Far Out Fairy Tales Books in Order

The Far Out Fairy Tales books take familiar storybook bones and rebuild them into something stranger, louder, and a lot more comic-book friendly. These are short, full-color graphic novels for younger readers, and each one starts with a classic tale you probably already know. Then it swerves. The fun comes from seeing how far the new version will go without losing the shape of the old story.

That twist is the whole point.

Instead of treating fairy tales like delicate museum pieces, this series plays with them. Giants become science-fiction threats. Princesses turn into superheroes or action heroes. Monsters, robots, outer space, and mad-science energy all show up where you might expect castles and forests. The stories still move through familiar problems, strange bargains, risky journeys, and last-minute escapes, but the setting and tone are built for readers who like comics first and fairy tales second.

Carl Bowen's contribution, Jak and the Magic Nano-beans, is a good example of how the line works. It reimagines Jack and the Beanstalk in a battered future world, with a girl hero, a robotic cow, and a climb toward a high-tech cloud kingdom. That sounds like a big leap from the original tale, but the series wants exactly that kind of leap. The pleasure is in spotting what has changed and what has not.

These books are also built to be welcoming. You do not need to read them in order, and you do not need deep background knowledge. Each volume stands alone, so a reader can jump in wherever the cover or premise looks most fun. The pacing is quick, the dialogue is clean, and the art carries a lot of the storytelling. That makes the line especially easy for reluctant readers or kids who like fast visual hooks.

There is a smart teaching angle tucked underneath, too. Many editions include back matter that points readers back to the original version of the tale and explains the new spin. So the series works as entertainment, but it also quietly teaches comparison. A child can read the comic for the adventure, then flip to the back and start noticing structure, character roles, and how a story changes when you move it into a new world.

If you are looking at Carl Bowen's corner of this series, start with Jak and the Magic Nano-beans. If you want a broader sample, More Far Out Fairy Tales collects that story alongside several other remixed adventures. Either way, expect short, bright, mischievous retellings that know exactly how to keep the pages turning.