Cogito
03-22-2002, 10:09 PM
www.geo.fmi.fi/~tmakinen/...unting.jpg (http://www.geo.fmi.fi/~tmakinen/pics/books/hunting.jpg)
This is a page from one of my favorite books, Enki Bilal's "The Hunting Party". It is not a book by your normal definition, of course. But it is so fantastic, I always try to bring it to people's attention...
This book really changed the genre of "cartoons" or graphic novels, when it came out. Every single panel is a beautiful work of art, and the story unfolds like a serious book. Going from say, Marvel or DC comics to this, is like going from the Hardy Boys to JRR Tolkien.
Notice the juxtaposition of the dog and the servant: they have the same role, carrying the birds and rabbits. In the communistic "worker's paradise," the worker has been reduced to the status of a dog. One of the many clever little things, that escaped me the first time I read it -- one of the many reasons why I enjoy reading this book over and over.
The story of the book, is told from the perspective of a young interpreter, who is tasked with being a translator for a high-ranking Soviet communist leader. A group of the most powerful communist leaders in the east-block are gathering for a hunting party at a beautiful mansion. There is intrigue, but it is all very subtle -- a lot of flashbacks are used, to describe the character's unsavory backgrounds. It's simply brilliant...
I once found "The Hunting Party" in the $1 bargain bin at a local comic store... I immediately grabbed it of course, and started telling off the shop owner, about what the hell was wrong with his customers, that made them buy superman and erotic anime crap, while a serious piece of art like this would have to be abandoned in the bargain bin, WTF?! Then, I noticed a bunch of people (buying superman and anime porno crap no doubt) looking at me very nervously, so I paid my $1 and left, heh.
This is a page from one of my favorite books, Enki Bilal's "The Hunting Party". It is not a book by your normal definition, of course. But it is so fantastic, I always try to bring it to people's attention...
This book really changed the genre of "cartoons" or graphic novels, when it came out. Every single panel is a beautiful work of art, and the story unfolds like a serious book. Going from say, Marvel or DC comics to this, is like going from the Hardy Boys to JRR Tolkien.
Notice the juxtaposition of the dog and the servant: they have the same role, carrying the birds and rabbits. In the communistic "worker's paradise," the worker has been reduced to the status of a dog. One of the many clever little things, that escaped me the first time I read it -- one of the many reasons why I enjoy reading this book over and over.
The story of the book, is told from the perspective of a young interpreter, who is tasked with being a translator for a high-ranking Soviet communist leader. A group of the most powerful communist leaders in the east-block are gathering for a hunting party at a beautiful mansion. There is intrigue, but it is all very subtle -- a lot of flashbacks are used, to describe the character's unsavory backgrounds. It's simply brilliant...
I once found "The Hunting Party" in the $1 bargain bin at a local comic store... I immediately grabbed it of course, and started telling off the shop owner, about what the hell was wrong with his customers, that made them buy superman and erotic anime crap, while a serious piece of art like this would have to be abandoned in the bargain bin, WTF?! Then, I noticed a bunch of people (buying superman and anime porno crap no doubt) looking at me very nervously, so I paid my $1 and left, heh.