaven. According to Mister Revise, when he first came to the mundane world it was filthy with magic, and had witches, angels, devils, and pagan gods everywhere. He and his team nearly had that world completely free from magic when Fablekind arrived.[1] | |
B
Bakeneko
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History
One bakeneko, Neko, moved to a hidden Fable community in Tokyo, Japan in the wake of the Adversary's invasion. Bakeneko can stand on their hind legs and morph into immense proportions, allowing them to be large enough to carry humans on their back. | ||
Known members
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Original source
Although it is not stated in the comic, Neko is a bakeneko ("changed cat"), a creature from Japanese folklore, known for its long tail and shapeshifting capabilities. | ||
Baobhan sith
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Barleycorn Bride
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Basilisk
The basilisk appears in Fables #142 — "The Last Sinbad Story," in which Sinbad ventures forth to claim an unidentified world in the name of his newly formed Pan Caliphate. He threatens to drop jars of basilisks, which are in a state of suspended animation, as living bombs upon the inhabitants; or alternatively, jars of cockatrice, salamanders, or other living weapons. If the glass shatters, the basilisks would be released, and everyone would be turned to stone, spending eternity in frozen awareness as living statues. | |
Original source
Although they are presented as two different species in Fables, basilisk is an alternate word for cockatrice. In the myths of the Hellenistic and Roman eras, the cockatrice is depicted as a diminutive serpent, likely the Egyptian cobra, referred to as a basilikos, meaning "kinglet." It is attributed with the ability to annihilate all forms of animal and plant life simply through its gaze or breath. The only creature immune to its lethal powers is the weasel, which produces a venom fatal to the cockatrice. By the dawn of the 17th century, additional wonders had been incorporated into the legend. It was claimed that the snake originated from an egg that was laid by a cock and subsequently hatched by a serpent. Alongside the weasel, the rooster posed another threat; the basilisk would perish shortly after hearing a cock's crow. Consequently, travelers in areas believed to be inhabited by the basilisk would carry roosters with them.[2] | |
Bogeyman
The bogeyman[3] is a creature which debuts in Fables #77 — "Life in a Headless Empire — Chapter One of The Dark Ages." | |
Known members
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Original source
The term bogeyman refers to a variety of monsters from fictional and folkloric stories designed to frighten children.[4] In English folklore, the bogeyman (also called the "bogyman" and "booger man") is a monster in human shape who haunts lonely places and chases lone travelers, but bogeyman-like creatures are common in the folklore of many countries, Eastern and Western, as well as appearing in nursery rhymes and stories as a monster used to frighten children into good behavior.[5] | |
Bookworm
A bookworm first appears in Fables #153 — "The Black Forest Chapter Three: Big Adventure" and is a creature that possesses the ability to shapeshift.[6] The bookworm Kyrk is a would-be monster who attempts to capture, but ultimately becomes friends with, a young Ambrose Wolf.[7] | |
Known members
Yosephesus Jadpoplar Kyrkogrim ("Kyrk")[6] | |
Bottle demon
Bufkin makes mention of bottle demons being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." In Fables #88 — "Totenkinder: Chapter Two of Witches," the d'jinn explains they are of the same kind as him, but only resemble him in the way a newborn resembles a grown man. Baba Yaga states that she has defeated all of them, and dined on their guts and sinews, chewed their bones and sucked the marrow. In Fables #89 — "Baba Yaga: Chapter Three of Witches," Bufkin makes a reference to "Burton's Comprehensive Treatise on D'jinns, Efrits and Bottle Demons, third edition"; although the book is fictional, the author is presumably Richard Francis Burton, who is the one who translated One Thousand and One Nights into English. | |
Bottle imp
Bottle imps are a form of imps that are related to d'jinns and effrits, but far less powerful. They cannot grant wishes, although they do have to serve whoever is in possession of their bottle. One bottle imp, Jonah Panghammer, used to be part of the Imperial Warlock Corps.[8] | |
Known members
Jonah Panghammer[8] | |
Original source
In fairy tales, an imp is a small, magical creature known for causing mischief in a playful manner.[9] Mostly found in Northern European folklore, they are notorious for playing pranks and practical jokes on others. Imps have also been known to swap babies or intentionally lead travelers astray, particularly in isolated areas. It is thought that their only motivation for causing mischief is because they feel lonely and attempt to make friends by grabbing attention. Witches and warlocks often keep imps as their companions, using them as spies. They can be captured and trapped inside a physical object, summoned when they're needed to perform a specific task.[10] Bottle imps share their name with the titular character of "The Bottle Imp," an 1891 short story by Robert Louis Stevenson; however, they have little in common with their namesake: In Stevenson's story, the protagonist buys a bottle with an imp inside that grants wishes. However, the bottle is cursed; if the holder dies bearing it, their soul is forfeit to hell. | |
Bovalunaris
Bovalunaris were cattle capable of jumping over the moon. By the time of the early nineteenth century, the only living member of the species was Luna. The name is an obvious combination of the words "bovine" (connected with cows) and "lunar" (connected with the moon). | |
Known members
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Original source
Bovalunaris is based on the cow who jumped over the moon from the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle." | |
C
Cardinal wind
The cardinal winds[11][12] are four ancient, immensely powerful Fables representing the winds that blow from the cardinal points of a compass. | |
Known members
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Original source
The cardinal winds as a group are based on the anemoi from Greek mythology, as each of them are named after their Greek counterpart. As implied in Fables: The Last Castle, and confirmed in Fables #99 — "Dark City," they are also based on the four winds from the Norwegian fairy tale of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." | |
Changeling
Changeling: Bufkin made mention of changelings being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." | |
Original source
In European folkore, a changeling is a malformed or mentally deficient child born to fairies or elves, who are known to secretly swap them in place of human infants. The children who are taken away are either given to the devil or used to strengthen the fairy population. The original child could be brought back by making the changeling laugh, or by torturing it — a belief that led to numerous instances of real child abuse.[13] | |
Chimera
The Chimera is mentioned in Fairest #7 — "Lamia" and is one of the monsters slayed by Saint George. | |
Original source
In Greek mythology, the Chimera is a female creature whose forepart resembles a lion, middle resembles a goat, and behind resembles a dragon. It is known for its ability to breathe fire.[14] | |
Chiss
The Chiss are enormous creatures the size of a Volkswagen, who are covered in poisonous quills which they can shoot out of their body at will. They can only be found in Oz.[15] They debut in Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #1 — "Part One." | |
History
One of the Chiss appears on Dorothy Gale's side in the mundane world as she plots her revenge on Cinderella.[16] She proceeds to transports the creature to Thailand, which leads to the creature's fatal assault on Meng Chiang-Nu of Shadow Fabletown. When the Chiss attempts to attack Cinderella, she has no choice but to fight back and slay the beast in order to protect herself.[15] | |
Original source
The Chiss are based on the creature from The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The name of the species is capitalized on this wiki in accordance with the source material. | |
Chōchin'obake
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History
When Tomoko went to war with Katagiri, the latter sent out a multitude of magical origami cranes to gather all the hidden Japanese Fables and call them to his cause. Some of these enchanted paper birds flew into the Ameya Yococho market and stirred up the chōchin'obake, who flew off with an excited "wheeee!"; startling the mundy bystanders. They proceeded to join the war on Katagiri's side. | ||
Original source
They are based on the chōchin'obake ("paper lantern ghost") from Japanese folklore. | ||
Cockatrice
The cockatrice appears as an illustration on an inn sign in Jack of Fables #38 — "Baby Steps Along the Glory Road: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack, Part 2 of 4," identifying the premises of the Red Cockatrice Inn. In Fables #142 — "The Last Sinbad Story," Sinbad ventures forth to claim an unidentified world in the name of his newly formed Pan Caliphate. He threatens to drop jars of cockatrices, which are in a state of suspended animation, as living bombs upon the inhabitants; or alternatively, jars of basilisks, salamanders, or other living weapons. | |
Original source
Although they are presented as two different species in Fables, cockatrice is another word for basilisk. In the myths of the Hellenistic and Roman eras, the cockatrice is depicted as a diminutive serpent, likely the Egyptian cobra, referred to as a basilikos, meaning "kinglet." It is attributed with the ability to annihilate all forms of animal and plant life simply through its gaze or breath. The only creature immune to its lethal powers is the weasel, which produces a venom fatal to the cockatrice. By the dawn of the 17th century, additional wonders had been incorporated into the legend. It was claimed that the snake originated from an egg that was laid by a cock and subsequently hatched by a serpent. Alongside the weasel, the rooster posed another threat; the basilisk would perish shortly after hearing a cock's crow. Consequently, travelers in areas believed to be inhabited by the basilisk would carry roosters with them.[2] In heraldry, the cockatrice is depicted as a two-legged dragon or wyvern with a cock's head.[17] similar to the inn sign in Jack of Fables. | |
Chupacabra
The chupacabra (literally "goatsucker") is a creature that first appears in Everafter: From the Pages of Fables #11 — "Whisper To a Scream: Part Four of The Unsentimental Education." | |
Original source
The chupacabra is based on the legendary creature from Latin American folklore. | |
Cu sith
The cu sith are large, green, fearsome canine creatures from Hybernia, the Homelands version of Scotland; which serve the baobhan sith. They appear in Fables #139 — "The Boys in the Band, Part 1 of 2" and Fables #140 — "The Boys in the Band, Part 2 of 2." | |
Original source
It is based on the cù sìth (Scottish Gaelic for "fairy dog"),[18] a spectral hound from Scottish folklore, said to inhabit the Scottish Highlands.[19] It is frequently depicted as being comparable in size to a yearling bullock. Unlike other Celtic fairy dogs, the cù sìth is characterized by its dark green coloration. The creature possesses a shaggy coat and has paws that are as broad as a man's hand.[18] | |
D
Deep crawler
The deep crawlers appear in Jack of Fables #40 — "Jack Dragon: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack, Part 4 of 4." They are large and monstrous insects the size of a hay cart, that live underground. With their formidable jaws capable of tearing into human flesh, they are known to devour humans. Deep crawlers were summoned in a horde by a sorcerer to attack Jack Frost. | |
Demon
Some of the yokai from the Hidden Kingdom are demons.[20] Bottle demons are, as their name implies, a form of demon; according to the d'jinn, bottle demons are of the same kind as him, but only resemble him in the way a newborn resembles a grown man.[21] In her quest to wage war against her sister, Snow White, Rose Red recruits demons as part of her army. Thankfully, the war is avoided as Snow and her sister reach an agreement to disband their armies and peacefully go separate ways.[22] | |
Original source
A demon is a form of evil spirit. | |
Devil
Devils are powerful spirits of evil. According to Mister Revise, when he first came to the mundane world it was filthy with magic, and had witches, angels, devils, and pagan gods everywhere. He and his team nearly had that world completely free from magic when Fablekind arrived.[1] The Devil is five mystical characters who each reign over their own version of Hell,[23] and are all the Devil.[24] | |||
Known members
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Original source
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D'jinn
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Dragon
Dragons are giant lizard- or serpent-like creatures that breathe fire and are capable of flight. They first appear in Fables #8 — "The Pirates of Upstate New York: Part Three of Animal Farm." | |
Known members
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Dryad
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Dwarf
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E
Element
One of the elements appear in The Unwritten #50 — "The Unwritten Fables, Part 1: The Summoning," which takes place in an alternative universe where Mister Dark was never defeated. Air is one of the Great Powers who appears before Mr. Dark in his castle, in a futile attempt to persuade him not to claim their territories for his own, with Air representing the elements. | |
Elemental
Elementals: Bufkin made mention of elementals being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." | |
Original source
They are based on the elemental, a supernatural entity or force thought to be physically manifested by occult means. | |
Elf
Elves are little, mysterious, humanoid figures who come in several different forms and sizes. They have pointed ears, and sometimes possess magical powers. Some have been known to work for humans. |
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Original source
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F
Fable
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Fairy
Fairies are powerful beings with magic powers and wings, who come in several different forms and sizes. Some become fairy godmothers of children.
Bufkin makes mention of evil fairies being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." |
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Known members
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Original source
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Flying monkey
The flying monkeys,[34][35] also known as Winged Monkeys,[36] are creatures from the pan-Ozian Empire in the Homelands, which debut in Fables #1 — "Chapter One: Old Tales Revisited." | |
History
When Snow White arrives for her biannual inspection at the Farm, two Winged Monkeys are seen joining other Farm animals in the barn to discuss ways to fight against and reclaim the Homelands from the Adversary.[37] As seen in later issues, the Winged Monkeys in the Homelands are all working in the Nome King's air corps. One of them discovers Bufkin's group of revolutionaries in Ev, and is subsequently killed by Bufkin. | |
Original source
The flying monkeys are based on the Winged Monkeys from the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and its many sequels. The name "Winged Monkey" is capitalized on the wiki in accordance with the source material. | |
Funa yurei
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G
Gashadokuro
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Ghol
Ghols are flesh-eating shape-shifters introduced in Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love #2 — "Part Two: An Arabian Knight." According to Aladdin in Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love #3 — "Part Three: Fashion Disaster," the bite of a ghol is poisonous. | |
Original source
They are based on ghouls, malevolent creatures from Arabian mythology that dwell in burial grounds and abandoned areas. According to ancient Arabic tales, ghūls were considered part of a diabolical group of jinn (spirits) and were believed to be the children of Iblīs, the ruler of darkness in Islam. Their shape-shifting abilities were endless, but they could always be identified by one unchangeable feature—their ass's hooves.[38] | |
Ghost
Ghosts are ectoplasmic entities[39] who are spirits of the deceased. They debut in Fables #56 – "“Jiminy Christmas”." Ghosts can appear as a visible manifestation to the living, and sometimes even interact with the living world: Santa Claus presents Flycatcher with the ghost of his wife, briefly called back to the land of the living so that she can restore him to human form.[40] Mayumi came back as a fully corporeal ghost after her suicide,[41] and Connor Wolf engages in a sexual encounter with[39] the angry ghost of La Llorona.[42] Some ghosts, such as Frau Totenkinder[43] and King Edward, have been known to possess others.[44] Bufkin makes mention of ghosts being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." | |||
Known members
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Original source
In worldwide folklore, a ghost is the soul or specter of a deceased individual, often thought to reside in the netherworld and have the ability to reappear in some manifestation in the physical world. It may manifest itself as a corporeal being or a nebulous representation of the departed individual, and sometimes it takes on other forms. The concept of ghosts stems from the idea that a human soul can be detached from the physical body and continue to exist even after death.[47] | |||
Giant
Giants are beings of human form but superhuman size, who debut in a brief flashback in Fables #4 — "Chapter Four: Remembrance Day." | |
Original source
Most of the giants in the series are based on the creatures of the same name from the fairy tale of "Jack and the Beanstalk" and the legend of "Jack the Giant Killer." | |
Goblin
Goblins, or gobs for short,[48] are greens-skinned creatures[49][50] who first appear in Fables #2 — "Chapter Two: The (Un)Usual Suspects" and frequently serve the Adversary as soldiers.[51][52] There are even transit barracks specifically for enlisted goblin personnel in the Imperial City.[53] Goblins are carnivores who will feed on any creature that comes under their power, even their own.[48] Although they engage in sexual activities similar to humans, they have a unique preference for biting instead of kissing.[52] Male goblins and human males are built alike when it comes to private parts; Rose Red took advantage of this when she took down one of them with a precisely aimed kick to the groin.[54] The goblin word for sergeant is "kaidan."[49] | |
Original source
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God
Gods, also known as deities, are mystical entities of immense strength, that are among the most powerful of all Fables. They are incredibly hard to kill.[57] An average elder god is a fifty-fifty mixture of magic and mundane material.[58] According to Mister Revise, when he first came to the mundane world it was filthy with magic, and had witches, angels, devils, and pagan gods everywhere. He and his team nearly had that world completely free from magic when Fablekind arrived.[1] | |||
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Great Power
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Grendel's species
Grendel's species first appears in The Unwritten #51 — "The Unwritten Fables, Part 2: The Rescue." | |
Known members
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H
Hitotsume-kozō
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Original source
He is based on the hitotsume-kozō ("one-eyed priest boy") from Japanese folklore. | ||
I
Ifrit
Ifrits,[21] also known as efrits[69][70] and effrits,[8][71] are first mentioned in Fables #44 — "Arabian Nights (and Days), Chapter Three: Back to Baghdad" and appear in Fables #88 — "Totenkinder: Chapter Two of Witches." | |
History
According to Yusuf, ifrits are not nearly as powerful as a d'jinn,[71] and the d'jinn later explains that they are of the same kind as him, but only resemble him in the way a newborn resembles a grown man.[21] Bufkin later makes mention of ifits being freed and roaming the Business Office;[69] shortly afterward, Baba Yaga states that she has defeated all of them, and dined on their guts and sinews, chewed their bones and sucked the marrow.[21] Bufkin also makes a reference to "Burton's Comprehensive Treatise on D'jinns, Efrits and Bottle Demons, third edition";[70] although the book is fictional, the author is presumably a reference to Richard Francis Burton, who is the one who translated One Thousand and One Nights into English. | |
Original source
They are based on the ifrit, a class of powerful malevolent supernatural beings from Islamic mythology and folklore.[72] | |
Imp
Imp: Bufkin makes mention of imps being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." Bottle imps are a form of imps that are related to d'jinns and effrits, but far less powerful.[8] | |
Original source
In fairy tales, an imp is a small, magical creature known for causing mischief in a playful manner.[9] Mostly found in Northern European folklore, they are notorious for playing pranks and practical jokes on others. Imps have also been known to swap babies or intentionally lead travelers astray, particularly in isolated areas. It is thought that their only motivation for causing mischief is because they feel lonely and attempt to make friends by grabbing attention. Witches and warlocks often keep imps as their companions, using them as spies. They can be captured and trapped inside a physical object, summoned when they're needed to perform a specific task.[10] | |
Incubus
Incubus: Bufkin made mention of incubi being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." | |
Original source
They are based on the incubus, a male demon from European folklore, who seeks to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women. In medieval Europe, there was a belief that being impregnated by an incubus would result in giving birth to witches, demons, and deformed babies. According to legend, the magician Merlin was supposedly fathered by an incubus.[73] | |
J
Japanese dragon
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History
The dragon was one of many mystical creatures from the Hidden Kingdom, the Homelands version of Japan, who were persecuted by Ryogan's forces and were forced to go into hiding. When the Adversary invaded the Hidden Kingdom, his forces brought a horde of "traditional" European dragons, making one of the citizens go, "Did you ever see a dragon that looked like that?" | ||
Original source
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K
Kaiju
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Known members
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Original source
It is based on the kaiju from Japanese horror films. | ||
Kalidah
The Kalidahs first appear in Fables #109 — "Cardinal Virtues: Chapter Two of Inherit the Wind." They're a feline species from Oz, sporting the head of a tiger, the body of a bear, and claws that are as long as they are sharp. They were working for the Nome King, but joined Bufkin's revolution in Oz because they were tired of being made to sleep in filthy cages when off-duty.[36] | |
Original source
The Kalidahs are based on the creatures from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Magic of Oz. The species' name is capitalized on the wiki in accordance with the source material. | |
Kappa
The kappa are a species from the Hidden Kingdom, who live in hiding in Tokyo, Japan. They first appear in Fairest #8 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter One: Big in Japan." | |
History
The kappa were from the Hidden Kingdom, the Homelands version of Japan, but were banished from the local Emperor's court as part of the Shogun's plan for laying the way for the Adversary to invade. The Shogun, Ryogan, claimed that they were "a terrible influence" and "violent monsters." In addition, the sumo school at the court, where at least one of them, Katagiri, worked as a sumo teacher, was shut down. After the Adversary invaded, they settled in a hidden Fable community in Tokyo, Japan. The kappa have a depression on their head filled with water, and are severely weakened if the liquid is spilled; however, as long as their spirit is still attached, they can be brought back by refilling the water. | |
Known members
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Original source
They are based on the kappa ("river-child") from Japanese folklore. The love that kappa have for sumo wrestling is evident in Katagiri's profession as a sumo teacher. | |
Kawauso
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Original source
It is based on the kawauso, the otter; a real-life animal that prominently figures in Japanese folklore. | ||
Kirin
A kirin appears in flashbacks from the Homelands in Fairest #12 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Five: Battle Royale." | |
History
The kirin are a form of yokai from the Hidden Kingdom, the Homelands version of Japan. It was one of the many Japanese Fables who escaped to the mundy version of Japan after their homeland was invaded by the Adversary. In Fairest #11 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Four: The Bad Sleep Well," it was said that the seii taishōgun Ryogan had taken up hunting yokai as a hobby after he he took control of the local Emperor's court. During one such hunt, he remarked that they would all be feasting on "sacred kirin meat." This could have been referring to this particular kirin or any other of its kind. | |
Original source
It is based on the kirin from Japanese folklore. The kirin are often portrayed as deer-like. Alternatively, they are depicted as a dragon shaped like a deer, but with an ox's tail. They are also often portrayed as partially unicorn-like, but with a backwards curving horn. The kirin in the comic looks like a unicorn with dragon-like scales and a backward curving horn. | |
Kitsune
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Korob Bird
Korob Birds appear in Fables #124 — "After" and are gigantic avian creatures that hunt in packs and lay large clutches of eggs at a time. Bufkin and Lily Martagon were turned into Korob Birds when they both got a huge dose of Umpamas Gas, as this particular gas is wont to do. This resulted in hundreds of offspring. However, the effect eventually wore off. | |
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Kyūso
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Original source
It is based on the kyūso ("former rat," "old rat") from Japanese folklore. In Japanese folklore, it is believed that when a mouse or rat turns one thousand years old, it transforms into an enormous rodent yōkai known as a kyūso. These rodents are shaped like typical rats but significantly larger; they can be the size of cats or even medium-sized dogs.[77] | ||
L
Lindworm
A lindworm appears in Fables #107 — "Waking Beauty" and is a form of human-reptile hybrid. They are sturdier than humans; they can survive decapitation if their severed head is reattached to their body. | |
Known members
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Original source
The lindworm, alternatively spelled as lindwurm or lindwyrm, is a legendary creature found in European mythology. It is often portrayed as a two-legged serpent or dragon. In contrast to dragons, lindworms lack wings and are typically smaller in stature. However, they make up for their size with their fierce nature and cunning, and are said to be able to breathe fire or poison. Lindworms are often depicted as protectors of valuable treasures or beautiful princesses, but they are also feared as fierce beasts that wreak havoc on villages and consume livestock.[78] | |
Living glass
Living glass[79] beings first appear in Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #1 — "Part One." As the name implies, they are beings made from living glass. The Knave of Hearts states that a child of living glass is a primary ingredient in some rather unsavory magic spells, and he plans to sell his own glass baby for the chance to break free from the Looking Glass World.[79] Another being made from glass is the feline Bungle, who is known as a Glass Cat.[80] | |
Known members
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Original source
While a baby made of glass is an original element created for Fables: The Wolf Among Us (the baby itself is based on Bloody Mary's dead baby from the urban legend of Bloody Mary), Bungle is based on Bungle, the Glass Cat from The Patchwork Girl of Oz and other Oz books; the name of his species is capitalized on this wiki in accordance with the source material. | |
Lilliputian
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Literal
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M
Manticore
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Mermaid
Mermaids are the female version an aquatic species with the head and upper body of a human and the tail of a fish. They are able to breathe air while out of water. | |
Known members
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Munchkin
Munchkins are a humanoid species of short stature. Several of them are prisoners at the Golden Boughs Retirement Village.[82] They first appear in Jack of Fables #1 — "The Long Hard Fall of Hollywood Jack." | |
Original source
The Munchkins are based on the species from the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and its many sequels. The name of the species is capitalized on this wiki in accordance with the source material. | |
N
Night walker
The night walker debuts in Jack of Fables #38 — "Baby Steps Along the Glory Road: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack, Part 2 of 4" and is a raving hairy monster with four arms that congregates underground. When the Empire was in power, they were magically enslaved to do the Empire's bidding. After the Empire fell, they were freed only to wind up controlled again by another sorcerer, causing them to seek the aid of Jack Frost.[83] | |
Nixie
Nixie: Bufkin made mention of nixies being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." | |
Original source
It is based on the nixie, a water spirit from Germanic mythology. | |
Nome
Nomes are a species from Oz, who control the underworld.[12] Their bodies are predominantly composed of stone, making them harder to kill. Though their neck may withstand a hanging, decapitation will lead to their demise.[84] | |
Known members
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Original source
Nomes are immortal creatures from L. Frank Baum's children's novel Ozma of Oz and subsequent Oz books. The name of the species is capitalized on this wiki in accordance with the source material. Nomes are a race of immortals who have adapted to living deep underground and rarely emerge to the surface. Their vast kingdom is inhabited by thousands of Nomes who work tirelessly in the furnaces and forges, producing gold, silver, and other precious metals that they cleverly conceal within the cracks and crevices of the earth's surface. These riches are nearly impossible for those on the surface to find without great effort. The Nomes also have the skills to create diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. These precious gems are then carefully concealed in the earth by the Nome King, making their kingdom incredibly wealthy. Meanwhile, those living above ground can only obtain these valuable stones by taking them from where they have been hidden by the Nomes. | |
Noppera-bō
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Original source
He is based on the noppera-bō ("faceless monk"[85]), also known as the faceless ghost, from Japanese folklore. | ||
Nue
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History
When Tomoko went to war with Katagiri, the latter sent out a multitude of magical origami cranes to gather all the hidden Japanese Fables and call them to his cause. A few of these bewitched paper birds flew into the crowded roads of Tokyo and set off the nue, who was already causing a scene by hissingly climbing up the front of a car driving through the city traffic. The nue proceeded to join Katagiri's ragtag army of yokai and fought in the battle between Katagiri and Tomoko. Tomoko was livid at the yokai who had chosen to support her opponent, and she harshly criticized them for emerging from their places of seclusion to fight alongside a "decripit turtle." | ||
Original source
It is based on the nue from Japanese folklore. Although the nue from folklore is portrayed as a having the head of a monkey, the limbs of a tiger, the body of a Japanese raccoon dog and a snake for a tail,[86] the one seen in the comic has the head of a monkey and a snake for a tail, but has the limbs and body of a tiger. | ||
Nure-onna
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History
When Tomoko went to war with Katagiri, the latter sent out a multitude of magical origami cranes to gather all the hidden Japanese Fables and call them to his cause. The nure-onna heard his summons and proceeded to join Katagiri's ragtag army of yokai. Tomoko was livid at the yokai who had chosen to support her opponent, and she harshly criticized them for emerging from their places of seclusion to fight alongside a "decripit turtle." | ||
Original source
She is based on the nure-onna ("wet woman") from Japanese folklore. Some nure-onna have no arms and resemble an enormous sea serpent with a woman's head. Others have human-like arms,[87] like the one in the comic. | ||
O
Ogre
Ogres are big, horned creatures who look similar to trolls, but are a separate species. They first appear in Fables #130 — "Junebug," where Junebug encounters one among the Fabletown residents moving into Castle Black. | |
Oni
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Original source
They are based on the oni from Japanese folklore. | ||
P
Pixie
The pixie debuts in Fables #151 — "The Black Forest Chapter One: Greenjack," and is identified by Blossom Wolf in Fables #160 — "The Black Forest Chapter Ten: Tremble," and Jack in the Green in Fables #162 — "The Black Forest Chapter Twelve: Rightful Prey," both of which refer to Tinker Bell as a pixie. | |
Known members
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Original source
The pixie, or pixy, is a creature from English folklore (more specifically South West England). It is a petite, elf-like spirit or mischievous fairy, often seen in green attire, who revels in dancing beneath the moonlight to the tunes of frogs and crickets. This whimsical creature enjoys misleading travelers and frightening young maidens. Moreover, pixies are known for their antics and love tapping on walls, blowing out candles, and playing in the water.[90] In the original Peter Pan story, Tinker Bell is a fairy. However, she is described as a pixie in the animated Disney film from 1953. | |
Pushmi-Pullyu
The Pushmi-Pullyu is a creature who appears indirectly in Everafter: From the Pages of Fables #2 — "Train In Vain: Chapter Two of The Pandora Protocol." Conner Wolf briefly shapeshifts into one after Dolittle tells him that it is his favorite animal. | |
Original source
The Pushmi-Pullyu is from Hugh Lofting's children's novels about Doctor Dolittle. Pushmi-Pullyu is pronounced "push-me-pull-you." | |
R
Redcap
A redcap first appears in Fables #7 — "The Guns of Fabletown: Part Two of Animal Farm." It is a short, goblin-like creature that has been referred to as a troll[91] and possesses skinny, taloned fingers, iron-shod boots and a signature red cap. | |
Known members
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Original source
This creature is based on the redcap, a creature from Scottish, British and Irish folklore.[92] Red Cap the Troll's skinny, taloned fingers, iron-shod boots and signature red cap are all based on the folkloric creature. | |
Reflection
Reflections are beings who inhabit the Looking Glass World as living mirror images of people from the mundane world,[79] and other places.[93] When a person dies, their reflection becomes untethered and goes to a world named the Silverling, which is the Looking Glass World's own looking glass world.[94] The dying Mary allegedly sacrifices herself so that her reflection might be set free,[95] so instead of going to the Silvering, her untethered reflection lives on in the Looking Glass World as the vengeful Bloody Mary.[95] However, after Bloody Mary is killed by Bigby Wolf,[96] she is sent to the Silverling, like she was supposed to.[97] | |
Known members
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Revenant
Revenants are first mentioned in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches," in which Bufkin makes mention of revenants being freed and roaming the Business Office. They first appear in Everafter: From the Pages of Fables #4 — "Spirits In the Material World: Chapter Four of The Pandora Protocol," in which a group of relic thieves use stolen museum artifacts to unlock a portal to the afterlife,[99] unleashing dangerous revenants in the city of San Francisco. In order to prevent the revenants from devouring every living thing on earth, Feathertop is forced to make a deal with a group of deities representing the various Underworlds whose denizens' souls have been summoned.[67] | |
Original source
In folklore, a revenant refers to someone who has returned to life after being dead. | |
Rokurokubi
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S
Salamander
The salamander is mentioned in Fables #142 — "The Last Sinbad Story," in which Sinbad ventures forth to claim an unidentified world in the name of his newly formed Pan Caliphate. He threatens to drop jars of salamanders, which are in a state of suspended animation, as living bombs upon the inhabitants; or alternatively, jars of basilisks, cockatrice or other living weapons. When the glass shatters, the salamanders would be released, and entire cities would burn. | |
Original source
The salamander has a deep-rooted symbolism in various mythologies and spiritual traditions from around the world, and are closely associated with fire. For example, in Greek mythology, they are believed to be able to control fire and offer protection from fire-related dangers.[100] | |
Satyr
Satyrs are gods who are half man and half goat. Pan, one of the Devils, is a satyr. The species debuts in a flashback from the Homelands in Fables #4 — "Chapter Four: Remembrance Day," and also appears in Jack of Fables #16 — "Jack o' Lantern," Jack of Fables #50 — "The Dragon, His Sidekick, a Nemesis, & Their Cows: The Final Indispensable Components in the Last Jack of Fables Story of All Time!" and Fables #148 — "The Very Last Jack of Fables Story of All Time." | |
Original source
In Greek mythology, satyrs are forest gods with the face and body of a man, and the ears, legs, and tail of a goat.[101] | |
Sea monster
The sea monsters are mentioned in Fables: The Wolf Among Us #11 — "Chapter Eleven." According to Bigby, Beowulf fought off these sea monsters before he became the King of the Geats back in the Homelands. | |
Original source
They are based on the nicors (sea monsters) from epic poem Beowulf. | |
Shade
Shades are mentioned in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches" and appear in Fables #112 — "All in a Single Night." | |
History
Bufkin makes mention of shades being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." In Fables #112 — "All in a Single Night," Rose Red encounters a group of ghostly shades while visiting a land of lost souls. One of them is the false bride, who wanders at the edge of the living world, night after night, never to know rest. The people who sentenced her to death are lying in their graves, but each Christmas Eve, they are freed from their resting places and allowed to walk about as shades. A shadowy, semitransparent figure strongly resembling Boy Blue gets Rose to promise him a kiss, but when she learns he is noncorporeal, he tells her that her promise means she must also restore him to life. Whether or not this shade is Boy Blue is unclear, and Rose did not seem to recognize him. | |
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Original source
In Greek mythology, a shade is a disembodied spirit who inhabits the underworld. The term also refers to the visible yet intangible manifestation of a deceased individual; a ghost.[102] | |
Sprite
Sprites were used by the Imperial forces in Toscane to carry messages during the war with Fabletown.[103] Bufkin makes mention of sprites being freed and roaming the Business Office in Fables #87 — "Bufkin: Chapter One of Witches." | |
T
Tanuki
The tanuki first appear in flashbacks from the Homelands in Fairest #9 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Two: Hard-Boiled Wonderland." | |
History
The tanuki were a form of shapeshifting yokai from the Hidden Kingdom, the Homelands version of Japan. They were banished from the local Emperor's court as part of the Shogun's plan for laying the way for the Adversary to invade. According to Rapunzel, "No one minded too much. They were smelly, drunken, pesky little bastards." After the Adverary invaded, some of them settled down in a hidden Fable community in Tokyo, Japan. Joel Crow noticed them when he and Rapunzel went to Tokyo on a mission, and mistakenly referred to them as "raccoons." Later, one of them is shown to be working for Tomoko. | |
Original source
They are based on the tanuki, the Japanese raccoon dog, a real-life animal that prominently figures in Japanese folklore. Just like in the comics, they love to drink. | |
Tengu
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Titan
Titans are first mentioned in Fables #104 — "F-Men!: Chapter Three of Super Team," in which Thumbelina's superhero name is Tiny Titan. When a disguised Tinker Bell confesses that she was the one who dumped the containment boxes in the mundane world in Fables #159 — "The Black Forest Chapter Nine: The Man/Woman/Beast Who Would Be King," she makes a comparison to Titans who were imprisoned behind strong walls by the gods. | |
Known members
Titans are based on the creatures from Greek mythology, in which Zeus and his siblings defeated the Titans and imprisoned them in a cavity beneath Tartarus. | |
Troll
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U
Unicorn
Unicorns are supernatural horse-like beings with a single horn. They appear in The Literals #2 — "The Great Fables Crossover, Part 6 of 9: Keep Your Ass in Your Chair," Everafter: From the Pages of Fables #6 — "Disillusioned" and The Unwritten #54 — "The Unwritten Fables, Part 5: The Sacrifice." | |
Uwabami
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Original source
They are based on the uwabami ("giant snake") from Japanese folklore. | ||
V
Vampire
Vampires[105] are first mentioned in Fables #12 — "A Sharp Operation: Part One of a Two-Part Caper" and first appear in The Unwritten #50 — "The Unwritten Fables, Part 1: The Summoning." They feed on human blood[106] and are believed to be fell spirits who have risen from the dead.[107] They do not have reflections[108] and can also transform into winged creatures resembling bats.[60] Sunlight is lethal to them.[106] | |||
Original source
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W
Wendigo
Wendigos are monstrous creatures who first appear in Fables #124 — "After." Lily Martagon and Bufkin once caught and caged a being known as Zorgo Quoot, the Gentleman Wendigo,[110] while Blossom Wolf once hunted and slayed a creature known as the Manaha Wendigo in Yankum.[111] While not referred to as such, the Fabletown incarnation of the Jersey Devil possesses the typical physical characteristics of the folkloric version of the wendigo.[112] | |
Known members
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Original source
The wendigo is a cannibalistic monster from Native-American mythology. While the sharp fangs, claws, and antlers seen on the Jersey Devil are all part of the legend,[113] modern interpretations often portray the wendigo as having a human-like body with a deer skull perched atop its shoulders and unnaturally long arms;[114] similar to that of Jersey. | |
Werewolf
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Wind
Winds[115] are shapeshifting creatures[36] who are living personifications of the various forms of wind, some of which are servants of the North Wind.[115] They first appear in Fables #32 — "The Dark, Killing Winter." They possess the ability to fly[12] and since they are made of air, they do not need to breathe.[36] Winds will shift in various directions, moving freely as they please. They are known to be fickle and will not blow true or steadfast in one direction for very long; should they harbor feelings for someone, those emotions will shift over time, resulting in the eventual fading of their love,[116] and is in their nature to always change.[117] The cardinal winds[11][12] are four ancient, immensely powerful beings representing the winds that blow from the cardinal points of a compass. | |||||
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Wooden puppet
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Yokai
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Z
Zephyr
Zephyrs are rare form of wind, uncapable of taking physical form.[115] They debut in Fables #32 — "The Dark, Killing Winter." The North Wind named them after Zephyrus, the West Wind.[36] Zephyrs are a rare phenomenon and thought to be corrupted forms of wind; a birth defect. They are often terminated at birth.[115] | |
Known members
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Zombie
Zombies are undead being created through the reanimation of a corpse. They first appear in Jack of Fables #18 — "Americana, Part 2: Welcome to Americana — Mind the Zombies." | |
Known members
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Original source
Zombies are undead monsters frequently featured in horror fiction and film, possibly originating from the zombi found in Haitian Vodou religion. The modern concept of zombies was primarily shaped by the works of American filmmaker George A. Romero.[121] | |
Unique beings
References
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