| “ | I moved the stars for you, and crafted vast oceans to cross. I broke you free from your dull, ordinary world and delivered a queen to this one. | „ |
| ― Mr. Steampuddle to Therese Wolf, Fables #115 — "Teddy Bear: Chapter Two of Cubs in Toyland" |
Mr. Steampuddle is a living toy boat who is one of the Discardia; discarded toys from the mundane world. He first appears in Fables #112 — "All in a Single Night."
History
Background
Mr. Steampuddle is a sentient, magic toy boat[5] and a member of the Discardia, a group formed by discarded toys[4] from the mundane world[6] who are somehow washed up on the shores of Toyland[4] after being thrown away,[6] living through the belief of children.[7]
Restoration of Toyland
On Christmas, Therese Wolf receives a plastic toy boat.[2] Disappointed by her gift, and with no knowledge of who sent it, she sulks and is overall upset. The boat eventually begins speaking to her, and leads her to a puddle in the forest. When the boat touches water, it grows in size, big enough for her to embark. The boat tells her she is going on an adventure.[5]
The boat, it turns out, is Mr. Steampuddle, who takes Therese to Toyland, where broken and forgotten toys live. Toyland is seeking a new queen, and Therese is the new candidate.[1]
After Therese ascends to the throne as the Queen of Toyland, she commands Mr. Steampuddle to lead a series of voyages for the toys to save lives. After many years, the toys that were once broken are slowly being restored, and Therese ultimately boards Mr. Steampuddle to go back to the mundane world to update her family on her brother Darien's fate.[8]
Mundy pilgrimage
Centuries after[3] magic leaks into the mundane world,[9] Toyland frequently welcomes pilgrims from the mundane world, who come to eat from the magic cauldron, hoping that it will bestow upon them magical qualities, thus transforming them from mundy into Fable. The pilgrims are ferried to the location by Mr. Steampuddle, who navigates the boat as near to the shore as possible before making a brief halt. This enables the visitors to wade the remaining distance to the beach, where they are permitted to partake in the food from the cauldron. Once they have savored their meal, they must promptly return to the boat to avoid missing the tide. The boat subsequently carries them away once more.[3]
Powers and abilities
- Shapeshifting: Mr. Steampuddle can morph into immense proportions, allowing him to be large enough to carry passengers.[5]
- World-crossing: Mr. Steampuddle possesses the magical ability to journey to and from Toyland,[8] and he can create vast oceans[1] from a mere puddle[5] to facilitate his travels to Toyland.[1] Previously, he was constrained by the age-old laws of magic, permitting him to travel solely when Toyland required a new monarch. Nevertheless, following Therese Wolf's ascension to power, he gains the ability to make as many crossings as she directs.[8]
Appearances
Fables
- Fables #112 (first appearance)
- Fables #114
- Fables #115 (first identified as Mr. Steampuddle)
- Fables #121
- Fables #150
References
- ↑ 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 Fables #115 — "Teddy Bear: Chapter Two of Cubs in Toyland"
- ↑ 2,0 2,1 Fables #112 — "All in a Single Night"
- ↑ 3,0 3,1 3,2 3,3 Fables #150 — "The Last Toy Story"
- ↑ 4,0 4,1 4,2 Fables #116 — "Cubs in Toyland, Part 3: Clockwork Tiger"
- ↑ 5,0 5,1 5,2 5,3 Fables #114 — "Toy Boat: Chapter One of Cubs in Toyland"
- ↑ 6,0 6,1 Fables #118 — "Cubs in Toyland, Part 5: Broken Kite"
- ↑ Fables #119 — "Cubs in Toyland, Part 6: Wooden Toys"
- ↑ 8,0 8,1 8,2 Fables #121 — "Toy Repair: Chapter 8 of Cubs in Toyland"
- ↑ Fables #150 — "In a Castle Dark"
Notes
- ↑ As depicted in Fables #118 — "Cubs in Toyland, Part 5: Broken Kite," the Discardia are discarded toys from the mundane world.