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The Farewell Song of Marcel Labrume
The first 21st century English language translation of Italian master Attilio Micheluzzi, a rousing adventure story that takes place in the Middle East during World War II. The first act of this thrilling two-part adventure tale takes place in Beirut in 1941, when renegade journalist Marcel Labrume crosses paths with the beautiful and mysterious American millionaire Carol Gibson, who the Germans suspect of being a spy. With the help of Labrume, the young woman works to deliver a Jewish man wanted by the Germans to Palestine. Then, in 1942, Marcel Labrume is captured during the Battle of Bir Hacheim and becomes a prisoner of war. With his usual style and aplomb, and by the skin of his teeth, Labrume manages to narrowly escape death. Marcel Labrume is Fantagraphics’ first entry in its planned Micheluzzi library, which will reprint all of his most significant works. Micheluzzi is one of the most iconic graphic stylists of the European comics scene known for his elegant line and stunning draftsmanship. He drew many graphic novels between 1974 and 1990, mostly of adventurous stories grounded in historical reality with a patina of romanticism, in the tradition of Milton Caniff and Hugo Pratt. Micheluzzi’s artwork in these Fantagraphics editions have been meticulously and lovingly restored by the artist’s daughter Agnes Micheluzzi and will be the finest reproductions in the artist’s career. Black-and-white illustrations throughout
- GenresComics
144 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2024
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Attilio Micheluzzi
72 books3 followersAttilio Micheluzzi (1930-1990) was an Italian comics artist.
Born in Umag, now in Croatia but at the time part of Italy, Micheluzzi graduated in architecture and worked for several years in Africa. Returned to Italy in the early 1970s, he started collaborating with the comics magazine Corriere dei Piccoli, often under the pen name Igor Arzbajeff. Among his works the adventure series Petra Chérie and Johnny Focus, as well as the science fiction series Roy Mann, with scripts by Tiziano Sclavi.
Napoli Comicon, the second biggest comic festival in Italy, has held the 'Attilio Micheluzzi Awards' honouring comics creators annually since 1998.
Born in Umag, now in Croatia but at the time part of Italy, Micheluzzi graduated in architecture and worked for several years in Africa. Returned to Italy in the early 1970s, he started collaborating with the comics magazine Corriere dei Piccoli, often under the pen name Igor Arzbajeff. Among his works the adventure series Petra Chérie and Johnny Focus, as well as the science fiction series Roy Mann, with scripts by Tiziano Sclavi.
Napoli Comicon, the second biggest comic festival in Italy, has held the 'Attilio Micheluzzi Awards' honouring comics creators annually since 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 27, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Fantagraphics Books for an advance copy of the first in a series of reissues from a European comic master, whose adventure stories captivated fans for years, and are sure to capture new fans today.
The odd thing about comics books is that Americans are always amazed to see that many to the things that are considered cutting edge, other creators have been doing all over the world. And most of the time better. While the big companies were dealing with comic codes, and brightly colored superheroes, the rest of the world was reading comics that dealt in intrigue, war, even a little bit of European racism. Stories about World War that was set in places that Americans probably didn't know about, dealing with people trying their best to survive in a world gone mad. Or the start of a world going mad. Attilio Micheluzzi was an Italian comic creator who traveled quite a bit around the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, places that he used in his stories, which ranged in genres from spy, war, and science fiction. The first to be reissued is The Farewell Song of Marcel Labrume, which takes place during World War II, and features a man who thought he was done with the world, and finding a reason to go on.
The story is told in two parts. Marcel Labrume is a journalist who has given up on his home country after France's capitulation to Germany. Living in Beirut, Marcel gambles, chases women, and does odd jobs for anyone cops, gun dealers, anyone who can pay. Beirut is a French colony, currently run by the Vichy government, with German Nazis poking observing everything. The Nazis are in fact looking for a fugitive that has gone to ground in the city, one that cause quite a bit of grief to the Third Reich. Into this mix comes an American aviatrix, Carol Gibson, who has money, and as an American is a neutral in the war. Marcel's advance is shot down, and he becomes entranced with Carol, and soon is caught in her scheme to get the fugitive out of the city. In Beirut everyone is for sale though, and loyalty can fluctuate with the money the next person is offering, something Marcel soon finds out.
There is a second story, but most of that will give away the first so I won't go into it. The second tale is quite good, as is the first. This is a European comic, and one written when hating the government and authority was expected. There are a lot of bad things happening to good people, here, and those who should care more, really don't. Also this are of their time. There is a lot of racism and cracks, mostly about other Europeans which was different. Women though are not treated well, and there is a nickname for a character that probably wouldn't fly today. On the other hand these are brutal stories of espionage, the cost of war, and what that cost makes good men do. There are bad guys, and guys who are wearing bad guys uniforms, but caught in situations they can't control. Marcel is a strong, strong anti-hero. Most of what he does is to keep himself alive, darn the consequences. The art is really good. The characters are all portrayed well, the backgrounds really set the place, and time, and the cars, planes, subs all look amazing.
Fans of serial adventure stories like Corto Maltese or Steve Canyon, even Modesty Blaise will enjoy this. The stories are dark, European and full of history and great writing. Just be warned they are of their time the 1970's and one will have a great time.
The odd thing about comics books is that Americans are always amazed to see that many to the things that are considered cutting edge, other creators have been doing all over the world. And most of the time better. While the big companies were dealing with comic codes, and brightly colored superheroes, the rest of the world was reading comics that dealt in intrigue, war, even a little bit of European racism. Stories about World War that was set in places that Americans probably didn't know about, dealing with people trying their best to survive in a world gone mad. Or the start of a world going mad. Attilio Micheluzzi was an Italian comic creator who traveled quite a bit around the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, places that he used in his stories, which ranged in genres from spy, war, and science fiction. The first to be reissued is The Farewell Song of Marcel Labrume, which takes place during World War II, and features a man who thought he was done with the world, and finding a reason to go on.
The story is told in two parts. Marcel Labrume is a journalist who has given up on his home country after France's capitulation to Germany. Living in Beirut, Marcel gambles, chases women, and does odd jobs for anyone cops, gun dealers, anyone who can pay. Beirut is a French colony, currently run by the Vichy government, with German Nazis poking observing everything. The Nazis are in fact looking for a fugitive that has gone to ground in the city, one that cause quite a bit of grief to the Third Reich. Into this mix comes an American aviatrix, Carol Gibson, who has money, and as an American is a neutral in the war. Marcel's advance is shot down, and he becomes entranced with Carol, and soon is caught in her scheme to get the fugitive out of the city. In Beirut everyone is for sale though, and loyalty can fluctuate with the money the next person is offering, something Marcel soon finds out.
There is a second story, but most of that will give away the first so I won't go into it. The second tale is quite good, as is the first. This is a European comic, and one written when hating the government and authority was expected. There are a lot of bad things happening to good people, here, and those who should care more, really don't. Also this are of their time. There is a lot of racism and cracks, mostly about other Europeans which was different. Women though are not treated well, and there is a nickname for a character that probably wouldn't fly today. On the other hand these are brutal stories of espionage, the cost of war, and what that cost makes good men do. There are bad guys, and guys who are wearing bad guys uniforms, but caught in situations they can't control. Marcel is a strong, strong anti-hero. Most of what he does is to keep himself alive, darn the consequences. The art is really good. The characters are all portrayed well, the backgrounds really set the place, and time, and the cars, planes, subs all look amazing.
Fans of serial adventure stories like Corto Maltese or Steve Canyon, even Modesty Blaise will enjoy this. The stories are dark, European and full of history and great writing. Just be warned they are of their time the 1970's and one will have a great time.
October 5, 2024
Beautiful black and white art, with a striking style. The first story, though, is a noir adventure that fails to rise above cliché, while the second is a war story in which an extended sequence of events is no more than the sum of its parts.
December 6, 2025
Micheluzzi's draftsmanship and page composition are incredible. The second story, which won an Angoulême award, is far better written than the first. This comic reminds me of a cross between Casablanca and Corto Maltese.
April 29, 2024
ARC from NetGalley. Classic noir through and through. A pleasing mix of Alex Toth, Casablanca, Milton Caniff and Hugo Pratt.
October 9, 2024
Elevated mainly by the artwork
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews