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18th out of 76 books
—
13 voters
Fables, Vol. 14: Witches (Fables #14)
by
Bill Willingham (Goodreads Author),
Mark Buckingham , Steve Leialoha , David Lapham , Jim Fern , Andrew Pepoy , Craig Hamilton
While the meek and mild flying monkey Bufkin is trapped in Fabletown's collapsed business office with the evil witch Baba Yaga, Frau Totenkinder and the witches at the Farm upstate prepare to deal with Mister Dark down in what's left of Fabletown.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
December 7th 2010
by Vertigo
(first published 2010)
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This was a great return to the old Fables style after the mediocre distraction of The Great Fables Crossover last volume. In fact, there was a lot in this book that is what I loved about this series in the first place. Previously minor characters suddenly rise in importance. Comic relief sidekicks take A Level of Badass. We get some background information about the Empire, old threads in the storyline we thought forgotten are brought back into play, and the main story arc moves forward (albeit o...more
Fables continues to be one of the more impressive monthly comic titles. Well over 100 issues old, the story of fairytale folk forced out of their home realm by the Adversary and forced to set up home in our world is a masterpiece of storytelling (as good as tv series Once Upon A Time got towards the latter end of its first season, Fables will always be the benchmark by which it will be judged, and found lacking). This volume collects issues 86-93 of the monthly comic, telling of the preparation...more
Fables has been fading, slowly but surely, for a long time. But when classic, early Fables is so stupendously good, even faded, slightly-past-its-prime Fables is still among the best comics available.
There's a feeling here that Willingham has said a lot of what he wanted to say with the characters, and certain motifs in the narrative are starting to feel repetitive. After the original "Adversary" storyline reached its epic climax, that felt like a natural place to call it a day. However, the co...more
There's a feeling here that Willingham has said a lot of what he wanted to say with the characters, and certain motifs in the narrative are starting to feel repetitive. After the original "Adversary" storyline reached its epic climax, that felt like a natural place to call it a day. However, the co...more
Now this is more like it. I needed something - anything - to restore my faith in FABLES after reading THE GREAT FABLES CROSSOVER. Now, let me tell you - I will never fault writers for experimenting and trying new things because that is how great things often come into existence. However, CROSSOVER was definitely the literary equivalent of Frankenstein's monster - a gruesome and unnatural stitching-together of horrendous story limbs shocked into life by a metatextual gimmick. Ugh. Awful. Experime...more
What a fantastic return to form after the frustrating waste of time that was The (Not So) Great Fables Crossover!
This volume unravels the new threads put into place after the war with the adversary came to an end. I had the pleasure of seeing Bill Willingham do a book talk and one of his talking points was the concept of hiding your hero and hiding your villain, which he does to tremendous effect! Basically, as an author...know what you are going to do and place the pieces in your story from the...more
This volume unravels the new threads put into place after the war with the adversary came to an end. I had the pleasure of seeing Bill Willingham do a book talk and one of his talking points was the concept of hiding your hero and hiding your villain, which he does to tremendous effect! Basically, as an author...know what you are going to do and place the pieces in your story from the...more
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Reprints Fables #86-93 (September 2009-May 2010). Mister Dark has taken over Fabletown and the Fables have fled to the Farm. Now the sorcerers of the Fables are trying to determine how to stop Dark and a battle is brewing between all the witches on how it should be done. Geppetto has returned and is trying to get the Fables of the Farm to revolt. Plus Bufkin wages a war against Baba Yaga in the wreckage of the Fabletown offices. Can the Boxers who originally trapped Mr. Dark stop him again? Also...more
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1747792...
The central story of Witches has the rise of Baba Yaga as an enemy of the Fables, courageously opposed by the winged monkey Bufkin and his allies; and also a parallel story line of shifts of power among the Fables who are now at their farm, exiled from New York. The former worked better for me, the latter still needing resolution in a future volume.
The first pages of the book, however, are a rather effective vignette of a group we have not encountered bef...more
The central story of Witches has the rise of Baba Yaga as an enemy of the Fables, courageously opposed by the winged monkey Bufkin and his allies; and also a parallel story line of shifts of power among the Fables who are now at their farm, exiled from New York. The former worked better for me, the latter still needing resolution in a future volume.
The first pages of the book, however, are a rather effective vignette of a group we have not encountered bef...more
Witches includes a cute story about Bufkin holding down the fort in the Business Office (wherever that is). His wrath is slow to waken, but terrible to behold.
But, elsewhere, not much happens. Flycatcher learns that governing is even more difficult than nationbuilding (didn't we already know that?), and Frau Totenkinder (eventually) sets off in a quest to defeat Mister Dark, leaving a power vacuum in the 13th Floor that Ozma hopes to exploit.
Our last glimpse of Frau Totenkinder shows her transfo...more
But, elsewhere, not much happens. Flycatcher learns that governing is even more difficult than nationbuilding (didn't we already know that?), and Frau Totenkinder (eventually) sets off in a quest to defeat Mister Dark, leaving a power vacuum in the 13th Floor that Ozma hopes to exploit.
Our last glimpse of Frau Totenkinder shows her transfo...more
More Fables! Should you be surprised? What can I say about this anyway, if you’ve already read what I had to say about the other 13 volumes? It’s about the same as it’s been, and the story continues to move forward. Still, I should state that this isn’t a criticism of the series, nor should you think that I’m saying this is “more of the same”; I’m just saying that I really don’t know what else to say about the series without repeating myself.
Still, while the series remains interesting, it’s not...more
Still, while the series remains interesting, it’s not...more
Oh, Fables. It's so nice to have you back after the unsatisfying interlude that was Fables: The Great Fables Crossover. That was basically the Jack series with cameo appearances by Bigby and Snow. And the Jack series is far inferior to Fables.
One of the things I love most about Fables is that characters that seem like they're harmless/comic relief/side characters get to shine and show that they're way more badass than you'd ever given them credit for. This time it's Bufkin's (the flying monkey'...more
One of the things I love most about Fables is that characters that seem like they're harmless/comic relief/side characters get to shine and show that they're way more badass than you'd ever given them credit for. This time it's Bufkin's (the flying monkey'...more
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
This was a fantastic volume! We are at the beginning of something new for the Fables and this volume just barely starts to put things in motion but it's main focus is to introduce us to some new main players, namely "the bad guys" out there and the Witches, the former residents of floor 13 whom so far we've heard mention but only met their leader Frau Totenkinder. We start off with a two-issue story that takes us back into the Dark Man's history, who he is,...more
This was a fantastic volume! We are at the beginning of something new for the Fables and this volume just barely starts to put things in motion but it's main focus is to introduce us to some new main players, namely "the bad guys" out there and the Witches, the former residents of floor 13 whom so far we've heard mention but only met their leader Frau Totenkinder. We start off with a two-issue story that takes us back into the Dark Man's history, who he is,...more
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I love the Fables graphics novels but I didn't particularly like this one. Through the entire series they've built Baba Yaga up to be very scary, yet the plotline with her, in this particular book, was just silly and I found that irritating. I hope that is not going to be the case with the Dark Man, since he's quite creepy now.
Oh and the baseball sideline story -- the authors would have made better use of that space to bring some resolution to the Dark Man plot.
Oh and the baseball sideline story -- the authors would have made better use of that space to bring some resolution to the Dark Man plot.
Very little Bigby and Snow, an entire issue about capturing the Dark One (or whatever non Jordan name they gave him) which delites me as always prefer historical stories old outside the traditional Fabletown characters, Buffkin the monkey going all Kevin Arnold in Home Alone on a powerful djinn and Baba Yaga, the inner workings of the 13th floor somewhat exposed, and a peak at Totenkinder's true nature. Even Geppetto inserting himself in local elections to bring back true empire like the Reichst...more
Volume 14 of the series starts with an introduction to the new big bad, otherwise known as Mister Dark. It's a great little story told from his point of view but with the art showing the story of how his opponents The Boxers managed to trap him.
The bulk of the story is entitled Witches and deals with the aftermath of the destruction of Fabletown. Bufkin the flying monkey is trapped in the remains of the Woodland office with Baba Yaga and a host of other nasties and no way out. Frau Totenkinder...more
The bulk of the story is entitled Witches and deals with the aftermath of the destruction of Fabletown. Bufkin the flying monkey is trapped in the remains of the Woodland office with Baba Yaga and a host of other nasties and no way out. Frau Totenkinder...more
Mr. Dark has taken over Fabletown, sending the Fables running to The Farm. While The Farm's leader, Rose Red, wallows in depression, the Fables' strongest spellcasters (Frau Totenkinder, Ozma, Ghepetto) plan their next moves. Meanwhile, Bufkin the flying monkey has been trapped in the collapsed remains of Fabletown's business office, where none other than the terrifying Baba Yaga has been awakened. Can one little monkey stand up against such a powerful witch?
After a highly disappointing thirteen...more
After a highly disappointing thirteen...more
This is the fourteenth book in the Fables series and finally takes us back to the storyline started in book twelve. Finally we learn more about what Mister Dark is up to and what happened to Baba Yaga. It was very good installment in this series; I enjoyed it a lot.
The first part of the book goes through the history of Mister Dark and how he was trapped in the first place. Then we go to Fabletown where the witches are preparing to smackdown with Mister Dark. Ozma is trying to throw out Frau Tote...more
The first part of the book goes through the history of Mister Dark and how he was trapped in the first place. Then we go to Fabletown where the witches are preparing to smackdown with Mister Dark. Ozma is trying to throw out Frau Tote...more
I thought the 13th trade of Fables was abhorrent. But, since it was a crossover, based heavily on a spin-off series I hate, and seemed like more or less a publicity stunt, I decided to give the next proper Fables collection a fair shot.
The first issue in the volume was strong and fairly interesting, giving new insight into the magic of the Fables world. From there on, the book loses its sense of darkness, fantasy, and suspense that I used to love. It gets cartoonish, silly, and downright unreas...more
The first issue in the volume was strong and fairly interesting, giving new insight into the magic of the Fables world. From there on, the book loses its sense of darkness, fantasy, and suspense that I used to love. It gets cartoonish, silly, and downright unreas...more
Mais um capítulo na fabulosa saga das fábulas (o lobo mau, a branca de neve, Pinóquio, etc.), escondidas no mundo humano do século XXI. Depois do arco narrativo dedicado ao Adversário, a imaginação do autor não escasseou absolutamente nada.
Fabletown vê-se agora ameaçada por Mister Dark, literalmente a representação do bicho papão, que nos amedronta nos sonhos de criança ou debaixo da cama.
Fables é uma série que continua a misturar de forma imaginativa o universo das lendas, mitos e histórias de...more
Fabletown vê-se agora ameaçada por Mister Dark, literalmente a representação do bicho papão, que nos amedronta nos sonhos de criança ou debaixo da cama.
Fables é uma série que continua a misturar de forma imaginativa o universo das lendas, mitos e histórias de...more
Possible spoilers.
I really enjoyed the interplay between Ozma and Maddy/Medea. It's hard to gauge Ozma's true intentions because, well, she's a witch, but if we base her on the Ozma of Baum's mythology, then she's definitely more benevolent than otherwise. It was pretty cool what she did with Reynauld, and how she persuaded the other members of the 13th Floor to trust her in showing up Geppetto for what he really is. The tale of Weyland At The Bat, too, was really well done, showing that even Fl...more
I really enjoyed the interplay between Ozma and Maddy/Medea. It's hard to gauge Ozma's true intentions because, well, she's a witch, but if we base her on the Ozma of Baum's mythology, then she's definitely more benevolent than otherwise. It was pretty cool what she did with Reynauld, and how she persuaded the other members of the 13th Floor to trust her in showing up Geppetto for what he really is. The tale of Weyland At The Bat, too, was really well done, showing that even Fl...more
For the most part, I really liked this. It deals primarily with the fallout of Mr. Dark razing Fabletown; we learn a little bit more about his past, and exactly how much of a threat he is to the Fables. The book also focuses on some of the themes Willingham's been dealing with since the start - on the might of unlikely heroes, and on shifting political realities. I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it, as I'm unfamiliar with the stories that some of the main characters come from (Ozma and...more
I found this to be one of the more satisfying entries by Bill Willingham in this series. Oh yes it does include a little bit of a cliffhanger regarding Fabletown and Mr. Dark. Willingham has successfully merged story and character development in this entry. It is interesting to see what a near total bitch Ozma has become, Frau Totenkinder is perhaps more than she seems, and King Cole is perhaps more shallow than I had though. Buffkin proves himself a hero as we get to see a flying monkey prove t...more
Out of all the installments of the main series and the spin-offs, this HAS to be one of my absolute favorites! The title for this collection is more than appropriate, and I sincerely hope that Ozma's past is explored more in future issues so we can see how she is so powerful, and why she chooses to maintain such a youthful - even child-like - appearance.
One thing I was more than satisfied about was learning more about Frau Totenkinder. We learn more about her abilities and power, and a few thing...more
One thing I was more than satisfied about was learning more about Frau Totenkinder. We learn more about her abilities and power, and a few thing...more
3.75 stars
There is a new villain in this volume of Fables. Some of the witches gather to try to defeat him.
This issue seemed more set-up for something I expect will come later. I do “like” the new creepy villain. I thought I'd like this one a little better than I did, with witches as main characters, but there was also plenty of other stuff going on, as well, that wasn't quite as interesting for me. I really liked the last story, though, with Flycatcher in it; that was another one that went a sl...more
There is a new villain in this volume of Fables. Some of the witches gather to try to defeat him.
This issue seemed more set-up for something I expect will come later. I do “like” the new creepy villain. I thought I'd like this one a little better than I did, with witches as main characters, but there was also plenty of other stuff going on, as well, that wasn't quite as interesting for me. I really liked the last story, though, with Flycatcher in it; that was another one that went a sl...more
The 14th graphic novel in the Fable series, this is so much better than the 13th, the Crossover, which felt like a diversion to other existing or soon-to-be launched series. Fables: Witches brings the story back to what's been going on with the characters of such popular stories as Snow White, Beauty & the Beast, Pinocchio, etc. after they were forced to leave Fabletown (a magical place in the middle of New York City) because of Mister Dark, a powerful evil set free in the previous series. T...more
Now we're back in business! Looks like everyone else agrees with me, glancing down at the other reviews. Not only has this series taken a turn to much more serious and meaty stories, but the contrast with the last three Jack stories that I read previous to getting into this is just huge, they were truly awful. But I'm glad to see that this series seems to finally be getting it's mojo back. This is the first volume I've read in a whole that felt significant, where all of the stories felt like the...more
I have very mixed feelings about this collected volume. The art was good, not fantastic but good enough. But the story line with the witches annoyed me. The last two issues, were very good.
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
The Fables are in disarray as Rose Red remains bedridden, the titular witches deliberate over their future, and the leadership is unable to find a strategy to address Mr. Dark. Meanwhile, we find out more about Dark's history and Buffkin confronts what was unleashed by Dark's destruction of the Fables' New York residences. Additionally, there's a visit to Flycatcher's kingdom.
This volume returns us to normal after the chaos of The Great Fables Crossover. While not much happens, it resets the sce...more
This volume returns us to normal after the chaos of The Great Fables Crossover. While not much happens, it resets the sce...more
In the latest volume of Fables, the reader finds Bufkin the flying monkey trapped in the former Fabletown business office with the evil witch Baba Yaga and an evil genie. Meanwhile, at the farm upstate, Frau Totenkinder and the other witches are getting ready to battle Mister Dark, who has taken over what is left of the destroyed Fabletown.
After Frau Totenkinder goes missing, the witches begin to grow suspicious...meanwhile, Bufkin begins to rally the "troops" - the remains of the wooden soldier...more
After Frau Totenkinder goes missing, the witches begin to grow suspicious...meanwhile, Bufkin begins to rally the "troops" - the remains of the wooden soldier...more
Witches is certainly a return to form after the Great Fables Crossover, which is one of the worst comics I've read. For the most part, I liked the book, even if I thought it was a little too precious and self-indulgent in places. I did not like the pacing. The narrative was just beginning to pick up and get interesting after a great deal of set-up, and then . . . two chapters about baseball and the burdens of kingship? Really?
I'm beginning to feel as if Fables has run its course too, which is a...more
I'm beginning to feel as if Fables has run its course too, which is a...more
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In the late 1970s to early 1980s he drew fantasy ink pictures for the Dungeons & Dragons Basic and Expert game rulebooks. He first gained attention for his 1980s comic book series Elementals published by Comico, which he both wrote and drew. However, for reasons unknown, the series had trouble maintaining an original schedule, and Willingham's position in the industry remained spotty for many...more
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