Sykes

Sykes #2

by Pierre Dubois, Dimitri Armand

Lorsque « Sentence » Sykes pose le premier sabot dans ses collines natales, le jeune Jim Starret reconnaît immédiatement une légende de l'Ouest, digne des illustrés avec lesquels il a appris à lire. Mais son nouveau héros n'est pas là lorsque la redoutable bande des Clayton assassine sa mère sous ses yeux. Dès lors, Jim n'a plus qu'une obsession : rejoindre Sykes et participer à la traque. Il a déjà payé le prix du sang. Il ignore encore que ce sont ses démons qui forgent une légende du Far-West.

Genres: Comics, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Westerns

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Pierre Dubois est né en 1945 à Charleville, dans les Ardennes. D'une enfance passée dans les livres et sur les sentiers forestiers, il retire un amour du merveilleux qui ne le quittera jamais, au point de devoir se créer son propre métier: elficologue. Patiemment, de récits en livres oubliés, il accumule un savoir que, tels ces druides des temps jadis, il n'a de cesse de transmettre. Scénariste de téléfilms et conteur pour France 3 Bretagne, il est également auteur de romans et d'encyclopédies fantastiques ("La Grande Encyclopédie des Lutins", celle des "Fées" et enfin celle des "Elfes", ainsi que "Le dictionnaire de la féérie") qui compilent ses connaissances pléthoriques. Passionné par l'image, il a également beaucoup oeuvré dans la bande dessinée: "Laïyna" avec Hausman, "Lutins et Red Caps" avec Stéphane Duval, "Le Torte" et "Saskia des Vagues" avec Rollin, "Petrus Barbygère" avec Sfar. Une oeuvre aussi fournie que sa barbe qui a vu également fleurir "La Légende du Changeling" réalisée avec Xavier Fourquemin pour Le Lombard, ou encore "Capitaine Trèfle" où il retrouve René Hausman.

Reviews

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you would expect from western, wide open country, band of outlaws, marshal representing hand of law, revenge, shooting... Spoiler for Moby Dick ending it's just a bonus. Not special, but still pleasant to read story with very nice art.

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3,75 of 5)
I like the "Westerns". Old, new, spaghetti ones, all of them. The Wild West intrigues me in both its legends and history. So I looked forward to Sykes. And I was bit let down. The start was quite vague, ordinary and the whole story is just an another take on "lone gunslinger on his dark path" premise. Dubois just stick to the Western tradition. And that isn't a bad thing, the story is executed perfectly, but I desired something at least a little bit new. Anyway, the art is very nice here, I especially like the watercolour colouring. Armand stick to the classic panel work, but I love the gunfights, they are sometime very "graphic", and the "drama scenes" (usually someone being suddenly shot). In conclusion, I'm not excited from Sykes as I wanted to be. Still, it's good comics with nice art. Maybe I let my hopes go high, but so far this is the weakest book from Erb edition. But the bar is pretty high here, so it's not any shame.

[Koen Claeys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeer degelijke western-strip alhoewel ik vaak het gevoel had dat het nog iets meer potentieel in zich droeg. Het tekenwerk van Dimitri Armand doet vermoeden dat hij nog een zeer grote naam zal worden in de wereld van de Franco-Belgische strip.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great artwork and a gripping western story about vengeance and justice but this isnt justice handed out by a court, it is justice handed out by 'Sentence Sykes'. Sykes is a marshal driven by the ghosts of his past to mete out justice, usually with his gun. The story sees him tracking down a murderous gang who have been attacking and killing farmers. A young boy sees his mother attacked and runs to Sykes for help and the story shows how Sykes gets justice for the young man, but the west is a lawless place and the work of justice will never be complete.

This is a fast paced western story with lots of cowboy justice, violence and revenge. The artwork is great, with colours that convey the desolate farm holdings, the gritty life and the lawless men who wreak havoc. It was a good story with twists, turns and haunting pasts.

Coy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Lady Alexandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this comic book about "Sentence" Sykes and young Jim Starret. This is a comic book about revenge and demons of the past that keep appearing through the story. I really liked the artwork and some of the pictures by Dimitri Armand were truly magnificent. I liked the dark colours. The pictures recreated with success the atmosphere of the Old West.

The story by Pierre Dubois was well-written, with interesting twists. I wouldn’t mind if it was a bit longer and explained more about the characters' past. The story was fairly predictable, but enjoyable all the same. It made me feel nostalgic about good old Spaghetti Westerns with music by Ennio Morricone… Maybe it is time to dust off some old Westerns like “The Good, the Bad and The Ugly” or “For a Few Dollars More” and watch them one more time…

I received "Sykes" via NetGalley. I would like to thank the authors and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the comic book.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Sykes' by Pierre Dubois with art by Dimitri Armand is an old West tale that feels familiar, but still takes some turns along the way.

A young boy named Jim meets "Sentence" Sykes just before his mother is brutally murdered. Sykes is on the trail of the men who did it, but must have been ahead of them. Now he has fresh clues, but young Jim wants to go along. Sykes is joined by his friend O'Malley, a questionable type, and a tracker named Gray Fox, who is just trying to earn enough to build a hen house. We learn how "Sentence" got his nickname, and it has two meanings. The story follows the manhunt and moves into the years after.

The story is fairly standard, but has a couple interesting variants. The art is pretty great. I like the large vistas with no word balloons that the reader stumbles across throughout the book.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent western BD. Very good drawings though in some frames it looks like it was rushed a little. The story is good too, nothing too special, with a bittersweet ending. I would have preferred this book to last a little longer, because the characters deserved some more exploration. All of it mixed together though this book works very well.

[Miklós · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nicely illustrated and a great western story with a pleasant ending. Would love to read more, too bad there isn’t a second one. );

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good western action but the story is just one big trope.

[Lionel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronique originale

Sykes est une bande dessinée de Pierre Dubois et Dimitri Armand publié en novembre 2015 aux éditions Dupuis. Autant Dubois a une très longue bibliographie (Layna, Red Caps...),, autant celle de Armand est plus courte (Bob Morane, Salamandre).

Nous avons ici un thriller western. Sykes est un marshall qui poursuit une bande de tueurs. Il est accompagné de O'Malley, de Renard Gris et de Jim, un enfant qui l'idolâtre. L'histoire est passionnante, parle plus des personnages que de l'action. Il y a d'ailleurs assez peu d'action mais quand il y en a, c'est bien fait, réaliste et simple. La fin se passe une bonne trentaine d'années après les événements principaux et la conclusion est bien trouvée et poétique.

Je suis pas un fan du dessin, particulièrement des visages. Sauf pour les dessins montrant Sykes dans le feu ou dans la vapeur qui sont en jeux d'ombres. C'est beau et réaliste, peu être un peu trop pour moi.

Une note: 9/10. Seulement 9 parce que ce n'est pas révolutionnaire et pour les dessins.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A generic western story, with the same pitfalls as every other western story. The women are assaulted and/or murdered on the page, the men get to be lone anguished men doing macho things, the non-white characters are charicatures and stereotypes, yadda yadda yadda. The saving grace is the beautiful artwork, particularly in the shootout scenes, but not enough that I'd actually recommend this book to people.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if there is nothing really original here. This comic book is a fine and full of action western. The mateur of the genre will find what they're looking for!

[Nuno Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conhecido por várias obras de fantasia, entre as quais se destaca The Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins And Other Little Creatures, o francês Pierre Dubois vem deixando também a sua marca no formato novela gráfica. Junto do ilustrador Dimitri Armand, também francês, publicaram em 2015 pela editora Dupuis a BD Sykes, um western corrosivo na melhor tradição franco-belga.

O cenário criado por Dubois é sólido e convincente. Com Sykes revisitamos o herói clássico, os espíritos complexos e desapaixonados, as jornadas de sofrimento e frivolidade.

A narrativa é boa, mas a grande qualidade do livro é o desenho de Armand. Desde a primeira página és convidado a entrar no cenário e nas paisagens americanas, na atmosfera densa, cheia de espaços abertos, mas também absorver a tensão dos duelos, sentindo na pele a indiferença dos personagens, o cheiro dos whiskies e dos saloons, assim como a malvadez néscia dos condenados.

Na linha de outros westerns recentes, Sykes reúne os condimentos necessários para agradar aos fãs do género, embora esta temática tenha sempre alguma dificuldade em não cair em clichés. A cadência narrativa, os códigos de conduta e a postura incipiente do protagonista acabam por ser os ex-libris de um livro imersivo e intenso. Nesse sentido, o principal está lá. Personagens bem construídos e um fio narrativo coeso.

"Sentence" Sykes é um marshall. O que é um marshall? Algo semelhante a um xerife, mas que não está restrito a um território, cuja função é atravessar terras à caça de quadrilhas de infratores. Ele é o protagonista do livro, um homem sereno, sisudo e solitário, um atirador ágil e rápido. O típico pistoleiro.

Aqui, ele persegue os Clayton, um bando de patifes conhecidos pelos crimes de violação, roubo e assassínio. Quando Sykes regressa às colinas, o jovem Jim Starret imediatamente vê-o como uma lenda do Oeste, digna das bandas desenhadas com as quais aprendeu a ler, mas também como uma esperança para parar os Clayton, que mataram a sua mãe. É a partir daqui que a jornada de Sykes torna-se também pessoal.

Jim quer tornar-se um herói como Sykes, seguir os passos daquele homem que tanto o inspira, vindo das fornalhas de onde se forjam as lendas. Mas a sua obsessão pessoal terá um preço a pagar. Garantidamente, um preço de sangue. Afugentar os demónios de carne e osso pode ser apenas o início de uma vida de dor e deceção.

Ao lado do irlandês O'Malley e do indígena Raposa Cinzenta, Sykes dá início a uma caçada clássica dentro do género, onde todos os personagens são arquetípicos e as sequências previsíveis. Mas a grande caracterização dos personagens e o clima escuro e duro recompensam aqueles que engolirem os estereótipos.

Não sendo dos fãs mais acérrimos, o western é um tema que me entusiasma, e ver um autor de fantasia clássica, estudioso de elfos e fadas como Dubois a escrever uma história tão violenta despertou-me alguma curiosidade. No entanto, acho que a magia deste livro está no seu parceiro de autoria. A arte de Dimitri Armand, vívida e intensa, convence e certamente ficarei atento ao seu trabalho.

http://noticiasdezallar.wordpress.com

[Mykhailo Gasyuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

На віддалене ранчо приїжджає Сайкс. Він маршал, тобто законник. На ранчо лише жінка з дитиною, і це явно натякає на майбутню трагедію. Сайкс попереджає сімейку про те, що поблизу можуть тинятися лиходії, і краще б з ранчо звалити. Але жінка проти.

Пока трагедія достигає, Сайкс їде у містечко, що неподалік. У нього там справа, він переслідує грабіжників банку, які повернули у ці краї. До Сайкса поспішає ще один законник, О'Мелі. Будуть разом поганців гасити. Щоправда, у самого О'Меллі репутація в мінусах.

Антураж запиленого поселення одразу відчувається, малюнок створює потрібну атмосферу. Для її підтримки застосовано також обов'язкову сцену в салуні. Там вже є архетипний кандидат приміряти труну, аж дуже йому Сайкс не до вподоби. Але смерть ходячого шаблона збережемо на потім, бо якраз настає час трагедії на ранчо.

Ніч, повний місяць, у вікних будиночку горить світло. Джим (дитина з перших сторінок історії) із матір'ю говорять за життя. У будинок вриваються поганці, щоб вбивати-гвалтувати у довільному порядку. Джиму вдається поранити одного з лиходіїв і втекти.

На ранок шаблон із салуну отримує кулю. Виснажений Джим прибуває у місто та розповідає про те, що сталося на його ранчо. Починається основний (насправді, ні) сюжет - пошук лиходіїв. До пошуків підключають також одного знайомого індіанця. Він потрібен для ще однієї трагедії. Індіанця цікавлять кури (в плані отримання яєць), також від нього смердить, щоб героям було про що весь час жартувати.

Джим (який також примазався до пошукового загону) знаходить у законників збірки з читвом про Дикий Захід, дешеві оповідки, в яких розповідається про пригоди Техаського Джека. Це натяк на ще один комікс, про нього поговоримо потім.

Ще ми дізнаємося, що Сайксу інколи сниться його драматичне минуле. Як же без цього. Для Сайскових флешбеків якраз знадобився будиночок з трупами.

Врешті решт, поганці отримали своє, але не без додаткової драми, звичайно ж. Джим, до речі, опиняється у новій родині. Але комікс на цьому не закінчується, бо чомусь треба описати залишок життя Сайкса. Швидкі переходи, старість втома, і от уже трагічний фінал, де доведеться зустріти хлопчика з минулого. Потім історія зациклюється (ну от, я не спойлив фінал, але ви можете здогадатися, що сталося).

Намальовано чудово, кадри кінематографічні, діалоги до місця, Дикий Захід відчувається диким, хоча місцями і сентиментальним. І несправедливим. Коротше, таким, як треба.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This starts out as a traditional western tale of a gang of ruthless outlaws rampaging through the country pursued by a legendary lawman, his rogue sidekick, and a trusted Indian tracker. Along the way the "good guys" become entangled with a young boy who tries to join the pursuit after the outlaws viciously murder his mother. From there the story takes a turn from the expected and becomes something much more intriguing... A sort of expose of Western myth meets harsh reality.

The story has elements of Western Classics like Shane, True Grit, Big Jake, and some of the myth busting aspects of Unforgiven. It's a very good story.

The artwork is first rate. Large panoramic landscapes that recall the films of John Ford done up in comic (or graphic novel) form. Serves to enhance the overall story quite well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good western tale told well. You won't be disappointed. One caution: Parts of the story & accompanying artwork might be considered too graphic for some readers - it does have its more raw moments.

***Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this title. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Lee Peckover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Old West as a setting for this dime novel inspired graphic/comic story. This is my kind of a genre, and my kind of setting for such a story.

There is nothing particularly new here and the story unfolding is a pretty standard one for the genre. At times the characters and the story being told veer toward cliche when I feel sure the aim is to pay homage but this isn't too much of a concern as the illustrations throughout are good enough to carry you through to the end.

I can't help but feel that this could have been better suited to being a serialised traditional comic along the lines of Fatale by Ed Brubaker as it draws some parallels but then rushes out a story that could have been told better through several shorter plots.

This is a decent enough graphic novel, but improvements could have been made here and I think the feeling that this has been rushed to a finish is difficult to get away from.

[InformationSuperhero · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the title my mind went straight to Oliver Twist as an exposed underbelly of Bill Sykes does intrigue me. Aside from a name pronunciation and a timeline in the 1800's that's where the similarities stop.

Sykes fully captured time of the Old West where acting on the right side of the law can be incriminating. A small shared idea of honour still lingered but was slowing vanishing. Luckily there are a few good men out there trying to do some good.

The entwined relationships between farmers, marshals, gangs and indigenous people painted a pretty grim picture of what people considered right.

I'd definitely read more adventures of Sykes and of Jim, if that is a possibility.

[Fandom SK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recenziu pre Fandom.sk napísal Ivan Kučera:

Krížom cez Divoký západ kočuje ležérnym štýlom Sykes – na prvý pohľad príjemný, sympatický pán so záľubou v čítaní kníh (takých tých bez obrázkov). V skutočnosti však ide o predchodcu Sudcu Dredda – „policajta“, sudcu a vykonávateľa spravodlivosti v jednom. Bývalý maršál je postrachom pre každého podliaka, ktorý má s ním nevybavené účty. Aktuálne sa dostane k tragédii, keď skupina desperádov prepadla ranč s vdovou starajúcou sa o malého syna. Ženu znásilnili a zavraždili. Chlapcovi sa v poslednej chvíli podarilo utiecť. Sykes vyráža po stopách bezcitných zabijakov. To znamená, že môžu začať odratúvať svoje posledné hodiny strávené na tomto svete...

Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/komiks-s...

[DaViD´82 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vynikající western, nosné charaktery, úchvatná kresba. Důvod, proč jde ve výsledku "jen o průměr", je, že to působí jako osnova na několikadílnou sérii a ne ucelené dílo. Nějakých padesát stran jede sevřený prolog s jasnými cíli, motivacemi i průběhem. A místo ukončení a navázání dalším albem, následuje nějakých deset stran, kdy bez jakékoli nadsázky, co okénko to příběh jednoho alba, až to vyústí na finálních čtyřech stranách v pokus o osudovost, která by fungovala předcházet jí několik set stran.

Je to jako by vzniklo album, v nakladatelství se líbilo, tak autora poprosili o náčrt, jak to bude dále, on ho dodal a nějakým nedopatřením se to dostalo až do finálního vydání.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't come here thinking this is a retelling of Dickens.

This was reasonable, but I do find the western graphic novel quite a congested market, and things struggle to stand out. This one, with the inexorable build-up to the end of act two, which is too sudden and quick, and the very bitty act three, has some distinction, particularly in the artwork, but I wouldn't rush to declare it the best of its kind. Three and a half stars.

[Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sykes is a pretty standard Western - albeit a good one, with absolutely pristine art until about the last 11 pages when it just guts you alive and breaks your heart.
There is some gore - lots of people getting shot and their heads blown off, and there is one implied gang rape, which is disturbing, but the story takes such a left turn towards the end... and then takes another hard right on the last page... well, it's kind of powerful!
Definite recommend.

[Libor Matějka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vcelku dobrý western, který byl ale na mě až přehnaně uspěchaný. Od poloviny příběhu už šlo bohužel vytušit, jak celý příběh dopadne. Pěkná kresba, ale dialogy občas vázly a přišly mi takové těžkopádné. Za přečtení to stojí, ale tak nadšený, jak ostatní bohužel nejsem. Každopádně pokračování bych se nebránil.

[Jakoobxs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una espectacular novela gráfica western, continuación de Texas Jack, magistral obra artística con un enriquecido dibujado de la naturaleza, aunque la trama pueda presentar algunas lagunas, te sumerges de pleno en la historia y sientes empatía por el personaje principal. Recomiendo leerlo con música western de fondo como acompañamiento, ¿Para qué? Para más placer.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your standard Old West tale of a Marshall tracking down the outlaws. The ending that showed the rest of his life after the main story was over felt really tacked on and actually detracted from the rest of the story. The art is terrific though.

[Sevia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western se vším všudy a v tom nejlepším slova smyslu. K tomu navíc krásná kresba, zajímavé postavy a příběh, který možná zpočátku vypadá průměrně a obyčejně, nakonec ale hodně příjemně překvapí.

[Krishnakumar Mohanasundaram · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out pretty well but goes on to a rushed out ending...
Maybe it'd have worked out well as a series rather than an one-shot . .

[Adam Šilhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velmi slušný celkem nekomplikovaný western.

[Yasmina Havnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy... I love the art style!

[Paul-Hervé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un western simple et efficace. Peut-être trop simple. L'histoire du personnage principal n''est abordée que de manière trop elusive, ce que j'ai trouvé dommage.

[Metabull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, if standard western story. Ending felt a bit contrived. Artwork is rather good, if somewhat classic.