this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2024
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European Graphic Novels+

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“BD” refers to Franco-Belgian comics, but let's open things up to include ALL Euro comics and GN's. Euro-style work from around the world is also welcome!

* BD = "Bandes dessinées"
* BDT = Bedetheque
* GN = graphic novel
* LBK = Lambiek
* LC = "Ligne claire"

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Now, the above might seem kind of fawning and patriarchal on the face of things, but I found it pretty-much the opposite. (work with me here?)

In short-- these three gals come from a range of backgrounds & scholarly ability, and are all vying to self-torture themselves through graduate school, essentially. For example, the advisor to Helen (the redhead below) is especially an enormous asshole, toying with her dissertation and future job-prospects unnecessarily, altho I suppose that's also par for the course when it comes to the academic grant-process, no? *sigh*

Oh, right-- what's happening here is that the school year is finally over, and they're spending a few days in the country at Helen's family's place. Fresh air, mountains, hiking, et cet.

Now, all three of them had pretty-consistently been dealing with shit from their BF's or love interests (and vice-versa) for the whole semester, so it was just nice for them to chill out, just girls, and symbolically as kids once again, with Helen's family.

Those are the lines that really killed me-- the idea that gifted academics can suffer such thoughts. Uh... "Imposter Syndrome," or something like that? So, meanwhile alongside their own accomplishments, they can be almost in a state of awe upon expert craftsman and people who make things happen with their hands, see?

If the pics don't show up correctly, try the page:
https://imgur.com/gallery/little-sequence-from-fascinating-slice-of-life-work-glory-days-i-e-le-bel-ge-by-merwan-2012-AVlBEKe

Merwan is just wonderful to me:
https://www.bedetheque.com/auteur-9301-BD-Merwan.html

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Awesome; glad to hear it! :D

And dammit...
I don't think I've read de Jongh yet. Could you pick one these for me, please?

Le retour de la bondrée
Jours de sable
Taxi ! - Récits depuis la banquette arrière
Soixante printemps en hiver

[–] Horrible_Goblin 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

So for I have only read Le retour. Its her debut, and for a debut its more than decent. Gotta give a heads up for some triggering themes though (I won't spoil which, if you're really concerned, pm me) The book is about dealing with trauma, so go figure.

I browsed trough taxi, and it definitely seemed decent, but it didn't appeal to me as much as Le retour which I ended up buying. Title is a pretty accurate description.

Jours de Sable is critically aclaimed, I've only seen some pages from it, but my guess is you won't be disappointed. It's about dust bowl, a man-caused ecological disaster in the states.

Soixante printemps I've also only seen a few pages from. I'm excited to buy it. Thematically its part of 2 books adressing love at a later age. the other one, I think, is called fleurs en automne. Both are made as a collab (soixante with Ingrid Chabbert, and the other with Zidrou)

So I think Le retour de la bondree is definitely a sound starting point. Although if one of the other themes or artists she worked with draw your interest, it definitely wouldn't hurt to start there. She also did a rendition of lord of the flies. That one has amazing art as well.

[–] Horrible_Goblin 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Also, I wouldn't say its worth making the trip, but anyone who does find themselves close to Rotterdam NL, they have a really nice expo about her in the Kunsthal (museum) right now. The other expo's they currently have on are worth visiting too.

Ok, maby I should just make a post about her... at this point im spamming so much anyway XD

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Side question-- does Rotterdam have a BD museum of sorts?

like, you know...

[–] Horrible_Goblin 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

what do you mean by BD? i feel like im missing something...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Wah? Et voyez-vous notre barre latérale?

Ce sont des "bande dessinée!" ("BD")

(sorry, sorry, my bad. I get worked up sometimes, I'm sorry)

[–] Horrible_Goblin 2 points 1 week ago

Ah right, yeah its a struggle sometimes, bouncing between 3 languages. French isn't really my forte anyway ^^"

I think the Dutch talk of franco-belgische strips as an alternative to BD. Often just 'Strips' As for the american/japanese varieties we tend to use Comics/Manga respectively.

We used to have have a stripmuseum in Groningen. More info here

Apparently there's also a museum of comic art in noordwijk aan zee.

I havn't been to either, sadly.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Merci beaucoup!
So then, I will start with Le retour!

Ooh, ooh, did I also hear you say that you'd be willing to make a post on our sub about de Jongh? That would be so amazing, if you could. T_T

Gosh, there's so many great female cartoonists in the genre, and altho I've done my best to feature them myself, I still feel like I'm letting them down, on the whole. Plus of course, so many of the lesser-known talents in BD.

(argh, my version of "heaven" is being able to finally touch on every BD creator, ever, until I have to go, one day)