October
22 Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall

Creators: Bill Willingham, writer; Esao Andrews, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Mark Buckingham, James Jean, Michael William Kaluta, Derek Kirk Kim, Tara McPherson, Jill Thompson, Charles Vess and Mark Wheatley, artists.
Vertigo, 144 pages, color, $19.99
So? Comics and the superheroes that populate them are often described as modern-day myths, but the medium works extremely well for classic myths and fairy tales as proven by this lush hardcover graphic novel. Fables creator Bill Willingham steps out of the continuity of the regular comic and uses a framing sequence in which Snow White is captured by an Arab sultan and escapes beheading by telling him a story from the Fables’ past each night. Fans of the series will love glimpses into the past adventures of Snow White and her sister, Rose Red, as well as the “origin” of Bigby Wolf. The tales vary in length and complexity, but all unfold like a dream and twist their classic origins for older readers in highly inventive, charming and surprising ways. Aiding Willingham in this venture is a flight of top artists, each of whom brings their A-game to the table to make this feel more like a storybook or art-table offering than the paperback editions of the regular series. An outstanding diversion that cements Fables as a top-notch fantasy comic that is on a par with “The Sandman.” Grade: A