That the hectic nature flooding the aisles during store hours on Black Friday has the fable components to sound off as an event given a busy jinx only a diabolic queen's dabbling would cast hasn't kept us from not braving the dragon construct of frenetic consumers. Whether Aesop or Brothers Grimm ever had the notion once long ago within a market square is a best guess over a story book never written, yet more than likely a scene written into a television episode nowadays.
The trend of modernizing fables pops up those legendary figures out of traditional lexicon and renders the reimagination treatment amongst the celebrity productions ultimately personifying that umbrella of Hollywood idealism, and already enchanting audiences with the prospective tellings.
This Fall's primetime recounts its star power blend first, even as two upcoming 2012 movies evoke their trailers to a viral effect across the internet.
ABC's "Once Upon a Time" rewrites Snow White and Prince Charming into a small New England town, the result of the Evil Queen's ultimate curse. "Grimm", on NBC, writes the Brothers Grimm into a lineage and a current day descendent Nick Burkhardt, a Portland detective, discovers he has the inherited ability to see those dangerous legendary creatures behind their all too human guises.
Comic shop owners across the D.C. area have responded to what recommendations they have to meet the reading experiences of various ages. The reads are in stock per presentation at the comic shops, and if you're not visiting Metro D.C. over Black Friday weekend and before the Holiday deadline, then check on your own locality's nearby retailers.
This comic book-Examiner tosses his own recommendations into the variety.
Fantom Comics, inWashington D.C., offers these high point titles:
There are the Fables spinoffs featuring Cinderella as a killer spy character. Written by Chris Roberson, there are two story arcs: "From Fabletown with Love" is collected in a TPB, and "Fables Are Forever" should be soliciting soon.
And Fables co-creator Mark Buckingham is a contributor to the recently released A Flight Of Angels, which looks promising.
Another great one that is current is Vertigo's The Unwritten by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. This one is currently four TPB volumes out, with the fifth due out in January. It is ongoing with 31 + issues, and is the perfect alternative story for Harry Potter fans, imagining a "real world" wizard Tommy Taylor come to life via the powers of the written word. Very literary.
There is a compilation book Fractured Fables that is currently being solicited, but won't be released until January. It's more of a comical take on the classic fairy tales, and the most appropriate of these selections for all ages. I covered that in my monthly pre-order column
Locke & Key borders on horror a bit, and is for mature readers but it is fantastic. [Locke & Key] can be compared a bit to the Fox TV show "American Horror Story", but more grounded in fantasy.
For the most mature readers, there is the long-running Grimm Fairy Tales from Zenescope Entertainment.
A new Doctor Who trade "A Fairytale Life" just came out last week. Very accessible, even to non-Doctor Who fans.
Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy might be worth a look.
Kill Shakespeare by IDW, also very literary. It's a fantasy take using all of Shakespeare's characters in the same story. A good one for fans of The Bard.
And Marvel has put out a series of nice adaptations of the L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz books by Eric Shanower. They are in the midst of the fourth book in the series, and these are also very appropriate for kids.
Steve Anderson, owner of Third Eye Comics, with stores in Annapolis and Frederick, writes...
"With these great TV shows spotlighting a unique genre (alternate fairy tale fiction), here are some personal recommendations":FABLES - Obviously, this is the big one. Fans of "Once Upon a Time" would especially like this one, as this focuses more on the fairy tale characters as real individuals, and has a very strong plot that's been carrying it through for over 100 issues. There's up to 15 trade paperbacks available, as well as several successful spin-offs. Where to start? FABLES VOLUME 1 LEGENDS IN EXILE. The series is so good we keep multiple copies of each volume in stock at all times. PARENTAL GUIDANCEGRIMM FAIRY TALES - This one is much more in tune with the "Grimm" show, as it's a more horror-driven, stand-alone story format where classic fairy-tales are retold as macabre moral tales. Very horrific, often very gory. A very dark take on the genre. MATURE READERSUNWRITTEN - A story that revolves around literary characters being part of a conspiracy that involves them all being real. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and many of their writers are all wrapped up in this one. MATURE READERSWONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ - A very whimsical all-ages take on the Wizard of Oz stories, featuring the very surrealist artwork of Skottie Young. It's the kind of story that kids and adults will enjoy, and is highly recommended by us. ALL AGESMARVEL FAIRY TALES series - There's Spider-Man, X-Men, and more... these are fun, all-ages oriented takes on the Marvel Comics icons but set against the backdrops of various classic fairy tales. These almost always feature some very cool, and unique art, and are a great read for kids and adults. ALL AGES
Jon Cohen, owner of Beyond Comics in Maryland suggests:
For 17 and up: Sandman, which he cites as " the gold standard of fairy tales in comics.", then ...
"What if the characters that comprise the world of fables, tales, and stories actually existed and were run out of their 'world' and took shelter in ours." Fables by Bill Willingham gets Jon's nod. Meanwhile, there's Grimm Fairy Tales, "Fairy tale characters in mash-up with our world. Mature humor and cheesecake material."
For "Really dark humor, a collection of stories" lies within Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer GN, and along that mature vein Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars.
And for all-ages:
Fractured Fables - An anthology of short stories with retellings of classic fairy tales. All Ages.
Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Marvelous Land of Oz (Marvel Comics) - Carrying on the dark tradition of the original novels. All Ages.
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland - Adaptation of the Movie.
Complete Alice in Wonderland – a retelling of Alice.
Grimwood’s Daughter -13 & up.
Supernatural – Based on the TV Show.
Mouse Guard – More in the realm of Sword & Sorcery; featuring mice.
Bone – a modern fairy tale.
Thanks, everyone! Black Friday weekend sales are being held Beyond Comics, Fantom Comics and Third Eye Comics as well.
Looks are coming about for retellings of a similar nature. Some comic book mindsets have written volume or few on modern folk tales, and even the fabulist nature from topical inceptions have made the top seller lists.
Snow White vies against the Evil Queen in some of these graphic novels and trade paperbacks, and while they aren't as live action mesmerizing as Charlize Theron or Julia Roberts will bring to the silver screen next year, the choices make the long wait to the cinema a dual opportunity for gifts.
"Grimm" is on NBC, Fridays at 9p.m. Eastern.
ABC's "Once Upon a Time" is on Sunday, at 8p.m. Eastern.
Article updated Dec. 24, 2011
Comments