(click links for samples)

Last of the Atlases (authors: Vehlmann & Bonneval, illustrators: Tanquerelle & Blanchard, 2019-) Another smash by Vehlmann & Co, and a running series at that. We’re following the life of a mobster’s lieutenant dealing with Albanians trying to horn in on his gambling business, and more concerning, the police looking to nail him and his operation. Suddenly a Pandora’s Box of new problems pops open, such as having to rescue a big regional crime boss, needing to retreat to his homeland (Algeria) for the first time ever, and getting involved in a borderline-supernatural phenomenon while there. Based on all these factors & events, he conceives a mad plan to restore the last remaining “Atlas,” i.e. a giant work / combat robot, decommissioned and abandoned years ago. (I’m sensing a nice Miyazaki / Castle in the Sky tribute there) LotA is a brilliant mashup of themes you normally don’t see together, told with a level of truth & realism all too easily bungled in the comics medium, featuring impeccable story-telling and artistic expression. I’d call it an instant classic, checking off many of the same boxes as the wonderful District 14, although of course it’s quite a different kind of story.

The Princess of Clèves (Bouilhac & Catel, 2019) - Set in the middle 1500’s at the court of Henry II, this is a Dangerous Liaisons-style psychological drama about a young married woman struggling against her attraction to a philandering noble. Special tension comes from the fact that the noble decides to give up all his other pursuits in order to woo her, yet it still may not be enough. “Clèves” is perhaps a little dry for those who prefer action, as it mainly has to do with court intrigue, reputations at stake, and correctly interpreting the relentless gossip of the day. Based on a famous novel of the day, and featuring real historical figures, it’s an enjoyable delve in to a far different time and place.

Atomic Empire (Smolderen & Clerisse, 2018) - This is stylish, strange and amusing look at a man who believes he’s part of a cosmic conspiracy of sorts. We see him somehow, some way in telepathic communication with an important figure light years across the galaxy, thousands of years in the future. The issue at hand is that a tyrant of an emperor has escaped justice, and our protagonist has an opportunity to aid him, stymie him, or even pay for his sins in his stead. This could almost be a Scientology backstory, except this one probably makes a lot more sense. The book’s illustrated in an appealing 50’s, “googie,” jet-set style. Unfortunately, while this was a fun read, it jumped around a lot, and didn’t really stick with its characters. Another way of stating it is that there was a certain lack of satisfying ‘payoff’ moments and scenes that naturally reward the reader for following along. The creative team here has oodles of talent, but for most folks I’d recommend one of their more conventional works, like Diabolical Summer.

BTTM FDRS (Claytan Daniels & Passmore, 2019) - This indie comic was a wild, enjoyable ride that begins with such issues as a strained friendship, urban & racial realities, and a young woman trying to break away from parental influence, settling in to her first apartment. It’s the apartment itself (and the odd cement building) that throws the story in to overdrive, introducing abandoned technology and even genetic experiments that become active when new tenants enter the building. Despite not being crazy about the color palette (see for yourself in the link), I’m happy to say that “BTTM FDRS” (“bottom feeders”) has a certain weird, raw energy, and is a nicely-realised tale, with excellent story-telling. It’s also a bit provocative and open-ended, reminding me of plenty of classic BD.

Cradlegrave (Smith & Bagwell, 2009) - I liked the way this one sets you down so deftly in to the world of urban poverty (it’s set in Lancashire, Britain), as told mostly from a teenage / young adult POV. The art is nicely done in a subdued color palette, matching the setting. The story’s a bit breezy & aimless (although punctuated by dark moments) and it’s not always clear which character we’re really following, but that’s not unusual for this kind of work. In any case, the biggest takeaway for me was getting a better sense of the cyclical poverty & misery of this way of life, as it was easy enough to see why so many self-medicate from a young age, typically dooming their future selves. On top of that, there was a strange science / horror angle that I didn’t see coming, which I’m guessing was sort of a gonzo extrapolation of the ‘addict life.’ Cradlegrave had some echoes of BTTM FDRS in that way, although I thought that work was more focused. TBH I’m not completely sure why I’m adding a review for this work, as I suspect there’s better stuff out there of this type. Still, there’s real skill that went in to this one, and I’ve never quite seen a mashup of these issues before. This will probably be right up some peoples’ alleys, if not mine.