Customer Reviews

Jack of Fables Vol. 6: The Big Book of War

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

For Fables fans that can't get enough, Bill Willingham hits us right between the eyes with "Jack of Fables!" Jack Horner is a bold Fable that is an outcast from Fabletown. In this action-packed volume, Bookburner attacks Mr. Revise's hidden stronghold, and Jack plays the dithering self-involved general at headquarters.

This might be the first of the "Jack" books that has layers of meaning besides the surface-level mayhem. It's ironic that the writers bring in the most mindbenders in the book with the most "mindless action." The authors play around with the ideas of censorship, book burning, and the power of books in this story. Don't worry, though, Jack is still a entertaining jackass.

The art is lively and cool; some of the huge two-page battle scenes are explosive. No corners were cut here - these artists rocked the house with this book!

Jack of Fables is so captivating because the writing is simultaneously smart and juvenile at the same time. Jack himself is a lovable buffoon here, playing the role of the cardboard foolish General figure that we've come to know from the movies. By magnifying all of the stupid stereotypes, the writers actually endow Jack with a bit of self-deprecating genius, perhaps ridiculing previous movies and books.

There are a couple of very interesting reveals at the end of this volume - there is no way I'd spoil them for you here and steal the surprise from you! The joy and mischief of the writers and artists leaps out from the page - man, this Jack of Fables series is fun!

This is a really exciting installment in the world of the Fables. I was glad to finally learn of Prose Page and a bit more about the Literals, though I'm surprised Prose died at all. I mean, it seems that after a few thousand years (and a few kids) she would have been better able to handle her youngest daughter's birth, and the fact that she lived long enough afterward to tell Revise her secret confuses me a bit more. The story of Prose could have been handled better - if she had been killed by a Fable, that would explain Revise's hatred towards Fables.

Only here we find that he doesn't really hate them, and the reason for his collection of Fables to depower them is explained here. It doesn't mean I think he was right, but it is definitely interesting. The ending was good in a few ways, but totally f-ed up in a couple of ways. The revelation of Jack's paternity - and maternity! - felt tacked-on to me, and rather ridiculous when you think about who is affected. Sure, Jack is a rogue, but COME ON. Really. When you read about the secret, you can decide for yourself and see who it is!

I was intrigued by the volcano spirits that appeared in this book and thought they might be made-up, but then I realized no, all these characters in Fables are actual literary characters, however minor. So I Googled the names of the spirits, and lo and behold, they actually come from a Native American myth. How cool is that?

I hope the next book shows more of Revise and the Pages, as well as Bookburner, and that whatever revelations come will be more solid/plausible than the one that came at the end of this volume. Fables has a lot of great ideas, but I don't want to see the writers go overboard and let this universe fall down a slippery slope with ridiculous plots and ideas.

This volume was much more pleasing than the previous. We follow Jack the General in this volume as he defends the Golden Boughs against the Bookburner and his evil empire.
An entertaining volume with great humor of Jack blabbing a bunch of bs about being a great general and things just working out in his favor. This volume brings the series back on par after the vol 5 disappointment.
Lots of fighting, sexual innuendos from Jack and an ending that was quite surprising. Definitely recommend picking this one up.