It's official: the iconic Vertigo comic Fables is finally returning courtesy of DC Black Label. And while the mature readers imprint is a perfect fit for the acclaimed series, fans can also look forward to seeing their favorite characters cross over with the DC Universe in two new books, starting later this year.
The Bill Willingham series wrapped up its 150-issue run back in 2015, but will be returning for a new 12-issue miniseries. But first, DC Comics has also revealed Willingham will be working on a six-issue crossover miniseries titled Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham, as well as a 48-page holiday series that's due out in September. The original series won fans and accolades aplenty, with fourteen Eisner Awards, including Best New Series in 2003, as well as multiple wins for Best Serialized Story. The comic was adapted into a wildly popular Telltale video game series, The Wolf Among Us and its upcoming sequel.
First up among the new Fables comics revealed by DC Comics is Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham, to be published under the company's mature Black Label. Yes, Batman will face off against the Big Bad Wolf in a six-issue miniseries from Willingham, Brian Level, Jay Leisten, and Lee Loughridge. Check out a preview for the upcoming noir mystery, which arrives in September of this year.
Despite the surprising team-up, Willingham revealed in an official press release that he has been wanting to do a Batman/Bigby crossover since the very beginning:
“I’ve wanted to do this since the very first year of Fables. Why? Because Batman is a detective, and Bigby is a detective, and I love a well-crafted story crossing over characters from two different fictional worlds. It’s automatically a fish-out-of-water story for at least one of the main characters, and that sort of story always works. Plus, I knew from the very beginning of Fables that my fictional universe would allow for many ways to get Bigby Wolf into the DCU and Gotham City. Even though those cosmic story structures wouldn’t be introduced in the Fables books for a year or more, they were baked in from the very beginning.”
Fables #151 will launch in May 2022. The series will begin exactly where the original left off, but has also been written to be completely accessible for new readers as well. Fables #151 brings back the creative team which tackled a majority of the series, as Willingham will write with Mark Buckingham on pencils, Steve Leialoha on inking duties, Lee Loughridge on colors, and letters will be from Todd Klein. The new arc will run for 12 issues. Check out preview pages for the revival at DC Black Label.
Willingham said the series will introduce a "great new character" and will continue the adventures of many of the others as well who appeared in the original series.
“We introduce a great new character and catch up with many of our most beloved characters from the previous issues,” says writer and creator Bill Willingham. “Mark Buckingham has agreed to draw all twelve issues of this tale and I believe he’s doing the best work of his career. Yes, I know I’ve said that several times before, but can I help it if he keeps getting better and better?”
Lastly, Willingham will be writing a 48-page standalone comic called Cursemas, as the new holiday special will feature members of the Justice League.
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham will be in comic shops in September. Fables #151 will continue on May 2022. Meanwhile, Cursemas will come out this holiday season. The books will be part of DC's Black Label line.