Broken Frontier

This article is part of a series of spotlight articles on the winners of the Broken Frontier Awards 2005.

I always suspected it was a lie. After surviving betrayals, curses, mutilation, imprisonment, poison, and a myriad of other threats, did anyone really believe any of those fairy tale characters would live happily ever after? Their days were filled with drama and their nights with passion – slapping a happy ending on their stories didn’t change the essential nature of their extravagant lives. It just felt like a futile attempt to avoid the obvious question: what happened next?

Fortunately there’s Bill Willingham. With the help of Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha and a slew of other talented artists, Willingham has created an elaborate, magical world revolving around the lives of those who survived the fairy tales. “Fables” has always been an extraordinary series, but in its fourth year it has reached new heights. It’s not just the best fantasy series of the year, it’s one of the best series of any genre ever.

The “Fables” year began with the birth of Snow White and Bigby Wolf’s children and ended with some of the characters from the classic Arabian Nights stories being added into the combustible mix. But it was the controversial and incredibly rewarding “Homelands” arc that finally answered the central mystery of the series and demonstrated how strong and rich a tapestry the series has become.

The identity of the Adversary was revealed in a story that gave Boy Blue a chance to shine and prove that he’s one of the most likeable characters to appear in comic books in years. Instead of bringing the series to a close, the Adversary’s story has actually opened up many more possibilities. And in the process, “Fables” has revealed itself to be the best fantasy series since Neil Gaiman’s legendary “Sandman”. Many might reasonably argue that it’s better.

For those who haven’t read the series yet, Willingham has taken the fairy tale characters we loved as children and given them a sanctuary of sorts in a magically guarded corner of New York City. Incorporating the dark twists and even darker behavior that define most fairy tales, “Fables” is an outstanding mixture of mystery and adventure, humor and drama. Willingham has a feel for witty dialogue and exciting plot twists, and he’s never afraid to challenge or completely destroy the status quo. As a result, nothing is guaranteed except the readers’ enjoyment.

As for Buckingham and Leialoha, their art is breathtaking. While delivering clean, beautiful panels that add immeasurably to the scripts, they also embellish each page with whimsical flourishes that emphasize the fairy tale connection. To make the package complete, James Jean paints some of the most incredible (and gorgeous) covers ever, each one a lovingly created masterpiece.

“Fables” is that rare series that transcends comic books completely, yet acts as the perfect example of how much can be accomplished in the medium. It is wonderfully written, beautifully drawn, and never anything less than amazing.

We can only hope it will last forever. Honestly, who would possibly want a “happily ever after” when there’s so much more left to tell?