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This article is about a subject whose real name is unknown, and is known only by a title, nickname, alias or description |
| “ | The Carpenter: Cheer up, Mister Walrus. We're on the way to the promised land at last. The Walrus: I'm cheerful enough, Mister Carpenter--exactly as the occasion merits. |
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| ~ The Walrus and the Carpenter on their way to "Fabletown," 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!" |
'The Walrus and the Carpenter are Fables who appear in two different incarnations:
One version of the Walrus is a resident at the Farm and first appears in Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm."[4] He tends to show up as a background character among the crowds, occasionally uttering the odd line.
A revised version of the Walrus is half of the duo known as the Walrus and the Carpenter, who are prisoners in the Golden Boughs Retirement Village. They first appear in Jack of Fables #1 — "The Long Hard Fall of Hollywood Jack."
History
The Farm iteration
Goldilocks' revolution
The Walrus at the Farm 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 animals are shocked when they notice her sudden presence in the room, and the Walrus inquires why she showed up so early in the season this time around.[5]
The Walrus is one of the Fables who aligns with Goldilocks' rebels in their scheme to overthrow the human residents of Fabletown. He is present when Rose Red arms herself in a cave and when she apprehends her sister Snow White in the same cave shortly after.[6]
The Walrus 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. Unexpectedly, Snow White emerges and declares that their self-proclaimed revolution has come to an end and commands all individuals to relinquish their firearms and disperse. She quickly compels the surrender of the group through the intimidation of the three giant brothers, and the dragon Clara. The Walrus reacts in shock, exclaiming, "We're fucked!"[7]
After several months, the Walrus witnesses the execution of Dun and Posey, who were among the leaders of the revolution, by Jack Ketch.[8]
New neighbours
As Snow White settles into the Farm with her newborn cubs, the Walrus joins the multitude of animal Fables who assemble to greet their new neighbor in the Farm square.[9]
Fabletown-Imperial war
The Walrus attends a meeting in the Farm square, where Boy Blue informs the animal inhabitants of the Farm about the opportunity to join Flycatcher's Kingdom of Haven in the Homelands.[10]
It appears that the Walrus joined the war between Fabletown and the Empire, as he is spotted at Fort Bravo, listening to Sinbad convey the news of Prince Charming's death in combat to Rose Red.[11]
Threat of Mister Dark
When Boy Blue is on his deathbed, the Walrus is present with a variety of Fables, both human and animal, who linger outside the main building for the entire night. It is only in the morning that Dr. Swineheart informs them of his passing.[12]
Later, the Walrus joins in on a Farm meeting where Geppetto attempts to convince the occupants of both Fabletown and the Farm alike to choose him as their leader, so he can save everyone from the grip of Mister Dark.[13]
As Rose Red speaks to her fellow Fables about the complaints, concerns, advice, and demands of the Farm residents, the Walrus is seen standing in the background among the Fables.[14]
Golden Boughs iteration
Looking Glass Kingdom
When Bloody Mary confronts the Knave of Hearts in 1888, a statue of an alternate incarnation of the Walrus and the Carpenter is sitting in the middle of the village square in the Looking Glass Kingdom, surrounded by a serene water fountain.[3]
The Golden Boughs
At some point, the Walrus and the Carpenter are taken captive by Mister Revise and imprisoned in the Golden Boughs Retirement Village.[15] The Walrus takes on the role of King Claudius when Gary the Pathetic Fallacy and a group of Fables decide to perform Hamlet for the rest of the village. In one particular scene, he says the line, "Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!" who are "played" by two tennis rackets magically brought to life by Gary.[16]
When Jack Horner is captured and brought to the village, Priscilla Page requests Sam to take their new "guest" up to his cottage since she's got to visit the library. As they make their way to the small cottage, Jack and Sam saunter past numerous Fables who are prisoners at the village. Among them are the Walrus and the Carpenter, who walk past them while accompanied by the Oysters.[15]
In the midst of Jack Horner's meticulously planned mass escape from the Golden Boughs, the Walrus proposes to the Carpenter that they swiftly depart from the village. The Carpenter agrees wholeheartedly, and together they flee while the Oysters chase after them, urgently requesting them to wait for them. Unfortunately, the Oysters,[2] as well as the Walrus and the Carpenter, are caught and coerced to return to the village. Subsequently, they all witness Dorothy Gale,[17] another escapee,[2] being escorted back to the village by Priscilla Page.[17]
Death
Decades later, the Walrus and the Carpenter take part in the other Golden Boughs inmates' quest for Fabletown and travels all the way to Canada with them in an attempt to find it.[18] Unfortunately, this leads to a deadly encounter with Jack Horner in dragon form, where the Carpenter is killed alongside the Hatter, the Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker, and the White Rabbit. His dying words as the dragon fatally flings him through the air are "Walrus! I've always loved you! Take care of the Oysters!" The Walrus meet his demise as a van lands on him, crushing him to death in the midst of the chaotic battle.[1]
Appearances
The Farm iteration
Fables
- Fables #6 (first appearance)
- Fables #8
- Fables #9
- Fables #10
- Fables #31
- Fables #70
- Fables #75
- Fables #81
- Fables #91
- Fables #98
Golden Boughs iteration
Jack of Fables |
Fables |
Fables: The Wolf Among Us
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Original source
Both incarnations are based on the titular characters of "The Walrus and the Carpenter," a narrative poem from Lewis Carroll's novel Through the Looking-Glass. The poem tells the story of a Walrus and a Carpenter who meet on a beach and decide to go for a walk. They come across a group of Oysters, and the Walrus persuades them to come with them. The Oysters follow the Walrus and the Carpenter, and they are eventually all eaten.