After successfully launching the beta version of their curated vertical-scrolling comics platform at MCM London Comic Con earlier this year, the team behind Fable are returning to the show with a public preview of the app, which is now available for iOS and Android. And, just in time for the Halloween season, they’re dropping their first complete graphic novel, Simon Lewis and Chris Geary’s Flesh and Blood.
A chilling tale of cannibals and bloody murder in the Scottish Highlands, Flesh and Blood has already spawned a long-anticipated sequel (Skin and Bone) which comes to retail next month – and is currently being developed as a feature film by Envision Entertainment, in conjunction with the BFI, under the watchful eye of veteran producer David Barron (the Harry Potter series, Cinderella, The Legend of Tarzan).
“Chris and I attended the same drawing class for many years, and I would marvel at his ability to capture a face or a pose in a few deft lines,” says writer, Simon Lewis. “Then he showed me his comics work and I was blown away by his skill at conjuring a scene. We would sit in the pub for hours talking about film and storytelling, but it took a long time to realise we should work on something together. We decided our first book should indulge our shared fascination with British horror. Chris wanted to draw some dramatic snowy landscapes, and I wanted to channel and update some meaty gothic tropes, so it felt like a perfect fit.”
Joining Flesh and Blood on the newly launched platform are a couple of other Halloween gems – Neil Gibson’s Twisted Dark and Mark Ellis’ Nosferatu – which readers can now enjoy the first three chapters of. These well-timed horror releases complement an existing range of titles that readers can dip into and preview as the Fable app begins its regular drop schedule in earnest from November.
Designed to utilise the intuitive vertical-scrolling nature of smartphones, Fable has been developed from the ground up to provide a smooth reading experience for comic books while connecting creators with wider media opportunities and contacts, such as we’ve seen with Flesh and Blood. Best of all, the app and its content are free, so readers have the chance to discover their next favourite graphic novel from some of the best creators the UK and the world have to offer.
“Fable is the result of extensive research and coordination with creators to develop a satisfying and intuitive smartphone reading experience,” says Founder, Michael Nakan. “We aim to lean into our Britishness and showcase the amazing talent we have in the UK, before expanding our offering into Europe, Asia, and beyond. Think of Fable as being the comics equivalent of MUBI – offering a curated, and rotating, selection of the best new titles and creators to a discerning audience of readers.
“With the app being free, and the interface frictionless, there’s no barrier to entry for those who want to dive deeper into the rich world comics and graphic novels have to offer.”
The Fable team will be showcasing the app for early adopters to try out and enjoy free comics, like Flesh and Blood, at Table J-00 in Artist Alley at MCM London Comic Con this weekend. It will also be available on the Apple and Google Play stores for those further afield or who can’t make it to the show.
You can find out more at tellmefables.com and sign up for their mailing list and growing Discord server, where Founder Michael Nakan and Community Lead Vik Deluca will be hosting a live feed next Monday 28th October 2024
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Previews, Comics, Creating Comics, Digital Comics, downthetubes Comics News