Flycatcher (comics)
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| Flycatcher | |
 Flycatcher From Fables #42, Art by Mark Buckingham |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Vertigo Comics |
| First appearance | Fables #1 |
| Created by | Bill Willingham |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Ambrose |
| Team affiliations | Fabletown |
| Notable aliases | The Frog Prince |
Flycatcher, also known as the Frog Prince, or occasionally by Ambrose, his real name, is a fictional character in the comic book series Fables, created by Bill Willingham.
Contents |
[edit] Character History
[edit] Pre-Fabletown
Flycatcher was a happily married man in the Homelands, with many children. He lived peacefully with his family, his only quirk being the occasional resumption of his frog curse when he was nervous, scared or especially excited. Fortunately it only took a kiss from his loving wife to return him to human form, and, as time went on, he would often go for years between instances of the curse asserting itself. His tranquil family life was shattered when the Adversary invaded his realm. Fly geared up in order to fight, unaware that the enemy troops had already invaded his castle. As he bid farewell to his family, enemy soldiers burst into the room, causing Fly's curse to manifest immediately. Trapped in his frog form, he could only watch helplessly as his younger children were murdered immediately and his wife and eldest daughter repeatedly raped before being killed themselves. How Fly returned to his human form is unknown - it is speculated that he took a last kiss from his dead wife. Unable to face the truth, Fly wandered as a beggar, asking everywhere he went if people had seen his family. Finally he learned of the sanctuary of the mundane world and, figuring that his family would have fled there, he traveled there as well. He still wonders what happened to them and has asked one of the magic mirrors retrieved from the Homelands to search for them on his behalf. Some of his fellow Fables are aware of the true situation, but conspire to keep the truth from him, knowing that it would destroy him. When drunk, Fly appears to have a greater awareness of what really happened to them, which is believed to be the reason why he rarely drinks.
[edit] Fabletown
Flycatcher acted as the janitor for the Woodland building, the center of government for Fabletown. Fly was not employed in the traditional sense, since the nature of his history is such that, if he has a job that he could choose to quit, he would have to do so and return to the Homelands to seek his missing family. As this would almost certainly result in his death, Bigby Wolf developed a system whereby Fly is working off a never-ending series of community service orders for a series of minor infractions, usually eating flies. As such, Fly can remain in the job that he enjoys doing and where he feels important. This arrangement was nearly disrupted by the well-meaning Beast, who intended to employ Fly legitimately, before Rose Red put him straight on the real nature of the situation.
Fly has been spending a considerable amount of time with Red Riding Hood, having been asked to look after her by Boy Blue before the latter departed for the Farm. She accompanied him to Bigby and Snow White's wedding. Fly, however, seemed oblivious to the fact that Red was falling for him, something that he only appeared to realize when she went on an expedition out into the mundane city, where she had a makeover with him in mind. He was shocked when he saw her and ran away, hiding in the depths of the business office. His curse then manifested, reverting Fly to his frog form.
Eventually, Santa Claus visited Flycatcher and forced him to reveal that he can speak, and also that he remembers what happened to his family. Santa then brought the ghost of Fly's wife so she could restore him to his human form. Santa explained that Fly is destined to play a crucial part in future events, but only if he can learn to accept the past and move on.
The current story arc, entitled The Good Prince, focuses on Flycatcher. With his memory fully restored, he has resigned from his janitor's job and sworn vengeance on those who destroyed his family, attempting to enlist Boy Blue in training him in combat skills. Blue refused, partly on the grounds that Fly would never survive for long, but mainly because he didn't want to be responsible for the one truly good Fable losing his innocence. Returning to Fabletown, Fly found himself awakening and being drawn to the business office, where he encountered the ghost of the Forsworn Knight, now released from his armour. Introducing himself as Lance, the ghost informed Fly that he will act as a guide for the first part of Fly's quest. Lance bequeathed his armor to Fly (which resumed its lustre after being placed on a pure person), as well as helping him to obtain Excalibur. Lance then knighted Fly, claiming he was to take up the role of the Once and Future King (formerly held by King Arthur).
[edit] Personality and traits
Tall and decidedly gangly, Fly is almost universally popular in Fabletown, being kind and friendly (even if not exceptionally bright), to the extent that Snow and Bigby named one of their children Ambrose in his honour. Although still searching for his family, he has developed something of a crush on Briar Rose, to the extent that his kiss was enough to wake her from her curse.
Fables artist Mark Buckingham has stated that Flycatcher is his favorite character; Buckingham has said that he is the only truly innocent character in the series. This has since been backed up in the series itself, in which it has been noted that Flycatcher was the only Fable to reach the mundane world who had nothing to forgive, be covered up or otherwise being absolved of under the Fabletown amnesty.
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