Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm (Paperback)

by Bill Willingham (Author), Mark Buckingham (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: Snow White

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Although quite political, the second story-arc (as they felicitously call a plot in comics land) from Willingham's Fables comics isn't a version of Orwell's political parable. In it the scene shifts from the New York enclave of the human Fableland exiles to the upstate farm their animal and insufficiently human-appearing fellows inhabit. Snow White, who runs things for King Cole, makes her biannual farm visit, with fractious sister Rose Red in tow. There they find manager Weyland Smith nowhere in evidence and many nonhuman Fables talking up repatriating Fableland by force. What has actually happened is a still-covert coup led by animal-rights-spouting revolutionary Goldilocks. Snow and Rose get significantly up a creek before learning what's afoot from loyal Reynard, who, though a genuine fox, isn't above ogling those of other species. Despite some grisly developments, including a black-hand-style murder and a nearly successful assassination, this is about as much fun, if as conventional-comics looking, as Fables: Legends in Exile [BKL F 1 03]. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Collecting FABLES #6-10, the second story arc of the fan-favorite, critically acclaimed VERTIGO series. Travel to upstate New York, where the non-human Fable characters have found refuge on a farm, miles from mankind. But all is not well on the farm — and a conspiracy to free them from the shackles of their perceived imprisonment may lead to a war that could wrest control of the Fables community away from Snow White. Starring Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Plus, a sketchbook section featuring art by Willingham, Buckingham and Jean.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140120077X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401200770
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,779 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeding The Hype, August 1, 2003

By	"vacuuum" (Los Angeles, California USA) - See all my reviews

Bill Willingham continues to deliver great reading material in his second storyline of the Eisner Award winning series "Fables".
The story is still about the exiled fable-folk and their community existing alongside the mundanes (non-fable folk).
The characters from the first book are back and they are in for a new conflict.

This time the focus of the book moves away from the mythical city of New York and on to "The Farm", where the unfortunate fable folk who cannot pass as humans live in seclusion.
Snow White heads to the farm to try and teach her sister, Rose Red a lesson and hopefully patch things up between them.
They soon find out that the residents are planning to get out of the farm in an all out rebellion.

Willingham did very good on characterization in this book, he gave the characters identity, there are more fable appearances in this book which makes it more interesting. Mark Buckingham did a superb job continuing the designs drawn by Lan Medina.
And like the first book, this trade paperback offers bonus materials such as Bill Willingham's early designs of the characters, and sketches of the covers done by James Jean.
This is one title that every fantasy, fairy tale, mystery, and even crime enthusiast should have.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Innovative Title, September 20, 2003

By	B. Bukowski (Montana USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Trying to patch up their strained relationship, Rose Red and Snow White travel upstate to visit the Farm where the nonhuman Fables are forced to live; but they run into trouble when they find a revolution-caused by Goldilocks-turn to violence.

Bill Willingham once again creates another winner, improving upon his first story arc with more characterization and some humor. There are numerous litererature references and some of the absurd situations and obscure fable characters are rather humorous. Mark Buckingham's pencils aren't spectactular, but are quite good for portaying the numerous human characters as well as the many animal characters. Buckingham's pencils are very similar to Medina's artwork in the previous arc, but he improves upon the human characters, making them look more dramatic and lifelike.

This book is recommended for readers looking for something different than super hero stories. This new, innovative book is definitely worth checking out.

NOTE: This is a DC/Vertigo book and is suggested for older readers due to language and blood/gore (a comic book equivalent to a PG-13 or R-rated movie).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Fables Team Has Done It Again!, October 24, 2003

By	Dan Ryno (Florissant, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wow! When I heard all of the buzz around Fables (starting many months ago), I was skeptical. I thought it was a silly idea for a story, and had no chance of surviving very long. Oh, how I was wrong on so many levels. I purchased the first Fables tpb from amazon.com because of the cheap price (deciding to give it a shot to see what all the hype was about). I figured that, if I didn't like it, I would only be out 10 bucks. The first tpb blew me away! It was some of the best storytelling I've read in 10 years of serious comic book collecting. I rushed to order the second tpb (Animal Farm) and was surpised to realize that I loved this one even more. Once the characters have been established (all of the fairy tale characters from your youth, as if they were living in our world today), the Fables team can cut loose with comedy, drama, action, and even romance. I cannot wait for the next tpb to surface!