On The Ledge: With Lauren Beukes


When Bill Willingham asked me to pitch a FAIREST storyarc on FABLES’ original bad hair day girl, I knew that Rapunzel was going to break all the rules, chafing under the strictest restrictions of all the fairy tale exiles living in secret in New York City.


She has to, you see, because that dead dog know as the past has come to sniff her out. And sometimes the only way to come to terms with your dark past is to turn and face it head-on. 

 

Of course, it’s not a literal dog. It’s a snowstorm of origami cranes that crashes through her window bearing a message that will force Rapunzel to defy Snow White and Bigby, make a devil’s bargain with the wicked witch of the 13th floor, Frau Totenkinder, and go on the run to Tokyo with a terrible choice of companions.

 

I was interested in what terrible secrets Rapunzel doesn’t confide in her hairdresser, Joel Crow, why we haven’t seen any Eastern-inspired Fables, even during the war, and why hair figures so prominently in so many Japanese ghost stories.

 

I took inspiration from a range of sources from Tekkonkinkreet to The Pillow Book, Kurosawa,Miyazaki, Miike and the Murakamis-three (Haruki, Ryu and Takashi), The Tale of Genji, Tokyo Vice and The Hundred Demons Night Parade. I researched fairy tales and history and true crime and listened to Japanese punk-pop and drank Japanese whisky and let my hair grow out. Just to get into character.

 

Artist Inaki Miranda was happy because he got to draw everything from seedy pachinko parlors and karaoke clubs in neon Shibuya to the lavishly corrupt celestial palace of the HiddenKingdom, as well as Harajuku girls, weird monsters, love, sex, magic, violence, and some very cool hairstyles. His artwork made the story deeper and richer and darker. His panels are breathtakingly beautiful. Or utterly horrifying. Or perfectly, subtly nuanced. On some pages all at the same time.  

 

FAIREST: The Hidden Kingdom is about a doomed love affair (or two), the compromises we make and the price of revenge, with shape-shifting yokai, yakuza, hungry ghosts and that amazingly Japanese clash of modernity and tradition where skyscrapers and shrines to the spirits of lost children can coexist on the same street corner. It all begins with issue #8 this October. I think you’ll like it.

 

 

--Lauren Beukes

 

Win a Fables Card Signed by Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha

Last Wednesday, we offered fans of Demon Knights, DC Universe Presents and the artists who draw them a chance to win a Deadman card signed by Bernard Chang. The response, unlike Mr. Brand, was anything but dead.

 

Here’s the winning entry photo:

 

CAPTION: Why didn’t I start reading this sooner?!? It’s fantastic!

 

The photo and caption were submitted by @JeremyLivi on Twitter, who along with his new appreciation of Swamp Thing will also be receiving a great new collectible. But if you didn’t win, don’t despair because we’re doing it all over again. If you’re a Vertigo fan, you probably know that FABLES #121 is out this week. This issue wraps up the eight-issue “Cubs in Toyland” storyline that has been brought to vivid life by artists Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha. So to celebrate this acclaimed storyline, we’re giving you a chance to win a Fables “Cubs in Toyland” card signed by both amazing artists!

 

 

If you’re new to this, the card is 11” by 14” and is made of heavy card stock. However, if you’d like to get your hands on this ready-for-framing collector’s item, you’re going to need to do a couple things.

 

1) If you're not already doing so, be sure to follow @Vertigo_Comics on Twitter and DC Comics on Instagram.

 

2) Pick up some of your favorite new DC or Vertigo comics on Wednesday and take a photograph of you reading them. (If you can’t make it to a comic shop on Wednesday, a photo of you reading any Vertigo or DC comic will do.)

 

3) Share your picture with us via Instagram and tag @Vertigo_Comics and #newDCday.


That’s all there is to it! At 5 pm PST on Monday, September 24, 2012, one winner will be chosen at random and direct messaged for his/her mailing address. The winner will be featured on Twitter. Vertigo Comics will tweet the winner’s photo and a fan shout out on or around Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

Giveaway Details

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase of any kind will not increase your chances of winning.

This Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of their entry. Employees of DC Entertainment and any of DC Entertainment’s affiliates, parents, subsidiary companies, or advertising and promotion agencies and members of their immediate families are not eligible to enter or win the Sweepstakes. Void where prohibited. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to these Official Rules and DC Entertainment’s Privacy Policy. The decisions of Sponsor are final and binding on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.

One entry per person. All entries must comply with these Official Rules and meet the submission guidelines detailed herein. Each entrant is solely responsible for any and all uses of his/her registered Twitter account.

 

By submitting a picture, entrant warrants, represents and agrees that: (i) entrant is the person appearing in the picture; (ii) the reproduction, distribution and display of the picture does not violate the rights of any persons or entities; (iii) the entrant has the right to submit the picture to Sponsor; and (iv) Sponsor may reproduce and display the picture on ­­­­­­­­­­­DCComics.com and all DC Comics-operated Twitter and Facebook pages. Sponsor reserves the right to condition the award of prizes upon the execution by the winner(s) of a publicity release. Notwithstanding this reserved right, entry is conclusively deemed to be permission by the entrant for Sponsor to use the entrant's name and the picture (without compensation to the entrant) if the entrant is a winner to publicize the Contest and otherwise, as determined by Sponsor, unless prohibited by law. Sponsor reserves the right to require the winner to execute an affidavit of eligibility as a sworn document and provide other proof of eligibility as a condition of receipt of the prize or award.

The random selection will be held on 5 p.m. PST on Monday, September 24, 2012 from all eligible entries received. We will then Direct Message the winners on Twitter to get mailing address and other information. If a selected winner does not comply with these rules or respond to the request to claim their prize, an alternative winner will be selected from the remaining eligible entries. Total value of prize is $50.00.

Sponsor not responsible for late, lost, stolen, incomplete, misdirected, garbled, damaged, delayed or undelivered entries.

 

Winners’ List: For the name of the winner, available after Monday, September 24, 2012, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to be received by DC Entertainment to: Gerard Maté 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA  91522.

The Sponsor of the Sweepstakes is DC Entertainment, 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

Preview Mondays: WONDER WOMAN #11 and FABLES #119

For this week’s installment of Preview Monday, we’re giving you exclusive first looks at WONDER WOMAN #11 and FABLES #119.

 

Who has Queen Hera struck a deadly bargain with and what, exactly, are the terms of her agreement? Will Apollo and Artemis succeed in stealing a pregnant Zola away from Wonder Woman, Hermes and Lennox? And finally, will Diana be able to stop Apollo in his bid for Zeus’ throne? WONDER WOMAN #11, in stores this Wednesday, is written by Brian Azzarello and is illustrated by Cliff Chiang. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

 

Defeated in battle and captured by Mr. Ives while trying to rescue Therese, Mountbatten is now put before the Royal Court of Discardia. Will the newly appointed Queen show him mercy or betray him as she sinks into hunger-induced madness? Meanwhile, Snow White and Bigby Wolf grow more desperate in their search for their missing cubs. FABLES #119 hits stores this week and is written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha. Click here to see an exclusive preview of the issue.

Preview Mondays: DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #10 and FABLES #118

For this week’s installment of Preview Mondays, we’re giving you exclusive first looks at DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #10 and FABLES #118!

 

In part two of this three-issue arc, Kass is faced with the demons of her past as she must work with her father, the notorious serial killer Vandal Savage, to help track down a murderer. The twist? This new criminal seems to be attempting to copy Vandal’s old blood-shedding patterns. Can the two work together to find the killer before it’s too late for Senator Darrow’s daughter? And does Vandal Savage truly care for his daughter or is he just using her to escape from prison? DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #10 hits stores this Wednesday and comes to you from writer James Robinson and artist Bernard Chang. Click here for an exclusive preview of the issue.

 

In the fifth installment of “Cubs in Toyland,” Therese discovers a dark secret that binds all the tattered toys together in Discardia. Meanwhile, Bigby Wolf calls on the gods for help in finding Dare and Therese. And in the backup story, a very peculiar bounty is put on the head of King Roquat. FABLES #118 is written by Bill Willingham and features art by Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha and Shawn McManus. Click here for an exclusive preview of the issue.

Tuesday Tonic with editor Shelly Bond

Never mind the rank smell of perm solution, welcome to a special edition of Tuesday (Hair) Tonic!  Featuring lovely tresses and old school transformations that will trump your $300.00 triple-process and force you into a state of manic panic!

There’s neon green hair. 

IZOMBIE #25

In stores now




There’s hair down to there.
FAIREST #4

In stores June 6




There’s a deadly stuffed hare.
FABLES #117

In stores May 23




And then there’s hirsute.
HELLBLAZER #292 – House of Wolves

In stores June 20



FABLES 10th ANNIVERSARY SALE


Once upon a time, writer Bill Willingham launched the comic book series FABLES, which re-imagined classic fairy tales heroes as real characters driven into exile from their idyllic homes and forced to live in the real world.

 

Ten years later, FABLES has become one of Vertigo's most popular and best-selling titles, continuously topping graphic novel sales charts while winning 28 Eisner Awards, including Best Serialized Story, Best Penciller, Best Cover Artist and more.

 

DC Comics Digital is holding a special FABLES 10TH ANNIVERSARY SALE to celebrate this momentous occasion! Join Snow White, Bigby Wolf, Beauty and the Beast, Rose Red, and more as they adapt to life in the real world, avoid their dangerous Adversary and embark on countless epic adventures.

 

The sale includes all current issues of FABLES, the entirety of the spinoff series JACK OF FABLES, THE LITERALS limited series, the prestige format one-shot THE LAST CASTLE, and the first issue of the recently launched FAIREST! That's nearly 200 comic issues—all for only 99 cents each!

 

The 3-Day sale begins 5/12/12! Don't miss your chance for a happily ever after—get these critically acclaimed titles while you can, check out the sale online starting tomorrow!


 

 

Tuesday Tonic with editor Shelly Bond

Attention Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham,  Steve Leialoha, Todd Klein, Lee Loughridge, Joao Ruas, Gregory Lockard, the rotating FABLES crew and our amazing, ardent followers:

HAPPY  ANNIVERSARY!!

Here’s to ten years of FABLES and counting—assuming you hit your current and future deadlines,

Love,
Your favorite editor

FABLES issue #117 on sale May 23rd.

The 2012 Hugo Award Finalists Have Been Announced

The Hugo Award finalists for 2012, honoring excellence in science fiction and fantasy, were announced in the UK. In the Best Graphic Story category, the finalists include two Vertigo titles:

 

Fables Vol 15: Rose Red, written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Mark Buckingham (Vertigo)

 

The Unwritten (Volume 4): Leviathan written by Mike Carey, illustrated by Peter Gross (Vertigo)

 

In addition, we’d like to give a special nod to Neil Gaiman for his nomination in the category of Best Dramatic Performance (Short Form), Paul Cornell in the category of Best Novelette and China Miéville in the category of Best Novel. Gaiman is the writer of the bestselling SANDMAN series and BLACK ORCHID,  available later this month in a Deluxe Edition, Cornell is currently writing DEMON KNIGHTS and the new Vertigo series SAUCER COUNTRY and Miéville is new to the group with his debut DIAL H coming from DC Comics this May.

 

Congratulations to all the finalists! For the full list, head over to TheHugoAwards.org. The winners will be presented at the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention, August 30 to September 3, 2012 in Chicago.

 

Preview Mondays: SUPERGIRL #7 and FABLES #115

Last week, we announced Preview Mondays on THE SOURCE, GRAPHIC CONTENT and the new DCE website by showing you exclusive previews of GREEN LANTERN #7 and FAIREST #2. This week’s installment of Preview Mondays has your first look at SUPERGIRL #7 and FABLES #115.

 

In SUPERGIRL #7, Kara Zor-El must battle an army of aliens after they invade Earth. But what do these invaders want? And is Superman’s cousin strong enough to stop them before they destroy our planet? Find out in SUPERGIRL #7, written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson and illustrated by Mahmud Asrar.

 

And in FABLES #115, Therese continues her visit to Toyland with the second chapter of “Cubs in Toyland.” But when her journey takes a terrible turn, will it end before it’s even truly begun? FABLES #115 comes to you from acclaimed writer Bill Willingham and artists Mark Buckingham, Shawn McManus and Steve Leialoha.

 

Click here to see the exclusive preview of SUPERGIRL #7.

Click here to see the exclusive preview of FABLES #115.

Adam Hughes Talks FAIREST Cover #1 With Editor Shelly Bond

 

Cover painter Adam Hughes joins the royal blog party by providing colorful answers to some spectacularly tame questions about FAIREST.  

Adam, What was your first painted cover job?

I can't recall; it was in the late 1900s. I don't remember what I had for breakfast today.

Was it difficult to go from being predominantly a line artist to a cover painter?

Not so much that I recall.  Not NEARLY as difficult as going from being a cover painter back to being a line artist.

When you're asked to do cover sketches, what's the first thing you consider?

What's already been done.  Avoiding repetition can help, because knowing what NOT to do helps narrow your options and focus your ideas.

What determines your palette?  For instance, are you more likely to let the art dictate the palette based on how you light the piece or are you prone to choosing palettes based on inspiration, say from a classic painting, and then go from there?

Yes, to both.  I don't have a set of rules; I go with the principles that will work best for a given assignment.  One thing I almost always do: pick the focal point of the piece. Once I know what color it is, I know that all other colors in the palette will be subordinate to it.

Walk us through the steps from approved sketch to finished art for FAIREST #1.

I talked with the editor & writer about what they wanted.  I then did 2 sketches based on the ideas all three of us came up with.  When the final design was approved, I then started sketching each character.  Since it was a 'painted' piece, I worked from life models when I could.  I then rendered the characters in COPIC marker, scanned it into Photoshop, then colored it there.

How long did it take to paint the wraparound cover?

Far too long.

Play Favorites!
Who is your favorite female character to follow in FABLES or Fairest and why?

Rose Red.  She's such wonderful trouble.

Who is your Favorite to paint?

Probably Snow White.

Do you dream in color, black and white or sepia tones?

Color!  1080i, enhanced for 16 x 9 viewing.

BONUS ALERT!  Adam puts on his writing glove to give the ladies of FAIREST some lines to remember them by:



1:  The Snow Queen: Seriously? The BACK cover? Am I not hot enough for the front?

2:  Cinderella: Here! I think THESE will fit even YOUR enormous clown feet...!

3:  Princess Alder: If I'd known, I'd've grown myself some pants.

4:  Beauty: I guess some us actually NEED our beauty rest...

5:  Ali Baba: I never realized how blonde this place was.

6:  Miss Leigh Duglas (Nurse Spratt): Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesomely thin I am. Now.

7:  Bo Peep: THIS stuff can wake the dead!

8:  Rapunzel: Can we speed this up? I have a haircut at 3.

9:  Snow White: Wakey-wakey! Eggs and bakey!

10:  Briar Rose, our Sleeping Beauty: I'm up, I'm up. Give a girl a minute, hunh?

11:  Rose Red: You snore, you know that? Something fierce.

12:  Ozma: We're not getting any younger, you know!

13:  The Book:  The title is: "Hair Care Do's & Don'ts For Narcoleptics"

14:  Thumbelina: I'm a big fan of small talk, but let's get this party started!

 

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