Jack of Fables Vol. 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape (Paperback)

~ Bill Willingham (Author), (Author), Tony Akins (Photographer), Andrew Pepoy (Photographer) "LIFE IS A GIANT, COAGULATED BOWL OF SUCK..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Willingham first created a contemporary world inhabited by fairy tale characters in his series, Fables. He continues that success with Sturges, who co-writes this recent spinoff. A new story line further develops Jack Horner's escapades in Hollywood and establishes him as the most dangerous Fable loose in the "mundy"—short for "mundane"—world. Jack is forced into the Golden Boughs Retirement Community, a jail of sorts where Fables are imprisoned until society-at-large forgets about them, thereby diminishing their magic powers. Enlisting the support of Goldilocks and a cage full of fairies, Jack plans the entire retirement community's escape. Willingham and Sturges give Jack a bad-boy attitude, making him an everyman hero that readers won't always identify with, but will enjoy watching flub and fake his way to freedom, complete with clever riffs on the Turtle and the Hare, the Toothfairy, Mother Goose and Humpty Dumpty. Readers will enjoy this more if they first familiarize themselves with Willingham's established Fables world (Legends in Exile, Wolves, etc.). Rated for mature readers, the tale includes sex, nudity, corruption, so it's got a little bit of everything that any sophisticated comics fan will enjoy. (Mar.)
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Product Description

Stepping out of Bill Willingham's acclaimed Vertigo series FABLES, the charming and insufferable Jack of Tales is the center of attention once again, this time in his very own ongoing title. In this first collection, Jack is thrown into a prison-like "retirement" community for wayward Fables, where he discovers a sinister plot to eliminate all traces of magic from the Mundane World.

Written by Willingham and Matthew Sturges, THE (NEARLY) GREAT ESCAPE features art by Tony Akins and Andrew Pepoy as well as painted covers by James Jean and a special sketchbook section by Akins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (February 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401212220
• ISBN-13: 978-1401212223
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,338 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Liking Fables does not guarantee liking this spin-off, December 5, 2008

By	K. Sullivan "No accounting for taste..." (Virginia - United States) - See all my reviews

All customer reviews posted at the time of this writing would have you believe that if you enjoy Fables, you will necessarily enjoy its spin-off Jack of Fables. Not so fast! I want to encourage you to at least proceed with caution.

I only recently discovered Fables and have quickly read the entire series. I love myth, fairy tales and fantasy and I think the Fables series is wonderfully entertaining (though it arguably features more intrigue and mystery than standard fantasy fair). Bill Willingham's characterizations are believable and endearing, his stories are sweeping and epic, and the artwork and design are remarkable (paneling and layout are unlike anything else I have seen).

Other reviewers note that Jack may be the least likable of the Fables characters in the original series. But whereas he is self-serving and self-pitying in Fables, there was something underneath that made him tolerable if not likable. Yes, he was a jerk, but he was not devoid of all merit. Through the first two books of this series, his jerk factor has really escalated. Perhaps it's just because the focus now resides so squarely on him. Perhaps even more likely it's because these tales are primarily narrated in a first person voice. You get inside Jack's head and thoughts and his arrogance and braggadocio are just overwhelming. He constantly tells the reader how much better he is than everyone (including the reader), he closes each story with a teaser for the next in which he lauds himself and insults the reader or where he tries an infantile trick or insult to get you to read on. Whereas I assume this is supposed to be humorous, it falls completely flat for me. It lacks wit and seems amateurish.

And this brings me to the real problem plaguing this series. Both Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges are credited as writers. Whereas I do not know what actually occurs, I had to wonder if Matt Sturges wasn't the primary or almost exclusive writer. Willingham may have editorial control or input (and it is certainly his character), but I cannot believe that he is directly responsible for this. Willingham has amazing talent as demonstrated in Fables, but it is not in evidence here. The plotting feels telegraphed and the pacing is frenetic. Aside from the writing, the beautiful artwork and design of the original are also missing.

In fairness, some of the magic is still here. You meet more fairy tale characters which has its own inherent fanciful appeal. Plus you get some back story and tie-ins to the Fables series. The idea of the Golden Boughs Retirement Community and its mission to remove all magic from the world (fable or otherwise) has wonderful potential. In fact, if that plot device were rolled into Fables, I imagine we would have a great story. But the writing and presentation here are just sub par.

I got and read the first two books but I will not be getting any subsequent volumes. Whereas the vocal few seem to love this series, it is not a foregone conclusion that liking the original Fables means you will also like this spin-off. By all means proceed to look into this series for yourself, but do so with caution.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tour de Force, March 6, 2007

By	Michael E. Hill "Major Rassendyll" (Neptune, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The "Fables" series never ceases to amaze me. The brilliance of Bill Willingham and Co. consistently maintains a level of high quality. The title has the word "(Nearly)" in it. It should be removed. The title should say, "Jack of Fables: The Great Escape".

For those of you not familiar with the Fables universe, here is the premise. The people and creations of folklore (Goldilocks, Prince Charming, Snow White, etc.)really exist. They have been forced into our world after being run out of theirs by the mysterious Adversary. Settling in our boring, mundane world they secretly establish Fabletown. The enclave in Manhattan is for those that are able to appear human. The none-human Fables (Thumbelina, Mr. Toad, the Three Little Pigs, etc.) live on "The Farm" in upstate New York.

Of course the story isn't quite what really happened....

These characters are virtually immortal as long as the "mundanes" tell their tales. In fact the more popular they are, the more difficult they are to kill. One of these is Jack Horner. He's also the guy that grew a magic beanstalk. :-) His character is that of a con man and trickster. By nature he is a jerk.

This brings us to this new series where Jack is the star. He's been exiled from Fabletown because one of his schemes went too far. After being busted, he is hitchhiking when he is kidnapped by a beautiful woman and her non-human henchmen. He is transported to a very comfortable, remote prison camp. In this prison are other fables like Alice, Mother Goose and the mysterious Sam. They are all there so that they may be 'forgotten'.

Well nobody locks Jack up! Thus begins his great escape....

I'd love to tell you more but I would spoil the story. Fans of the series will see this as a worthy addition to the Fables universe. If you're new to Fables, you will be cuirious about some of the back stories of characters like Goldilocks and get hooked yourself.

I'd never thought all that much of the Jack character before, but he fills out nicely in his own series. The inventiveness and the creativity of this series is wonderful. Mr. Willingham is a fine student of folklore and mythology as well as clever. Several times he sent me to the Internet to find out more about his characters. Especially the mysterious Sam...... I know we will see more of him.

This was money well spent.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack of Fables, April 9, 2007

By	Heather "I Read, Therefore I Am" (NC USA) - See all my reviews

Jack of Fables gets his own spin-off series! I have to admit, at first, I was sort of like, why? But, now I understand. It's because Jack kicks butt! In case you don't know, Jack also goes by Jack of the Beanstalk, Jack B. Horner, Jack of the Tales, and apparently Jack Frost in colder climates.

When we last saw Jack in the Fables comics, he had become a huge player in the Hollywood scene, with fame, money and lots of girls, only to have it all taken away from him by the sheriff of Fabletown, The Beast (from Beauty and the Beast, of course). Left to fend for himself, we meet up with Jack as he walks along a highway with the million dollars Beast let him keep. Suddenly he is picked up with a strange woman and two bagmen (men who are, well, bags, it's weird I know) and taken to a place called The Golden Boughs Retirement community. There he finds Goldilocks (missing from the Fables comics for awhile as well) and other various and sundry fable characters many of whom are very obscure. Someone did their research! Among them are Mother Goose, the Pathetic Fallacy, and a quick little guy called Sam. There are also cameos by Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Toto, and many others.

There Jack meets a rather nefarious guy called Mr. Revise who runs The Golden Boughs. Mr. Revise's mission is, apparently, imprison fairy tales until the world at large forgets about them, making them less magical. Mr. Revise's sinister intent is to do away with them and rid the world of magic forever

As I said before, I was surprised when they decided to spin-off Jack. Now that I can see where the story is going, I totally understand. This series looks to be completely separate from the Fables universe (no Adversary, none of the regulars from that comic) and has a great story going. The parallels to our own world and the issues we face with censorship are expertly addressed in the story arc with Mr. Revise and the Golden Boughs. I can't wait to see where Bill Willingham and crew go with this in the next part of the series.

And, as always, the art was simply amazing, especially James Jean's beautiful covers. And, I would advise catching up on the Fables comics, not because this can't stand alone because I think it really can, but because they are just so fantastic they need to be read too!