Earlier story arcs each take on the form of a different genre: the first is a
murder mystery; the next, a
conspiracy thriller; and then, a
caper story. •
Legends in Exile (issues #1 to 5) :The introduction to Fabletown. Sheriff Bigby Wolf investigates the apparent murder of
Rose Red. •
Animal Farm (issues #6 to 10) :A revolt occurs on the Farm, a place for non-human Fables. • '''Bag 'O Bones'
(issue #11)'' :A tale set during the
American Civil War in which
Jack Horner finds a way to cheat Death. •
A Two-Part Caper (issues #12 and 13) :A
mundane journalist finds out about the Fables and they have to decide how to react. • ''''
(issues #14 to 17)'' :
Bluebeard hatches a plot to rid himself of Bigby and Snow by enchanting them, and the homicidal
Goldilocks attempts to kill the pair.
Prince Charming decides to run for Fabletown Mayor. •
Barleycorn Brides (issue #18) :Bigby tells
Flycatcher the story of a Smalltown tradition. •
March of the Wooden Soldiers (issues #19 to 21 and #23 to 27) :Prince Charming runs for Mayor of Fabletown while the community deals with the apparent escape from the Homelands of
Red Riding Hood.
The Adversary sends his first troops into Fabletown to begin an assault. •
Cinderella Libertine (issue #22) :
Cinderella's apparently frivolous lifestyle is revealed to be a front. •
War Stories (issues #28 and 29) :Bigby's adventures during
World War II. •
The Long Year (issues #30 to 33) :Snow gives birth and realizes she must relocate to the Farm. Bigby isn't allowed there and instead exiles himself. Snow encounters Bigby's estranged father, the
North Wind. One of her children is revealed to be quite different than the others, so she sends him to find his father. This story arc is retitled "The Mean Seasons" in the trade paperback of the same name. •
Jack Be Nimble (issues #34 and 35) :Jack goes to
Hollywood and sets up a film studio. Spins off into
Jack of Fables. •
Homelands (issues #36 to 38 and #40 and 41) :Boy Blue goes on a mission to the
Homelands with the aim of assassinating the Adversary and learns the Adversary's identity. •
Meanwhile (issue #39) :What has been going on in Fabletown during Blue's adventures. •
Arabian Nights (and Days) (issues #42 to 45) :A delegation of Arabian Fables led by
Sinbad visits Fabletown to discuss an alliance against the Adversary. •
The Ballad of Rodney and June (issues #46 and 47) :A side story of the seemingly ill-fated love of
Rodney and June, two members of the Adversary's forces. •
Wolves (issues #48 and 49) :
Mowgli searches for the missing Bigby and brings him a message from Fabletown. •
Happily Ever After (issue #50) :Bigby returns, delivers a warning to the Adversary and marries Snow. •
Big and Small (issue #51) :Cinderella continues her mission in the Cloud Kingdom, but must be turned into a mouse and enlist the aid of Smalltown's resident medic in order to treat a sick giant king. •
Sons of Empire (issues #52 to 55) :The Adversary calls a conference of the Imperial elite to decide what to do about Fabletown.
Pinocchio has to face up to his divided loyalties. •
Jiminy Christmas (issue #56) :
Santa Claus' existence as a Fable is addressed. •
Father and Son (issues #57 and 58) :Bigby decides that the time has come to square things with his father, the North Wind. On a hunt, his children encounter Bigby's siblings, who have become more beasts than men. •
Burning Questions (issue #59) :Readers were invited to participate in a contest by asking Willingham questions of unresolved events in the series. Here, they are answered in a series of one to four page short stories. •
The Good Prince (issues #60 to 63 and #65 to 69) :Flycatcher, who has never fully accepted the death of his wife, must face up to his past. •
The Birthday Secret (issue #64) :Preparation for war begins at the Farm and the birthday of Bigby's children. •
Kingdom Come (issue #70) :Boy Blue and Rose Red discuss their relationship. Flycatcher's offer is brought to the Farm. Plans are made to begin the war. •
Skullduggery (issues #71 and 72) :Cinderella repays her debt to Frau Totenkinder by going on a mission down South. •
War and Pieces (issues #73 to 75) :Fabletown and the Empire go to war. •
Around the Town (issue #76) :Fabletown's newest member is given a tour, much to the displeasure of some of the other residents. •
The Dark Ages (issues #77 to 81) :A new era begins as the residents of Fabletown face the aftermath of the war. New challenges arise at home and in a distant land a dark power is awakened. •
Waiting for the Blues (issue #82) :An epilogue to "The Dark Ages". •
The Great Fables Crossover (issues #83 to 85) :Bigby and
Beast get into a violent fight that demonstrates the influence of the dark powers present. Rose Red sinks deeper and deeper into depression.
Stinky starts a religion foretelling Boy Blue's heroic return, which a returning Jack Horner takes advantage of before encountering his son, the
new Jack Frost. In an interesting twist, the issues are more focused on Jack than on the other Fables (note: includes
Jack of Fables issues #33 to 35 and
The Literals issues #1 to 3). •
Boxing Days (issue #86) :
Mister Dark relates how he came to be trapped in a magical box by a group of imperial warlocks, and the rise of their leader
Dunster Happ. •
Witches (issues #87 to 91) :The leaders and witches of Fabletown discuss how to defeat Mister Dark. Meanwhile,
Bufkin finds himself trapped in the lost business office with
Baba Yaga and many other monsters. •
Out to the Ball Game (issues #92 and 93) :A story set in Haven, where the local baseball game leads to a murder. •
Rose Red (issues #94 to 98) :The Farm is in chaos, as various factions vie for control. To restore order, Rose Red must face her greatest foe – herself. •
Dark City (issue #99) :Mr. Dark uses his power to construct a new citadel in
New York City. •
Single Combat (issue #100) :The final confrontation between Frau Totenkinder and Mister Dark. •
The Ascent (issue #101) :Bufkin climbs the Business Office's tree and finds himself in
Ev (a neighbor to the
Land of Oz). •
Super Team (issues #102 to 106) :
Ozma puts together a team of Fables to mimic the superheroics of comic books. •
Waking Beauty (issue #107) :The fate of the defeated Empire's thorn-covered capital. •
Inherit the Wind (issues #108 to 111) :The North Wind's successor is chosen among Snow and Bigby's
Cubs. In Ev, Bufkin forms a resistance movement in order to overthrow the evil
Nome King. •
"All in a Single Night" (issue #112) :A Fables take on
A Christmas Carol, focusing on Rose Red. •
In Those Days (issue #113) :A collection of short, short Fables stories. •
Cubs in Toyland (issues #114 to 121) :Snow and Bigby's cub Therese is taken to a bleak, mysterious land inhabited by discarded toys, inciting a series of soul-crushing events. This storyline has a backup feature that follows Bufkin's (mis)adventures in Oz. •
The Destiny Game (issues #122 and 123) :A look at how fate works in the Fable universe. Bufkin and Lily's adventures continue in the story's backup feature. •
After (issue #124) :Bufkin and Lily's heroic adventures comes to its grand finale. •
Snow White (issues #125 to 129) :A man from Snow White's past claims her as his legal wife. •
June Bug (issue #130) :The daughter of Rodney and June, the Adversary wooden soldiers that became human, explores Castle Black. •
Camelot (issues #131 to 133 and #135 to 137) :A new dark age calls for a new Round Table, with modern knights willing to take on a sacred quest to reassemble the shattered pieces of Fabletown. •
Deeper into the Woods (issue #134) :Bigby Wolf wanders into a heaven resembling the woods he used to hunt in, where he meets a long-lost friend. •
Root and Branch (issue #138) :Geppetto is up to his naughty tricks in a stand-alone story that fills in the gaps of an event that happened in Fabletown long ago. •
The Boys in the Band (issues #139 and 140) :Peter Piper, Joe Shepherd, Puss in Boots and Briar Rose – the members of Boy Blue's band – set out on a quest to free one tiny Fable Homeland. •
Happily Ever After (issues #141 to 149) :Good knight vs. bad knight. King Arthur vs. Morgan le Fay. Rose Red vs. Snow White. The two sisters are caught up in the roles Camelot has set for them, and now they're ready for battle. •
Farewell (issue #150) :Once Upon a Time... for the very last time. •
The Black Forest (issues #151 to 162) ==Collected editions==