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Les Tuniques Bleues #11
The Blues in Black and White
The Blues in Black and White is the first book in the series of The Blue Tunics to be translated into English and brought to the emerging American market of graphic novels.
The Blue Tunics follows the adventures of our heroes Corporal Blutch and Sergeant Chesterfield as they try to survive the war, do their duty, and remain friends. Blutch thinks that the best way to survive is to desert. Chesterfield thinks that the way to do his duty is to fight the enemies at the risk of his life. Both try to maintain their relationship although, they have different agendas.
Immensely popular throughout Europe, The Blue Tunics, a series of nearly fifty volumes already in print, tells the adventures of two Yankee soldiers during the American Civil War, through the imaginative scenarios created by Raoul Cauvin and the artistic illustrations of Louis Salvérieus. While the war episodes are fictitious in nature, they are loosely based upon historical events and true American heroism during the Civil War. In Europe, the series attracts a wide range of readers. The superb illustrations, the historical value, the easy to read style, the high interest level, and the inherent humor make the series popular with readers of all walks of life and all ages - children to adults. In addition this illustrated format offers a powerful resource for schools trying to reach reluctant readers. Until now, the series has been unfamiliar and unavailable to most American readers.
46 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 15, 2017
Blutch and Chesterfield are back in the saddle of the American Civil War, charging repeatedly into enemy fire and picking their way back through the carnage. One such return places them rather too close to some exploding shells and Chesterfield finds himself blown into a tree. By the time Blutch has tracked him down he discovers someone else has found him first – a photographer. With them both being new to this artistic process they’re naturally fascinated but also a little appalled, particularly Chesterfield who finds his ignominious landing in the tree is proving a popular and hysterical photographic print with the troops.
After being on the receiving end of a couple more photography blunders Chesterfield has had enough but, because the photographer is there on the instructions of President Lincoln to record the war, Chesterfield’s blustering sees him seconded, along with Blutch, in keeping the war photographer safe. Both men end up with their own disgruntled opinion of the occupation but it isn’t until Blutch finds himself behind the camera that the dynamic begins to switch and we get to see past the bickering to the reason these two are inseparable.
This is a book about a friendship in the face of an unpleasant and brutal war. The fact people are senselessly dying all around them only for the remnants to be scooped up and sent straight back in again is never shied away from, although as this is a book open to all age groups the bloody reality is very much toned down. Remarkably this doesn’t trivialise the war – there’s still plenty of fighting and explosions, not to mention consequences. Chesterfield’s struggle to come to terms with Blutch’s new appointment is touching, as is Blutch’s solution to the injustice dealt out to his sergeant.
The Bluecoats series of stories are unusual in that they attempt to tread the line between comics predominantly aimed at kids and the unpleasantness of war, all the time keeping a humorous friendship funny and investing each story with some historical note to hang a plot on. That’s no small task, but Lambil and Cauvin manage it each time. Good books like this are a doorway for curious minds to go on and explore more, so these would make a brilliant addition to primary school libraries or bedroom bookshelves.
After being on the receiving end of a couple more photography blunders Chesterfield has had enough but, because the photographer is there on the instructions of President Lincoln to record the war, Chesterfield’s blustering sees him seconded, along with Blutch, in keeping the war photographer safe. Both men end up with their own disgruntled opinion of the occupation but it isn’t until Blutch finds himself behind the camera that the dynamic begins to switch and we get to see past the bickering to the reason these two are inseparable.
This is a book about a friendship in the face of an unpleasant and brutal war. The fact people are senselessly dying all around them only for the remnants to be scooped up and sent straight back in again is never shied away from, although as this is a book open to all age groups the bloody reality is very much toned down. Remarkably this doesn’t trivialise the war – there’s still plenty of fighting and explosions, not to mention consequences. Chesterfield’s struggle to come to terms with Blutch’s new appointment is touching, as is Blutch’s solution to the injustice dealt out to his sergeant.
The Bluecoats series of stories are unusual in that they attempt to tread the line between comics predominantly aimed at kids and the unpleasantness of war, all the time keeping a humorous friendship funny and investing each story with some historical note to hang a plot on. That’s no small task, but Lambil and Cauvin manage it each time. Good books like this are a doorway for curious minds to go on and explore more, so these would make a brilliant addition to primary school libraries or bedroom bookshelves.
December 1, 2021
Story: ****
This American publisher "Reney Editions" should have released "Auld Lang ..." first because it sets everything up but I didn't need that stuff. They planned a second tome and even started a website "www.thebluetunics.com" yet never continued the series. Too bad. Luckily Cinebook did in England.
The story has all of the usual ingredients but features an appearance of Abe Lincoln! The end is also very surprising and I need to know what happened in the next tome- which would be number twelve in the French order.
Art: ****
It's just right for the content but nothing special. The flopped over ears are awkward though.
This American publisher "Reney Editions" should have released "Auld Lang ..." first because it sets everything up but I didn't need that stuff. They planned a second tome and even started a website "www.thebluetunics.com" yet never continued the series. Too bad. Luckily Cinebook did in England.
The story has all of the usual ingredients but features an appearance of Abe Lincoln! The end is also very surprising and I need to know what happened in the next tome- which would be number twelve in the French order.
Art: ****
It's just right for the content but nothing special. The flopped over ears are awkward though.
August 9, 2022
(PT) Os combates são duros, mas certo dia, uma pessoa com uma estranha geringonça dispara algo que os faz tontos. Intrigados, Bultch e Chesterfield vão ver quem é e descobrem que é o fotógrafo mais famoso de Washington, Matthew P. Brady, que está ali ao serviço do presidente. E são encarregues de o proteger, à medida que visita os campos de batalha.
June 17, 2017
Publicado em https://osrascunhos.com/2017/03/01/os...
No quarto volume de Os Túnicas Azuis voltamos à Guerra da Secessão com a conhecida e cómica dupla. Este volume aproveita para explorar a personagem histórica Mathew B. Brady, um fotógrafo que, durante a guerra, e a mando de Lincoln, captava imagens de guerra.
Depois de um primeiro encontro, pouco auspicioso (pelo menos para Chesterfield), a dupla é obrigada a acompanhar o fotógrafo que se arrisca a exercer a sua actividade nos piores locais da batalha.
Não é com surpresa que Brady se lesiona, cabendo a Blutch tentar substitui-lo e registar os episódios bélicos. Aproveitando esta nova actividade para fugir da cavalaria (até que enfim!) torna-se um fotógrafo famoso.
Este volume aproveita assim a dupla cómica para nos apresentar o trabalho de Brady ao longo da Guerra, através do qual aproximou a realidade das batalhas das populações ao publicar as fotos nos jornais.
No quarto volume de Os Túnicas Azuis voltamos à Guerra da Secessão com a conhecida e cómica dupla. Este volume aproveita para explorar a personagem histórica Mathew B. Brady, um fotógrafo que, durante a guerra, e a mando de Lincoln, captava imagens de guerra.
Depois de um primeiro encontro, pouco auspicioso (pelo menos para Chesterfield), a dupla é obrigada a acompanhar o fotógrafo que se arrisca a exercer a sua actividade nos piores locais da batalha.
Não é com surpresa que Brady se lesiona, cabendo a Blutch tentar substitui-lo e registar os episódios bélicos. Aproveitando esta nova actividade para fugir da cavalaria (até que enfim!) torna-se um fotógrafo famoso.
Este volume aproveita assim a dupla cómica para nos apresentar o trabalho de Brady ao longo da Guerra, através do qual aproximou a realidade das batalhas das populações ao publicar as fotos nos jornais.
July 29, 2011
Autre bon album de la série. Rythmé, efficace, drôle. Pas grand chose à jeter. L'épisode met l'accent sur une des nouveautés de ce conflit : la présence sur le front de photographes qui, pour certains, ont pris des photos montrant sans complaisance les ravages de la guerre et alertant l'opinion.
December 8, 2016
Iets leuker dan het gemiddelde album dankzij de burgerrol van Blutch en de uitwerking daarvan op Chesterfield.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews