I just loved the expression of this little rat, surprised whilst taking his daily bath. Checking on the author sent me down an interesting rabbit hole…

“Ptiluc” (Luc Lefèbvre) is a Belgian comic artist best known for his humor comics about rats: Pacush Blues (1980) and Rats (1995). Yet he has also taken other anthropomorphic animals as main characters, like apes and monkeys (Ni Dieu, Ni Bête, 1992) and pigs (La Foire aux Cochons, 1998). Ptiluc uses these animals as a satirical metaphor for human society, featuring black and bleak comedy, yet thought-provoking commentary at the same time. Since 2002, he’s been a French national. --Lambiek, with edits

Veillée au coin du feu (“Fireside vigil”)

Ptiluc’s main inspirations come from American underground comix and the French magazines Fluide Glacial and Rigolo. He cites Hugo Pratt, Marcel Gotlib and André Franquin as his prime influences, but also adores the work of novelist George Orwell.

Pacush Blues : This gag comic about rats living in a drain would eventually become his signature work. Ptiluc said he closely identified with this animal species because people always said he resembled one, due to his long nose.

Urinoir : another day, another community bath

This looks like a funny animal comic at first sight, but contains sarcastic and often nihilistic commentary on humanity. There are no single recurring characters. While the comic features some black comedy gags at times there is also more poignant food for thought. The rats often wonder about the meaning of life and especially the role humans play in the destruction of the planet.

I’ll be looking for these books and will likely post more of Ptiluc’s work in future. It seems enormously promising on all fronts…