A comiXologist Recommends
Part alternate history part crime thriller, the incredibly engrossing series Metropolis from French publisher Delcourt, is now available in English for the first time. Set in 1936, it takes place in a seemingly utopian European capital city of Interland, a country created following a Franco-German peace agreement. Although Metropolis appears to be a bustling center of scientific and artistic advancement, as is so often the case with a shiny exterior, darkness and malice lie beneath.
The debut issue introduces us to the young Inspector Gabriel Faun, the sort of adopted son of the city, as he sits outside a café writing in his journal. Recently he has noticed strange phenomena occurring around him: objects appearing out of nowhere, statues and façades of buildings changing. It’s unclear whether these transformations are reality or some kind of hallucination, tied to a psychological trauma. As the issue continues, writer Serge Lehman gives us tantalizing clues to Faun’s past and its relation to the future of Metropolis. Murder, espionage, and Freudian theory are all at play!
Artist Stéphane De Caneva’s realist style is extremely satisfying and compliments perfectly the noir crime plot line. Making use of muted tones and shadows, he creates really interesting urban landscapes and captures skillfully everyday life in Metropolis.
I really love the cinematic, hard-boiled atmosphere of Metropolis. It’s a smart, action-packed series that draws on history and psychology without being hampered down by it. I recommend checking it out along with two other newly translated series from Delcourt: Alice Matheson and Promethee.
Karrie Larsson is an International Production Coordinator at comiXology living in Brooklyn. She is not afreud of anything (wocka wocka wocka).
A comiXologist recommends:
Come Prima
by: Karrie Larsson
As it is summer and perhaps the ideal time to take a road trip, I recommend doing so with the beautiful graphic novel Come Prima, written and illustrated by French creator Alfred. Set in the 60s, Come Prima tells the story of two brothers, Fabio and Giovanni, driving from France to their native Italy in a tiny Fiat 500 to transport the ashes of their father. The brothers have been separated for 10 years and their relationship has been a tumultuous one. On the road, amidst a slew of chance encounters, they fight often and sometimes do not speak to each other at all. At the same time, however, the trip proves to be a bonding one, digging up memories, both happy and painful, from their childhood.
Alfred’s storytelling is sensitive but accessible. The number of wordless panels sets a pleasant, meditative pacing to the book while also communicating the silence and distance between the brothers. There are wonderful landscapes of the French and Italian countryside, as well as many dream-like flashbacks. Inspired by Italian cinema of the 60s, Alfred’s illustrations succeed in a creating a powerfully nostalgic atmosphere.
Come Prima is an extremely engaging and visually stunning tale centered on family, roots, and a journey through Europe. It is easy to see why it won the top prize at last year’s Angouleme festival and I am so happy that it is available in English for the first time!
[Read Come Prima on comiXology]
Karrie Larsson is a Senior International Production Coordinator at comiXology currently living in Brooklyn. .
A comiXologist Recommends:
Karrie Larsson recommends Andrew Jackson Throws a Punch
Back when I was an AP US History student, my friends and I (being the very cool kids that we were) would create tournament brackets for US Presidents. We liked to imagine which founding father would beat all others in a hypothetical series of brawls, and Andrew Jackson was almost always declared the winner.
Thus I felt very validated after reading the hilarious Andrew Jackson Throws a Punch by Andrea Tsurumi (andreatsurumi) , creator of Zootrop and Yakitori, which seems to endorse this outcome as well. Incorporating historical fact, Tsurumi retells the story of Jackson’s boisterous inaugural ball, wherein the White House was opened to the general public. The spirit of celebration is soon replaced by one of anger and violence, as Jackson’s hot temper is unleashed on the revelers. Tsurumi playfully points out, that despite being a popular president, Jackson’s penchant for violence and morally dubious decisions was indeed very real.
Winner of the 2013 MoCCA Award of Excellence, Andrew Jackson Throws a Punch demonstrates Tsurumi’s exceptional talent as an illustrator. Her renderings of crowds and fight scenes create a dynamic sense of movement, which is further accentuated in Guided View Native. In addition, I love how Tsurumi creatively integrates words into her art; much of the story’s text is written on signs held by the guests of the ball. If you are a fan of indie humor and appreciate really well-done illustrations, I definitely recommended Andrew Jackson Throws a Punch !
[Read Andrew Jackson Throws A Punch]
Karrie Larsson is an International Production Coordinator at comiXology currently living in Brooklyn. In her spare time, she makes ceramics and searches for the city’s best ramen.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Karrie Larsson recommends Un Océan d'amour
If you’ve seen the Pixar movie Up, you should remember the heartbreakingly beautiful opening montage. Not a word of dialogue is uttered, but the evolution of Carl and Ellie’s life together, both the good and not so good times, is poignantly laid out on screen.
Although it doesn’t span the course of a lifetime, Un Océan d’amour, from French publisher Delcourt, captures a similar tenderness without the use of any words. It chronicles the plight of an old fisherman who is lost at sea and his wife’s determined efforts to bring him home. Stranded in his tiny dilapidated boat, the fisherman encounters all sorts of nautical perils, including pirates, storms, and pesky seagulls; he subsists on the tins of sardines packed by his wife in his lunch. Meanwhile, her frantic search for his whereabouts brings her to Cuba, charming everyone she meets along the way. Writer Wilfred Lupano infuses a subtle humor and whimsy into this very original take on a simple story of two separated lovers.
Artist Grégrory Panaccione, who also illustrated Âme perdu, is a masterful character artist; the facial expressions of the fisherman and his wife look and feel incredibly sincere. Panaccione also captures the subdued tones of the Breton coast, making wonderful use of muted blue, greys, and greens.
Un Océan d’amour, along with Porcelaine and Entre Parenthèses, is a great example of the quality of graphic novels being made in France right now. Moreover, it is a testimony to the power of pure visual story telling and the universal theme of love.
[Read Un Océan d’amour on comiXology]
Karrie Larsson is an International Production Coordinator at comiXology currently living in Brooklyn. In her spare time, she makes ceramics and listens to a lot of Drake.