Comics That Should Be Translated: Silence

Originally published in 1980, Silence is a graphic novel by the Belgian artist Didier Comés (1942-2013).Set in Beausonge, a fictional village located in the Ardennes, some decades after the second World War, it tells the story of its titular character, a young man who has been mute since birth.

Possessing considerable physical strength, Silence is nonetheless mocked and exploited by the rest of the village, particularly his 'master', Abel Mauvy, the richest and most powerful man in Beausonge. 

Not that Silence realizes any of this, pure of heart (or simple-minded, whichever you prefer), he knows nothing of hatred or the evil that dwells within the human soul.

However, an encounter with the blind woman who lives in the outskirts of Beausonge will change all that. It is this woman, known only as 'the sorceress' who will reveal to Silence the truth behind his origins and spur him to assist her in her revenge against the village who has made them both suffer. 

Silence made a great impression on me when I first encountered it in its Swedish translation many years ago and I'm happy to say that time has not diminished its potency. The Drama that unfolds is dark and utterly absorbing, blending the everyday with the fantastic and exploring several themes (good and evil, love and  hate, resistance against tyranny superstition, the treatment of 'the other' in society and so on). Comés' black and white artwork perfectly matches the writing, being very expressive and atmospheric.

As for the characters, Silence's innocence, his connection with nature and his empathy with all that lives makes him a moving and sympathetic protagonist, while  his antithesis, Abel Mauvy is one of the most striking portrayals of human evil I've come across in comics. 

As a rule, the characterization is superb, with each character from the blind sorceress, to her rival, the villagers and others all being memorable in their roles.

In conclusion, Silence is without a doubt a masterpiece. However, now that I think about it, its a bit strange that this is the only comic by Comès I've read, despite being aware of his other works for years. 

I think its about time that I did something about that.

Theodore Poussin

 I had originally planned on making this a part of my Comics That Should Be Translated - series, until I found out that the first three volumes of Theodore Poussin have actually been translated. So, obviously, that plan is out, but, as you can see, this has not prevented me from writing a short post about it anyway.

Theodore Poussin is a French comic created by Frank Le Gall (b. 1959), which made its debut in Journal de Spirou in 1984. So far, thirteen albums have been published in the series, with the latest having come out in 2018. 

Inspired by Le Gall's own grand-father's journals (though it should be pointed out that the story itself is pure fiction), the comic takes place during the 1920s and tells the tale of Theodore Poussin, a young man working as a clerk at a shipping company in Dunkirk. Theodore longs to get out of the dusty office; he dreams of sailing the seven seas, like his late father, a Captain used to do. So, it should come as no surprise that when the head clerk tells him that there is a position available aboard one of the ships, Theodore jumps at the opportunity.

On the day before he's about to embark, Theodore goes out to have a drink with his friends. In the bar, they're approached by a mysterious man dressed in black. After having quoted from a poem by Charles Baudelaire, the man presents himself as Novembre and tells Theodore that they will meet again. Theodore does not know it, but this meeting will end up changing his life forever.

Theodore Poussin is a deceptive comic. At first glance, the art-style of the first few volumes (especially the first one) and the look of the main character, may give you the impression that you are dealing with a light-hearted  boys' adventure comic. A pale of copy of classics such as Tintin or Spirou & Fantasio. However, that impression would be incorrect. True, there's nothing in Theodore Poussin that could be considered inappropriate for children, but at the same time, Le Gall's writing makes it clear that this is a work intended for an older audience. As a storyteller, I feel that Le Gall has more in common with Hugo Pratt than he does with Hergé or André Franquin.

As is the case with many great comics, one of the chief-strengths of Theodore Poussin lies in its characters, beginning with its protagonist. Despite his looks, Theodore is no Tintin with glasses. Unlike Hergés reporter, he has a past and a family and during the course of the comic, he grows from a somewhat naive young man into an experienced adventurer. This change comes is owed in no small part to the people whose paths he crosses on his journey: Georges Town, the pirate, Sir Laurence Brooke, Martin and, of course, the most mysterious of them all: Monsieur Novembre. Each of them memorable and larger-than-life. It should be pointed out that, by and large, Le Gall avoids manicheaism in the way he portrays his cast. Some of the above-mentioned characters are more sympathetic than others, but none of them are completely black or white.

Theodore Poussin is a terrific comic. Although I have not read all the volumes, the ones I have read have been excellent (particularly the second one). If you want an adventure comic that is intelligent and mature in the truest sense of the word, than it comes highly recommended.