Fables Vol. 9: Sons of Empire (Paperback)

~ (Author), James Jean (Author), Mike Allred (Illustrator), Joelle Jones (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Reeling from Bigby Wolf's destruction of his workshop and magic-tree lot (see Wolves 2006), the Adversary and the imperial forces of the Homelands plan a scorched-earth invasion of not just Fabletown but also the entire planet of the mundies (i.e., us normal humans). But Pinocchio, now back in the Homelands and reensconced with Gepetto (who, as everyone except ordinary Fables knows, is the Adversary), throws a bucket of cold reality on the scheme. This is all more entrancing than it may sound. Short-short stories featuring minor Fables and the still-flowering stylishness of Mark Buckingham's drawing enjoyably relieve the general somberness. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

The infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile when a savage creature known as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales. These magical characters now disguise themselves as normal citizens in modern-day New York and around the world.

In this volume, Pinocchio suffers seriously divided loyalties between his father, the evil Adversary, and his fellow Fable refugees in New York. Discover what he does while his father hosts a secret conference of the imperial elite to decide the ultimate fate of Fabletown. Plus, Bigby Wolf reluctantly decides it's finally time to square accounts with his long-estranged father, the North Wind and makes a journey with Snow White and their kids to find him.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (June 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401213162
• ISBN-13: 978-1401213169
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,755 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Couldn't Wait to Read It!, June 27, 2007

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

"Sons of Empire" is the latest in Bill Willingham's Eisner Award-winning series "Fables" graphics novels. In the previous edition, "Wolves", Bigby Wolf successfully executed a brilliant plan conceived under the leadership of Prince Charming as retribution for the Empire's attack on Fabletown. As payment for this, his years of service as well as Snow White's dedication, they are given a house as well as the valley formerly occupied by the sleeping giants.

Back in the Empire, the ruling inner circle debates as to what to do in response to the Fabletown attack. "Debate" isn't the proper word. What the Adversary and company want is nothing short of the destruction of Fabletown and our mundane world. The main issue is not `should they' but `how should they'.

Anyway Lord Hansel is dispatched to Fabletown as the new ambassador for the Empire. That's `Hansel' as in "Hansel and Gretel" as in the two kids who pushed Frau Totenkinder into her oven. Overnight, Prince Charming and company realize their world will never be the same again. They either step up their game or die.

Meanwhile, Bigby Wolf and family have settled down to domestic bliss in their first Christmas together. However as her Christmas present, Snow White asks that Bigby visit his father with his family. Of course the problem is Bigby blames his father for his mother's death......

At the same time, Pinnochio finds out on a personal level what a monster his `kindly' Geppetto is.

It is interesting in how Mr. Willingham's characters evolve. Prince Charming is proving to be an excellent wartime Mayor of Fabletown. Even when he is angry he is still able to think clearly and act decisively. In this way he is a lot like his wife Snow White. Boy Blue may have the love of his life underneath his nose.... Bigby Wolf is a sensitive, caring father.

But don't forget he's still "the biggest, baddest wolf of all!"

This graphic novel is not at the same level as "The March of the Wooden Soldiers" or "Wolves". What Mr. Willingham is doing is redirecting the series and refreshing it with new plotlines and new characters as well as tying up a few loose ends while building up to a climax. Even so, this is a worthy addition to the series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't let up!, July 11, 2007

By	T. Noever "Author of the TETHYS series" (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At the heart of this collection: evil machinations, plans and schemes in the Adversary's Empire; a long-lasting conflict between a father and a son coming to a resolution of sorts. Add to this a very grim twist on the aftermath of the Hansel and Gretel story that makes Frau Totenkinder look almost benign; a hint that the humblest and maybe most tragic of all the residents of Fabletown may turn out to be their savior; little snippets of background material and vignettes on Fables plus one potentially significant non-Fable.

One of the things I like most about the characters is that even the most evil ones do have a story behind the, which reveals the choices and paths that made them become whom we meet here. And the good ones are never quite as clean as we might like to think of them either. Everything has more than one side and Fables makes a point of virtually never letting us forget that.

As always, or maybe even more so, simply brilliant.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Empire Plans, Bigby Relents, July 6, 2007

By	Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

We have seen Fabletown respond to the Empire in a devastating way. We cannot expect the Empire to roll over after just one hit. The first story arc shows us how the empire plans to respond and their council of war. Plus we meet, and discover the history of, Hansel who has been made Ambassador to Fabletown. A strong story that sets the stage for much to come.

In the second main story arc we see Bigby and his pack travel to the lands of his father for a family visit. This is the first chance we have of seeing Bigby with Mr. North. An excellent story that includes a Christmas special as only Fables can pull off and one of the best side jokes I have seen in a while. Unfortunately the art on this one is far from the best.

Also included in this collection are a series of short stories that fill in all sorts of little details about the Fables we know and know of. One series of short stories is concerned with answering readers questions.

Two good stories for the price of one plus all the other stuff equals a real bargain in the graphic novel world. An absolute must-have for Fables fans.