Jack Of Fables Vol.5 – Turning Pages

Jack Of Fables Vol.5 Turning Pages by Matthew Sturges & Bill WillinghamDC’s Vertigo imprint has given readers some of the most important comics of the modern era including The Sandman, Hellblazer and Y – The Last Man. One of its most enduring series is Fables: Legends In Exile, a rather wonderful account of fairy tale characters attempting to live in modern society whilst keeping their true nature hidden from normal humans (or ‘mundies’). One of the fables found himself promoted to his own spin-off title; given that Jack of Fables (also known as Jack Horner and Jack B. Nimble amongst countless other identities) is meant to be one of the most self-centred people in the world (and beyond), this is somehow appropriate.

The first half of Turning Pages – which collects issues 22-27 of Jack Of Fables – goes to the Wild West in 1883 as Jack head the Jack Candle Gang, a band of ruthless outlaws. As long as he can steal, shoot and sleep with the local prostitutes, Jack is a very happy boy indeed. But when he finds out that Bigby – also known as the Big Bad Wolf – is following him, determined to end his adventures in the world of ‘the mundanes’, our boy Jack starts to get rather worried. Soon, Bigby is chasing him and his motley band across the American Old West. This is a fun romp that marries all the traditional trappings of the Wild West genre with a nice smattering of fairy tale magic. However, there is also a somewhat fractious feel to the story with some of the more whimsical elements seemingly at odds with some dark moments of brutality (indeed, the writers make a joke about, well, the lack of jokes and end each chapter with an appearance by Babe The Blue Ox to tell a funny. As you do.) If you’re coming to the Fables for the first time, it may feel a little disconcerting but fans should be enjoy the origins of the enmity between Jack and his lupine nemesis.

The final half of the book, the eponymous ‘Turning Pages, sees Jack restored to the modern day as he teams up with some beautiful librarians to try and defend the Fables from destruction. There’s a lot to like here, with the humour quotient high and a lot of post-modern jokes that raise more than a smile. It’s also nice to see characters such as Humpty Dumpty, The Tin Man and The White Rabbit coming along for the ride and all being given interesting character traits. But there is a lot of information packed into the story and – unless you’re familiar with the characters – you may find yourself scratching your head a bit.

If you’re new, the it would be best to start at Fables: Legends In Exile. But those who have already immersed themselves into the world in which the likes of Old King Cole live amongst us, then this is a engaging and enjoyable selection of stories from one of its most interesting – and morally ambiguous – characters.

Jack Of Fables: Turning Pages is published by Titan Books and is available from Play.com, Blackwells and all good book shops.

Review by Laurence Boyce