The Fable

Fable is a legendary hitman who has completed numerous jobs for a variety of clients. After concluding his latest assignment, the number of people he has recently killed becomes too high, and Fable is ordered by his boss to lay low for a year. He is suggested that having to adapt to life as an ordinary citizen might prove a valuable experience for his future work.

Fable is to be accompanied by the woman who acts as his driver, and the two will assume new identities as siblings. However, their boss warns them that they will both face a deadly punishment if Fable kills anyone during his time off. Thus begins Akira and Youko Satou's joint one-year sabbatical from the underworld.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

The Fable won the 41st Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 2017. The series ranked 19th and 14th in the 2019 and 2020 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! for the Male Readers division, respectively.

The series was published digitally in English by Kodansha USA from April 12, 2022, to January 9, 2024, and in print as 2-in-1 omnibus volumes since April 9, 2024.

The manga was adapted into a Japanese live-action film that premiered on June 21, 2019. A sequel film was released on June 18, 2021.

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Characters

Satou, Akira

Main

Satou, Youko

Supporting

Yamaoka

Supporting

Ebihara, Takeshi

Supporting

Jackal Tomioka

Supporting

Shimizu, Misaki

Supporting

Kuroshio, Ryou

Supporting

Yuukari, Shinobu

Supporting

Boss

Supporting

Matsu

Supporting

Reviews

Apr 19, 2024

javier668

Recommended

WOW! The Fable! This manga packs a bunch of action, humor, and suspense. Meet 'Fable,' a legendary assassin living a dull life in witness protection. But don't let the boredom fool you – when the action kicks in, it's non-stop adrenaline.

What makes 'The Fable' awesome? It's got a hero you'll root for, epic fights, and moments that tug at your heartstrings. Plus, the cast is full of interesting characters, from Fable's sidekick Moko to the mega criminals he faces off against.

If you're into manga that keeps you on the edge of your seat, 'The Fable' is a must-read. It's got amazing and very unique style, ...

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Feb 21, 2024

bergars

Recommended

It's hard not to oversell something I consider perfect.

Hitmen. The concept of being employed to kill a human being. Money for a life, violence, done by any means. Intelligence in the art of killing. I love the exploration on what hitmen do from a variation standpoint. I've seen many iterations of the concept in tragedy movies with their tragic hitman. The funny one, the unflinching one, the absolutely horrific one. However, there are two hitmen in fiction that explore something way more profound, while dressing themselves as a some of the funniest comedies I've ever seen. “Barry”, and “The Fable” are about artists at their ... work, killing, but now trying something new, while their previous lives call for them; like a plague they can't get rid of.

This one begins with a legend in the underground. The Fable, a man that if you encountered him, and survived, you just weren't their target. An unbridled force of nature, who doesn't consider anything to do with killing as something difficult. 6 seconds to kill in hand to hand, and mere minutes to kill an entire criminal, trained battalion. How about telling this absolute carnage-capable human being to live a quiet life, have a job, enjoy a drink, or a good restaurant for an entire year? His answer is asking his personal driver to blow on his cooked fish because it's too hot.

It turns the whole concept of criminals into that of a comedy that attempts to remain wholesome while everything pushes it towards constant destruction. It's a story about giving a killing machine the ability to become a human being once and for all, even if he was just the same as you or me before that. He's good a what he does, and is proud to call himself a pro, but then he proceeds to laugh at a third rate comedian in the radio. Everything casual that's done by the newly named Satou feels like a paradox you can't help but laugh at. An absurdist comedy, that frames a murderer in the most mundane of worlds. He makes stupid faces, he draws like a toddler, can't stand hot food, and it makes me feel happy inside.

Not many times do I feel like something's profound while still being a simple and fun story. There are scenes where Satou pretends to cry after being purposefully hit in the face to look normal. His entire thought process on hilarious display, and yet, there are other quiet scenes, where the main duo talk like brother and sister. They have the most normal conversations, while now they can ask themselves about tomorrow. They weren't ever assured there'd be a tomorrow, hell even in the same day their lives could end. Instead of exploring the level of guilt that killing can cause like “Barry”, this is a series hell-bent in telling you about the hope of a human heart to remain positive.

The past can't always define us, for as tragic and unforgivable as it may be, and experiencing the silliness of life can change us in ways we can't even fathom. The human connections we make, the times we forget to call home to get a meal in time, or the other moments where a job allows a fun conversation to happen. The world may push us towards violence, but even the most experienced killer can choose.

Now sure, it's all cool as a message and all, but this is mainly a story about the fights, the power, the struggle, the display of skill, and Jesus Christ the action is beautiful. The realistic art style immediately sells the punches with raw brutality, even if fights are incredibly short. It's not a struggle, but a simple, small strategy that instantly reigns fruits, or fails, after which it's time for another one. As I said, 6 seconds to kill a person. All while NOT killing anybody.

Characters are in a league of their own. Not only is it hitmen, but a depiction of the Yakuza like nothing I've seen before. Humanized, but not disrespected. Oh, they're criminals alright, and this isn't a story that lets you forget. These people kill others, and their code of morals stand tall against those who dare defy it. There's the past Yakuza, always clashing with the new one. Crazy bastards that try to drag Satou and his code-named sister into killing. Everybody they meet in their newly appointed normal life is dragged into every conflict, and nobody is wasted at any point.

The villains are despicable, the heroes are lovable, even with all their flaws. I love the art, I adore the characters, I awed at the fight scenes, and couldn't stop reading until I finished it in record time.

10/10. An incomparable masterpiece of story, characters, art, comedy. It made me tense, clench my ass, as much as I was laughing out loud at other scenes. It's one of the greatest dark comedies, one of the best manga, hell one of the most incredible pieces of fiction I've ever consumed.

You need to read this one. Hyped for the anime, but I don't think it can top the manga.

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Jan 26, 2024

darkpixelftw

Mixed Feelings

TL:DR
Unexpectedly light-hearted tale of the a hitman trying to become a normal person - but he needs to escape the past first. This is more of a slice of life (albeit a slice of a very strange life) than action or comedy. However, this is very compelling for a certain kind of person.

Description
Fable is a legendary hitman who has completed numerous jobs for a variety of clients. After concluding his latest assignment, the number of people he has recently killed becomes too high, and Fable is ordered by his boss to lay low for a year. He is suggested that having to adapt to life ...

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