| “ | It's the way the rest of us continue to be ignored that is the true injustice here! And for that the blames lies squarely on one man. Prince Charming. Need I remind you of his election manifesto? He promised to institute immediate and sweeping changes! He promised us government sponsored transformations. An end to centuries of confinement for any Farm Fable who wanted it! Fools that we are, we swallowed his lies and obliged him! Lining up like cattle to vote him in! | „ |
| ~ Mister Sunflower addressing his fellow Fables in Fairest #27 — "Mister Fox Goes to Town: Chapter One of The Clamour for Glamour" |
Mister Sunflower[3] is a plant Fable who lives on the Farm. He first appears in Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm." He is mainly a background character in the Fables comics, but his role becomes more significant in the Fairest story arc titled "The Clamor for Glamour."
History
The exodus
Mr. Sunflower[4] is from King Cole's kingdom and was among the many Fable creatures who hid for many days and nights in an abandoned mine with King Cole. The King put the welfare of his people before himself and made sure all of them ate first, even if it meant he did not eat at all. However, when he offered Mr. Sunflower some oat mush, Sunflower poked his tongue out, stating that he preferred good manure, which they would surely have an abundance of once the food had been digested by the animal Fables. When Cole collapsed from hunger, Sunflower anxiously watched as the animal Fables scrambled to come up with a solution. Eventually, Sunflower followed King Cole and the rest of the group as they stealthily made their way into the darkness of the night. Eventually, they heard rumours of a sanctuary world where the invaders wouldn't follow. After several years, and many more adventures, the group all arrived safely in the new world during Fabletown's early days in the 1600s.[2]
The Farm
Eventually, however, all non-human Fables were forced to move to the Farm.[2] Mr. Sunflower settled down in a cul-de-sac called André Gardens, along with Alderman Poppy, the bees, the Dormouse Juggler, Old Maid Hollyhock and Snapdragon.[5]
One day, Mister Sunflower sits by the pond where the mermaid Mersey Dotes resides, observing keenly as Mersey voices her frustrations to Reynard the Fox about her lack of freedom to leave.[6]
Goldilocks' revolution
Mister Sunflower 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. The group is shocked when they notice her sudden presence in the room.[7]
Sunflower is among the Fables who align themselves with Goldilocks' rebels in their scheme to overthrow the human residents of Fabletown. He participates in a hunt for Reynard the Fox, to keep the latter from sounding the alarm.[8]
Later, Sunflower stands among the many animal Fables gathered in the Farm square as Dun speaks to the crowd, announcing that the time has come to make a move on Fabletown in New York City. However, the plans are swiftly put to an end when Snow, through the intimidation of the three giant brothers and the dragon Clara, forces the group to surrender.[9]
When Dun and Posey, two of the revolution's ringleaders, are beheaded for their involvement in the failed coup, Mr. Sunflower sits on the sidelines, silently observing the somber execution.[10]
New leadership
After Rose Red takes charge of the Farm, Mister Sunflower is spotted sitting on the roof of[11] the blacksmith's forge,[12] while Rose is on a phone call with Jack Horner.[11]
Invasion of the wooden soldiers
When Baba Yaga's hut runs amok on the Farm, Mustard Pot Pete forms a makeshift posse in a desperate attempt to regain control of the cabin. Sunflower and a group of animal Fables frantically struggle to secure the runaway cabin as it careens through the woods. Sunflower struggles to keep hold of one of the ropes and ultimately falls from the roof of the cabin.[13]
Mr. Sunflower, along with numerous other Farm Fables, is enlisted to journey to New York City and join the defense of Fabletown when the wooden soldiers plot an attack on the secret Fable society. Accompanied by Weyland Smith and Mr. Toad, he arrives in the city by truck. Upon their arrival, he and the other recruits assemble outside in the street and listen attentively as Snow White gives them a briefing.[14]
New neighbors
During the election for Fabletown's new mayor, Mister Sunflower is observed sitting on a fence post with some papers in his hand while watching his fellow Fables wait in line to cast their vote at the Farm.[15]
As Snow White settles into the Farm with her newborn cubs, Sunflower, sitting on Luna's back, joins the multitude of animal Fables who assemble to greet their new neighbor in the Farm square.[16]
Following Prince Charming's failure to fulfil his promise of granting transformations to all non-human Fables upon assuming the role of Mayor of Fabletown, Mister Sunflower bears witness to Rockford and Stinky engaging in a heated argument about the Prince's broken promises.[17]
As the Wolf cubs celebrate their first birthday in the main building with their family, Sunflower is seen sitting alone by the well.[18]
Later, Mister Sunflower can be spotted riding on the back of one of the Wolf cubs as the cubs frolic in the Farm square. However, Rose Red orders the mischievous cubs to immediately transform into their human forms and stop their antics, causing Sunflower to lose his grip and tumble off as his wolven mount assumes human form.[19]
While Snow White is photographing the Wolf cubs, Connor mentions that Mr. Sunflower claims their father, Bigby Wolf, devours people, but Snow White dismisses this as anger management problems on Mr. Sunflower's part.[4]
After the North Wind, a guest on the Farm, departs, powerful gusts of wind emerge. The living playing cards are caught up in the wind and tossed around. Mister Sunflower springs into action, frantically attempting to catch them all in a hand net.[20]
Mr. Sunflower is a guest at the wedding of Snow White and Bigby Wolf in Wolf Valley.[21][22]
Later, Sunflower is among the Farm Fables listening to Boy Blue as he recounts the story of the Adversary's recent ill-fated attack on the Kingdom of Haven.[23]
Fabletown-Imperial war
Mr. Sunflower is seen with a collection of animal Fables as they come across a notice posted on the Farm, summoning them to a crucial gathering in the Farm square at midday. He attends the meeting, during which Boy Blue offers the Fables living on the Farm a chance to relocate to Haven and begin anew.[24]
Sunflower joins the war between Fabletown and the Empire, and attends a meeting where Bigby Wolf gives instructions to the soldiers stationed at Fort Bravo.[25]
Threat of Mister Dark
When Boy Blue is on his deathbed, a variety of Fables, both human and animal, gather outside the main house at the Farm. Sunflower stands by as Flycatcher delivers the heartbreaking news that he was unable to save him. He is present as Dr. Swineheart shares the news of Blue's passing, causing Sunflower to cry tears of sorrow.[26]
Sunflower is one of the Fables who watches as the dryads; Princess Alder and Prince Aspen, arrive at the main square of the Farm, accompanied by their new employer, Geppetto.[27]
The plant Fable can be seen among the people gathered outside the Farm's main building as Rose Red, the leader of the Farm, addresses her fellow Fables after finally overcoming her long depression.[28]
Kingdom of Haven
Sunflower later watches while Thumbelina auditions for a spot in Pinocchio's group of superheroes in the Kingdom of Haven.[29]
Return to the Farm
When Therese, the daughter of Snow White and Bigby, vanishes without a trace, Sunflower joins the search party scouring the woods for her. However, despite their efforts, they are unable to find her.[30]
The glamor crusade
Campaign for glamour
One day, Sunflower joins the other animal Fables in the barn to hear Reynard the Fox's latest tales of his adventures. He had recently gained the power to switch between human and fox forms whenever he desires, and everyone is eager to hear about his experiences. Sunflower can't stand Reynard's smug attitude, so when Reynard's summoned for combat training, Sunflower confesses to Rockford that he feels relieved. He couldn't take much more of Reynard's incessant talking. As Reynard exits, he boasts about being a knight while the other two are not. Sunflower turns to Raccoon and asks if he can believe the nerve of that fox, but Pussy Cat points out that at least Reynard brought them gifts.[31]
Suddenly, Sunflower speaks up and reveals that they were not given the gift that was promised or that they truly deserve. It's not just about Reynard's good fortune; it's the constant disregard for everyone else that is the real injustice here. Sunflower explains that Prince Charming cunningly manipulated his way into the position of Mayor of Fabletown by making false promises to the non-human Fables, guaranteeing them government-funded transformations and complimentary glamours for those in need. However, they were foolish to believe and obey him.[31]
After Mister Sunflower makes a derogatory comment about the animal Fables, comparing them to cattle for voting in Prince Charming as mayor, the talking cow Luna jumps in and says she resents his remark. However, the Three Blind Mice chime in, acknowledging that there may be some truth to Sunflower's statement. He rallies the Fables to speak up and demand the glamours that Charming had promised them. Sunflower leads a raucous protest in the center of the Farm, with a large group of non-human Fables by his side. They shout for their glamours and hold up signs as they make their voices heard.[31]
Lottery scheming
After Charming resigned from his job as Mayor, King Cole took over the position, so Rose Red urgently summons him to the Farm.[31] In the evening, the group of angry protesters corner King Cole. Sunflower claims that Charming has passed on the leadership to him, and with it comes the same promises and responsibilities. He demands to know what steps King Cole will take to resolve the issue.[32]
The following morning, the Mayor and Rose Red gather the Fables in the Farm square, announcing that a decision has been reached: Ozma, Morgan le Fay, Prospero, Mister Grandours and Maddy are each responsible for providing one glamour. Each of these five glamours can be shared between animals, giving them all a chance to experience life outside their usual surroundings for a brief time. A Lottery will be organized to select the first five recipients. Sunflower asks why Mother Birdie isn't joining in on the glamour making, but Ozma reminds him that she is currently occupied in the city and not to be disturbed.[32]
Sitting on the water trough next to the well, his feet resting in a bucket of water drawn from its depths, he watches Owl converse with Rose Red about his beloved Pussy Cat's recent depression. Owl expresses his concern for Pussy Cat spending too much time in isolation. Sunflower suggests that Owl should follow her and see where she goes. Acting on Sunflower's advice, Owl decides to do just that.[1]
Raccoon and Sunflower attempt to become more involved in the preparations for the Lottery by offering to "assist" in creating the ballots. However, the man in charge dismisses their offer, claiming that he has been a master printer for centuries and does not require their assistance. Sunflower argues that he may handle production tasks well, but he dislikes his chosen design. Raccoon points out that having a human image is inappropriate as humans are their oppressors; why not use an image of a bird, fish, or even a handsome raccoon instead? However, the man says it's too late; the design has already been approved, and he's already printing them.[1]
In a desperate attempt to increase their chances of winning the lottery, the pair try to steal one of the coveted books containing lucky numbers. Raccoon even considers forging additional books to further boost their odds. Unfortunately, their conversation is overheard by a Fable ladybug who has been hiding on Sunflower's body this whole time; they have literally been bugged. The man retrieves his book, then forcefully removes the two troublemakers from the print room and forbids them from entering again. He promises to inform Clara and Sergeant Wilfred of their actions.[1]
Suddenly, two mail mice from the Farm rush in with letters for Sunflower and Raccoon. Sunflower quips about the possibility of receiving gift vouchers for a free glamour. However, the letters are from Owl, who is seeking their help in setting up a romantic evening for himself and his significant other, Pussy Cat. Owl and Pussy Cat enjoy a quaint dinner in the woods, with Sunflower serving as their waiter and Raccoon as their chef. As the two lovebirds dance under the moonlight, poor Sunflower is left with the task of washing all the dishes, including trying to scrub sticky honey off five-pound notes. He struggles with this difficult task.[1]
The vandalized beehive
The Lottery isn't scheduled for another month, so the glamours are left in the Pumpkin House. Owl and Pussy Cat rush to tell Clara and Sergeant Wilfred that there has been a break-in there, and one of the glamours is now missing. Sunflower points out that the glamours are clearly not secure. Despite their efforts, the investigation yields no results. Clara and Wilfred are forced to shift their focus to André Gardens, where Sunflower resides: The Beehive has been vandalized. Sunflower suggests that the bees could have destroyed their own hive as an insurance scam, but he and the other four residents of the garden are immediately made prime suspects. As a result, he accuses Clara and Wilfred of being pawns of the oppressors.[5]
Without hesitation, Clara points her finger at Sunflower as the main suspect. She highlights his role in promoting glamours, his disrespect for authority figures, and his attempt to cheat the system by stealing lottery tickets and making plans to create his own. In her opinion, all evidence points to him as the culprit of this glamour theft, with his "grubby leaf prints" all over it. A book called Grimours and Glyphs is found in Snapdragon's part of the garden. Clara overhears Luna pointing out to the Three Little Pigs that the water next to the well has an oddly sweet taste, leading her to figure out who is responsible for it.[5]
Clara and Wilfred gather all the suspects and unveil a shocking truth: the theft of the glamour and the destruction of the hive are intertwined, and the guilty party resides within André Gardens. The hive's destruction was a form of retaliation against a bothersome neighbor. The thief, untrained in the ways of magic, resorted to using a spell book, the book that was found in Snapdragon's dwelling. According to Wilfred, the criminal needed a place to temporarily stash his stolen goods, and Clara destroys the remains of the beehive, exposing the hidden treasure buried beneath it.[5]
The thief was aware that as soon as the crime was reported, the area where the bees lived would be secured by the police. This meant it would be an ideal hiding spot until the investigation died down, giving the thief time to figure out how to cast a glamour spell or find someone who could do it for them and find another hiding place.[5]
Once the hive was destroyed, the perpetrator hurried to the Pumpkin House and snatched a glamour. He then hid and waited for the swarm of Bees to gather at the Farm office, ready to report the attack. With no one around, he buried the glamour under the rubble of the hive, and planted false evidence to frame Snapdragon for the crime. At last, he meticulously cleansed the area and himself at the water through in the Farm square." And who do we know among those gathered who has recently taken to washing himself in the through?" Wilfred asks, pointing to Mister Sunflower. The culprit has been caught.[5]
Community service
Sunflower is taken into custody and receives a sentence of two weeks in the New Camelot dungeon. After that, he must complete a year of community service, beginning with constructing a brand-new beehive. Additionally, he is stripped of his right to participate in the Lottery's glamour process.[5]
Once Sunflower is released from his two-week sentence, he begins his community service. While watching Mary tend to her plants, he catches the attention of two security guards, who bluntly ask him what he is looking at. Two weeks later, as the day of the lottery approaches, Sunflower, donning his orange community service attire, hears Bonny Lamb praising Reynard as a hero. He scoffs, muttering under his breath about Reynard being a "smug, arrogant son of a..." but stops himself as the bees fly over him. Annoyed, he shoos them away and reminds them that their new hive will be ready for them soon enough. Suddenly, Mary storms into the Farm office with Bonny Lamb in tow, demanding that Clara and Wilfred take immediate action against this troublemaker, who has destroyed her garden and crushed all her flowers. Sunflower is horrified at the loss of innocent plant life.[33]
Day of the Lottery
The highly anticipated day of the Lottery finally arrives, but Sunflower is not pleased with the list of winners, believing that none of them deserve a glamour. To everyone's surprise, Sunflower's ticket is selected as the final winner, but it is quickly deemed invalid due to the conditions of his punishment. As Sunflower leans against the tent where all the magical glamours are stored, he loses his balance and accidentally falls inside through an opening. In the process, he knocks over all the neatly arranged potions and their corresponding glamours. Panic sets in as he realizes that everyone will think he did it on purpose, and he fears being punished severely. With a sense of urgency, Sunflower quickly puts everything back in its place before anyone notices the chaos he caused.[34]
The chosen winners are bestowed with glamours and paired with human chaperones. But due to Sunflower's mishap, not only are the animals given glamours, but their chaperones are completely transformed into animals, connected to the original Fable forms of the animals they accompany. Morgan le Fay successfully reverses the damage, but Sunflower takes this opportunity to flee for the hills.[34]
However, he doesn't get far before Rose Red catches up with him. Despite his explanation that it was an accident, Rose is not sympathetic, as Sunflower has been the cause of every problem on the farm for the past two months. Sunflower attempts to shift the blame onto Reynard, claiming that he had no right to tease them by flaunting his own glamour. After being confined to the Farm for three centuries, they all deserve a taste of freedom. Rose Red, however, argues that Sunflower used the grievances of others to justify his own envy and greed, and believes he deserves a harsher punishment. She calls upon her magical abilities to enlarge the bees, making them tower over Sunflower and making him cower in fear.[34]
Farewell
Mr. Sunflower can be spotted in a panel among a group of animal Fables at the Farm bidding farewell to the readers in Fables #150.[35]
Alternate universe
An alternate version of Mr. Sunflower appears in The Unwritten Fables, which takes place in an alternate universe where Mister Dark was never defeated. Here, Sunflower stands prepared for battle as Mister Dark's army launches an attack on the remaining citizens of Fabletown at the magic grove in Haven.[36] After the battle, a sad Sunflower stands beside a body draped in a shroud.[37] Later, he attends a meeting led by Frau Totenkinder where she shares the 13th Floor magicians' strategy for saving the remaining Fables.[38]
Personality and traits
| “ | You cloaked yourself in their just grievances to legitimize your own jealousy and greed. | „ |
| ~ Rose Red to Mister Sunflower in Fairest #32 — "Glamour Day: Chapter Six of The Clamour for Glamour" |
Mister Sunflower is known for his anger issues,[4] with the man in charge of creating the ballots for the glamour Lottery labeling him "Mister Angry Sunflower Kid."[1] Following the disaster with the contaminated glamours, Rose Red accused him of using the justified complaints of other Fable creatures as a cover for his own envy and selfishness.[34]
Being an anthropomorphic sunflower, Mister Sunflower's beliefs are deeply rooted in advocating for the rights of all plant life. He is not happy with Mary's new hobby of gardening, and believes that after losing her obedient Little Lamb, she now directs her authoritarian tendencies towards Sunflower's fellow plants.[33] When Mary storms into the Farm office with Bonny Lamb in tow, demanding that Clara and Wilfred take immediate action against this troublemaker, Sunflower proudly refers to the lamb as his beloved non-human sister, praising her for standing up against their oppressors. But when Mary reveals that the lamb has destroyed her garden and crushed all her flowers, Sunflower's joy quickly turns to horror as he gasps and labels the lamb a murderer.[33] Sunflower is not pleased when Bonny Lamb wins one of the lottery tickets, as she is a known plant killer.[34]
His plant-based focus extends to terminology: When King Cole reminds everyone to give "a big hand" of applause to the witches of the 13th Floor, Rockford J. Raccoon and Sunflower take issue with the phrase "big hand," with Raccoon accusing Cole of being speciesist and suggesting alternatives like "paw" or "wing." Sunflower proposes using "leaf" instead.[32] After the catastrophe with the faulty glamours, Sunflower takes this opportunity to "uproot and flee."[34]
Due to him being a plant, Mister Sunflower does not eat human food, but feeds on manure.[2]
Appearances
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Original source
Mister Sunflower was introduced to the Farm as a background character by Fables penciler Mark Buckingham, who based him on the titular character of "Mister Sunflower," an obscure poem written and illustrated by the Victorian artist R. André,[3] from his book Little Blossom (1884). André Gardens, where Mr. Sunflower and other characters from the book live, is a reference to the author. The poem goes:
In your dress of brown and yellow
What a stiff-necked, long legged fellow!
Must you stare, although the bees
Settle on your face and tease?
Can't you turn your big flat head
Till the sun has gone to bed?
The verses "Must you stare, although the bees / Settle on your face and tease?" are referenced in Fairest #30 — "Five Rhymes and a Riddle: Chapter Four of The Clamour for Glamour," where Sunflower comments on himself and the bees as he addresses the reader, saying "Could it be this handsome fellow, whose face they tease every time he turns to the sun? Well said!"
References