James Jean leaves FABLES
James Jean announces he’s leaving FABLES to concentrate on his own art:
“This is a difficult email for me to write. Don’t worry . . . as far as I know, I don’t have any tumors or crippling neuroses, and my taxes are in order. But I feel like I’m breaking up with the prom queen on prom night, after having dated through grades 6 - 12. Feeble analogies aside, it has been an amazing opportunity to work on Fables these past 7 years (8 this October). But I feel that it’s time to devote myself full-time to painting and personal work. Shelly and I talked yesterday, and my last cover will be 81, at the end of the story arc. It has been a true privilege to work on a team that has produced such great chemistry on paper, and to have been a part of such an important book that has entertained and drawn together so many people.
As usual, he’s going out on the same heart-stoppingly beautiful level he came in on.
08/27/08 at 12:27 pm
And my heart certainly stopped! My jaw dropped to the floor. Jean is as synonymous with the series as Willingham himself.
08/27/08 at 2:28 pm
That’s really sad news — I’m quite disappointed to see him leave.
But selfishly I am now wondering if it’s too late to cancel/resolicit the FABLES cover book so that they can include #76-81 as well.
08/27/08 at 2:50 pm
My condolences to whomever gets to follow that act.
08/27/08 at 4:16 pm
Not since Dave McKean has Vertigo had a finer cover artist.
08/27/08 at 11:18 pm
That’s a shame. Jean will definitely be missed.
Though I do want to add that Fables is the best monthly book out there, PERIOD.
08/28/08 at 1:14 pm
It sucks that he’s leaving, but I look forward to see what other projects James Jean will be doing.
I also thought of the Fables cover book, wondering if it’s too late to include the extra issues. As 6 covers is too small for a companion book.
With my luck, DC is going to stay on track with the Fables cover book and then re-issue it a year or two later with the extra covers.
08/28/08 at 6:23 pm
All he did were the covers, right? o.O
08/29/08 at 5:10 pm
Oh wow, this is really sad. But all in all he’s been with the series for a very long time and he deserves to dedicate more time to his personal work. I’m really going to miss him though.
08/31/08 at 10:27 am
This is awful news. Does that mean he also won’t contribute interiors to another Fables OGN?