Starting the year with a 7 day theme, I thought I’d use this week to ‘big up’ and introduce some of my favourite comics, as well as trying to explain why I find them so inspiring.

I’m also going to try and link them to particular days of the week, though this may go wrong, so if the theme sort of changes halfway through, be nice and don’t mention it.

Monday:

When Monday comes around and I’m dragging myself out of bed at 6 in the morning, I’m feeling pretty low for inspiration. I’m also keen on escaping, finding somewhere else to be for a few minutes. There can be no easier way to escape than diving into the wonderful world of Fables, written by Bill Willingham. Fables is my happy place, the world I visit that takes me completely away from my normal life.

Synopsis:

All of your favourite characters from fairy tales are alive, and kicking, in a neighbourhood in New York. They’re there because a terrible evil is moving through their worlds, conquering as it goes, and they’ve come to Earth to escape. As a description of what Fables is about, that’s a bit like saying London is a city with buildings and streets, but it’s a start, and hopefully enough to tweek your interest.

Why I love it:

The magic of Fables for me is the combination of really strong, engaging characters. Over the years I’ve been reading it, I’ve loved growing with them, sharing their many trials and tribulations, from death to childbirth and beyond. One of the many reasons that I love comics is the notion of development, of the changes that occur over the life of a series. Retaining the emotional depth and life of a character, let alone a set of characters, over such a long time is a real challenge. Taking them through the various things that plague them and having them change and grow, realistically, is also tough. Fables has managed this, with both the writing and the fabulous artwork. Combined with an endlessly compelling plot, a wonderful sense of humour and some occasional silliness, Willingham et al. have made the universe easy to jump into and still emotionally affecting.

Instant escapism for a miserable Monday.