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Habibi (Pantheon Graphic Library)

Questions About Habibi (Pantheon Graphic Library)

by Craig Thompson

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Answered Questions (2)

What are similar graphic to haabibi and blankets? Love his art style
XenofoneX Short Answer: Blutch, & Frederik Peeters (without question)...
Peplum & Vitesse moderne (by Blutch); and Lupus, (by Frederik Peeters, one of his best …moreShort Answer: Blutch, & Frederik Peeters (without question)...
Peplum & Vitesse moderne (by Blutch); and Lupus, (by Frederik Peeters, one of his best early books, a 500+ page Science Fiction epic, done in his looser, Blutch/Thompson style).

Long Answer/TL;DR Answer:
'Blankets' was strongly influenced by the artistic style of French BD master Blutch. Thompson was one of several artists providing testimonials for the French master's genius & influence, in a TCJ article on Blutch being honored with an award at Angeloume, recognizing his already brilliant career.

Typical of Thompson's modesty & generosity, he recalls a slightly snarky rejection from an editor at the outstanding independent publishing house 'L'Association'. They wanted to publish French editions of his work, and loved 'Goodbye, Chunky Rice'. But when he sent them the finished pages from 'Blankets', the editor responded with the comment: 'Sorry, we already have a Blutch'.

It was an obnoxious thing to say, but Thompson being the humble, intensely self-critical sort that he is, realized all at once just how deeply Blutch had informed his stylistic shift between 'Goodbye, Chunky Rice' & 'Blankets'... and on further scrutiny, admits to accidentally & unconsciously 'swiping' a couple panels from Blutch's own memoirs detailing his fundamentalist upbringing, Le Petit Christian and Le Petit Christian 2.
While Blutch had a strong influence on Thompson, and 'Blankets' owes him a stylistic debt, the unnamed editor was vastly overstating the similarities. Craig Thompson is a singular talent, one of the best artists in the medium, and 'Habibi' further demonstrated his ability to evolve & adapt according to the demands of the story. Both Thompson & Blutch are absolute masters of the craft, artistic geniuses who have enriched the comics artform.

Blutch's work can be challenging & strange, operating somewhere on/in the Lynch-Woodring nexus of dreams, hallucinogenic states & alternate realities... but with a subtle, more grounded approach with seamless transitions. I've found briefly absurd & incoherent moments in his work that gradually resolve to a sharpened laser-focus. Never boring, always rewarding. And if you're looking for an artistic tour de force, I'd recommend:
01. Peplum, (English); It's one of his early masterworks, but 'Peplum' holds up as a modern classic.

02. Vitesse moderne(French); Blutch's expressionistic dry-brush style is operating at peak aesthetic power & efficiency.

03. Lune l'envers (French); one of his newer works, with a unique choice of colors.

04. So Long, Silver Screen (English); a beautiful & dreamlike homage to the painfully beautiful actresses of French Cinema.

05.Total Jazz (French); a collection of his music-themed art, material gathered from every period of his career. Half art-book, half short story collection.

Frederik Peeters may surpass both Blutch & Thompson, but I see all 3 as equals, in the roughest sense. These are all available in English, except Lupus. The four volume 'Aama' is one of the best BD masterworks of the millennium, and the artwork... wow, It's like the talents of Moebius, Blutch & Katsuhiro Otomo have been synthesized to create the perfect SeqArtist. ALSO: Like Thompson & Blutch, be produced one of the most groundbreaking memoirs of the last 20 years: 'Blue Pills'...
01. Aama, Vol. 1: The Smell of Warm Dust (English);

02. Aama, Vol. 2: The Invisible Throng (English);

03. Aama, Vol. 3: The Desert of Mirrors (English);

04. Aama, Vol. 4: You Will Be Glorious, My Daughter (English);

05. Pachyderme (English);

06. Lupus (English).(less)
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Could this book be considered a YA?
Julia I would not. It contains violence and sexual violence as well as other ways we humans can be completely and totally cruel to each other. It's a beauti…moreI would not. It contains violence and sexual violence as well as other ways we humans can be completely and totally cruel to each other. It's a beautiful story of spirituality and love, but for the mature reader. Read it yourself, then consider a supervised read if you think your young adult can handle it, but I would advise that they wait.(less)
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