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Downlands
Chaque village a ses histoires – celles des vivants et celles des morts.
James Reynolds, 14 ans, habite dans un petit village du sud de l’Angleterre. Après le décès soudain de sa sœur jumelle Jennifer, il demeure hanté par ses dernières paroles : elle aurait aperçu un terrifiant chien noir peu avant de mourir. Or dans le folklore local, l’apparition de cette créature est considérée comme un présage funeste. Avec l’aide d’une vieille voisine, Mme Walker, que les enfants du village surnomment craintivement « la sorcière », James se plonge dans l’histoire locale, et part à la découverte des légendes, croyances et faits divers des hameaux avoisinants. Ses investigations le mèneront bien au-delà de ce qu’il aurait pu imaginer…
En s’inscrivant dans une tradition littéraire typiquement britannique (Daphné du Maurier, M. R. James) qu’il aborde sous un angle résolument contemporain – se rapprochant ainsi par certains aspects du cinéma de M. Night Shyamalan ou de l’univers de Twin Peaks de David Lynch –, Norm Konyu livre avec Downlands un roman graphique envoûtant qui oscille entre conte surnaturel et récit d’apprentissage.
Originaire du Canada mais installé au Royaume-Uni, Norm Konyu est un animateur renommé qui a prêté son talent à de nombreuses productions Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, BBC ou encore Cartoon Network. Nouveau venu dans le domaine de la bande dessinée, il impressionne immédiatement avec son art magistral de la narration graphique et le formidable pouvoir d’évocation de son dessin diaphane et faussement naïf.
James Reynolds, 14 ans, habite dans un petit village du sud de l’Angleterre. Après le décès soudain de sa sœur jumelle Jennifer, il demeure hanté par ses dernières paroles : elle aurait aperçu un terrifiant chien noir peu avant de mourir. Or dans le folklore local, l’apparition de cette créature est considérée comme un présage funeste. Avec l’aide d’une vieille voisine, Mme Walker, que les enfants du village surnomment craintivement « la sorcière », James se plonge dans l’histoire locale, et part à la découverte des légendes, croyances et faits divers des hameaux avoisinants. Ses investigations le mèneront bien au-delà de ce qu’il aurait pu imaginer…
En s’inscrivant dans une tradition littéraire typiquement britannique (Daphné du Maurier, M. R. James) qu’il aborde sous un angle résolument contemporain – se rapprochant ainsi par certains aspects du cinéma de M. Night Shyamalan ou de l’univers de Twin Peaks de David Lynch –, Norm Konyu livre avec Downlands un roman graphique envoûtant qui oscille entre conte surnaturel et récit d’apprentissage.
Originaire du Canada mais installé au Royaume-Uni, Norm Konyu est un animateur renommé qui a prêté son talent à de nombreuses productions Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, BBC ou encore Cartoon Network. Nouveau venu dans le domaine de la bande dessinée, il impressionne immédiatement avec son art magistral de la narration graphique et le formidable pouvoir d’évocation de son dessin diaphane et faussement naïf.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2023
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173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 30, 2025
Euh mais quel énorme BANGER faites en un jeu vidéo par PITIÉ. L’ambiance est dingue, le folklore est bien recherché et la narration est tellement prenante ??
May 14, 2025
*Why I Picked This Up*
I read The Junction by the author a while back and really enjoyed it. I also backed his kickstarter A Fall from Grace which I found an entertaining read. This in my opinion surpasses Norm Konyu’s very solid earlier work, with the book being a really incredible experience that I loved.
*The Good Stuff*
Where do I start?
Some rare, special books have the power to give you a warm, satisfied glow on finishing them. This is one of those books.
Set in the South of England, Norm Konyu has absolutely nailed the vibe of growing up in Britain and the folklore and history we are all surrounded by. I love that as a Canadian author, Konyu has fallen in love with aspects of the culture and history here to be able to convey the whole setting and atmosphere so well.
How often have you just been able to feel a place? Not in a physical or explainable way – almost like the echoes of the past are just there in the air? This book really reminded me strongly of those feelings and made the hairs stand up on my arms at times.
We see the echoes of the past of one street; the joy, the sadness, remarkable events, life happening. And then it’s gone.
This is first and foremost a ghost story, and it can be very eerie at times in the best possible way. It’s also very sad and emotive with James and his parents dealing with the grief of losing his twin sister Jen. There is also a melancholy quality to the book as a whole though, being quite thought provoking when you think of all the people and lives that come and go.
As James attempts to look into the mystery of the foreboding black hound that appears before death, we see the ghosts of the town and a sinister secret come to light.
The art style fits perfectly with the story and adds to this whole sensory experience of such a fantastic atmosphere. I keep wanting to use this word because it’s the primary descriptor I’d use for my experience of this book. It really is absolutely beautiful, both to look at and from a storytelling perspective. It makes you want to sit with a hot cup of tea or hug someone you love. It makes you appreciate the human journey and the history that surrounds us.
*Things to Know*
There is a fantastic section at the back of the book called Beyond the Doorway in which Konyu explains the inspirations behind the story, the folklore and setting. It really enhances the book and gives you some xtra context.
I must also point out that the hardback edition of this book is a thing of beauty and feels substantial in your hands. It’s going to be at home on my shelf and I’m sure will be read again and again over the years. I feel like it’s one I’ll want to come back to when I’m feeling reflective as there is such a beauty and calmness to it that is hard to describe without experiencing it yourself.
*Final Thoughts*
I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Downlands by Norm Konyu. I absolutely loved it and am so glad I got the chance to be on the blog tour for this book.
So much passion, creativity and brilliance has gone into creating this book and I’m so glad I experienced it.
Thankyou so much to Titan Comics for the review copy of this book!
I read The Junction by the author a while back and really enjoyed it. I also backed his kickstarter A Fall from Grace which I found an entertaining read. This in my opinion surpasses Norm Konyu’s very solid earlier work, with the book being a really incredible experience that I loved.
*The Good Stuff*
Where do I start?
Some rare, special books have the power to give you a warm, satisfied glow on finishing them. This is one of those books.
Set in the South of England, Norm Konyu has absolutely nailed the vibe of growing up in Britain and the folklore and history we are all surrounded by. I love that as a Canadian author, Konyu has fallen in love with aspects of the culture and history here to be able to convey the whole setting and atmosphere so well.
How often have you just been able to feel a place? Not in a physical or explainable way – almost like the echoes of the past are just there in the air? This book really reminded me strongly of those feelings and made the hairs stand up on my arms at times.
We see the echoes of the past of one street; the joy, the sadness, remarkable events, life happening. And then it’s gone.
This is first and foremost a ghost story, and it can be very eerie at times in the best possible way. It’s also very sad and emotive with James and his parents dealing with the grief of losing his twin sister Jen. There is also a melancholy quality to the book as a whole though, being quite thought provoking when you think of all the people and lives that come and go.
As James attempts to look into the mystery of the foreboding black hound that appears before death, we see the ghosts of the town and a sinister secret come to light.
The art style fits perfectly with the story and adds to this whole sensory experience of such a fantastic atmosphere. I keep wanting to use this word because it’s the primary descriptor I’d use for my experience of this book. It really is absolutely beautiful, both to look at and from a storytelling perspective. It makes you want to sit with a hot cup of tea or hug someone you love. It makes you appreciate the human journey and the history that surrounds us.
*Things to Know*
There is a fantastic section at the back of the book called Beyond the Doorway in which Konyu explains the inspirations behind the story, the folklore and setting. It really enhances the book and gives you some xtra context.
I must also point out that the hardback edition of this book is a thing of beauty and feels substantial in your hands. It’s going to be at home on my shelf and I’m sure will be read again and again over the years. I feel like it’s one I’ll want to come back to when I’m feeling reflective as there is such a beauty and calmness to it that is hard to describe without experiencing it yourself.
*Final Thoughts*
I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Downlands by Norm Konyu. I absolutely loved it and am so glad I got the chance to be on the blog tour for this book.
So much passion, creativity and brilliance has gone into creating this book and I’m so glad I experienced it.
Thankyou so much to Titan Comics for the review copy of this book!
July 6, 2025
Mais quelle lecture incroyable !
Le style graphique, déjà, parlons-en, il est tout à fait atypique et pourtant si prenant. L'on pourrait croire à un style enfantin, si ce n'est l'histoire elle-même qui nous détourne immédiatement de cette pensée.
L'histoire, très fournie, raconte celle d'un jeune homme, James, qui a perdu sa sœur jumelle, après que celle-ci ait dit apercevoir un grand chien noir. Grand chien noir à nouveau mentionné par d'autres personnes juste avant leur mort. James décide de mener l'enquête, certainement en espérant retrouver sa sœur. Si l'histoire pourrait dévier vers une réécriture d'Orphée, il n'en est rien. Elle semble plutôt inspirée par l'angoissante manière d'écrire de Daphnée du Maurier, par le génie étrange de David Lynch et par l'horreur de Night Shyamalan, mais attention, pas d'horreur pour l'horreur ici, pas de gore ou d'étalage affreux non plus. Il s'agit d'histoires d'hommes et de femmes, de joies et de tragédies et surtout un superbe récit initiatique.
Foncez le lire, vous ne serez pas déçus !
Le style graphique, déjà, parlons-en, il est tout à fait atypique et pourtant si prenant. L'on pourrait croire à un style enfantin, si ce n'est l'histoire elle-même qui nous détourne immédiatement de cette pensée.
L'histoire, très fournie, raconte celle d'un jeune homme, James, qui a perdu sa sœur jumelle, après que celle-ci ait dit apercevoir un grand chien noir. Grand chien noir à nouveau mentionné par d'autres personnes juste avant leur mort. James décide de mener l'enquête, certainement en espérant retrouver sa sœur. Si l'histoire pourrait dévier vers une réécriture d'Orphée, il n'en est rien. Elle semble plutôt inspirée par l'angoissante manière d'écrire de Daphnée du Maurier, par le génie étrange de David Lynch et par l'horreur de Night Shyamalan, mais attention, pas d'horreur pour l'horreur ici, pas de gore ou d'étalage affreux non plus. Il s'agit d'histoires d'hommes et de femmes, de joies et de tragédies et surtout un superbe récit initiatique.
Foncez le lire, vous ne serez pas déçus !
January 8, 2026
I can't help but feel like this was meant for me. Absolutely BREATHTAKING illustrations? folklore? spooky? england? sibling bond? mystery? depressing asf? I'll have 10 more please and thank you!
March 5, 2024
This is a bigger, more ambitious project than his previous book. In this one, he weaves English folklore into a tale of grief. A young boy loses his twin sister to a sudden illness, the day after she has a strange encounter with a black hound. A few month later, his uncle dies under similarly strange circumstances. This sends him on an investigative path understanding his neighborhood's occult history, and its ties to his sister's death. "The Street" becomes kind of a characters of its own. It's told in alternating chapters, between the boy's investigation and tales of past horrors (it's supposed to be moody rather than actually scary, but I genuinely jumped at one point when my girlfriend came in while I was reading it). The art style is just as gorgeous as in the first one. Very digital looking, which could be a turn off but ends up really playing to it's strength. I think the author has an animation background, and it shines in his work.
August 14, 2025
A strange book. Full of short ghost stories that are never scary or thrilling, and keep interrupting the main ghost story, which therefore takes forever to get going. The pacing is way too slow, without any real building dread.
I quite like the art, but it's so stylized it feels like it's actively fighting against the horror; it just doesn't work very well.
(Thanks to Titan Books for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
I quite like the art, but it's so stylized it feels like it's actively fighting against the horror; it just doesn't work very well.
(Thanks to Titan Books for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
September 6, 2025
4.5 !!
c'était vraiment super chouette, pleins d'éléments de folklore, des illustrations sublimes, une narration extrêmement bien menée, super addictif !
après à la fin j'étais un peu là en mode "ah ok tout ça pour ça"
mais sinon super !!
c'était vraiment super chouette, pleins d'éléments de folklore, des illustrations sublimes, une narration extrêmement bien menée, super addictif !
après à la fin j'étais un peu là en mode "ah ok tout ça pour ça"
mais sinon super !!
October 2, 2025
J'ai été perturbée par les dessins au début (notamment en ce qui concerne le positionnement de la bouche et du nez), mais on s'y adapte finalement assez rapidement, et ils contribuent à sublimer le récit. Cette impression est d'autant plus renforcée que l'on se laisse happer par une trame mystérieuse, elle-même structurée autour d'histoires folkloriques particulièrement intéressantes.
J'ai trouvé que les dernières pages, qui expliquent tous les choix et inspirations de l'auteur, étaient vraiment une chouette idée. (Juste un petit hic sur une date dans le livre, qui semble incorrecte.)
J'ai trouvé que les dernières pages, qui expliquent tous les choix et inspirations de l'auteur, étaient vraiment une chouette idée. (Juste un petit hic sur une date dans le livre, qui semble incorrecte.)
December 10, 2025
A wonderful and beautiful read!
The only minor qualm I had was that the list at the beginning of the book of weird deaths/phenomena occurring on The Street, didn’t always match up to the narrative. At times there were extra ones on the list that didn’t overtly link to the narrative (eg Private Basil Johnson; the cottage fire; Spanish flu stuff; war stuff), and other times, the main story had a death or a phenomena that addressed, but wasn’t on ‘the list’ at the beginning of the book (eg “The Witch” Rose Walker’s husband’s death; Dev’s family outing to the stones 6 years previous where they saw the dog; and possibly the holly lady that Rose saw, but MAYBE she was McNara’s mother??). I had to keep flipping back and forth, often to no avail (besides the Morrison stuff, which was helpful).
Also, I’m pretty sure there was a copyediting error near the end of the book. It has "Spring 1995" written in the top corner, but when you turn the page it says, “I saw Death one last time that following Spring”… followed by the Jen-as-the-new-Death reveal. But Jen died in the summer of 1996, so I think it meant to say “Spring 1997” not 1995. It threw me for a loop and had me flipping back pages to double-check. It’s a minor error, but a confusing one, especially in a graphic novel full of flashbacks.
Otherwise, an amazing read!!
The only minor qualm I had was that the list at the beginning of the book of weird deaths/phenomena occurring on The Street, didn’t always match up to the narrative. At times there were extra ones on the list that didn’t overtly link to the narrative (eg Private Basil Johnson; the cottage fire; Spanish flu stuff; war stuff), and other times, the main story had a death or a phenomena that addressed, but wasn’t on ‘the list’ at the beginning of the book (eg “The Witch” Rose Walker’s husband’s death; Dev’s family outing to the stones 6 years previous where they saw the dog; and possibly the holly lady that Rose saw, but MAYBE she was McNara’s mother??). I had to keep flipping back and forth, often to no avail (besides the Morrison stuff, which was helpful).
Also, I’m pretty sure there was a copyediting error near the end of the book. It has "Spring 1995" written in the top corner, but when you turn the page it says, “I saw Death one last time that following Spring”… followed by the Jen-as-the-new-Death reveal. But Jen died in the summer of 1996, so I think it meant to say “Spring 1997” not 1995. It threw me for a loop and had me flipping back pages to double-check. It’s a minor error, but a confusing one, especially in a graphic novel full of flashbacks.
Otherwise, an amazing read!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2025
C'était hyper intéressant et original comme histoire, très mystérieux et sous forme d'enquête sur l'histoire d'une rue et ses habitants au cours des siècles. J'ai eu un peu de mal à accrocher aux dessins au début mais ils sont parfaits pour cette BD. Trop cool !
January 19, 2025
4.5/5 magnifiques illustrations et histoire puzzle dont les pièces se complètent petit à petit, c'était original et assez prenant !
January 2, 2026
ma première lecture de 2026 ; j'ai adoré ! les illustrations sont magnifiques et l'histoire est géniale !
October 20, 2025
BD inspirée des contes et légendes d'Angleterre. Bon moment de lecture !
May 22, 2025
I received this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
This year is really a spooky year for me, I am hunting for all the spooky books to read and I was delighted when I found this one. It looked and sounded super spooky and I was in for it.
In this one we meet a boy named James. At the start of the book he and his twin sister Jen are getting some snacks after school when Jen encounters something, a black hound. Cue to some time later and Jen is dead and James is determined to figure things out. What is the black hound? What is happening in his town? Can he find Jen again? He finds out some details, meets an older lady next door who helps him out at points (and of course, like any older lady warns him for the dangers), and tries to deal with the grief and loss he feels over losing his twin sister. Things get quite spooky as the story progresses. But I love that despite all that James never gives up and keeps on going. He has a mission.
But the side-stories is where the book really shines. Those were the ones I looked forward to the most. To see what happened in this town over the years. From a family that met a hitchhiking ghost and never got home, to a girl with a broken hoop, to a black hound, to a circle of stones. I wouldn’t mind a whole book with just the side stories, just a book full of spooky folklore tales. Guess my next mission is to see if the author did anymore spooky things, who knows by the time this review pops up (writing this mid-April) I have found some great spooky reads~
And while I wasn’t always a fan of the main story, I did appreciate that everything connected. What we see in the main story also appears in the side stories and vice versa, the side stories are also connected, there are hints everywhere and it is like a big puzzle just clicking together in the most satisfying way.
I did love the ending, not just the ending to the story as it is with a new person chosen for that job, but also the part in which James is a grown-up.
And as always, I do love extras at the end. The author/artist explains more about the folklore, the ideas he had, photographs and art, and more. Quite interesting to read!
The art was really fun, I loved the style, very geometrical very fitting for the story!
Oh, and while I can understand adding watermarks to your ARC copy, it made things a bit harder to read to the point that I had to guess what was under the watermark. Which was a shame. So I will definitely re-read this one when it is out.
I would definitely recommend this one to everyone looking for a spooky read, this one would be perfect for Halloween!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This year is really a spooky year for me, I am hunting for all the spooky books to read and I was delighted when I found this one. It looked and sounded super spooky and I was in for it.
In this one we meet a boy named James. At the start of the book he and his twin sister Jen are getting some snacks after school when Jen encounters something, a black hound. Cue to some time later and Jen is dead and James is determined to figure things out. What is the black hound? What is happening in his town? Can he find Jen again? He finds out some details, meets an older lady next door who helps him out at points (and of course, like any older lady warns him for the dangers), and tries to deal with the grief and loss he feels over losing his twin sister. Things get quite spooky as the story progresses. But I love that despite all that James never gives up and keeps on going. He has a mission.
But the side-stories is where the book really shines. Those were the ones I looked forward to the most. To see what happened in this town over the years. From a family that met a hitchhiking ghost and never got home, to a girl with a broken hoop, to a black hound, to a circle of stones. I wouldn’t mind a whole book with just the side stories, just a book full of spooky folklore tales. Guess my next mission is to see if the author did anymore spooky things, who knows by the time this review pops up (writing this mid-April) I have found some great spooky reads~
And while I wasn’t always a fan of the main story, I did appreciate that everything connected. What we see in the main story also appears in the side stories and vice versa, the side stories are also connected, there are hints everywhere and it is like a big puzzle just clicking together in the most satisfying way.
I did love the ending, not just the ending to the story as it is with a new person chosen for that job, but also the part in which James is a grown-up.
And as always, I do love extras at the end. The author/artist explains more about the folklore, the ideas he had, photographs and art, and more. Quite interesting to read!
The art was really fun, I loved the style, very geometrical very fitting for the story!
Oh, and while I can understand adding watermarks to your ARC copy, it made things a bit harder to read to the point that I had to guess what was under the watermark. Which was a shame. So I will definitely re-read this one when it is out.
I would definitely recommend this one to everyone looking for a spooky read, this one would be perfect for Halloween!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 17, 2025
3,5/5
C'était agréable à lire mais j'aurais aimé que le récit aille encore plus loin et que ce soit un plus angoissant
Les jeux de couleurs étaient néanmoins très beaux!
C'était agréable à lire mais j'aurais aimé que le récit aille encore plus loin et que ce soit un plus angoissant
Les jeux de couleurs étaient néanmoins très beaux!
May 14, 2025
Full Review: https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2025...
Instagram Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJpDuJkAY...
I adored the artwork in this and the story, it's the sort of perfect creepy haunting read. (If you're the kind who likes a seasonal TBR and does Halloween reads, I'd definitely put this on my list and probably will do a reread of it in the fall). Konyu has an entirely atmospheric style of art. I was drawn to it from page one and the story was a beautiful blend of the past and present and connecting it all is the story of death.This story is begun by James Reynolds, our MC facing a heavy loss; his twin sister. Looking for answers, maybe closure, James is set on the path to find out more about this creature and the answers might be with the local 'witch.'
I'll be recommending this one for sure again on the blog for Halloween time and you'll see the physical copy on my Instagram, a huge thanks to Titan Comics for sending me a copy to use for my tour day! I’ve included a couple of pictures of the interior of it and downloads of the art in the next photos. Full review is up on my blog!
Instagram Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJpDuJkAY...
I adored the artwork in this and the story, it's the sort of perfect creepy haunting read. (If you're the kind who likes a seasonal TBR and does Halloween reads, I'd definitely put this on my list and probably will do a reread of it in the fall). Konyu has an entirely atmospheric style of art. I was drawn to it from page one and the story was a beautiful blend of the past and present and connecting it all is the story of death.This story is begun by James Reynolds, our MC facing a heavy loss; his twin sister. Looking for answers, maybe closure, James is set on the path to find out more about this creature and the answers might be with the local 'witch.'
I'll be recommending this one for sure again on the blog for Halloween time and you'll see the physical copy on my Instagram, a huge thanks to Titan Comics for sending me a copy to use for my tour day! I’ve included a couple of pictures of the interior of it and downloads of the art in the next photos. Full review is up on my blog!
July 21, 2025
Je suis vraiment très friande de fantastique dans l’ensemble de mes lectures ces dernières années et c’est un goût qui remonte à loin. Ainsi Le Chien des Baskerville est l’un de mes plus anciens souvenirs en la matière et quand je vois une BD qui en semble inspirée, je saute dessus !
Si on écoute l’artiste, un canadien qui a prêté son talent à de nombreuses productions animées de Dreamworks, le mythe du chien fantôme, du chien conduisant aux Enfers, est quelque chose de courant dans les pays anglo-saxons. Il s’inspire donc de cette légende passée dans les us et coutumes pour imaginer une fable à travers les âge et les décennies sur le thème du deuil et de la perte, avec un mystère parfaitement dosé et instillé.
Avec un style très graphique qui sera clivant mais que j’ai adoré, c’est dans une atmosphère brumeuse très britannique, un peu à la Daphné du Maurier ou Emily/Charlotte Brontë, qu’il développe son histoire, celle de James, 14 ans, qui habite dans un petit village et qui vient de perdre sa soeur jumelle. Encore hanté par son souvenir mais surtout par ce chien noir qu’elle aurait aperçu, il va partir en quête de réponses et plonger dans les légendes locales à travers les nombreux faits divers qui ont émaillé la campagne environnante au fil des dernières décennies. Mélange d’imaginaire et de mystère, cette quête d’un deuil à faire fut bouleversante.
Le trait de l’auteur, peu donner l’impression d’une certaine distance. Il est très géométrique mais également plein de poésie derrière ces calculs. Il m’a étrangement rappelé les ambiances des films et série de David Lynch avec ce style qui oscille entre réalisme et fantastique à nos portes. C’était envoûtant, saisissant et pénétrant car on s’immisce littéralement dans les secrets les plus intimes des familles du coin : d’une famille décédée lors d’un accident de la route, à la composition d’un roman salvateur pour une femme esseulée, sous oublier une vieille femme isolée marquée par les pertes et les secrets, ou ces légendes locales qui accompagneront le héros dans sa quête. Cette dernière est un palliatif émouvant pour un jeune homme ayant toutes les peines à oublier et tourner la page sur le drame de sa soeur jumelle, son autre moitié.
La narration est rythmée, hasardeuse et aventureuse, jouant sur les époques et les personnages traversés, nous rendant aussi curieux qu’elle nous perd parfois dans ses méandres, comme dans la vie quand on s’intéresse un peu à la vie d’un village et ses familles à travers les décennies. Derrière son côté très fantastique avec ses figures clés du genre : sorcière, chien noir, enfant aux yeux de poisson mort, on retrouve des histoires de vie banales, qui permettront petit à petit à James de comprendre qu’il n’est pas le seul à avoir vécu une tragédie et qu’il est possible de se relever et d’avancer.
Beau puzzle aussi bien graphique que narratif, Downlands pénètre le lecteur et l’emmène dans une quête étrange et émouvante sur un deuil si difficile à faire. J’ai aimé les nombreuses références artistiques de l’auteur mais aussi son envie de nous communiquer ses connaissances sur le folklore local et de nous dépeindre les terres au sud de l’Angleterre. C’est une très belle expérience et un très bel ouvrage.
Article complet : https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....
Si on écoute l’artiste, un canadien qui a prêté son talent à de nombreuses productions animées de Dreamworks, le mythe du chien fantôme, du chien conduisant aux Enfers, est quelque chose de courant dans les pays anglo-saxons. Il s’inspire donc de cette légende passée dans les us et coutumes pour imaginer une fable à travers les âge et les décennies sur le thème du deuil et de la perte, avec un mystère parfaitement dosé et instillé.
Avec un style très graphique qui sera clivant mais que j’ai adoré, c’est dans une atmosphère brumeuse très britannique, un peu à la Daphné du Maurier ou Emily/Charlotte Brontë, qu’il développe son histoire, celle de James, 14 ans, qui habite dans un petit village et qui vient de perdre sa soeur jumelle. Encore hanté par son souvenir mais surtout par ce chien noir qu’elle aurait aperçu, il va partir en quête de réponses et plonger dans les légendes locales à travers les nombreux faits divers qui ont émaillé la campagne environnante au fil des dernières décennies. Mélange d’imaginaire et de mystère, cette quête d’un deuil à faire fut bouleversante.
Le trait de l’auteur, peu donner l’impression d’une certaine distance. Il est très géométrique mais également plein de poésie derrière ces calculs. Il m’a étrangement rappelé les ambiances des films et série de David Lynch avec ce style qui oscille entre réalisme et fantastique à nos portes. C’était envoûtant, saisissant et pénétrant car on s’immisce littéralement dans les secrets les plus intimes des familles du coin : d’une famille décédée lors d’un accident de la route, à la composition d’un roman salvateur pour une femme esseulée, sous oublier une vieille femme isolée marquée par les pertes et les secrets, ou ces légendes locales qui accompagneront le héros dans sa quête. Cette dernière est un palliatif émouvant pour un jeune homme ayant toutes les peines à oublier et tourner la page sur le drame de sa soeur jumelle, son autre moitié.
La narration est rythmée, hasardeuse et aventureuse, jouant sur les époques et les personnages traversés, nous rendant aussi curieux qu’elle nous perd parfois dans ses méandres, comme dans la vie quand on s’intéresse un peu à la vie d’un village et ses familles à travers les décennies. Derrière son côté très fantastique avec ses figures clés du genre : sorcière, chien noir, enfant aux yeux de poisson mort, on retrouve des histoires de vie banales, qui permettront petit à petit à James de comprendre qu’il n’est pas le seul à avoir vécu une tragédie et qu’il est possible de se relever et d’avancer.
Beau puzzle aussi bien graphique que narratif, Downlands pénètre le lecteur et l’emmène dans une quête étrange et émouvante sur un deuil si difficile à faire. J’ai aimé les nombreuses références artistiques de l’auteur mais aussi son envie de nous communiquer ses connaissances sur le folklore local et de nous dépeindre les terres au sud de l’Angleterre. C’est une très belle expérience et un très bel ouvrage.
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May 25, 2025
"Each street has its stories, those of the living and those of the dead."
Norm Konyu's graphic novel is about those tales deeply rooted within the streets, tales of the living and the dead. In James's case, the story of the Black Hound crosses the boundaries of both. After the sudden death of his twin sister, 14 year old James Reynolds becomes obsessed with her tale of a black hound, a folkloric creature that is regarded as a portent of death. Enlisting the aid of his elderly neighbour, who the local children call ‘The Witch’, he delves into the centuries of village history, folklore, and ghosts, until he uncovers a deeper secret beyond his darkest nightmares, beyond the sight of most, and beyond the mortal veil.
What I enjoyed the most about this story was how it incorporates the folklore and mythology of southern England. Those familiar with specific aspects of this mythology will quickly recognise how many are mentioned such as the Hellhound, Victorian Waif and the Phantom Hitchhiker, all of these and more are weaved together in telling Jame's story.
I love how the exploration of these were illustrated, the graphic style works so well in portraying the grief and horrors that James experiences. Although dark, I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. It was so easy to do in one go and left me wanting to explore further.
Many thanks to @titancomics for a copy which is available now.
Norm Konyu's graphic novel is about those tales deeply rooted within the streets, tales of the living and the dead. In James's case, the story of the Black Hound crosses the boundaries of both. After the sudden death of his twin sister, 14 year old James Reynolds becomes obsessed with her tale of a black hound, a folkloric creature that is regarded as a portent of death. Enlisting the aid of his elderly neighbour, who the local children call ‘The Witch’, he delves into the centuries of village history, folklore, and ghosts, until he uncovers a deeper secret beyond his darkest nightmares, beyond the sight of most, and beyond the mortal veil.
What I enjoyed the most about this story was how it incorporates the folklore and mythology of southern England. Those familiar with specific aspects of this mythology will quickly recognise how many are mentioned such as the Hellhound, Victorian Waif and the Phantom Hitchhiker, all of these and more are weaved together in telling Jame's story.
I love how the exploration of these were illustrated, the graphic style works so well in portraying the grief and horrors that James experiences. Although dark, I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. It was so easy to do in one go and left me wanting to explore further.
Many thanks to @titancomics for a copy which is available now.
May 28, 2025
Before James’ twin sister Jen died she saw a black hound which no one else saw. James decides to find answers and searches for the black hound but uncovers so much more.
I adored The Junction which was also by this author so I couldn’t wait to read this book. I loved the storyline. It had that perfect balance of eeriness and mystery. I quickly became invested in James’ journey. What James finds is that it's not just about the black hound but actually there's a whole history behind the street and village that he lives in that he never knew about.
At the start of the book the reader is given a brief history of the villages, it’s residents and their stories. I loved learning more about the residents because each of them had a unique story some stories were happy, sad or mysterious. The story was told in a dual timeline format so in the present James is seeking answers and in the past we learn more about the residents of the village.
One of the themes of the story is grief. It’s very much in the background of James’ story but not directly addressed. It's clear from the beginning that James is struggling with Jen’s death and he makes reference to this by referring to losing the other half of himself. He doesn't talk about his sister's passing and neither do his parents. They try to carry on with life and dance around what they’ve been through without talking about their grief. By James throwing himself into his research it makes him come to terms with the fact that Jen is now gone and that he has to carry on without her but that she’ll always be an important part of his life. When I read the ending I couldn’t help but shed a tear.
A brilliant read.
I adored The Junction which was also by this author so I couldn’t wait to read this book. I loved the storyline. It had that perfect balance of eeriness and mystery. I quickly became invested in James’ journey. What James finds is that it's not just about the black hound but actually there's a whole history behind the street and village that he lives in that he never knew about.
At the start of the book the reader is given a brief history of the villages, it’s residents and their stories. I loved learning more about the residents because each of them had a unique story some stories were happy, sad or mysterious. The story was told in a dual timeline format so in the present James is seeking answers and in the past we learn more about the residents of the village.
One of the themes of the story is grief. It’s very much in the background of James’ story but not directly addressed. It's clear from the beginning that James is struggling with Jen’s death and he makes reference to this by referring to losing the other half of himself. He doesn't talk about his sister's passing and neither do his parents. They try to carry on with life and dance around what they’ve been through without talking about their grief. By James throwing himself into his research it makes him come to terms with the fact that Jen is now gone and that he has to carry on without her but that she’ll always be an important part of his life. When I read the ending I couldn’t help but shed a tear.
A brilliant read.
May 28, 2025
James a 14 ans lorsque sa soeur jumelle meurt, après avoir vu un gigantesque chien noir. Deux mois plus tard, son grand-oncle a la même vision, et meurt le lendemain. Le jeune garçon se lance alors dans une quête de vérité, tentant de démêler le vrai du faux, et exhume peu à peu toutes les légendes de son village.
Porté par des illustrations chatoyantes qui démontrent une nouvelle fois le talent d'illustrateur de Norm Konyu, ce livre permet d'explorer différentes facettes du folklore britannique, entre maisons hantées et disparitions inexpliquées. A la fois conte de fées et roman initiatique, l'ambiance du fantastique réaliste anglais est ici retranscrit avec talent. Un plaisir !
Porté par des illustrations chatoyantes qui démontrent une nouvelle fois le talent d'illustrateur de Norm Konyu, ce livre permet d'explorer différentes facettes du folklore britannique, entre maisons hantées et disparitions inexpliquées. A la fois conte de fées et roman initiatique, l'ambiance du fantastique réaliste anglais est ici retranscrit avec talent. Un plaisir !
November 30, 2025
L'histoire mixe le thème du deuil et des événements paranormaux. Ça fonctionne bien et les rappels à des moments du passé donnent une cohésion sympa à l'ensemble. Je n'ai pas spécialement accroché aux personnages, mais j'ai quand même trouvé intéressant de les suivre. Niveau illustrations, la mise en couleurs est très agréable et les ambiances sont bien retranscrites. Le design des visages est par contre assez simpliste, ce qui rend les personnages assez froids au final, on a du mal à lire leurs émotions.
September 19, 2025
Well, this was fantastic - so many graphic novels that I've read feel rushed and underdeveloped, but this was just perfect in every way. The story felt so complete, so full of heart, and with stunning colorful artwork. The pacing was flawless, the folklore woven through the story was so well done... I could ramble forever to be honest, but damn I just loved this.
October 8, 2025
Globalement j’ai passé une bonne lecture, le récit s’enchaînait bien. Je trouve cependant que ça manquait d’ambiance et d’émotions sur les visages, parfois je me rendais compte de la tonalité d’une scène qu’au milieu de celle-ci et donc je relisais pour me mettre vraiment dans le bon angle. Je m’attendais peut-être à un mystère + profond, moins éparpillé
June 16, 2025
A teenager loses his twin sister after she sees a black dog. The story incorporates a lot of traditional ghost stories as we move more into what's going on. Not bad but probably didn't need to be 300 pages to make this story.
June 23, 2025
Un début déroutant mais une BD incroyablement riche et prenante qui aborde la thématique du deuil sous couvert de légendes urbaines. Magnifique graphiquement et au niveau de la construction de son récit ❤️
August 21, 2025
I don’t fully know how the other stories of the people that died on the street are related to our main characters journey of processing his grief but I really liked the mystery aspects, the art was very nice and I did get emotion when he wrote his sister letters.
October 31, 2025
Man oh man. This is his best work so far. To me at least. I mean ghost stories. Beautiful art. I love how he incorporated folklore, grief, family, fear, anger, love and so on. I really loved the whole story.
December 30, 2025
4.5! Super interesting concept! Inspired by the british folklore, the story is very well done and you can find true UK legends! I really enjoyed it and the images, the colors are amazing! I would definitely read more of his work!
May 12, 2025
j’aime trop les histoires folkloriques ça pouvait que me plaire franchement j’suis pas déçue j’ai adoré
May 13, 2025
le dessin est superbe. un peu naif. un peu camp.
Une histoire sombre et fascinante, un héro jeune et bienveillant.
j'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé.
Une histoire sombre et fascinante, un héro jeune et bienveillant.
j'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé.
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