tacomaven's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kdraw333's review against another edition
4.0
This book is beautifully drawn in vibrant watercolour/gouache and the author uses some really clever visual storytelling techniques such as colour-coded dialogue that can flow independently of its speakers, without the need for speech balloons. The whole book feels lively and free in its use of text and image, often looking like a collection of paintings/illustrations that stand on their own, while still telling a fairly conventional cartoon strip narrative.
The story is a contrast in characters, a meeting of minds: conversation-killer Gert and his free-spirited childhood friend, Robbie. I didn't quite understand the appeal or popularity of the Robbie character, but then again my grasp of French isn't up to subtleties. At one point, on the night ride home, Robbie pisses on a wall and everyone applauds the creative genius of his "piss angel", so I'm guessing we're not really supposed to believe the hype.
I'm looking forward to seeing future books with more complex characters and stories from this artist, but his stylish drawings, design sense and ability to create subtle shifts in mood through visuals already make Les Noceurs something special.
The story is a contrast in characters, a meeting of minds: conversation-killer Gert and his free-spirited childhood friend, Robbie. I didn't quite understand the appeal or popularity of the Robbie character, but then again my grasp of French isn't up to subtleties. At one point, on the night ride home, Robbie pisses on a wall and everyone applauds the creative genius of his "piss angel", so I'm guessing we're not really supposed to believe the hype.
I'm looking forward to seeing future books with more complex characters and stories from this artist, but his stylish drawings, design sense and ability to create subtle shifts in mood through visuals already make Les Noceurs something special.
nwhyte's review against another edition
5.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3142254.html
This won the first Willy Vandersteen Prize for the best Dutch-language comic of the previous two years (annual since 2014). It also won a Prix de l'Audace at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, and an Eisner nomination (for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art), in 2011). I thought it was really good.
It's a story in three parts. First, Gert throws a party in his attic apartment; all his old friends have come in the hope of catching up with Robbie, the most popular chap in the class. Lots of views of stilted conversation through the empty chair where Robbie is not sitting. In the second part, Robbie works his charm on lonely Noemie, who casts her inhibitions aside for some wild sex with him. And thirdly, Gert catches up with Robbie after checking in grayly and anonymously for his new job as a school administrator, and their relationship is laid much more open to us as readers than to them as characters. Robbie's favourite night club, Disco Harem, lurks in the anecdotes told by guests in the first part, and is the setting for most of the second and third parts; it is lushly realised and almost qualifies as a character on its own.
The extraordinarily expressive watercolour art (see here for some sample frames) is what puts this album a cut above the usual Flemish reality comic (which I tend to enjoy anyway). And the graphic story medium, done well as it is here, can catch nuances of characterisation that the printed page cannot. I strongly recommend this.
This won the first Willy Vandersteen Prize for the best Dutch-language comic of the previous two years (annual since 2014). It also won a Prix de l'Audace at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, and an Eisner nomination (for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art), in 2011). I thought it was really good.
It's a story in three parts. First, Gert throws a party in his attic apartment; all his old friends have come in the hope of catching up with Robbie, the most popular chap in the class. Lots of views of stilted conversation through the empty chair where Robbie is not sitting. In the second part, Robbie works his charm on lonely Noemie, who casts her inhibitions aside for some wild sex with him. And thirdly, Gert catches up with Robbie after checking in grayly and anonymously for his new job as a school administrator, and their relationship is laid much more open to us as readers than to them as characters. Robbie's favourite night club, Disco Harem, lurks in the anecdotes told by guests in the first part, and is the setting for most of the second and third parts; it is lushly realised and almost qualifies as a character on its own.
The extraordinarily expressive watercolour art (see here for some sample frames) is what puts this album a cut above the usual Flemish reality comic (which I tend to enjoy anyway). And the graphic story medium, done well as it is here, can catch nuances of characterisation that the printed page cannot. I strongly recommend this.
neven's review against another edition
4.0
If you described it to me, I'd say this wasn't my type of story. But it totally won me over with sharp writing and gorgeous art. Very European.
maiakobabe's review against another edition
3.0
The Wrong Place is a gorgeous and odd book. It’s painted entirely in vibrant watercolor and without panel borders or speech bubbles. It took me a few pages to get the hang of reading the loosely structured pages, but the fact that each character’s dialogue is written in a different color helps a lot. The story opens up at a very awkward party hosted by Gary, the one person in the book painted all in gray. Gary is guy that no one wants to talk too, but a collection of his old school and work friends have shown up at the party because of a rumor that Robbie might be there. Robbie is the coolest guy in town- all the girls want to do him, all the guys want to be him- but by some quirk he and Gary are very good friends. This is a story about social interactions, chance meetings, loneliness and friendship.
zeliearpin's review against another edition
5.0
Histoire très triste mais interessante, montre une triste réalité
Les dessin son magnifique, la forme est classique tout en étant original
Les dessin son magnifique, la forme est classique tout en étant original
jackatnight's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
shishirin's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75