open/close all folders
The Empire
The Emperor / The Adversary / Geppetto
"I'd gladly destroy thousands, or tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, to ensure that our millions continue to live in safety and prosperity."
"Millions died as I carved out my Empire. Millions more were delivered into dire bondage, where they certainly didn't survive long. But that resulted in a life of peace and security for untold billions that spanned many centuries. Who else has ever accomplished so much? When again will so many enjoy such widespread safety for so long?" - The Adversary
The true leader and founder of the Empire and the one who drove the Fables from the Homelands.
- Abusive Parents: Cruelly and repeatedly slaps his first son Pinocchio, solely for the heinous offense of carving him a birthday present with wood from the Sacred Grove. He even calls him a "foul thing", kicking him out of his tent. What's worse is that due to the loyalty spells Geppetto integrated his "real boy" potions with, he will remain devoted to his beloved "Pop", regardless of the abuse Geppetto heaps upon him.
- Archnemesis Dad: To Pinocchio, though Pinocchio is conflicted about directly opposing his father.
- Affably Evil: He can be kindly, but it doesn't make him any less evil.
- Berserk Button: Do not carve from the enchanted wood.
- Big Bad: Of Issues #1 through #75.
- The Chessmaster: He successfully (albeit with the aid of magic) plotted his way to tyrannical power.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: It can be argued that making Geppetto be The Adversary was one of Willingham's most unique ideas in the series.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Mostly played straight in regards to his wooden children, particularly Pinocchio. However, it is subverted when he explodes at Pinocchio over Pinocchio giving him a living wooden cricket carved from the enchanted wood as a birthday present.
- Is in mourning and utterly desolate for months after King Ambrose deprives him of the Sacred Grove and the Golden Horde, the ultimate assemblage of all his still wooden soldier children.
- Evil Old Folks: He's an old man and evil as they come.
- Evil Overlord: The Man Behind the Man in charge of the entire empire.
- Evil Sorceror: He's got some pretty strong magical powers.
- Ex-Big Bad: Becomes a Retired Monster after his downfall and is allowed to join the Fable community on Earth, but is never trusted and never really reforms.
- Face–Heel Turn: He was every bit the kind and sweet woodcarver from the story, but when he found out he could make as many puppets as he wanted and control them into doing his bidding, there was no way back.
- Fantastic Racism: He will not allow goblins or other such inhuman creatures near his cottage outside the Imperial City, as he "cannot abide the presence of any of the lower races". But he will gladly fortify his invading armies with them, putting them in the frontlines and expend their lives for the cause with great fervor.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: He started out as a humble woodcarver.
- A God Am I: Invokes this trope when a Fabletown citizen tells him that "God will judge you". Geppetto's reply?"If He does, He'll think He's looking into a mirror."
- Hidden Villain: His identity is not revealed for quite a while.
- Hoist by Their Own Petard: His decision to assemble a Golden Horde (a "super army" entirely composed of wooden soldiers) to send against King Ambrose in Haven proves to be extremely costly, as it not only deprives him of the vast majority of his loyal children, but causes him to lose the Sacred Grove and is a key factor in the Empire losing the war with Fabletown.
- Karma Houdini: Possibly the worst case in the series. He didn't suffer any repercussions besides losing his power, and by the end of the comic he was plotting a way to recover it.
- Karma Houdini Warranty: Expires in Issue 152, when Peter Pan has Tinkerbell turn him into a coin, a prison he could not escape from in "ten million times ten million years" on his own, especially considering nobody else even knows what happened.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: To Pinocchio.
- The Man Behind the Man: The Emperor is just his wooden puppet.
- The Man in Front of the Man: His official position is that of a trusted advisor to the Emperor, when he's the true ruler.
- Muggle with a Degree in Magic: After spending time with the Blue Fairy, he knew how to do all the magic she does but didn't have the power to do it until he hooked her up as a Living Battery.
- My God, What Have I Done?: The only time in the entirety of the Fables saga that he displays any kind of remorse is during his mourning over the loss of his wooden sons, after King Ambrose (Flycathcer) effectively wipes out the Golden Horde Geppetto dispatched to destroy him and his kingdom of Haven.
- Narcissist: Geppetto took over the entire Homelands just to gain more power for himself and anyone who questions him a little is not acceptable and will be killed, showing his truly narcissistic nature.
- Nigh-Invulnerable: Due to tons of protective spells placed on him.
- No, Mister Bond, I Expect You To Dine: When Boy Blue is captured, Geppetto keeps him prisoner in a large birdcage in his cottage, but treats him rather well, considering. He chats away with him for an extended period, and feeds Blue only water and broth at first, as he is still weak from being frozen and anything stronger would be a shock to his system. But later he feeds him nice, hot porridge made by a citizen in his kingdom.
- Non-Action Big Bad: Despite his invulnerability, he is still just an old man, and as such does nothing himself to stop Boy Blue or Bigby when they confront him.
- Omniscient Morality License: Believes he has one as part of his Utopia Justifies the Means mindset.
- The Pawn: The revival reveals he was one to Peter Pan the whole time, who quickly strips him of his power. He knew he was being used, but believed himself indispensable. He was very wrong.
- Repressive, but Efficient: He may be a tyrant, but he did run things more-or-less competently once he was finally done purging everyone he considered a threat.
- Retired Monster: Captured, stripped of his Empire, and forced to sign the Fabletown Compact, he is supposedly harmless. But Geppetto remains decidedly unrepentant and power hungry, scheming to regain his status as ruler. Deputy Mayor Beauty puts it best:"Bloodthirsty despots don't go meekly into forced retirement."
- Shadow Dictator: The Emperor most people see is not him.
- Spell My Name with a "The": The Adversary.
- Truly Single Parent: To the wooden soldiers and Pinocchio.
- Utopia Justifies the Means: Truly believes himself to be a wise and benevolent ruler, and it's in the best interest of all worlds to be conquered into his Empire.
- Villainous BSoD: Suffers a big time, extended one after his "Golden Horde" of wooden soldiers are utterly eliminated. And it occurs at the very worst possible time; just as the forces of Fabletown launch their assault on the Empire.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Although brutal, his empire brought peace and stability to everyone living under it.
- Wicked Toymaker: Geppetto the toymaker is the (first) Big Bad. And he can make animated puppets who are completely loyal to him.
- You Have Failed Me: Learning that Geppetto moved in on his territory, be it with or without his intent, has Peter Pan punish him by Tinkerbell turning him into a coin. Pan even references how Geppetto thought himself irreplaceable, only to be proven soundly wrong.
"The Emperor"
"Cease your buzzing, insect. We're happy to fight you in single combat."
"It's time for your Emperor to personally put these criminal invaders to the sword!" - The Emperor
The public face of the Empire's might, a humanoid creature of great stature and nigh invincible prowess who rules the Empire with an iron fist. In truth a massive wooden soldier built by Geppetto to be figurehead of his Empire.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: The largest, and most physically powerful figure in the Empire.
- Badass Boast: Gives one that is pretty on the nose, yet no less impressive for that, as he kicks Bigby Wolf's ass:"I'm the Emperor! I never lose in battle! Naught exists that can best me!"
- BFS: Lugs around a sword the size of a small redwood. Rather large, even relative to his gigantic frame.
- Cool Helmet: Wears an very ominous, but richly ornate piece of headgear.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Hands Bigby his ass in their first fight.
- Dark Is Evil: A dark figure who plays the role of the evil Emperor.
- The Determinator: Even as the Sleeping Beauty curse sweeps over everyone else in the Imperial Capital and he starts to become enveloped by thick, creeping magical vines, the Emperor draws his huge sword and starts hacking away, declaring "I--will--not--be--'''HELD!'''".
- Dragon-in-Chief: To Geppetto as the physically powerful figurehead of the Empire.
- Evil Overlord: Maintains the very carefully cultivated image of this.
- Expecting Someone Taller: Mocks Bigby with this trope during their battle, as even in full-on giant wolf mode, Bigby isn't as big as a normal adult wolf relative to him.
- Frontline General: Flashbacks depict The Emperor personally leading his hordes against the enemy, and is shown doing so once again in the War against Fabletown's invasion army.
- The Heavy: Public face of the Empire.
- Hidden Depths: Is always the calm voice of reason in heated discussions with his father Geppetto about how to deal with their enemies. The Emperor, a gigantic, demonic looking figure, is the one who counsels patience, and looks at the situation logically, trying to discern the course of action that will yield maximum results with a minimum of carnage and loss of personnel. A key scene supporting this view of The Emperor's character appears near the end of the "Good Prince" story arc, where he doubts the wisdom of killing many of the Empire's loyal, or at least innocent citizens for the crimes of enemy subversives, just to make an "example" of someone.
- Large and in Charge: Towers over most of his subjects.
- Kill the Messenger: Subverted. It is reported that when given the news of Bigby's destruction of the Sacred Grove, he flew into a rage and slaughtered "dozens of his servants, counselors and closest aides". But the likelihood of this incident actually occurring is doubtful, as scenes featuring The Emperor in quiet situations like meetings for war or at council depict him as quite patient and even-tempered, respecting the advice of his underlings and treating them decently.
- The trope is initially played somewhat straight, but then subverted, when Lancelot, Ambrose's envoy from the kingdom of Haven, suddenly and magically pops up in the midst of an Imperial Council meeting. The Emperor immediately orders his men to slay the intruder, but seeing that all attacks fail against Lancelot (as he's a bodiless spirit), he then orders his men to stand down, and patiently listens to Lancelot deliver his message from Ambrose.
- Killed Off for Real: After Bigby literally takes his legs out from under him in the final battle, he is bombarded by all of Fabletown's available heavy armament. Boy Blue suddenly pops up via the Wiching Cloak, to once again decapitate the fearsome Emperor with the Vorpal Blade. And as Geppetto's no longer around to restore him, this time his death sticks.
- Nigh-Invulnerable: Aside from the durability his origins give him, the Emperor also has the best protection spells hundreds of warlocks and witches can bestow on him.
- Off with His Head!: Boy Blue manages to decapitate him in the course of his invasion of the Empire. But as "The Emperor" is ultimately just a huge puppet, he is restored relatively easily enough. But it does take the second time around, with Bigby's help.
- Pragmatic Villainy: During a secret council with his father, Geppetto, the true ruler of the Empire, when discussing how to deal with King Ambrose and Haven, the Emperor advises against needlessly wasting their forces against an apparently immovable magic object, and sees the utter foolishness of sending wave after wave of soldiers against an enemy who can turn them to his side.
- Puppet King: A literal puppet created to be the public face of the Empire, while his father Geppetto holds all the real power.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: His reaction to being told that they actually might have what he wants (magic beans that create giant beanstalks) but can't actually find them due to their chaotic filing system is to say "No use crying over it now", and moving on to the next topic. In council with his father, the Emperor often takes moderate and sensible positions. It implies that a lot of the Empire's bloodthirsty policies are due solely to the real power behind the throne, Geppetto.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: He has red eyes. Perpetually.
- Weaksauce Weakness: All wooden soldiers are vulnerable to someone prying out their joints. The Emperor is no exception.
The Snow Queen / Lumi
"No matter his talents, he's hardly comparable to your beloved Snow Queen."
Giant: "Ooh, she's pretty."
Imperial Dentist: "True, but a cold one, or so I hear."
One of the Adversary's most powerful (and unwilling) supporters. Lumi is basically the physical embodiment of the winter season, and has all the powers that entails.Imperial Dentist: "True, but a cold one, or so I hear."
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: She admits as much during her battle with Hadeon the Destroyer, referencing her ill-fated romance with consummate Con Artist Jack Horner, and her recent interest in Ali Baba.
- An Ice Person: She's the embodiment of winter, and snowflakes form out of thin air when she walks.
- Anti-Villain: She was only serving Geppetto due to being Brainwashed and Crazy.
- Black Widow: In issue #150, we see her freezing her most recent husband, who had been cheating on her (this is strongly implied to have been the case with the previous ones).
- Brainwashed and Crazy: It's eventually revealed that Geppetto fed her "loyalty spells" to make her loyal to him and the Empire.
- Broken Bird: Her failed "relationship" with Jack Horner started her on the path of villainy.
- Character Development: Of the negative kind; Lumi started out a kind and reasonable leader till she met Jack who took advantage of her and stole her powers and turned her subjects against her. This betrayal shifted her personality as she became as cold as the season she represents and lost trust in almost everyone she comes in contact with, while also developing a more ruthless and pessimistic outlook on life and becoming more violent I the progress, but it seems that she at least cares for Winter as she is attracted to her.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: One of the most literal examples you could ask for. It takes time, but she slowly but steadily warms up to and develops genuine affection for Ali Baba, her rescuer and prisoner.
- The Dragon: As commander of the Emperor's personal guard and one of the few people who knows the Adversary's real identity.
- Evil Sorceress: But the "evil" part is due mainly to Geppetto secretly slipping her "loyalty mickies", as well as her betrayal at the hands of Jack Horner.
- Heel–Face Revolving Door: Fairest revealed that the reason for her Face–Heel Turn was because Geppetto had secretly been drugging her for thousands of years. After she fell asleep due to Briar Rose's curse, her time under gave her body an appropriate duration to digest the crap out of her system. Following the battle with Hadeon the Destroyer, Lumi's now good again.
- Ice Palace: As a magical construct of hers, its icy structure is self-renewing.
- Ice Queen: Her ability to summon cold weather makes this a case of Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
- Love Makes You Evil: Her betrayal by Jack Horner caused her to trust no one, and eventually started her down the path to becoming one of the most feared, tyrannical figures in the series.
- Meaningful Name: Lumi is a Finnish word for snow.
- Narcissist: After being betrayed by Jack, she became pessimistic and gained a sadistic side to her as she had no remorse for anyone but herself and would kill or get rid of anyone who stands in her way. In could be implied that she cares for her sister's, son, and Winter at least, but everyone else can die as far as she cares.
- Pretty in Mink: She likes to wear fur to show off her status. She carries a fur boa in her first appearance, and wears a white fur cape in her last one.
- Really Gets Around: If she's not seen plotting to destroy someone, she's in bed with someone.
- Sadist: She obtained this side of her as she took pleasure in killing people and froze all her husband's instead of just divorcing them and felt no remorse for any of her heinous actions.
- Statuesque Stunner: Taller than most, if not all, of the females introduced in the series, and as beautiful as you could ask for.
- White-Haired Pretty Girl: Sports a mane as white as a mid-winter blizzard, and certainly very fetching on top of that.
- Winter Royal Lady: Her title is the Snow Queen.
Baba Yaga
"I'm going to eat your fingers and your toes and your eyes. And I'll make a pudding of your withered old flesh, and a pudding of your brains. And grind your bones to make my bread."
"Baba Yaga's been set free. And now prowls the dungeons dank. She contemplates with evil glee. Every soul she'll personally thank. For keeping her imprisoned oh so long, drained of all her power. To those who wronged her she'll in turn do wrong. Her rage grows by the hour." - The Magic Mirror
One of the Great Powers captured by the Empire. She decided that service was better than eternal imprisonment.- Arch-Enemy: To Frau Totenkinder.
- Badass Boast: Spews this while successfully battling a whole horde of imps, evil sprites, minor demons and such, singlehanded."Rage! Rage at me, you foul spirits and beasts! Howl and growl though you might, thunder at me with fang and claw and diverse magics— still you fall short, breaking against me like waves against the rocks! Kneel down! Serve me or DIE! That's your only choice!"
- Cold-Blooded Torture: Her Wooden Soldier lieutenants Hugh, Drew and Lou do this to the captive Boy Blue on her orders.
- The Dreaded: Probably the most widely feared witch in legend and folklore, even moreso than Frau Totenkinder.
- Eldritch Abomination: Adopts this form when battling Frau Totenkinder during March of The Wooden Soldiers. Not that it helps her.
- Evil Old Folks: In her natural form she looks like a decrepit crone.
- Evil Sorceress: One of the most famed and feared of all.
- Familiar: She is served by the Knights of Dawn, Midday and Night, each of which can beat an entire army.
- Honey Trap: She seduces and captures Boy Blue by posing as his lost love Red Riding Hood.
- I Am a Humanitarian: Is infamous for this within the series and legend.
- Iconic Item: Her mortar, pestle and chicken legged hut all make an appearance.
- Killed Off for Real: By, of all people, Bufkin, with the Vorpal Sword.
- Kneel Before Zod: Makes some uppity wooden soldiers toe the line just before the Battle of Fabletown.
- Gives this option to the forces of demons, imps and evil spirits she faces (and eventually destroys) during the "Witches" arc.
- Off with His Head!: How she's ultimately dispatched, with the Vorpal Blade, wielded by Bufkin.
- Shapeshifting: Most notably into Red Riding Hood, for the purposes of seducing Boy Blue.
- This Cannot Be!: She is shocked at her thorough and devastating defeat at the hands of Frau Totenkinder during their duel at the Battle of Fabletown, assuming her much more widespread and fearsome reputation would make her unbeatable.
- Her very reasonable reaction to being defeated by a flying monkey, dozens of Liliputian Barleycorn girls and several bodiless heads."This is entirely ridiculous! It can't end like this! It's dumb!"
- The Vamp: Is one while in the form of Red Riding Hood.
Hugh, Drew and Lou
From left to right: Hugh, Lou and Drew
"Dear Meatheads: We realize this is a vulgar and uncouth land, but from now on, let's try to have better manners towards your superiors." - Hugh, Drew and Lou
The first Wooden Soldiers readers are introduced to in FABLES lore, they serve as adjuncts and advance scouts for the full-on invasion of Fabletown.- Berserk Button: Offering them food is a good way to risk death at their hands. And a fleshly human having the temerity to deny them anything is a definite death sentence.
- Bullying a Dragon: At one point, they take umbrage at being ordered about by Baba Yaga, who effortlessly blows them back with a magical blast. That swiftly puts them in their place.
- Call a Human a "Meatbag": They disdainfully refer to all organic beings as "meat", or "meatheads", even to their faces.
- Dead Guy on Display: The fate of a gun seller who takes exception to the soldiers' attempt to abscond with his merchandise. He's hung upon his own store's wall with over a dozen knives stuck in his dead frame.
- Fantastic Racism: As Wooden Soldiers, they have huge pride in their inherent superiority to fleshly creatures, calling them "disposable meat, eventual food for grubs and worms", fit only to be subjugated and/or destroyed, and have nothing but utter disgust for fleshy habits and needs. Their disdain for non-wooden creatures even causes them to rebel against the witch Baba Yaga, who swiftly shows them why that was a bad idea.
- Neck Lift: Brother Lou snatches a seller of "red hots" by the throat and lifts him high.
- Nigh-Invulnerable: Comes with being made of magical wood. Even if something actually manages to damage them, they are easily restored.
- Super-Strength: As is standard with wooden soldiers. Lou easily hoists a hapless and portly hot dog vendor by his neck with one hand.
- The Men in Black: Not really "men" in the strictest sense, but they have the mysterious air and they (along with their fellow invasion troops) are definitely rocking the ensemble.
- Shadow of Impending Doom: During their battle with Jack Horner, Drew is knocked off a fire escape, plummeting to the street below. Directly underneath is the unwary Lou, who receives warning only in the form of Drew's growing shadow...
- What Happened to the Mouse?: They are clearly high-ranking authority in the Empire, and the ones who spearhead the invasion proceedings, answerable only to Baba Yaga, but as Hugh, Drew and Lou are indistinguishable from the other Wooden Soldiers, it is unknown if they even took active part in the fighting, and as such they might have escaped destruction in combat or by Bigby's hurricane assault. And there is nothing to indicate that their heads are among those gathered and locked in the Fabletown Business Office. As it stands, their ultimate fates are unknown.
- Wicked Cultured:Drew: "It is my fondest desire to bust a host of caps into multitudes of fleshy personages."
- Would Hurt a Child: It's casually mentioned during a conversation with Baba Yaga that the brothers have been stealing babies for her to eat.
Hansel
"You've served an ugly and sinful cause for so long, you'll need to summon up all of your regrets and humility to enter once more into a state of grace."
"He earned fame in every continental court as an expert witch hunter, testifying in one trial after another, and eagerly helping with the executions that followed. He burned them, or drowned them, or hanged them- however the local customs decreed. The manner of execution didn't matter as long as it was done." - Frau Totenkinder
The head of the Imperial Inquisition and one of the most feared men in the Empire. Acts as the Emperor's official Envoy to Fabletown, but is really there as a spy.- Affably Evil: Is relatively polite (but not without some degree of smug patronizing) in his dealings with Mayor Charming, as befits his stated role as an Imperial Envoy. Is even rather genteel with his captive Cinderella, sincerely advising her to repent her sins before he has her slain.
- "Ass" in Ambassador: He is appointed as the Empire's ambassador to Fabletown specifically because The Emperor knows how much the other Fables dislike him.
- Burn the Witch!: He is responsible for hundreds of witch burnings, many of whom were innocent girls.
- Dark Is Evil: His standard mode of dress.
- Disney Villain Death: Old Sam drops him off a cliff (after a huge running start), and he is never seen again in the series.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Subverted when he murders Gretel for daring to learn some basic spells.
- Fantastic Racism: Against witches.
- Holier Than Thou: So much. Considered his own sister Gretel irredeemably corrupted because of her consorting with Frau Totenkinder, considers all of Fabletown a den of sin and haven for demons, and launches his one man campaign to rid the Mundy world of witches as it is "God's will".
- Knee-capping: Cinderella passes up a chance to kill him because he could still be the official Ambassador of the Empire. She shoots him in both kneecaps instead.
- Knight Templar: Any atrocity he commits is in his mind justifiable, as it is either God's will, or in service to his Empire.
- Murder Is the Best Solution: Advises Kevin Thorn to simply kill "Writer's Block" to get him out of the way, so that Thorn can proceed with rewriting the universe. Thorn later takes his advice.
- A Nazi by Any Other Name: Dresses in very formal, very dark clothing, is coldly, brutally efficient, is fanatically dedicated to his ideology and totalitarian regime, and has nothing but contempt, if not outright hatred, for beings of differing races and religions.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Launches a stream of racially charged invective at Old Sam as he's forcibly wheeled out of Kevin Thorn's house. It's hard to feel bad for him when Sam eventually dumps him off a very high cliff.
- Pragmatic Villainy: After capturing top Fabletown spy Cinderella and leaving her to be executed, he makes a point of telling his henchman to keep a very close eye on her, don't let her get near anything she might use as a weapon, and don't get any closer to Cindy than he needs to be to kill her by shooting.
- Though his main mission in the Mundane world changes to the recovery of the runaway Pinocchio, Hansel realizes that though Geppetto wants his son back for obvious personal reasons, the most practical course would be to simply kill the boy, as he possesses far too much inside information on the Empire to risk falling into enemy hands.
- Sadist: Took great pleasure in torturing and killing thousands of women for supposed witchcraft in various extremely agonizing ways. Expresses his love for violence as he brutally pummels Kevin Thorn's twin "Writer's Block" with a crowbar.
- Smug Snake: His relaxed, superior pose in dealing with his hated enemies from Fabletown stems from his belief that he is so much more righteous and smarter than them. He is proven utterly wrong on both counts, on several occasions.
- The Sociopath: Responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people, and has never been depicted as feeling an iota of remorse for his deeds. Even for the murder of his own sister Gretel.
- Start of Darkness: His encounter with Frau Totenkinder was what sparked his hatred of witches. That hatred eventually grew so strong that he murdered his sister when she began to learn some magic.
- Torture Technician: He doesn't do it to gain information or even a confession: he just gets a sick thrill from inflicting pain and suffering upon his victims before their eventual demise.
- The Witch Hunter: Naturally.
- Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: Instructs his henchman Alben to simply blast the highly dangerous Cinderella as soon as he and his entourage are safely away; not offering her any "last requests" drink, or even a Bible to repent her sins, as any of this would give her an opportunity to escape or otherwise gain an advantage.
- Would Hit a Girl: On top of all the witches he's killed, he also murdered his sister Gretel by hitting her with a chair when he learned she was studying under Frau Totenkinder.
The Nome King
"Here I am, you nothings, and meaningless crawlers and scrapers! bask in the glory of your liberator!"
"I wanted a 'deftly outmaneuver the enemy' kind of war, but Roquat chose a 'kill them all' kind of war. Tie always goes to the sicker puppy." - Bufkin
Roquat the First, Member of the Emperor's Council, and the dreaded ruler of conquered Oz.- Beard of Evil: Has crazy long, and twisted, out of control facial follicles, to go along with his diabolical mindset.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Commands his guards to kill an entire crowd of people who witnessed someone hit him with a lollipop.
- Evil Is Hammy: Most assuredly loses his composure during Bufkin's depredations in his kingdom.
- He Knows Too Much: He is very enthusiastic about The Snow Queen's proposed plan to wipe out a large chunk of Mundane society with plagues, fire and ice. Later, he orders the slaughter of a good chunk of his own subjects for witnessing his humiliation at the hands of a disgruntled citizen.
- Off with His Head!: His final fate, at the hands of Hangy the Rope. Strangling the stony despot proves totally ineffective, so it is extremely fortunate that his head eventually pops right off.
- Omnicidal Maniac: Willing to wipe out the vast majority of the human population to destroy the relatively few Fable refugees living in the Mundane world.
- Has no problem with feeding dissident subjects to carnivorous monsters by the hundreds, to quell uprisings.
- 0% Approval Rating: Is universally hated and loathed by the subjects of his conquered kingdom.
June Greenwood
"I never cried when we were wood. I couldn't. Sometimes I miss not crying"
"She was carved to be the prettiest wooden girl I'd ever seen. Almost instantly I realized I liked being in her company. Her carver should be rewarded- raised up to the highest office." - Rodney Greenwood
A former woodcarver/medic in the Empire, she falls in love with a soldier named Rodney and petitions Geppetto to become human. She, along with her husband, become spies and assassins for the Empire.
- Deep Cover Agent: Along with husband Rodney, she was originally placed in the Mundane world to keep tabs on nearby Fabletown and perform the occasional assassination or three.
- Happily Married: To her beloved Rodney. They took the huge leap to be transformed from wooden soldiers to living flesh solely because of their undying love for each other, and that devotion hasn't dimmed.
- Heel–Face Turn: Switches loyalties from the Empire to Fabletown when her "big brother" Pinocchio makes her and Rodney see that it is in their father Geppetto's best interest to be forced to forego his behind the scenes rule of the Empire, so the couple starts working with the former enemy to bring his fall from power about.
- House Wife: June takes on this role as a cover for her spy/assassination mission.
- Pregnant Badass: Carries out assassinations, even while heavy with child.
Rodney Greenwood
"I began to realize that I was in love. And damned if she didn't also grow to love me. Of course neither of us knew what we were doing."
"I confess: I've always been a bit disdainful of my brothers and sisters who were made of meat, but now I realize that may owe more to jealousy than the vanity of woodly superiority." - Rodney Greenwood
Starts out as a lieutenant in the Empire's Wooden Soldier Division- second in command of Fell Company, Fifth Cohort, Seventh Horde. He falls in love with June and together they plead with Geppetto to be turned into flesh. Their petition is granted, on the condition that they both become deep agents in the Mundy world, carrying out covert surveillance and assassinations.
- An Arm and a Leg: While defending Fort Walder, the captured Arabian stronghold in the Homelands, a lion-like creature tears a huge chunk out of his leg. As Rodney is still entirely wooden at this point, this is a mere minor inconvenience, easily fixed, but it proves an extremely fortuitous circumstance, as it enables him to meet June.
- Badass Biker: Manages to track down and intercept superspy Cinderella, who is armed and riding in a cab, while speeding through Manhattan traffic on a bike with his wife.
- Badass Bookworm: An avid reader of books, and very adept in combat.
- Curiosity Causes Conversion: He admits in his letter to Geppetto that his feigned disdain of his wooden siblings who became human was only a mask for his jealousy, and yearning to know what the experience is like. Desiring to understand what it is like to be flesh, he consults a goblin about eating habits and
sexual relations. Surprisingly, none of what he hears deters him. - Deep Cover Agent: Placed in the vicinity of Fabletown in the Mundy world to perform clandestine assignments (like murder), and to maintain surveillance of the enemy Fables, reporting back to the Empire.
- Happily Married: To June. Despite (or because of?) the fact that they're also deep cover assassins for the Empire.
- Heel–Face Turn: Pinocchio convinces him and June that as they are magically "programmed" to be loyal to their father Geppetto, they must act in his best interests by leaving the Empire and helping bring down his regime. This leads to the couple turning themselves over to Fabletown's authorities.
