European Graphic Novels+

Welp, I had something of a personal catastrophe this past weekend, but am finally recovering. I must say, though-- when there are little gaps like that, it sure would be nice if one of the readers could step in and post whatever.

Okay, enough whining.

So, I just finished re-reading the first color work by the fascinating "Blutch" [BDT], made in 2002. TBH, I feel like I need to re-read it a couple more times to get a better sense of it, but for now I can say that it's a surreal series of interconnected scenes that have a movie-like touch, not unlike the work of David Lynch or Fellini, perhaps.

Two women are the lead characters, with the one above ("Lola") struggling to deal with her merciless dance instructor, her absurdly eccentric father, and of course, a big galoot of a celloist chasing her skirts. Oh, and also Renée, the other lead, an obsessed writer who wants to do a book about Lola. The overall tome however is really about the absurdness and even scary sides of humanity, as reflected nicely in the drawing style. Blutch is definitely NOT after pretty, conventional LC here!

Here then are the first six pages of Vitesse Moderne:

-----> https://imgur.com/a/tHqiinO <-----

Btw, I find some major similarities between Blutch's work and that of the great Frederik Peeters of Switzerland and Grégory Mardon of France. All three seem willing to look at the human beast straight in the eye and give you notes that you might not have thought about or wanted to see in comics.

In conclusion, I don't know if I'd call this book a 'classic,' but it's a mature work, worthy of many re-reads, that might just feed some part of your soul (or intellect).