Peter and Max by Bill Willingham / by MELINDA Schmidbauer


As you might know, I also read comics. One of my favorite comics is Fables, which follows a community of well-known (and lesser-known) characters from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, myth and Americana as they try to live life in our "mundy" world while hiding their special abilities from those of us without (hmmm... mundies are muggles?). The comic has been going for several years, and has spun off another series, Jack of Fables. And now, Bill Willingham has written a novel set in the world of Fables.

This novel follows what happens when Peter Piper, in our modern mundane world, has to deal with the results of his relationship with his brother, Max, the Pied Piper. Interspersed in the modern story is the back story of Peter, his wife Bo Peep, the Black Forest Witch, Max, the town of Hamelin, and more. Willingham shows that he is just as good at novel writing as he is at writing for comics.

The book is (lightly) illustrated by Steve Leialoha. The black-and-white illustrations, while not necessary in the story as they would be in a graphic novel, still add to the telling.

This book could be read by any reader who likes imaginative fiction set in a world similar to our own. You don't have to be familiar with the Fables universe, and this might even get you to consider taking a look at the comic.

my read shelf:
Melinda Schmidbauer's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)