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Everafter: From the Pages of Fables
Everafter, Vol. 1: The Pandora Protocol
Cuando la magia abunda, esta puede ser usada en aras de un bien mayor… o para plantar las semillas de la anarquía y el terrorismo. Los Agentes Fantasma son una red global de espías integrada por humanos y por fábulas, encargados de velar por un mundo en el que la magia está a la orden del día y de proteger a la humanidad de sí misma. Asiste al regreso de viejos conocidos como Bo Peep, Peter Piper, Hansel y Conner Lobo, a la presentación de nuevos personajes… ¡y a la irrupción de un aterrador villano! Matthew Sturges, Dave Justus y Travis Moore, equipo creativo responsable de Fá El lobo entre nosotros, vuelven a colaborar en Por siempre jamá El protocolo Pandora, tomo que recopila los números del 1 al 6 de esta flamante colección, que comienza a escribir una nueva página en la fascinante mitología de Fábulas.
144 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 5, 2017
Everafter is the Saved by the Bell: The New Class of comic spinoffs: a completely unnecessary attempt to cash in on an epic, legendary, and beloved brand with a watered-down conflagration of dreck that features just enough cameos from the original cast of characters to make it seem sort of like it’s a continuation (think of Peter Piper and Bo Peep as the Mr. Belding and Screech of the series, respectively).
As discussed at length here, I’m a fanatical Fables devotee (not to mention a SBTB devotee), so it pains me to be so hard on this book—if I came to this fresh, maybe I’d view it differently. As it stands, however, I’m not sure even Fables completists needs to check this one out. The only element of the story that offers any hope for the future is the stand-alone issue that concludes this volume, which features some of the cleverness and imaginative storytelling that the Fables world is known for.
If you’re new to Fables, avoid this like an open sewer and start with the core Fables book, Vol. 1. If you’re a Fables lover and craving a fix, maybe reread other Fables books and set $16.99 on fire. If, however, that still doesn’t quell your DT’s, you can give this a go. But, hey—I tried to warn you.
As discussed at length here, I’m a fanatical Fables devotee (not to mention a SBTB devotee), so it pains me to be so hard on this book—if I came to this fresh, maybe I’d view it differently. As it stands, however, I’m not sure even Fables completists needs to check this one out. The only element of the story that offers any hope for the future is the stand-alone issue that concludes this volume, which features some of the cleverness and imaginative storytelling that the Fables world is known for.
If you’re new to Fables, avoid this like an open sewer and start with the core Fables book, Vol. 1. If you’re a Fables lover and craving a fix, maybe reread other Fables books and set $16.99 on fire. If, however, that still doesn’t quell your DT’s, you can give this a go. But, hey—I tried to warn you.
August 22, 2022
Fables meets Queen & Country?! Connor Hawke is all grown up (and is now a douchey bro). He along with Bo Peep and Pied Piper are secret agents trying to keep magic out of the Mundy's hands now that magic has entered our world. This takes place after the last issue of Fables. All of the charm and wonder of Fables is missing in this series. It's a real shame. It feels as hollow as Joey after Friends ended, Golden Palace after Golden Girls or Joanie Loves Chachi spinning out of Happy Days.
Received an advanced copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advanced copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2017
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Wow, it's been forever since I finished and reviewed a book (read: days). Is it cheating that it's a comic book? Maybe. But it's a DC imprint - and an advanced copy, at that. Cue excitement, because DC has turned down probably hundreds of requests for ARCs from me over the last four years. They, and Disney-Hyperion, are responsible for crushing so many of my book dreams, that when I found out I'd been approved to read not just EVERAFTER but also SUPERGIRL, I shrieked in disbelief and excitement.
Note to readers of this book: from what I understand from the credits ascribed to this book (and please correct me if I am wrong), the original creator of Fables, Bill Willingham, does not appear to be associated with this work. That was a major bummer to me, because I loved the story of the original Fables series. It had a dark, film noir aspect to it, like Once Upon a Time meets Sin City, and the artwork was fantastic.
The art in EVERAFTER is not bad, either. I like the comic books that go for a more realistic style without super beefed up characters - not everyone has to look like an action figure. It's just as gritty as the Fables I remember, except the gore factor has upped. There were three or four disembowlings in here, to the point where I started to wonder if I picked up an AU version of The Walking Dead by mistake. There are even zombies in here. Zombies. In a Fables spin-off. What is going on?
The apocalypse.
Obvs.
I don't want to spoil too much and to be honest, I was so confused by the events in this book that I'm not sure I could do an adequate synopsis. But basically, the Fables have created this supernatural agency responsible for protecting humans against magic. The story is set in San Francisco, which I loved, because I'm from the Bay, and involves evil Native American spirits and a girl who can resurrect zombies and who has a unicorn familiar named *snicker* "Mister Prisms."
For most of the book, I considered giving the book a two star rating. The story was too dark and really confusing. I had assumed that because it was a spin-off and the first in a series, I would be able to go in cold. After finishing, I'm no longer sure that's true and am interested in seeing what people who've actually completed the series think. That said, the book started to pick up towards the end, and I loved, loved, the short story at the end about Szymon the magician. That was more what I expected from EVERAFTER: a magical character study, with depth and tragedy and humor. This book gets an extra star solely because of the awesome short story at the back that I almost - foolishly - skipped.
Takeaway points:
1. Way too many pictures of intestines outside of the human body.
2. I still have no idea what the hell was going on for 80% of the book.
3. Jordan Yow is kind of awesome and I want a Mister Prisms plushie of my own.
4. Connor Wolf is sexy AF.
2.5 to 3 stars
March 11, 2018
3.5 stars.
While it's great to have continued exposure to the Fables universe, the title is not, thus far, quite as witty, charming or engaging as the core Fables title or its other spinoffs.
While it's great to have continued exposure to the Fables universe, the title is not, thus far, quite as witty, charming or engaging as the core Fables title or its other spinoffs.
May 27, 2022
Kinda sorta disappointing in a really not necessary sort of way.
November 12, 2017
So, I found the conclusion of Fables a little anti-climactic. To be fair I felt like it had lost a bit of steam since the conclusion of the War arc. It was still cool to see those characters but it kind of already felt like the Ever After.
But, I've always been a sucker for the spin-off books, so I was curious about this one. Going in blind I had no idea what it was about.
And it's rejuvenated my love for this universe. I like that it openly acknowledges magic coming out of the closet in the mundy world rather than trying to cram it back in.
I like that it's almost a smaller story in that it only focuses on a couple of people rather than a whole community. A couple of people who have very specific skills.
One of the afore mentioned spin offs I love is the Cinderella spy series, so it was cool to find this also follows a group of spies.
It's awesome that Peter Piper and Bo Peep get more screentime. I've loved them ever since I read Peter & Max, as for their new parter Connor Wolf... my feelings are mixed.
Firstly he's really pretty, Dick Grayson as drawn by Mikel Janin pretty. So kudos to Travis Moore. I hope he sticks around.
Secondly, Connor is a bit of a dick. It's been awhile since I've read the main series, and he's aged a little since then but I don't recall a lot about the character. I feel like he was kind of the forgotten kid to a point. All the others had interesting adventures but I really can't recall what he did.
And honestly, he's kind of a likable dick. He tries too hard, he acts like he's the best but it's pretty clear he's just insecure and it's probably related to his family. It's hard to really stand out amongst such incredible people, especially his martyred brother.
So, I'm willing to cut him some slack. I like his relationship with Peter, it reminds me of Dick Grayson's relationship with his partner in the Grayson series.
Is this as good as Fables in its heyday? No, but that's hard act to follow. It's on the right track and it feels good to be getting new Fables stories again.
But, I've always been a sucker for the spin-off books, so I was curious about this one. Going in blind I had no idea what it was about.
And it's rejuvenated my love for this universe. I like that it openly acknowledges magic coming out of the closet in the mundy world rather than trying to cram it back in.
I like that it's almost a smaller story in that it only focuses on a couple of people rather than a whole community. A couple of people who have very specific skills.
One of the afore mentioned spin offs I love is the Cinderella spy series, so it was cool to find this also follows a group of spies.
It's awesome that Peter Piper and Bo Peep get more screentime. I've loved them ever since I read Peter & Max, as for their new parter Connor Wolf... my feelings are mixed.
Firstly he's really pretty, Dick Grayson as drawn by Mikel Janin pretty. So kudos to Travis Moore. I hope he sticks around.
Secondly, Connor is a bit of a dick. It's been awhile since I've read the main series, and he's aged a little since then but I don't recall a lot about the character. I feel like he was kind of the forgotten kid to a point. All the others had interesting adventures but I really can't recall what he did.
And honestly, he's kind of a likable dick. He tries too hard, he acts like he's the best but it's pretty clear he's just insecure and it's probably related to his family. It's hard to really stand out amongst such incredible people, especially his martyred brother.
So, I'm willing to cut him some slack. I like his relationship with Peter, it reminds me of Dick Grayson's relationship with his partner in the Grayson series.
Is this as good as Fables in its heyday? No, but that's hard act to follow. It's on the right track and it feels good to be getting new Fables stories again.
February 15, 2018
It's been a few months since I read the concluding chapter of the Fables saga, but this first volume of the Everafter series makes me feel like I forgot everything about that conclusion. Magic is free in the world...and it's giving random people powers and wreaking massive havoc to the tune of San Francisco being destroyed? Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute here. It feels like Everafter is trying to kick off the new series with a bang, but it's far too large of an explosion after the much more grounded, character-focused Fables stories.
Essentially, this volume follows the creation of a Fables task force to control the excess magic roaming around. There's a villain who's trying to steal magical idols to...do something. Her story is never fully explained. There's action on almost every page, but it's a jumble of confusing plots and purposes that never really coheres. Individual characters are fine, but again, not fleshed out like in Fables. For example, all I know about Connor Wolf is that he's invincible, can do anything, and loves to bone. Not exactly a compelling character there. Not exactly a compelling start to the Everafter series either.
Essentially, this volume follows the creation of a Fables task force to control the excess magic roaming around. There's a villain who's trying to steal magical idols to...do something. Her story is never fully explained. There's action on almost every page, but it's a jumble of confusing plots and purposes that never really coheres. Individual characters are fine, but again, not fleshed out like in Fables. For example, all I know about Connor Wolf is that he's invincible, can do anything, and loves to bone. Not exactly a compelling character there. Not exactly a compelling start to the Everafter series either.
April 10, 2020
Really fun to dive back into this world which I truly missed. The tone is very much like the original series. Plus if you are totally over Snow and Bigby, you are in luck as they only make a brief appearance.
March 25, 2017
I received this from Edelweiss and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was just okay, nothing really jumped out and captured my attention. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the storyline was so-so.
This was just okay, nothing really jumped out and captured my attention. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the storyline was so-so.
June 2, 2020
I knew going in that this is gonna stink, but I didn't expect it to smother me like this! The only decent thing about this is the last story, and even that was really badly drawn. The first five issues are hands down the shittiest comics I have ever read.
June 12, 2017
Nothing like Fables. Super spies...no thank you.
July 11, 2017
After Fables, the Earth is infested with magic and new Fables are rising.
It's a great premise, and we see some hints of that world here. But the main storyline is so confined. It's about a Fable hit-squad who destroys problem Fables. I feel like I shouldn't complain about Everafter for being what it is, but on the other hand what it is feels like it squanders a really great set up.
Beyond that, the characters are relatively flat. We do get to know Connor Wolf, but mostly that he's an arrogant brat. I couldn't tell you much about Bo Peep and Peter Piper. The plots? They're a little better. The main storyline does a good job of considering its consequences and the one-off is fairly interesting.
But I'd need Everafter to really open up its world to be more than average, and I don't think it's going to have the time to do so.
It's a great premise, and we see some hints of that world here. But the main storyline is so confined. It's about a Fable hit-squad who destroys problem Fables. I feel like I shouldn't complain about Everafter for being what it is, but on the other hand what it is feels like it squanders a really great set up.
Beyond that, the characters are relatively flat. We do get to know Connor Wolf, but mostly that he's an arrogant brat. I couldn't tell you much about Bo Peep and Peter Piper. The plots? They're a little better. The main storyline does a good job of considering its consequences and the one-off is fairly interesting.
But I'd need Everafter to really open up its world to be more than average, and I don't think it's going to have the time to do so.
May 29, 2017
'Everafter Vol. 1: The Pandora Protocol' by Lilah Sturges and Dave Justus brings together the first 6 issues of Everafter: From the Pages of Fables. It's best to have an understanding of who these characters are before diving into this volume.
It's a post-Fables world, but some of Fables find themselves still around and working for the Shadow Players, kind of a James Bond type spy agency led by a guy named Feathertop. While Bo Peep, Peter Piper and Hansel are trying to get to St. Louis to capture/stop a new threat, something horrific happens. Meanwhile, Connor Wolf, shapeshifter and uncontrollable braggart, is introduced to Feathertop as a new agent. Will Connor be a help or a hindrance or will Peter Piper end up killing him first?
It does lack something that the original creator, Bill Willingham, brought to the series, but it still holds up as a concept. The new weird threat they are after is darn creepy, even if she reminded me of a character from The Twilight Zone. The art is solid. I liked this book and I'd like to read more in this new series.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Vertigo, DC Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
It's a post-Fables world, but some of Fables find themselves still around and working for the Shadow Players, kind of a James Bond type spy agency led by a guy named Feathertop. While Bo Peep, Peter Piper and Hansel are trying to get to St. Louis to capture/stop a new threat, something horrific happens. Meanwhile, Connor Wolf, shapeshifter and uncontrollable braggart, is introduced to Feathertop as a new agent. Will Connor be a help or a hindrance or will Peter Piper end up killing him first?
It does lack something that the original creator, Bill Willingham, brought to the series, but it still holds up as a concept. The new weird threat they are after is darn creepy, even if she reminded me of a character from The Twilight Zone. The art is solid. I liked this book and I'd like to read more in this new series.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Vertigo, DC Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
March 1, 2018
This really isn't Fables material. While its not horrible, it just doesn't capture the Fables vibe the way even the lesser issues of the other tie in series did. The art is more Batman style than Fables style, and the stories aren't bad but they just don't feel like Fables stories the way I was expecting. Instead its a story of a James Bond type secret agent group trying to stop magic from destroying the world. I didn't care for the Conor Wolf character either. Not what I was looking for as a Fables follow-up, but not a bad read either.
May 23, 2018
Given the reviews for Everafter, I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I will not call it good, but it is a fun romp in the urban fantasy/spy thriller genre, and already MILES ahead of the Jack of Fables series. The characters are still a bit flat, but there's definitely an interesting plot that can be developed from this. Alas, it only got two volumes. Hopefully the writers wrap it up well?
May 25, 2017
I was so excited to read this: a Fables spin-off that brings together an eclectic cast of characters as a sort of magical spy crew. Think Mission Impossible meets The Avengers in a world where magic is real, dangerous, and out-of-control.
Unfortunately, this was rather a let-down. The enchanting spirit and cool characters of the original Fables are nowhere to be found - while the storylines are interesting enough they failed to capture my imagination. Bill Willingham's unique storytelling voice is a tough act to follow, and it doesn't help when a central character (Connor Wolf ) is so fundamentally unlikeable. He's meant, I think, to be a young "early Will Smith"-type (cocky, snarky, but fundamentally good-hearted); but instead is a rampantly arrogant asshole who endangers his team (and the world they're supposed to be protecting) with his selfish and immature behaviour. He's the son of Bigby Wolf - one of the coolest characters in comicdom, and a certified badass who's earned his stripes - but you'd never guess it. He comes off as an entitles rich-boy brat. I guess Snow and Bixby weren't great disciplinarians.
Honestly, it's okay. If it were a standalone and not connected to Fables... Maybe the comparison wouldn't be so jarring. But as part of the Fables... er... stable of titles, it's a disappointment.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this was rather a let-down. The enchanting spirit and cool characters of the original Fables are nowhere to be found - while the storylines are interesting enough they failed to capture my imagination. Bill Willingham's unique storytelling voice is a tough act to follow, and it doesn't help when a central character (Connor Wolf ) is so fundamentally unlikeable. He's meant, I think, to be a young "early Will Smith"-type (cocky, snarky, but fundamentally good-hearted); but instead is a rampantly arrogant asshole who endangers his team (and the world they're supposed to be protecting) with his selfish and immature behaviour. He's the son of Bigby Wolf - one of the coolest characters in comicdom, and a certified badass who's earned his stripes - but you'd never guess it. He comes off as an entitles rich-boy brat. I guess Snow and Bixby weren't great disciplinarians.
Honestly, it's okay. If it were a standalone and not connected to Fables... Maybe the comparison wouldn't be so jarring. But as part of the Fables... er... stable of titles, it's a disappointment.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2020
Somewhere between a 3 and 4
April 28, 2017
I liked it, but nothing more. I am not familiar with original and sometimes I was lost and had no idea what's going on. Overall I liked the story and the art was good, but I guess I need to get back to it when I read the original.
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review or rating.>
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review or rating.>
August 19, 2017
"Fables" is over, but some of us are desperately searching for for something with the same feel. This isn't it, but perhaps it could eventually turn into it. The artwork and characters, while different, still feel somewhat consistent, but the story is all over the place. Maybe if I had just finished the last volume of "Fables," this wouldn't feel so messy to me, but it's been a few years and I was lost for parts of it. Also, one of Bigby and Snow's wolf cubs, Connor, is one of the main characters and he looks like a teenager. However, Bigby complains that he is "always fucking" and later on he posing as a woman as part of his spy job and having sex with a rogue Fable. Whatever, that's not surprising overall, but it pretty creepified when I wasn't sure how old he was and the character looks and acts likes a teen. Ew.
I'm not giving up after one volume, though, because the writers are trying to establish something new. It's more of a spy/thriller/mystery feel than "Fables" and it could really go anywhere. There are shifty characters and ones with hidden agendas. It excites me that characters might crossover at some point. (even just seeing Snow and Bigby made me a little too happy) Anyway, I randomly found this in a bookshop in Alaska during a cruise. I had no idea there was another spinoff starting up so it made me happy to find it and read it on the balcony. Here's to hoping the writing can come together.
I'm not giving up after one volume, though, because the writers are trying to establish something new. It's more of a spy/thriller/mystery feel than "Fables" and it could really go anywhere. There are shifty characters and ones with hidden agendas. It excites me that characters might crossover at some point. (even just seeing Snow and Bigby made me a little too happy) Anyway, I randomly found this in a bookshop in Alaska during a cruise. I had no idea there was another spinoff starting up so it made me happy to find it and read it on the balcony. Here's to hoping the writing can come together.
June 19, 2017
I was a little nervous about seeing this new direction in the Fables universe, but I've enjoyed Fairest and Jack of Fables and some of the other offshoots, so I gave it a try. It carves out a unique premise, taking place after the events of the main series, and expanding a bit on the Cinderella titles as we see Fables serve as spies and trying to prevent disasters in the still-defining-itself world order. The concept of the Shadow Players opens up a large playground for exploration, and this first volume throws tendrils in multiple directions, telling one story fairly completely while also leaving lots of directions to move into. The main plot, about a group stealing Native American artifacts and introducing Connor Wolf, has some good action moments and a little bit of espionage. Subplots about an overly powerful pre-teen and a side issue about a stage magician who gets magic, were actually more interesting to me, and I'm glad to see at least one of the two plots looks to expand in its importance. The art is effective if not memorable. I'll be willing to keep following it; though I doubt it will ever stand up to match the quality of its fore-bearer, it's not an embarrassment to the Fables name either.
May 12, 2017
I've read the first 4-5 volumes of Bill Willingham's Fables. That's only about 1/4 of the way through the series. Seeing as how I have no clue how that series ended, I wasn't sure what I'd be getting into with this continuation, especially since this isn't even written by Willingham. The "Fables" were magical beings from another realm that had to flee the powerful forces of someone known only as "The Adversary". Once the Fables came to our world, they became the basis for our Fairy Tales. The Fables were extremely long lived. They weren't immortal because they could be killed, but many injuries that would have taken humans a long time to recover from took very little time to heal for a Fable. Humans, known as "mundies" or "mundanes" to the Fables, each know some Fairy Tales based on the individual Fables. The more humans that know about a specific Fable the longer lived and quicker recovering that Fable is.
I'm having to guess here, but I imagine that near the end of Bill Willingham's Fables series, they defeated the Adversary which caused an Everafter event. This event caused some humans to develop magical powers turning them into Fables. Other beings from different folklore around the world have come to life as well. Chaos has spread over the world. The Fables had always kept themselves secret until now, but since the Everafter event, the whole world knows about them. Some of the Fables have chosen to help protect mankind against the Fables that have much more nefarious plans.
The Shadow Players is a secret agency, think MI6 and James Bond with magical powers, that is main force trying to protect the humans. The book starts off with Little Bo Peep, Hansel, and Peter Piper trying to make their way to young girl that destroyed almost everything in St. Louis, Missouri. While these 3 are out in the field on assignment, Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf, 2 of the major players in the original Fables series, bring their son Conner Wolf to the head of the Shadow Players, Feathertop, so that Conner can become their newest agent. The reader, along with Conner, gets introduced to all of the people behind the scenes at the Shadow Players agency. Conner gets sent on his first mission and makes some rookie mistakes. Native American folklore comes into the story, and we get better acquainted with all of the lead characters. I'm not going to go into any more detail than that because it would much of the book.
The first 5 issues in the book tell one big story while the final issue stands on its own. I'm not often a fan of single issues stories because they seem to be just filler material. I really enjoyed this one though. A magician tells a beautiful about how he saw a magic show at a birthday party as a child which led him to pursue a career as a stage magician. Once the Everafter event happened, he gained real magical powers. He then goes on to tell her how Feathertop approached him to come work a mission for the Shadow Players.
Dave Justus & Lilah Sturges are the writers for the series. This duo has captured the essence of the original series and its adult-oriented humor. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this book. The spoken dialogue between characters is the best part of the book. The plot itself is good, but Justus and Sturges really hit the nail on the head when it comes to character interactions. While this is a continuation of Fables, it also serves as a brand new starting point. A lot of time is spent introducing characters to the readers which slows things down a bit, but that can be expected with volume 1 of almost every comic series ever created. Overall, the book writing was quite enjoyable and has me looking forward to more of the series. The writing score is 4 stars.
Travis Moore pencils issues #1-5, and Steve Rolston handles #6. Moore has the better artwork. Everything Moore draws is highly detailed. All of the characters look great so there isn't one character that really stands out as being better than any of the others. The style of art used really matches the dark, adult tone of the series. Rolston's art has a more cartoonish feel to it and seems like it would be more at home in a children's book. The characters look good, but the style just doesn't fit the mature tone of the rest of the book. Rolston's art being so out of place detracts a little from the art score, but not much because it's only in one issue and the rest of the book looks fantastic. 4.5 star for the art.
Anybody that has read the original Fables series or any of its spin-offs will enjoy this one. I wouldn't really suggest starting here if you're new to the Fables world, but it's certainly possible since the writers give you some background info to get you up to speed. Still, you'd be missing out on some great stuff in the series if this is your starting point. This one gets an overall rating of 4.25 stars.
***** I got a digital copy of this from the site Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I'm having to guess here, but I imagine that near the end of Bill Willingham's Fables series, they defeated the Adversary which caused an Everafter event. This event caused some humans to develop magical powers turning them into Fables. Other beings from different folklore around the world have come to life as well. Chaos has spread over the world. The Fables had always kept themselves secret until now, but since the Everafter event, the whole world knows about them. Some of the Fables have chosen to help protect mankind against the Fables that have much more nefarious plans.
The Shadow Players is a secret agency, think MI6 and James Bond with magical powers, that is main force trying to protect the humans. The book starts off with Little Bo Peep, Hansel, and Peter Piper trying to make their way to young girl that destroyed almost everything in St. Louis, Missouri. While these 3 are out in the field on assignment, Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf, 2 of the major players in the original Fables series, bring their son Conner Wolf to the head of the Shadow Players, Feathertop, so that Conner can become their newest agent. The reader, along with Conner, gets introduced to all of the people behind the scenes at the Shadow Players agency. Conner gets sent on his first mission and makes some rookie mistakes. Native American folklore comes into the story, and we get better acquainted with all of the lead characters. I'm not going to go into any more detail than that because it would much of the book.
The first 5 issues in the book tell one big story while the final issue stands on its own. I'm not often a fan of single issues stories because they seem to be just filler material. I really enjoyed this one though. A magician tells a beautiful about how he saw a magic show at a birthday party as a child which led him to pursue a career as a stage magician. Once the Everafter event happened, he gained real magical powers. He then goes on to tell her how Feathertop approached him to come work a mission for the Shadow Players.
Dave Justus & Lilah Sturges are the writers for the series. This duo has captured the essence of the original series and its adult-oriented humor. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this book. The spoken dialogue between characters is the best part of the book. The plot itself is good, but Justus and Sturges really hit the nail on the head when it comes to character interactions. While this is a continuation of Fables, it also serves as a brand new starting point. A lot of time is spent introducing characters to the readers which slows things down a bit, but that can be expected with volume 1 of almost every comic series ever created. Overall, the book writing was quite enjoyable and has me looking forward to more of the series. The writing score is 4 stars.
Travis Moore pencils issues #1-5, and Steve Rolston handles #6. Moore has the better artwork. Everything Moore draws is highly detailed. All of the characters look great so there isn't one character that really stands out as being better than any of the others. The style of art used really matches the dark, adult tone of the series. Rolston's art has a more cartoonish feel to it and seems like it would be more at home in a children's book. The characters look good, but the style just doesn't fit the mature tone of the rest of the book. Rolston's art being so out of place detracts a little from the art score, but not much because it's only in one issue and the rest of the book looks fantastic. 4.5 star for the art.
Anybody that has read the original Fables series or any of its spin-offs will enjoy this one. I wouldn't really suggest starting here if you're new to the Fables world, but it's certainly possible since the writers give you some background info to get you up to speed. Still, you'd be missing out on some great stuff in the series if this is your starting point. This one gets an overall rating of 4.25 stars.
***** I got a digital copy of this from the site Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2017
This is a fun mash up of the Fables universe with super-spy action/adventure. The first five issues introduce us to Connor Wolf, the brash young shapeshifter who is recruited into the secret society of Shadow Players, and his teammates Peter Piper and Bo Peep. They are tasked with stopping an unimaginably powerful witch. With magic and gadgets galore, nonstop action, and plot twists aplenty, we are introduced to this exciting facet of the Fables universe. While there is a resolution of sorts within this volume, this is an ongoing series and many loose ends are left hanging. Travis Moore's artwork conveys a realism and dynamism that appropriately complements the tone of the writing.
The sixth issue is a stand-alone story with artwork by Steve Rolston and Ande Parks. I greatly enjoyed this tale of a two-bit magician who suddenly acquires real magical talent and is subsequently sent on a dangerous mission for the Shadow Players. This story fills in some of the gaps as to how the Shadow Players operate. The art is a bit more cartoony, but is still appropriate for the story. If the whole volume had been this good, I would have given it four stars.
This is a book for mature readers. There is sex and violence that youngsters probably wouldn't appreciate.
Note: this series was originally published as single issues under the title Everafter: From the Pages of Fables. The title page and the copyright page for this trade compilation is Everafter: The Pandora Protocol.
Thanks to Goodreads and DC for sending me this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaways.
The sixth issue is a stand-alone story with artwork by Steve Rolston and Ande Parks. I greatly enjoyed this tale of a two-bit magician who suddenly acquires real magical talent and is subsequently sent on a dangerous mission for the Shadow Players. This story fills in some of the gaps as to how the Shadow Players operate. The art is a bit more cartoony, but is still appropriate for the story. If the whole volume had been this good, I would have given it four stars.
This is a book for mature readers. There is sex and violence that youngsters probably wouldn't appreciate.
Note: this series was originally published as single issues under the title Everafter: From the Pages of Fables. The title page and the copyright page for this trade compilation is Everafter: The Pandora Protocol.
Thanks to Goodreads and DC for sending me this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaways.
June 23, 2017
Everafter Vol 1: The Pandora Protocol by Lilah Sturges, Dave Justus, Travis Moore, and Tula Lotay is a graphic novel that collects issues 1-6 of Everafter: From the Pages of Fables. In a post-Fables world where magic abounds, it can be wielded for the greater good or used to plant the seeds of anarchy and terrorism. The Shadow Players are a global network of agents--both Fable and mundane--tasked with policing a newly enchanted world and protecting humanity from itself. Everafter features the return of series favorites Bo Peep, Peter Piper, Hansel, and Connor Wolf, as well as exciting new characters and a terrifying new villain!
The Pandora Protocol has the stunning artwork and engaging story that I fully expect from this team of writers and artists. I liked the Shadow Players angle, and the several twists and turn abouts that thread through the entire volume. I simply adored the art style and color- it added so much detail and life to the story. I think that Connor Wolf will be one of my new favorite players in the new story, and that I will now start reading again- filling in my non-existent reading time by returning to the world of Fables.
The Pandora Protocol is a great new addition to the Fables legacy. Even though I missed far too many stories from the Fables world for my liking I really enjoyed returning to it and did not feel left behind because of my lack of reading history. A win for newcomers and seasoned fans alike.
The Pandora Protocol has the stunning artwork and engaging story that I fully expect from this team of writers and artists. I liked the Shadow Players angle, and the several twists and turn abouts that thread through the entire volume. I simply adored the art style and color- it added so much detail and life to the story. I think that Connor Wolf will be one of my new favorite players in the new story, and that I will now start reading again- filling in my non-existent reading time by returning to the world of Fables.
The Pandora Protocol is a great new addition to the Fables legacy. Even though I missed far too many stories from the Fables world for my liking I really enjoyed returning to it and did not feel left behind because of my lack of reading history. A win for newcomers and seasoned fans alike.
July 14, 2017
I’ve read the Fables comics for years and I love them. I think it’s such an interesting concept and when I saw an opportunity to read an advanced copy of Everafter, I jumped at it. This book isn’t written by the original Fables team, it’s instead written by the team that did Fables: The Wolf Among Us. I have mixed feelings on this. The art is certainly very different from the art of the original series, it feels much more modern. The story as a whole is essentially a modernized version of a comic that wasn’t that old to begin with. The goriness of everything was bumped up significantly and I felt that was unnecessary. The storyline bounces around a bit too much for my taste, I was a bit confused at some points as to what was even happening.
I did appreciate the main plot line of Bigby and Snow’s kid, Connor, joining the Shadow Players. I thought that was a fun way to move the story onto a new generation while keeping the familiar characters around. I loved Jordan and Mister Prisms and I would absolutely read a book just about them.
Overall, I think the book is missing the special touch Willingham lent to the series. It’s still good, but it doesn’t feel completely finished. Hardcore fans of kickass little girls and Fables will enjoy. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on The Reading Raindoe
I did appreciate the main plot line of Bigby and Snow’s kid, Connor, joining the Shadow Players. I thought that was a fun way to move the story onto a new generation while keeping the familiar characters around. I loved Jordan and Mister Prisms and I would absolutely read a book just about them.
Overall, I think the book is missing the special touch Willingham lent to the series. It’s still good, but it doesn’t feel completely finished. Hardcore fans of kickass little girls and Fables will enjoy. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on The Reading Raindoe
June 4, 2017
I received a free copy to read and review from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you!
As an avid reader of the complete Fables series, I was excited to see if this successor could hold up to the original. It's a different sort of story (as it should be), but I think this could be a worthy new series. The remaining Fables are acting as secret agents to round up newly emerging Fables and do something with them that is not terribly clear although education to control their powers similar to X-Men is hinted at. The main plot concerns an especially powerful new Fable that the team attempts to round up because they believe she could destroy everyone. However, there are some nice hints that the agents themselves have doubts about their mission and wonder if rounding up the new Fables is the right way to go. The book ends with a short story about a magician that suddenly has the supernatural powers he pretends to have and his experiences with the Fables agents.
This book certainly doesn't run over new territory with agents rounding up beings with supernatural powers that could be a threat. However, I like the seeds of doubt already present that the agency could be making a mistake with this tactic. I see a lot of possibilities for the growth of this story and I'm going to look forward to future installments!
As an avid reader of the complete Fables series, I was excited to see if this successor could hold up to the original. It's a different sort of story (as it should be), but I think this could be a worthy new series. The remaining Fables are acting as secret agents to round up newly emerging Fables and do something with them that is not terribly clear although education to control their powers similar to X-Men is hinted at. The main plot concerns an especially powerful new Fable that the team attempts to round up because they believe she could destroy everyone. However, there are some nice hints that the agents themselves have doubts about their mission and wonder if rounding up the new Fables is the right way to go. The book ends with a short story about a magician that suddenly has the supernatural powers he pretends to have and his experiences with the Fables agents.
This book certainly doesn't run over new territory with agents rounding up beings with supernatural powers that could be a threat. However, I like the seeds of doubt already present that the agency could be making a mistake with this tactic. I see a lot of possibilities for the growth of this story and I'm going to look forward to future installments!
June 8, 2017
Previous Fables spin-offs have not been successful longterm (even the highly intriguing Fairest series began to lag after the first few collections), so I’m sceptical about the longevity of what looks to be another fantastical spy-themed series. Instead of focusing on a single character (as previously done in Cinderella) they seem to have chosen the Shadow Players as their protagonist - the Fables’ answer to the post-magic era on Earth in the form of a spy network; this gives them a bigger range of characters and scenarios to play with, but honestly I don’t think it’s that unique or innovative. They bring back one of the Snow and Bigby’s wolfcubs to give old readers a flashback to the original Fables characters and an intro in the “new generation” of Fables, but this seems like a pretty cheap schtick to make the rather basic spy-caper plot more interesting. I’ll give the second volume a shot when it comes out later this year, but I’m not holding my breath. Nothing can really add up to the original series, so maybe they should stop trying to milk a good thing.
May 9, 2017
Set after the main line Fables stories have ended several fables are still here and working for an agency trying to protect the world from the new magic. Connor Wolf is now grown and after a quick cameo by his parents he goes to work for the new agency. Sent out with the team on a mission on his first day with no team training he uses his initiative when things don’t go to plan. The good news is this works and they uncover the group that is stealing the objects and what they want them for.
After reading the first arc and a one-shot story added in this volume it left me cold. Yes, there was interesting stuff seeded into the plot that you know will come out later on down the story line but for the most part I don’t feel that motivated to read any more of them. Maybe I’ll change my mind if other people I know are reading it and loving it I might give it another shot.
Review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
After reading the first arc and a one-shot story added in this volume it left me cold. Yes, there was interesting stuff seeded into the plot that you know will come out later on down the story line but for the most part I don’t feel that motivated to read any more of them. Maybe I’ll change my mind if other people I know are reading it and loving it I might give it another shot.
Review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
May 27, 2017
Üllatavalt hea, eriti arvestades asjaolu et kogu Fablesi-frantšiis hakkab esiteks juba oma mahukusega ilgelt ära tüütama, ja teiseks, kogu see põld on ikka nii ära küntud juba, et väga raske on miskit kullapotti adratera taha saada. Kas just nüüd kullapott, aga ütleme et arheoloogilise väärtusega roostes mõõk ja kiiver ilmusid seekord välja küll. Tegu on sama tiimiga kes seisis ka "The Wolf Among Us" projekti taga, ja see oli ju mäletatatavasti keskmisest Fablesi-stooriliinist - eriti lõpupoole - ju suurusjärkude võrra andekam, intelligentsem ja oluliselt rohkem vaimset pingutust nõudev, igasugustest Fablesi sohipoegadest ja -tütardest nagu Jack, Cinderella ja Fairest rääkimata...
Et siis suht meeldiv asi, vaatamata teatavale eelarvamusele ja ka kergele tülgastusele ükskõik millise Fablesi teemaga kasvõi kaudselt seotud asja vastu.
Et siis suht meeldiv asi, vaatamata teatavale eelarvamusele ja ka kergele tülgastusele ükskõik millise Fablesi teemaga kasvõi kaudselt seotud asja vastu.
June 8, 2017
I've missed Fables! Everafter is a fun return to that universe, filtered through the lens of a Bond movie. Instead of the original main cast of characters, we're mostly dealing with "The Shadow Players," including Bo Peep, Peter Piper, and one of Bigby and Show's cubs, a group of operatives working behind the scenes to keep the mundy world safe from the magic now infusing it. The group's leader, Feathertop, is determined to save humanity through any means necessary, but not all of his "players" are sure that the ends justify the means.
I received a preview copy of this book from NetGalley.
I received a preview copy of this book from NetGalley.
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