2021 Lost Children Collection

by Stéphane Betbeder

Four superpowered children are the only hope of the USA retaking the breakaway city of Detroit.

It's 2021. Detroit has seceded from the United States and its citizens are under the control of a madman with extraordinary abilities. The only hope of retaking the city lies with four superpowered children. But their powers come with a price - using them means aging instantly and prematurely. Can they save the city before their powers use up their lives?

Genres: Graphic Novels

104 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2018

About the author

Stéphane Betbeder est issu des Beaux-Arts d'Angoulême. Pourtant, bien que fan de BD, il a d'avantage étudié là-bas l'art contemporain, la photo, la vidéo. Après une "longue immersion sous apnée dans le milieu de l'art contemporain" (selon ses propres termes) et divers petits boulots sans intérêt, Christophe Bec lui offre sa première chance avec le scénario d'Hôtel particulier, première mouture d'Anna. Stéphane a trouvé là la façon de concilier sa passion pour l'écriture et l'image. Il poursuit sa route avec la série Alister Kayne, chasseur de fantômes (avec Eric Heninnot). Depuis, les projets se multiplient et nous promettent de belles heures de lectures.

Reviews

[Andrew]

2021 Lost Children Collection, by Stéphane Betbeder, is an interesting science fiction graphic novel about an America where Detroit has separated and is controlled by a psychic warlord, where the US government is seeking to reclaim it with child soldiers with mind powers, and many are caught in the middle. This book was pretty good - the story was interesting, the mind control science fictions stuff was fun, and the look and feel was pretty good. The graphics often looked a bit basic - models made with computers, without any soul or substance. This was the biggest detraction from the book. Otherwise, a good bit of fun, and certainly something to read for those who enjoy science fiction graphic novels.

[47Time]

The comic looks good, but it's not a page turner. Often I can't tell the characters apart and the story is all over the place. The ending is utter crap. I need to stay away from non-British European comics. Still, it had a good start and almost kept me interested.

Detroit, 2021. The army is no match for Ike Mercy's Independent Territory of Detroit where all the citizens fight as one under Ike's mind control. He has been declared the enemy of the nation after declaring that he intends to expand to the rest of the United States. The current president wants to see him gone if she is to win the election. She authorizes the government to send in its secret weapon - a black ops team made up of kids with supernatural powers just like Ike's. They age only when they use their powers.

Ike's superpowers are never properly explained, but his experience allows him to repel the kids who take refuge among the people of Detroit. Their path inevitably takes them in direct confrontation with Ike. Their best plan of action is recommended by Father, the kids' handler - let themselves be captured. I wish I understood what happens after this. I have no idea who is who by the end, but it appears that Father is killed after going inside Detroit to... I don't know... Die, I guess? And Ike is defeated... somewhere in the story. Good thing I lost interest at this point or I would have really regretted wasting time on this mess.

[Dávid Novotný]

Year 2021, Detroid cut itself from United States. Man leading the city can manipulate minds of its citizens using his special will powers and drugs in food. Group of four children with special abilities is sent to kill him. Kind of reminded me some stuff from Warren Ellis, but this time it doesn't work. Lot of strange character appearing from thin air, unclear motivations, blind alleys in story and poor world building. Two issues, corresponding I think, with two european albums doesn't leave much space for story to evolve properly. Lot of dialogues is not helping either, just slowing everything down...

[Josie Silva]

boring. the ending was shit. i actually said "What the shit?" when i finish. who approved the tiniest ever letter on a graphic novel? characters where bland, the spacing so odd it left me confused and i actually put it down, instead of finishing this in one day i finished it in 3 because it had to put it down because of how boring it was.

[Aisla Houghton-Foster]

Confusing, underwhelming and generally a bit of a disappointment- the art looks great, but the story is just convoluted and underdeveloped. Picked up cheap and glad that I didn’t spend much on it. Oh well.

[Kore]

2021 is a very different and unique comic book story with a hint of WTF. These super powered kids reminded me of Power Pack a little bit.

To Be Continued.....