Benny Breakiron 1

 

Benny1-COVWritten and illustrated by Peyo (aka Pierre Culliford)
Backgrounds by Will (aka Willy Maltaite)
Translation by Joe Johnson
Design and production by Adam Grano
Lettering by Janice Chiang
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
Originally published in the early 1960s, Benny Breakiron presents the story of a young French boy who is well-mannered and studious, yet has problems with making friends, especially those his own age, because he hides a stunning secret…he is incredibly strong! This is actually a very inventive premise, with the boy’s awkwardness placing him in situations where his great strength proves more of a hindrance than a blessing. Despite his abilities to outleap anybody and to outrun anybody and lungs that would make any and every chain-smoker envious, things tend to break when he gets close, from toys to cleaning implements to vehicles to entire street corners. He means well though, always, which is where the real charm of the story comes to light.

I freely and miserably confess to not really being familiar with Peyo’s work. I never read any of his comic strips before, to be frank, although as was befitting my age group if something was animated at any point in the 1980s I saw all of it. So I’m no stranger to the Smurfs. This is a very different premise however, quick and constant in pace with a plot that leads Benny through a grand series of connected adventures. In this graphic novella-sized volume, his old cabbie friend is being pushed out of business by a new agency of taxi-cabs, with big thuggish drivers and a boss who, despite establishing a friendship with the local police chief does not seem like much of a nice guy by any definition. Benny’s friend learns a little too much about his new competitors, thereby prompting pages and pages of almost Hergé-levels of excitement that even take Benny and his pal rather far outside of their French town. All the while, Benny, who in spite of his powers is not exactly the cape-wearing sort, maintains his child-like grasp of right and wrong, proving as endearing and timely as it does just a fun and fun storytelling device.

The artwork is very stylized, with brushy sharpness and jagged dimensions, and loaded with copious detail. It is very easy on the eyes, with imaginative forms and figures that retain consistency throughout.There is a pretty broad range of settings in the story, and all are presented with much colour and zest. I never encountered Peyo’s work before, but that wasn’t necessarily by choice. I see now just how robbed I was by fate. Chiang’s lettering is complete aces here, giving what looks to be a hand-lettered approach that may well be her staying stylistically comparable to the untranslated original fonts. It is gorgeous work, very nonabrasive and to the point as gently as possible.

The second volume is already on the way, and I look forward to it. This is a really great package, of a super-strong boy in a light-hearted adventure engaging a world that seems oblivious to all of the above. As with the finest cartoonists, there are a few subtle jabs by way of loosely buried social commentary, but this would really be a good read for just about any age-group. Considering the source material is roughly 50 years old now, that’s really saying something, saying something as loudly as the most accomplished drawings possibly can.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 11/05/13 - 0 comments

Ernest & Rebecca 4

 

Ernest4-COVWritten by Guillaume Bianco
Illustrated by Antonello Dalena
Colours by Cecilia Giumento with Florent Bonnin
Original design by Jean-Luc Deglin
Translation by Joe Johnson
Letters by Janice Chiang
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
In this adorable and mildly heart-wrenching graphic novella, six and a half year young Rebecca continues her summer vacation with an eventful visit to her dad’s new home by the sea. The change of environment proves a fun escape for the girl, as the shock of her parents undergoing divorce still settles in, but while her best microbe pal Ernest is growing upset by her independence and her big sister Coralie is suffering preteen melodrama of her own, the rambunctious and colorful heroine is still able to stumble into wacky adventures and profound life lessons regardless. This comic book is genuinely enchanting AND it teaches some great fishing tips, among many other things.

Bianco’s writing is so gloriously casual and heart-felt, capturing the imaginative narrative of a child in ways that older readers can identify with and enjoy, and all while not writing down to anybody. His humor is very sweet, and the drama of the plot is surprisingly realistic, as Rebecca and her family playfully survive a rather large turning point in their lives. The unexpected return of an old friend was an extra treat in particular, but the meat and potatoes of this girl relating to her family and friends while learning about the world, and yet still being as impatient and gross and silly and hyperactive as any kid is, like I said, profound storytelling.

Dalena’s artwork is very precise and evocative as well, giving a fun and animated air while never going over the top stylistically. The consistent but angled exaggerations of the linework contribute additional youthful energy to the story, and the brilliant colouring from Giumento and Bonnin is jaw-dropping gorgeous- so lush and full of life. I understand several of these creators have before worked on Disney properties in the past, but I cannot think of any Disney product that comes remotely close to capturing such inoffensively candid earnestness in gentle ways that convey these at times mature themes so effectively well. This really is a comic for everyone, and the virtuosity of the artisans involved is mesmerizing and strangely comforting, presenting a bright tale free of pop culture references but filled heartily with honest, age-old morals.

Ernest & Rebecca: The Land of Walking Stones is a wonderful chapter in a wonderful series, and I unashamedly await the next. If you don’t get it then you’re not reading it, and if such is indeed the case then your life is really missing out on some truly special comic bookery. (And the photo in Salicrup’s editorial involving tentacles is icing on the cake for those missing the good times of an egoless but strong editorial presence- Papercutz rocks!)

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 26/03/13 - 0 comments

Ariol 1

 

Ariol1-COVWritten by Emmanuel Guibert
Illustrated by Marc Boutavant
Translated by Joe Johnson
Letters and Associate edits by Michael Petranek
Editor in Chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
This English translation of the first graphic album of the French comic Ariol is breezily fun and colorful. Ariol is a young donkey in the suburbs, painfully rambunctious as he goes from one short tale to another, with a big cast of relatable pigs, cows, horses, flies, dogs and chickens. This is the type of book that offers something for any age group, especially the ones with a healthy admiration for the unharnessed energy of youthful imagination. This volume is a generous helping of good vibes and positive personality, especially with a vomit gag.

Guibert styles his plots in a situational comedy fashion, with setups taken from day to day life but turned on their ear by the inventive dialogue and identifiable characters of Ariol, his family and friends, schoolmates and teachers. Like any boy, Ariol balances his attentions between fanboyish appreciation for his fantasy hero and his awkwardness towards his crush on a particular girl from his class. His imaginative follies do at times keep his well-meaning parents on their toes, and his partner in crime best friend shares the role of instigator in many of the more irreverent adventures. Guibert really loves his cast of animals, giving them flourishes of realism just slight enough to rise this premise above your standard newspaper strip zaniness. Some of the stories do have a subvert way of breaking down very real issues into terms easily digested for the discerning parents of typical modern kids, and Guibert accomplishes this with tremendous grace and intuition. Really, he glorifies that time of fifth graders running about after school on par with the better memories one might possess, in a timeless manner that is legitimately fun to read.

Boutavant has a light, brushy style that freely insinuates a range of humor and appropriate melodrama. The look is similar to a child’s perspective of the world, brief on details but oh so vivid in form and especially color. His storytelling is super-strong, giving an alternative/indie comics feel to this world of animal children, and the general flow has the pages turning faster and faster, almost by effect expressing how fleeting the days of adolescence can be. Alright, maybe that sounds a bit lofty, but he has a richly gorgeous style that is very gentle on the eyes. Petranek does a great job blowing up word balloons as well, capturing the angst and exhilaration and all points inbetween of Ariol and company remarkably well. And Johnson’s translations are perfect, particularly in capturing the obnoxious habit of one of the teacher’s speech patterns. This is a great team, bringing a great story to this Western world.

Ariol really is a fun comic book, and it looks as though the crew at Papercutz has additional translations coming. Their collective eye for truly entertaining French sequential artisanship is on the money, gleefully making our selection of solid reading materials even more diverse than we probably deserve. But with an engaging character such as Ariol, who’s complaining? Want a reminder of how much fun funny books can be? Go with Ariol!

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 10/02/13 - 0 comments

Dance Class 3

 

DanceClass3-COVWritten by Beka (Bertrand Escaich and Caroline Rogue)
Illustrated by Crip
Letters by Tom Orzechowski
Colours by Maela Cosson
Translation by Joe Johnson
Production by Adam Grano
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.

This third volume in the graphic novella series has Julie, Alia and Lucie, the trio of young female leads, endure their own passions for dance, as their school introduces them to a new African dance, which incorporates movements from everyday life. The parallel with the girls already living and breathing dance is well envisioned, and the lighthearted comedy presents a surprisingly fun tale all in all.

Many of the gags last a page or three, but the overall narrative includes many different events, from a couple of parties to time at school to the introduction of some new characters- and the African dance class drummer steals the show in every scene he’s in. We see a bit of the home life for the girls, as well as the younger generation of dance class students, but what stands out are the glimpses suggestive of the sacrifice these girls undergo in pursuing their dreams. It’s never overly dramatic of course, but it is refreshing to see represented the awkwardness of balancing relationships and side jobs and family obligations alongside something that can be rather demanding all on its own, fun though it is. Great balance to the story itself, with many silly lines and situations.

Crip’s art is very vibrant, and makes thoughtful use of physical comedy. Some of the illustrations of the students lost in dance were actually very clearly lovingly rendered. His panel flow is very casual and almost calls to mind the house style for the Archie strips, and should easily appeal to those fans. I think Cosson’s colours were the real star here, with a colorful but muted haze on every page giving a calming effect to the wackiness of some of the scenes. Excellent incorporation of SFX as well, playing off the art like a medley.

This is another of those all-ages, family-friendly comics, and although the target audience is certainly young females there are plenty of gems to enjoy here. I cannot dance to save my life, but I’ve always enjoyed watching others and seeing the passion of others- all of which is well represented in these pages. Whatever our art, it should go hand in hand with our living, and seeing these young characters responsibly embrace that is a bit irresistible.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 15/12/12 - 0 comments

Sybil The Backpack Fairy 3

 

Written by Michel Rodrigue
Illustrated by Antonello Dalena and Manuela Razzi
Coloured by Cecilia Giumento
Translation by Joe Johnson
Letters by Janice Chiang
Production by Julie Sartain
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.

This latest volume to the series of graphic novellas has young Nina wrestling with keeping her personal fairy Sybil a secret from her family and friends, while King Oberon and Queen Titiana need her help to save…everything. It’s a jumbo-sized fantasy adventure and a coming of age story all in one, as the forces of light and forces of dark unfold over a family drama. Really well done and smartly executed, though best suited for the more imaginative preteen readers out there.

Rodrigue’s story covers a ton of ground, as Nina and her backpack fairy go off with her classmates for a week of horseback riding. But family secrets come forth just as Nina must accept her role in the greater scheme of things. Lots of colorful characters and imaginative scenarios, almost like a Harry Potter setup for younger, primarily (but not exclusively!) female comic fans. While there are many a cute moment therein, the level of drama does keep things grounded, and Rodrigue’s approach to some Shakespearean names is fine and more than adequate. The level of answers given and plot threads tied off in this book are impressively done though, and make for a fine jumping on point for anybody interested in a fun story. These issues are generally self-contained, although there is noticeable continuity, and handled light enough so as to not confuse the young or anyone with a short attention span in general. And really, the payoff at the end is totally worth the huge buildup of this story, and even of earlier issues. Rodrigue clearly has a tremendous imagination, but just as easily writes some rather touching stuff.

Dalena and Giumento handle the art for the Ernest and Rebecca books too, but their work here is a very different style, shades more realistic though every bit as fun and energetic. With Razzi they offer strong panels that serve as windows into this small world where very big things happen. This story obviously calls for a lot from the visual storytellers, and they conduct their efforts stylishly and with tons of flavor. Chiang as well…her recent work for Papercutz has been some of the best of her long career, like the woman is finally able to really cut loose after too many superhero comics. I think there were still some awkward moments to Johnson’s translations here which may have affected the balloon flow, but again this is a large story with many neat factors to it, and the end product is an excellent package.

Like with much of Papercutz’s output, don’t be so quick to presume that this is kiddie fare. The many colorful personas of good and evil in this book alone are stunningly well above and beyond what passes for inventiveness at the big two publishers these days. This is a great work of fiction brought faithfully to the English-speaking market, full of originality and with very human characters in spite of the mythological make believe of the story. Your intelligence will assuredly not be insulted.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 29/11/12 - 0 comments

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