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The Dream, tome 1
Présentation de l'éditeur
Travailleur du sexe dans une boîte huppée de Broadway, Jude se produit chaque soir lors de spectacles érotiques sous les yeux avides d'une population nantie. Une nuit, il se voit offrir par Megan, belle femme énigmatique, une proposition qui ne se refuse pas : un contrat pour un film, censé l'arracher à sa vie présente pour un fantasme qu'il n'aurait jamais espéré atteindre. Pour être embauché, il doit être accepté par l'Invisible Art Production, dont les membres se font plus secrets et dangereux les uns que les autres... Parce que dans cette Amérique fantasmée où la violence et l'argent font la loi, les chances de tout plaquer pour refaire sa vie ailleurs sont minces...
Travailleur du sexe dans une boîte huppée de Broadway, Jude se produit chaque soir lors de spectacles érotiques sous les yeux avides d'une population nantie. Une nuit, il se voit offrir par Megan, belle femme énigmatique, une proposition qui ne se refuse pas : un contrat pour un film, censé l'arracher à sa vie présente pour un fantasme qu'il n'aurait jamais espéré atteindre. Pour être embauché, il doit être accepté par l'Invisible Art Production, dont les membres se font plus secrets et dangereux les uns que les autres... Parce que dans cette Amérique fantasmée où la violence et l'argent font la loi, les chances de tout plaquer pour refaire sa vie ailleurs sont minces...
56 pages, Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2018
19 people want to read
About the author
Jean Dufaux
477 books86 followersJean Dufaux is a Belgian comic book writer. Beginning his professional career as a journalist for "Ciné-presse", Dufaux started writing comic books in the 1980s. Perhaps his most well-known, and certainly his most long-running, series is Jessica Blandy.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 23, 2020
An odd Faustian type story that tries and fails to be sexy. Some of the best art I've seen out of Guillem March. I wish his art still looked like this instead of the leathery mummified look of his characters now.
Received a review copy from Europe Comics and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Europe Comics and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
June 18, 2020
I look forward to reviewing these adult graphic novels, especially those from Europe. But do I need to review graphic novels differently than I do from straight forward conventional writings?
Lets see, artwork -- 5 stars! Color, lettering, also 5 stars! Lettering is important. I have started a couple of these graphic novels and had to give up because I couldn't read the lettering, which meant I could read the story. Pictures may be worth a 1000 words, but you still might not 'get it' without the story line. The story line was superb. I enjoyed the telling, the picture craft, the plots and sidebars. Jean Dufaux's storytelling was sexy, the tattoos on The Strange did remind me of the wall piece in Al Pacino's 'Devil Advocate'. Some characters were cliche, like the Chinese mobster but not enough to ruin the story for me. I would definitely keep my eyes open for any sequences to this book.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lets see, artwork -- 5 stars! Color, lettering, also 5 stars! Lettering is important. I have started a couple of these graphic novels and had to give up because I couldn't read the lettering, which meant I could read the story. Pictures may be worth a 1000 words, but you still might not 'get it' without the story line. The story line was superb. I enjoyed the telling, the picture craft, the plots and sidebars. Jean Dufaux's storytelling was sexy, the tattoos on The Strange did remind me of the wall piece in Al Pacino's 'Devil Advocate'. Some characters were cliche, like the Chinese mobster but not enough to ruin the story for me. I would definitely keep my eyes open for any sequences to this book.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2020
Another graphic novel series that works in several levels.
While the open sex-act performance of Jude in an off Broadway club may shock a few readers this is one of several mysteries and elements in this comic book.
On stage ‘engaging’ with his partner attracts crowds it also draws a talent scout, Megan from IAP, Independent Art Productions who feels he is potentially the next best thing.
I liked he roll-reversal. A hunk of a male with “measurable” sex appeal sign-up for Hollywood rather than the usual nubile female prospect. This is part of the Dream in the title, that lure of stardom; that desire for ego to hold sway and promotion to be about packaging rather than ability.
Not that this story is one-dimensional. Jude the stud has a number of tasks to do and auditions to pass. Here he meets the strange supporting cast Megan uses to tease out talent from promise. However, nothing is what it seems, the IAP organisation is more sinister than a casting coach and elements of fantasy and horror stand in the wings to enter centre stage.
Sadly, episode 1 ends all too quickly with Megan off to do what she does best and Jude jetting off to LA.
Gangsters, drug induced illusions, serious violence, murder and dodgy backstories are also scripted to the general timeframe outlining our plot.
To the point you question reality, unless it is the thugs who each time they come up against IAP come off a poor second. You may question your reason, your understanding and the direction of travel but you are left in no doubt this is original and very good.
While the open sex-act performance of Jude in an off Broadway club may shock a few readers this is one of several mysteries and elements in this comic book.
On stage ‘engaging’ with his partner attracts crowds it also draws a talent scout, Megan from IAP, Independent Art Productions who feels he is potentially the next best thing.
I liked he roll-reversal. A hunk of a male with “measurable” sex appeal sign-up for Hollywood rather than the usual nubile female prospect. This is part of the Dream in the title, that lure of stardom; that desire for ego to hold sway and promotion to be about packaging rather than ability.
Not that this story is one-dimensional. Jude the stud has a number of tasks to do and auditions to pass. Here he meets the strange supporting cast Megan uses to tease out talent from promise. However, nothing is what it seems, the IAP organisation is more sinister than a casting coach and elements of fantasy and horror stand in the wings to enter centre stage.
Sadly, episode 1 ends all too quickly with Megan off to do what she does best and Jude jetting off to LA.
Gangsters, drug induced illusions, serious violence, murder and dodgy backstories are also scripted to the general timeframe outlining our plot.
To the point you question reality, unless it is the thugs who each time they come up against IAP come off a poor second. You may question your reason, your understanding and the direction of travel but you are left in no doubt this is original and very good.
July 19, 2020
An intriguing series opener, but one that doesn't fully convince that the rest of the story will be nearly as good as it wants to be. We start with one of those Fabio-styled lunks with long dark hair that only women in stories like this find attractive, who bizarrely is asked by a fit bird to quit his live sex act and be in a film about Keats alongside Johnny Depp. He's OK with this, especially when the Yakuza get his colleague out of the picture, and he's also ordered to be a bit of shagmeat by an even fitter bird, who's the Yakuza's daughter. Oh, and the film studio fixer first fit bird employs is a one-eyed bloke with too many connections, and the audition studio seems to have a magic artwork, full of Minotaur/fit bird sex images, oh, and there's a succubus doing the rounds of everyone, and – yes, you get the gist – this is a full-on mish-mash of ideas, that just cannot hang on to anything coherent. The way the book ends (and the fact that in the two and a half years since we've not seen any sign of a sequel) seems to suggest any follow-up would be starting from a different place altogether, meaning this magical wet dream of a metaphor for fame, glamour and Hollywood is going to be more hard work than it's worth to get a grip on what it wants to convey. This is so weird it's in the intriguing stack, but does have a tendency to slip off and head towards the 'too weird' pile.
May 18, 2020
Sexy and stunning in its scope of story telling and artwork. I have to admit I really enjoyed this story, it went far beyond the sexiness of the book and dove deeper into the characters and tale itself. Worth following for further issues. Another Europe comic that shows how different the dedication to story is and how much more mature these comics are!
August 15, 2020
Amazing artwork, crappy story.
May 22, 2020
A really good graphic novel. The artwork is good and the story is gripping. It ends on a cliff hanger with too many unanswered questions but at least this wets the appetite for more.
April 19, 2020
I enjoyed this graphic novel. A bit more racy than I expected, but very good none the less. The artwork is so vivid and surreal. The artwork and storyline blend beautifully. Now that I have started, I would like to continue the journey with the next installation.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the script writer,Jean Dufaux, and illustrator, Guillem March for an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the script writer,Jean Dufaux, and illustrator, Guillem March for an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 26, 2020
This was not something I think I fully understood. I got that it was about creating a "dream" life for someone and then somehow it isn't so much a dream. There were a lot of other storylines that did not make much sense to me. Overall, I feel like I cannot make a full review because I did not understand the story or the point of it.
May 31, 2020
2.25 Stars
This book was a whole lot of WTF and the story line was all over the place, I'm not even sure what the point of it all was. Possibly had to do with the underworld with a whole lot of nudity, sex, creepy tattoos and some secret agency. The only thing that kept me interested was the art style which used faded colours and dark undertones.
This book was a whole lot of WTF and the story line was all over the place, I'm not even sure what the point of it all was. Possibly had to do with the underworld with a whole lot of nudity, sex, creepy tattoos and some secret agency. The only thing that kept me interested was the art style which used faded colours and dark undertones.
April 10, 2020
Faust in a Speedo
There are lots of different versions of Faust around, because there's so much you can do with that story's frame. In this version we get a sort of noir treatment. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but it's a fun ride.
Our hero, Jude, is ripped, well-endowed, a little bit clueless, and pretty much an innocent chicken surrounded by foxes. He ends up being played by a talent scout, a gangster's daughter, a gangster, a creepy film producer, a mad seductress, and all of the muscle, hoods, thugs, and heavies who surround them. Like any good noir there's a twist or turn on every other page, everybody cheats or doublecrosses everybody else, inconvenient players get disappeared in various ways, and someone's always holding a gun or brandishing a knife. Also like any good noir, trying to actually follow the plot and tie up all of the loose ends is a fool's errand. This has "go with the flow" written into each scene.
What especially distinguishes this book is the vague supernatural/horror tone that suggests our hero has drifted close to the literal satanic side of Hollywood and the movie business. Is the seductress "Strange" a demon? Is the creepy producer actually Satan, or at least one of his minions? That adds a lot of edge and danger to the proceedings. It also introduces the Faust angle, although Jude is a fairly clueless beefcake Faust who doesn't ever seem to get what might be involved in that contract he signed.
The other distinction is the art work. Strong pencils and restrained colors, (watercolors or the like), complement and carry the story, but the style also adds a dreamy quality that softens the erotic content and yet also, oddly enough, enhances the feeling of menace by showering it with light. For all of its violence and sex this book is at bottom about seduction and the siren call of bright lights and fame. No questions asked.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
There are lots of different versions of Faust around, because there's so much you can do with that story's frame. In this version we get a sort of noir treatment. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but it's a fun ride.
Our hero, Jude, is ripped, well-endowed, a little bit clueless, and pretty much an innocent chicken surrounded by foxes. He ends up being played by a talent scout, a gangster's daughter, a gangster, a creepy film producer, a mad seductress, and all of the muscle, hoods, thugs, and heavies who surround them. Like any good noir there's a twist or turn on every other page, everybody cheats or doublecrosses everybody else, inconvenient players get disappeared in various ways, and someone's always holding a gun or brandishing a knife. Also like any good noir, trying to actually follow the plot and tie up all of the loose ends is a fool's errand. This has "go with the flow" written into each scene.
What especially distinguishes this book is the vague supernatural/horror tone that suggests our hero has drifted close to the literal satanic side of Hollywood and the movie business. Is the seductress "Strange" a demon? Is the creepy producer actually Satan, or at least one of his minions? That adds a lot of edge and danger to the proceedings. It also introduces the Faust angle, although Jude is a fairly clueless beefcake Faust who doesn't ever seem to get what might be involved in that contract he signed.
The other distinction is the art work. Strong pencils and restrained colors, (watercolors or the like), complement and carry the story, but the style also adds a dreamy quality that softens the erotic content and yet also, oddly enough, enhances the feeling of menace by showering it with light. For all of its violence and sex this book is at bottom about seduction and the siren call of bright lights and fame. No questions asked.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
April 24, 2020
I think the best way to describe my feelings of this is cautiously intrigued. I love the concept of a kind of shady and probably supernatural entertainment recruitment agency. This installment sets up lasts down some interesting ground work for what I am hoping will be a much longer series. It's hard to get into a lot of details without spoilers as this is a mere 66 pages. Our two main characters are the recruiter Megan and Jude the guy being recruited. Megan starts off a little pretentious but once she introduces herself to Jude that dies down. Jude is a pretty interesting character he starts off as a performer in a sex club. I think it's hard to give this a fair rating because I am just getting a taste of it. I will definitely read the next installment and depending on how that goes it could definitely bump up my rating on this. My biggest complaint is at times the book feels like it is trying too hard to be gritty. However I think for a lot of people that would not ruin the experience.
September 1, 2020
An intriguing story with a pleasing to the eye art. The end is not very clear maybe I was too invested in the story and was expecting for more. I don't know if this is single or part of a series but I find it enjoyable for such a short read. The end implies that maybe something similar could occur in the future, my guess, same plot different characters. The lettering is a little challenging on Kindle
June 12, 2020
The dream is a visually gripping graphic novel that feeds into the question, "How can you tell if you're signing a deal with the devil?" A sexy graphic novel that plays with reality, ego, and sinister forces, who doesn't love that? The cliffhanger ending leaves the reader wanting more while setting up the story for the next installment. Well done.
January 16, 2025
24×32 HC ¦ D.L. 01/2018 ¦ prix DU06 = eo
Narrative: ***
Too many whys about the supposed value of Jude and what is really at play with the company the main character represents. Then, knowing that nothing will follow makes caring difficult anyway.
Visual: *****
Shockingly alluring with incredibly detailed backgrounds and a seeming mastery of lighting!
Narrative: ***
Too many whys about the supposed value of Jude and what is really at play with the company the main character represents. Then, knowing that nothing will follow makes caring difficult anyway.
Visual: *****
Shockingly alluring with incredibly detailed backgrounds and a seeming mastery of lighting!
April 9, 2020
I liked both the drawings (very nice) and the story, although a bit obvious. I wonder how the series continues...
Sia i disegni (molto belli) che la storia, per quanto un po' scontata, mi sono piaciuti parecchio. Chissá come prosegue la serie...
THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
Sia i disegni (molto belli) che la storia, per quanto un po' scontata, mi sono piaciuti parecchio. Chissá come prosegue la serie...
THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
April 13, 2020
My first question before even starting the comic was: Is it sex criminals erotic? No. It is strange story but not vulgarly sexual (not to say Sex Criminals is vulgarly sexual).
Like: The noir voice that start right away from the beginning. I would like to see where the story goes.
(I received this for review through netgalley from Europe Comics )
Like: The noir voice that start right away from the beginning. I would like to see where the story goes.
(I received this for review through netgalley from Europe Comics )
August 23, 2024
The art is amazing in this book but the story was just so lame! There were also a lot of elements that I think may have just been interpreted weird in the translation and the blatant racism just absolutely ruined it for me.
August 17, 2021
Can't tell if this was meant to be a series that never materialized, because it seems like a very abrupt ending to a one-shot.
June 22, 2022
Buen dibujo, hsitoria entretenida.
February 21, 2024
Geen fantastische strip… Het probeer sexy en spannend te zijn, maar mislukt daarin. Het verhaal wordt al snel vervelend. Geen aanrader.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews