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).
I love dancing, especially in graphic novels because the artist is usually so focused on capturing the very essence of one particular movement for each panel, so I’m trying to find blutch now.
Thanks
I love dancing too, and was impressed by how realistic the two people were portrayed in these frames, even if it was also slightly hilarious due to the guy’s age and cranky nature.
I’ve added two links to Blutch’s stuff in the third paragraph.
Those pages look great.
Haha I feel the same way every time I see an instructor.
I always forget there’s someone behind the performer, so seeing the the usually older instructor dance with such precision next to their younger student is odd.
I remember when Maddie Ziegler danced on some show with her dance instructor for Sia’s chandelier, and I was like oh yeah, of course everything was choreographed by this person.
I always forget there’s someone behind the performer, so…
Part of the process then, my friend?
You’re getting smarter & wiser, and I’m getting older & more dull, lol.
Haha, you’ll have to point out any clear line between the wise and the dull for me.
