| “ | What do you mean we, paleface? | „ |
| ― Raven to Jack Horner as they're ambushed by Native-Americans in Americana, Jack of Fables #19 — "On the Road: Part Three of Americana" |
Raven is a human Fable who is a prisoner at the Golden Boughs Retirement Village. He first appears in Jack of Fables #2 — "Jack in the Box."
History
Prisoner at the Golden Boughs
Raven is a Native-American who can turn into a black raven and is guided by a bird spirit that takes the form of a white raven.[4] The bird spirit describes him as a trickster,[7] which is true to Native American mythology.[8]
During his time as a prisoner at the Golden Boughs, he became friends with Wicked John[9] and once tried hitting on Mary Mary.[3] At some point, the spirit instructed him to stay close to the copy of Jack of the Tale. Raven, like so many others, Raven believed that Wicked John, who was the spitting image of Jack except from his dark hair, was a copy of Jack Horner, and Raven and John became close friends.[9]
Companion to Jack
After the mass escape from the Golden Boughs, it is revealed that John is the original Jack of the Tales and that Jack is actually the copy. After hearing the news, Raven chooses to leave John behind and become Jack's companion instead, since the spirit had specifically instructed him to befriend the copy and not the original.[9]
As they're traveling through Americana, he helps Jack push Hillary Page, Babe and Paul Bunyan off the train, only for Jack to push him off next. He speaks nervously to Hillary and Bunyan, but admits that he cannot be too mad at Jack, as he would have done the same if he had first thought of it.[4] He also abandons Jack and the group when they are ambushed by Native Americans.[2] When Hillary becomes angered by Jack's confession of sleeping with her other sisters, Raven admits he would have done the same, but he wouldn't have admitted it aloud, which he sees as bad form.[10]
Dino Diner
Jack and Raven's ways eventually part[11] after the destruction of the Golden Boughs,[12] when Raven chooses to stay with a group of former prisoners at Dino Diner.[11]
At some point, they turn the diner into a theme park where the Fables work.[6]
Death
Decades later, the spirit comes to Raven in a dream and tells him that he has forgotten his purpose in life, which is to protect Jack Horner. The spirit commands him to gather together every ally he can muster and save Jack Horner, who, unbeknownst to Raven, has been transformed into a dragon. Raven tells the others that the bird spirit has showed him the way to Fabletown, and the group sets off to find the place.[7] The group follows the spirit for days, until they reach their destination,[13] finding themselves in the middle of a battle between Jack Frost and Jack.[5]
Raven lies to the others and convinces them to protect the dragon, saying the dragon is the only one who knows the secret way to Fabletown. Everyone soon realizes that they have been tricked when Jack kills several of them, believing that they are out to steal his treasure. The Page sisters, distressed by the loss of the true books that could restore their immortality, begin firing at everyone in their vicinity, which leads to Raven sustaining a gunshot wound to the forehead. As he succumbs to his injuries, he inquires of the spirit why it guided them into this lethal situation, to which the spirit nonchalantly responds, "No particular reason. I thought it'd be funny."[5] (though it realized that something else had been pulling the strings as well).[13]
Physical appearance
Raven is a muscular,[13] handsome[14] Native American with light brown skin[4] and long wavy black hair.[15] As a person with the ability to transform into a raven,[4] he favors all-black clothing and typically dons a snug T-shirt and tight-fitting trousers paired with black wristbands and a belt buckle with a black raven motif. He always wears a necklace with a round pendant, starting with a white one[15] and subsequently a red one.[16]
Appearances
Original source
Raven is based on the titular character of the Raven Tales from Native American mythology. The Raven Tales encompass stories that feature the trickster figure known as Raven, which are rooted in the traditions of the Athabaskan (Dene)-speaking peoples of the Pacific Northwest and other First Nations in Canada. In the narratives of some First Nations, it is said that Raven serves as the creator god who brought all things into existence as they are now. Raven is an erratic figure who can either bestow good fortune or misfortune; nonetheless, he represents transformation and provides the audience with a chance to reflect on his frequently poor conduct and alter their own behavior.[8]
References
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