The holidays are upon us and another year is in the books. But before we move on to the excitement of next year, we wanted to take some time to look back at 2015 and to reminisce about a few of the great things it brought to the world of DC Entertainment. Whether it was a remarkable development inside one of our comics, a cool, game-changing twist that played out on the screen, or a real-life change that will impact the comics, movies, TV shows, toys and games that you’ll be seeing from us in the future, this year had no shortage of moments that stood out. However, some resonated more than others. Some really stood out. These are DCComics.com’s “Ten Moments that Mattered” for 2015.



 

No, it wasn’t exactly “happily ever after.” Fables has always been about dispelling that notion. There is no “happily ever after.” There is no good and no evil. Life isn’t a fable. It’s complex, rich, tragic and wonderful. In short, it was a lot like the final chapter in Bill Willingham’s beloved comic series.

Snow White, Rose Red and their family of Fables had defeated the Adversary. They’d defeated Mr. Dark. But no one can strike a blow more damaging or destructive than family, and so it’s only fitting that Fables finished with a grand battle between the oft-estranged sisters at the series’ core—or so we thought. That battle never manifested, and in a poignant, perfect twist on our expectations, Bill Willingham and his dream team of artistic collaborators (including long-time Fables illustrators Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha) ended things with a series of short stories revealing the fates of dozens of the series’ characters. Everyone gets their moment, sweet or bittersweet as it may be, and for readers who have been following these characters for over a decade, it’s like saying goodbye to each one in turn. By the end, if you were wiping away a few tears, who could blame you?

Yes, while Fables may not always be about happy endings, it turns out it’s about hopeful ones. It’s about figuring out your place in the world, fighting your battles, making peace with your fate and just trying to get through life when what’s right isn’t always as clear as we may have once been told. While we readers may dream of living fairy tale lives, it turns out that Willingham’s fairy tales are living lives much like us. Yes, this may be the end, the final of his Fables, but good stories are meant to be reread and passed down to new generations. We have no doubt this one will do just that.


Be sure to check DCComics.com again tomorrow for another moment that mattered in 2015.