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Dog Days
Summer vacation is usually a time to relax and enjoy family. For François and his sons this particular vacation will be their most memorable yet...and also maybe their last.
After hours of endless traffic jams, François and his children—Kevin, the withdrawn teenager, and Baptiste who doesn't care for anything but his dog Hermione—finally arrive at their vacation destination in a village located in the South of France. But the tranquility of their stay is quickly compromised, not only by the heated relationship between François and his wife, Clara, but especially by the sudden disappearance of Hermione, who is not the only missing canine in the area...
François quickly finds himself under the fire of suspicion, and his relaxing vacation becomes a spell of unrelenting psychological torment.
After hours of endless traffic jams, François and his children—Kevin, the withdrawn teenager, and Baptiste who doesn't care for anything but his dog Hermione—finally arrive at their vacation destination in a village located in the South of France. But the tranquility of their stay is quickly compromised, not only by the heated relationship between François and his wife, Clara, but especially by the sudden disappearance of Hermione, who is not the only missing canine in the area...
François quickly finds himself under the fire of suspicion, and his relaxing vacation becomes a spell of unrelenting psychological torment.
120 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 2, 2021
I'm not really sure how to describe this. François and his two boys Kevin, an insolent teenager and Baptiste, a hyperactive preteen who loves his little dog Hermione visit a small village in the South of France for their summer holiday.
Soon Hermione goes missing and it seems that she's not the only dog in the area that has, leading to François to investigate the mystery.
I mean, kind of? It seems to be more of an exploration on families and relationships, how they form and the joys and regrets involved.
François spends most nights on the phone to his wife who is still working, which leads to frustration on François' part who feels like the relationship is slipping. Meanwhile Kevin spends most of his time with his headphones on and Baptiste is withdrawn due to his missing dog.
Although it's also really funny. François' constant frustration, his desire for just a moment of silence is thwarted at almost every turn. It's almost like a "National Lampoon's Vacation" told from a European perspective.
Soon Hermione goes missing and it seems that she's not the only dog in the area that has, leading to François to investigate the mystery.
I mean, kind of? It seems to be more of an exploration on families and relationships, how they form and the joys and regrets involved.
François spends most nights on the phone to his wife who is still working, which leads to frustration on François' part who feels like the relationship is slipping. Meanwhile Kevin spends most of his time with his headphones on and Baptiste is withdrawn due to his missing dog.
Although it's also really funny. François' constant frustration, his desire for just a moment of silence is thwarted at almost every turn. It's almost like a "National Lampoon's Vacation" told from a European perspective.
November 20, 2023
(3,7 of 5 for "fictional biography" comics of being a middle-aged husband)
To the comic itself - it's not long and easily read in one bedtime reading. The art style fits the story, the European "real life" or "biography" one. Calm, descriptive, drama movie-like scenes concept. Both story and art are good comic craftsmanship. Nothing surprising, but nothing mediocre.
To the story itself: it's about weary life routine, a point in the life of a "beta" middle-aged man with a wife and two boys, going on domestic vacation. I really enjoyed the story, especially in matters I found many touching points with my own life experience, so the main character highly resonated with me. And it's a weird experience to look at your life/life situations from outside. We all have unique experiences but the pattern could be very common for similar setups. But still reading comics about some fictional French men living through situations and points of life very much resembling mine is baffling. For that experience, I give extra rating points. And rating this comics bit "objectively" is hard, because it connects to specific experiences, and there lies the main weight. So it's hit or miss with each reader's kind of comic book.
To the comic itself - it's not long and easily read in one bedtime reading. The art style fits the story, the European "real life" or "biography" one. Calm, descriptive, drama movie-like scenes concept. Both story and art are good comic craftsmanship. Nothing surprising, but nothing mediocre.
To the story itself: it's about weary life routine, a point in the life of a "beta" middle-aged man with a wife and two boys, going on domestic vacation. I really enjoyed the story, especially in matters I found many touching points with my own life experience, so the main character highly resonated with me. And it's a weird experience to look at your life/life situations from outside. We all have unique experiences but the pattern could be very common for similar setups. But still reading comics about some fictional French men living through situations and points of life very much resembling mine is baffling. For that experience, I give extra rating points. And rating this comics bit "objectively" is hard, because it connects to specific experiences, and there lies the main weight. So it's hit or miss with each reader's kind of comic book.
May 8, 2021
I liked the color scheme and the sketches - they were soothing.
I liked the ending - it was pretty dark. I can't explain why but I gave 4 stars to this book for some reason may be it resonated with me?
I liked the ending - it was pretty dark. I can't explain why but I gave 4 stars to this book for some reason may be it resonated with me?
February 1, 2025
I think maybe I didn’t enjoy this because it hit so close to home. It’s a middle age man and the trials of having two kids who don’t want a heap to do with you. One too cool and one obsessed with finding his missing dog. The husband and wife are struggling with work, kids and life in general. All of this is communicated via one sided phone calls between our lead Francois and his never present wife.
The illustrations are great, but I’d struggle to suggest it to others!
The illustrations are great, but I’d struggle to suggest it to others!
December 1, 2025
« Qui sont les gens de votre entourage ? Les connaissez-vous vraiment ? »
« À 10 ans, je ressentais tellement de bonheur et d’insouciance… À 20 ans, je croyais pouvoir tout changer, mais à 45 ans, que reste-il ? »
« À 10 ans, je ressentais tellement de bonheur et d’insouciance… À 20 ans, je croyais pouvoir tout changer, mais à 45 ans, que reste-il ? »
October 10, 2021
Really low-stakes crime story meets French mid-life crisis during summer vacation.
August 12, 2024
A story about a man, a dog and his 2 boys on a very hot Summer holiday destination. His wife is making excuses for not showing up, the dog goes missing, and what follows is a series of bad decisions.
February 5, 2025
It’s a slow dramedy for sure. The story leaves a lot to be desired. The meagre backstory was insufficient. The art style was nice.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews