I was quite pleased to discover that my local library carried the Wake series of graphic novels by Jean David Morvan and Philippe Buchet, as I've been wanting to read them for a while, but being imports, they're hard to find and expensive to buy. They're fun little science fiction tales of the sort the US comics industry appears unable to do and are well worth a read.
Originally published in French as Sillage, these books display an interesting quirk of the localisation process, and one which perhaps points to the differences in how comics are viewed in the US and Europe.
Bloody gunshot wounds to the head?
Yep.
Graphic impalements on the ribcage of a dead animal?
Indeed.
Graphic impalements on the ribcage of a dead animal and foul language at the same time?
All present and correct, sir.
Boobies?
NAKED BREASTS ARE THE WORK OF SATAN, AND WE WON'T BE HAVING THEM FLOPPING ABOUT ALL OVER OUR COMICS, YOU SICK FRENCH BASTARDS!
Extreme violence and swearing are a-okay, but nipples apparently need to be covered up by magical black bars. The Americans are an odd people...
That comic looks really cool.
ReplyDeleteLike most European comics, the writing and/or translation is a bit choppy, but the art is absolutely gorgeous, and it's amazingly imaginative, especially in comparison to the US mainstream.
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