Week 13: Fables

 

The Super Hero genre is something I don't read a lot, mostly because of my lack of interest in fighting-centric comics. On top of that, it's pretty hard to relate to those super buff superheroes performing those superhuman feats. Well, at least that's my impression of a stereotypical superhero anyway.

So this week, it's nice to see more variety in the superhero genre.... and I decided to read Fables because they have beautiful covers that are illustrated by James Jeans (and later by João Ruas)! Anyway, Fables is really cool as it reimagines what fairy tale characters will be like if they are to live among us. Who would have thought that Snow White can govern an entire town so well? And who would have thought that Bigby, the Big Bad Wolf, makes for a fine detective? It is very rewarding to spot familiar and beloved fairytale characters interact and solve their problems in a witty and satisfying way.

However, the most important thing is how different they are from the stereotypical superhero. Most, if not all of the Fables characters have some kind of power. Their powers are unique to their backstories, and it is just so cool to see Bigby transform into a giant wolf at will. The fact that we are already familiar with most of those characters' origins makes it easier to accept their super powers. Moreover, they also have issues like marriage, money and love, all while juggling their jobs and hiding their true identities. All in all, most of the human characters look just like any normal people. Unlike the stereotypical superheros that dress in spandex bodysuit and wears a cape, they dress like everyone, depending on which time period they live in. They are very easy to relate to.

I was invested in the story too, so I decided to go ahead and read all the way till volume 14 (Fables:Witches). And my, so many things happened!! Characters died, fell in love, had offsprings, betrayed one another, and became big damn heroes. The foreshadowing is done well too by slowly building us up towards the epic battle with The Adversaries. It's just so cool to see characters that I thought was good turn evil!

So, to sum up this rather messy blog entry, I just want to say that Fables is a cool twist of the typical superhero genre. It has familiar characters that I actually care about, and their evolution throughout the story excites me. The plot is imaginative and does a good job highlighting the characters powers and abilities. Yup, it's cool!