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lasairfiona's review
3.0
If you like this series, buy the individual issues. The covers reprinted in the volumes doesn't have the silly comments on the front of each issue. My favorite so far is "Women get pregnant just by looking at" Jack of Fables. I think it is on issue 12.
I kinda like this series but most of my desire to keep collecting this series is that it is related to the main series: Fables. The story is interesting but Jack is, well, a jackass. If you find that amusing, it is well worth the read.
I kinda like this series but most of my desire to keep collecting this series is that it is related to the main series: Fables. The story is interesting but Jack is, well, a jackass. If you find that amusing, it is well worth the read.
just_fighting_censorship's review
4.0
Since Jack is probably my least favorite Fable character, I wasn't falling over myself to pick this first volume of his spin-off. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoy the self-aware narration and although I still find Jack to be incredibly annoying, there were enough interesting support characters to make it a fun read.
Instead of having Jack off in the Mundy world he very quickly finds himself surrounded by Fables that are somewhat lesser known or at least less popular, such as an ages Little Black Sambo, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and Humpty Dumpty.
This volume was full of humor and action! A pleasant surprise.
Instead of having Jack off in the Mundy world he very quickly finds himself surrounded by Fables that are somewhat lesser known or at least less popular, such as an ages Little Black Sambo, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and Humpty Dumpty.
This volume was full of humor and action! A pleasant surprise.
margreads's review
3.0
After working my way through the first 12 or so volumes of the Fables series, it was time to start reading the Jack of Fables series before it crosses over to the main series again, and I have to say the thought of doing so underwhelmed me. I am always a completist though, so if it is best to read series in a particular order then I will definitely try to.
Part of the reason that I was underwhelmed is that I didn't really like Jack all that much when he made brief appearances in the main Fables series, so the thought of having six graphic novels to read where he is the main character wasn't all that appealing.
And I was right to be a little concerned because, compared to many of the other Fables collections that I have read, this wasn't my favourite. Having said that, in the end, I didn't dislike it as much as I could have!
To see more of my thoughts regarding this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2014/02/jack-of-fables-vol-1-nearly-great.html
Part of the reason that I was underwhelmed is that I didn't really like Jack all that much when he made brief appearances in the main Fables series, so the thought of having six graphic novels to read where he is the main character wasn't all that appealing.
And I was right to be a little concerned because, compared to many of the other Fables collections that I have read, this wasn't my favourite. Having said that, in the end, I didn't dislike it as much as I could have!
To see more of my thoughts regarding this book head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2014/02/jack-of-fables-vol-1-nearly-great.html
matteldritch92's review
2.0
Even if you're not a fan of the Fables, I doubt this book will ever change your mind on giving it a look over. Its far too mediocre to be enjoyable.
The plot and main crux of the story arc honestly doesn't make sense. The villain of the story is out to destroy Fables by making them mundanes (Fable word for human) after making the world forget their often unPC stories and histories. The problem with that is the story really doesn't elaborate how this is supposed to work or why we should be afraid of it. The villain even goes to pick Fables that are supposed to be easily forgotten like Alice in Wonderland; Dorothy and her friends from Oz; The kid and sheep from the Baba Blacksheep poem; Humpty Dumpty; Mother Goose and more. Who in the hell would ever easily forget about these characters?
Wouldn't the villain, Mr. Revise, be much more interesting if he was someone trying to make the world forget about these Fables if he and his organization were trying to change them into the generic grim and gritty garbage that gets movies made the most often thus leading to the world wanting to be rid of them instead of a half baked critique of censorship (especially since said critique is coming from someone likely privileged already)? Even a good idea for how the series could've been set up, i.e. a Fables version of the television series The Prisoner, gets mocked at the end by Jack when it would've likely been a lot better than the one we actually have here.
Another problem is that even going as an opening to a series all the characters here just feel bare bones in characterizations. The only person I can really like is Goldilocks, Fables' resident strawman of leftist politics and feminist theory/chew toy villain who doesn't put up with anyone's bullshit and actually has a personality and drive. Its a damn shame she gets slut shamed by Jack himself in a moment where you can't tell you should side with him or not. Even some homophobia is casually tossed in when one fairy gets called a d*** by another fairy for no actual reason other than just the writer expressing his ugly views on a different woman.
I'm only going to put up with two more volumes of this which also serves as one third of the whole series. If things don't improve, definitely dropping it cold turkey.
The plot and main crux of the story arc honestly doesn't make sense. The villain of the story is out to destroy Fables by making them mundanes (Fable word for human) after making the world forget their often unPC stories and histories. The problem with that is the story really doesn't elaborate how this is supposed to work or why we should be afraid of it. The villain even goes to pick Fables that are supposed to be easily forgotten like Alice in Wonderland; Dorothy and her friends from Oz; The kid and sheep from the Baba Blacksheep poem; Humpty Dumpty; Mother Goose and more. Who in the hell would ever easily forget about these characters?
Wouldn't the villain, Mr. Revise, be much more interesting if he was someone trying to make the world forget about these Fables if he and his organization were trying to change them into the generic grim and gritty garbage that gets movies made the most often thus leading to the world wanting to be rid of them instead of a half baked critique of censorship (especially since said critique is coming from someone likely privileged already)? Even a good idea for how the series could've been set up, i.e. a Fables version of the television series The Prisoner, gets mocked at the end by Jack when it would've likely been a lot better than the one we actually have here.
Another problem is that even going as an opening to a series all the characters here just feel bare bones in characterizations. The only person I can really like is Goldilocks, Fables' resident strawman of leftist politics and feminist theory/chew toy villain who doesn't put up with anyone's bullshit and actually has a personality and drive. Its a damn shame she gets slut shamed by Jack himself in a moment where you can't tell you should side with him or not. Even some homophobia is casually tossed in when one fairy gets called a d*** by another fairy for no actual reason other than just the writer expressing his ugly views on a different woman.
I'm only going to put up with two more volumes of this which also serves as one third of the whole series. If things don't improve, definitely dropping it cold turkey.
leahfrancis's review
2.0
yikes idk about this spin off series. jack is such a dick and i don't like him at all. hopefully he will ~grow & change~ but ugh.
noveladdiction's review
3.0
Jack isn't as annoying as I remember, but definitely still annoying. Hoping to see him grow throughout the series. I guess it's time to request volume 2.
jpv0's review
4.0
Oh that's a turn of phrase.
So I've decided that I'm going to read the Fables serieses(sp?) in published order, with a bit of jumping around. That includes:
All combined into the overall Fables Universe.
For the first outing, [b:Jack of Fables, Vol. 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape|21341|Jack of Fables, Vol. 1 The (Nearly) Great Escape|Bill Willingham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375393716l/21341._SY75_.jpg|2239934] is quite a story. After the events of [b:Fables, Vol. 6: Homelands|21328|Fables, Vol. 6 Homelands|Bill Willingham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327962707l/21328._SX50_.jpg|1425228], Jack is on the run, only to be captured by some sort of Men in Black feeling organization that wants to do study and depower Fables. Cool concept, kind of terrifying execution. And hey,
It's a crazy wonderful tale and I'm glad I read it here. Makes sense before everything continues to go mad.
Spoilery images:
That is quite the character. Beauty and the Beast eat your heart out.
Even more so when they go to escape:
It's a (temporarily) sentient fence.
Egg-based life. That is all. Also Goldilocks be very very strange.
And then you get the downright Lovecraftian Bag Men. I want to know more about that...