Incredible!

by Vincent Zabus, Hippolyte (Artist), Joseph Laredo (Translator)

Jean-Loup is 11 years old and lives with his dad—and he’s afraid of everything. So he stays in his bedroom, hiding behind his OCD as he collects facts and figures on every conceivable subject and classifies them on thousands of numbered cards. If only he had someone to share them with. He’ll soon have his chance at school, but getting up in front of the class is the scariest thing of all. Then, on the morning of the presentation, at 7:29 and 57 seconds, something incredible happens that will change his life forever… A humorous, moving story brought to life by Hippolyte’s timeless illustrations, reminiscent of Sempé.

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

200 pages, ebook

First published June 12, 2020

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bittersweet story of love, sacrifice, acceptance, power to overcome, all seen through a curious child's eyes in early 80's Belgium. A moving tale that's read in one breath, Zabus' script is nicely framed by Hippolyte's cute and childish art.

[clotilde ☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

très très bonne bd

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

21×28 HC ¦ A.I. 03/2020 ¦ D.L. 04/2020 = eo(noté)

At 75 pages, I had to stop, and am later following through on my intention to state that this goes beyond conventional reading by presenting a reading experience with a jovial narrator whimsically detailing the protagonist's by·the·second self-challenges and score-counting that makes a sort of game out of the read!

Narrative: ****
I used "game" because the 11 year old keeps score of absolutely ANYTHING with brutal counting and incidental rituals between school and his home featuring a cluttered yet exact room full of detailed and known voices coming from everything collected/revered/feared dutifully. Narrator even sidetracks for effect... and I enjoyed winning the first reader challenge of 'what was in that thing'. My favorite part? All of the Belgium stats!

The father mystery has become annoying though. Show me this guy Simon already- if he even exists...
→←
Now finished, I'd say the summation of the thing had too few variables in relation to the complexity that got built into the story.

Visual: ***
It was cute in a pleasant way to view, sure, but it's too imprecise for what I like rendering a distanced narrative. It makes me wonder just how many pages the 'Children's Book Aesthetic' can charm me before it starts looking too simple/immature/lazy/...

[Jolien ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was alright, it wasn't too bad but also not exceptionally good. The story line itself was pretty decent but I thought it dragged.
I also didn't really like the art style and it was hard to get used to in the beginning. and I failed to get used to it at all in the end because I had to put it down due to lack of interest and the art style a well it took a lot of time.
I did enjoy it a bit though so hence why it's not a 1 star.

[Juju le S · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'est la BD la plus émouvante que j'ai lu !!!
Je n'ai même pas envie d'en dire plus, tout simplement parce que je n'ai pas les mots...
IL FAUT LA LIIIIRRRRRREEEE ABSOLUMENT !!!

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

This is a moving story of a young boy with OCD who navigates the world and his personal challenges in his own special way. The rules he imposes on himself enable him to fade into the background but all that changes when he is late for school one day. Suddenly he is popular with his classmates and nominated to attend a speaking competition. He decides to ask the King of Belgium to help him choose a topic to speak on and that's when his adventures truly begin.

The reader is then taken on a journey as the young boy cascades through a competition, relatives, travel and an encounter with a banana skin. Through it all he gathers the courage to face up to personal difficulties and he realises that life is actually incredible even if it is tough.

I really enjoyed this story. It is deeply moving but at the same time funny and entertaining. The artwork was ok, but not a strong favourite of mine. The artwork was three stars for me. Having said this the story itself is very powerful and is definitely five stars.

I would like to have a hard copy of this story for my bookshelf and then I could read it again and again. I really liked it!

Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Bartymea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il s'agit ici d'une BD, très tendre et très drôle, sur le quotidien d'un enfant atteint de TOC et ses amis imaginaires. Pas larmoyante pour un sou, on suit avec attendrissement le curieux petit protagoniste dans ses anxiétés, rituels et discussion avec son ami imaginaire.
Le personnage de Jean-Loup est terriblement attachant, le traitement de ses compulsions loufoque sans jamais être moqueur. L'œuvre est joyeusement déjantée et je suis vraiment très contente de l'avoir découverte.
Elle aborde également vers la fin le sujet de la dépression, de son hérédité, de la manière dont les proches vivent la maladie, de soins en psychiatrie. C'est très délicat (l'écueil étant que cela peut paraître un peu niais). Vraiment une BD à lire.

[Verónica Juárez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro tan increíble como su título, tiene tantas capas y aborda tantos temas de manera amena pero muy seria, especialmente de trastornos mentales, que es difícil hacerle una justa reseña.

[Fei · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrairement a Les Ombres qui est une de mes BD préférée, je n'ai pas accroché a celle ci qui pourtant aborde un thème qui me touche de près.

[Pretty Little Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wholesome and beautoiful story that delves into such importsnt topics... I thinkevery mddle-grade kid should be made to read this one. We see such ana amazing character growth in the protagonist - it is inspiring for even a grown up.

[Didi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are easy to follow however i’ve a hard time choosing to read it every time i put it down.

[Laurelas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une histoire pleine de sensibilité et de douceur, où l'on suit Jean-Loup, petit garçon solitaire de onze ans plein de tocs et d'insécurités, faire face aux fantômes de ses ancêtres et à la banalité de ses journées jusqu'à... une véritable aventure, que dis-je, une incroyable aventure !

J'ai été assez touchée par l'émerveillement et la sensibilité de Jean-Loup et par les dessins assez doux (rappelant effectivement un peu Sempé) de la BD.

Une jolie histoire, un peu triste, mais lumineuse malgré tout.

[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aka "The Curious Incident of the Swot and His Timeline." Awkward comic about an annoyingly anal, OCD schoolkid. Really annoying they went down so many fantasy culs de sac, and really annoying they chose such a tight cursive script for much of it. The voice-over was a bit annoying too – let's just say I didn't take to this one. One and a half stars - but only really because one star is the lowest I can give, which is clearly given over to the "never should have been published".

[Tritri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Véritable coup de coeur. Entre l'univers fantastique et candide d'Amélie Poulain et du Petit Prince, on se laisse porter par cette histoire émouvante. Sans être larmoyant ou trop naïf, des problèmes profondes sont évoquées telles que les TOC et la dépression. Les magnifiques graphismes viennent compléter ce scénario incroyable ! Je vais lire les autres BD de ces auteurs.

[Leontine Moi même · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai trouvé cette BD très poétique dans son dessin et son message.
Cette BD partage de manière légère les pensées d'un narrateur qui a des troubles obsessionnels du comportement, cela m'a rappelé l'excellent livre "Le Bizarre Incident du chien pendant la nuit"

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and Touching

Without risking any spoilers I would just note that this tale is actually four or five different stories woven together in a sensible, if not necessarily seamless, fashion. We touch on a number of themes and issues with various degrees of success, but always with a high degree of insight and kindness, as well as humor and generosity. Our hero is exceptionally appealing and his hero's journey is one of the mind and spirit. This is, at bottom, a tender, earnest, and big-hearted work, which strikes me as much more than enough to recommend it.

The cover is deceptive, (though visually appealing), in that the balance of the art is simple pencil, charcoal, cool pastels, and minimal decoration or background. That spare and simple style, though, highlights the important aspects of the narrative, and keeps the tale charming and a bit light where it could have otherwise have become too heavy. The ending deserves a flash of rich color and intensity, and we get that, so this is one of those happy collaborations in which the art and the text and the overall narrative all join hands.

(Please note that I received a free 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.)

[H. Bentham]

"I didn't speak to anyone and no one spoke to me. 20 points."
•
This wonderful graphic novel left me speechless in its beauty when I finished it in one sitting in November 2020.

It deals with a little child navigating the world in early 80s Belgium through his OCD, his grief, and the changes in his young life that he could no longer hide away from.

The script was powerful and flowed really smoothly. It had the tendency to go dark and twisty, what with the heavy themes it tackles, but there is humor, and sweet, endearing warmth in going through it with 11-year old Jean-Loup's POV.

I also really loved the artwork that highlighted and complemented the wonderful writing. It is beautiful without being overly complicated and fits really well with the child's narrative.

I highly recommend this to lovers of brilliant slice-of-life fiction, foreign independent films (reading it felt so much like being in a screening at an international film fest, something I miss so much and badly needed in the middle of lockdowns), and to those who just need to read a wonderful graphic novel.

Truly Incredible!
•
*The eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. It doesn't affect my opinion of the book. Thank you.

[Rachael]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly this one just didn't work for me, though I can see the appeal, and it definitely has its audience. But purely for tastes purposes, this one wasn't for me.

I WANTED to like the art, I really did, and aesthetically I think it really works, but for me, I found it to be a little confusing and difficult to read, such that it detracted from the story rather than added to it. I couldn't find a rhythm with it, so I kept having to re-read sections to understand what was happening.

Unfortunately I DNF'd this one, but don't let that put you off, if this is your thing then totally go for it - my comments are no judgement on the quality here. I hope you love it!

[Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the art style might not be totally appealing to American audiences, being in a very solidly European style, the story is charming and heartwarming. Jean-Loup is a little boy plagues by a severe case of OCD. He spends all his time counting things, adding up "points" he gives himself and avoiding people, which is not so hard as his mother is gone and his father is some sort of workaholic who is completely unreliable. However, Jean-Loup is also brilliant and uses his OCD to meticulously categorize knowledge of all types into cards. When one horrible day when everything goes wrong and he has to give a school presentation on the fly, his entire life changes... and there's a huge twist you will not see coming that changes everything for the reader too.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible! is the story of Jean-Loup. Jean-Loup is an 11 years old boy who lives with his father. He loves learning about all different kind of subjects. He writes short facts and figures on numbered cards, which he classifies by category . He keeps the cards in his bedroom, his safe place. Jean-Loup is a scared boy, who is afraid of just about everything. He has OCD and sometimes he has a hard time to get through the day.

This is an emotional book about learning to let go, acceptance, overcoming fears and family. The story is brought to life by the wonderful illustrations. I loved the use of color in the drawings.

[Rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh, I loved this. It’s always a pleasant surprise to find a hidden gem like this.

Incredible! was about a boy with OCD tendencies living his daily life. I loved Jean-Loup’s perspective on life, and the way he handled challenges in his life.

I’d agree with other comments that said the cover wasn’t a perfect reflection of the story, as it gave impression that this was a book about books. And I also thought that the intended audience was younger than it actually was, just by looking at the cover. However, these were just minor ‘complaints’. I loved the graphics, the layout, the storyline. The artwork at the start of each chapter was exquisite!

The ending of the book sealed the deal for me. Loved it!

(Thanks to #NetGalley and Europe Comics for a free copy in exchange for an honest review)

See my bookstagram review.

[Rachel Stiehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was just existential enough that it makes you think but not too much that it feel pretentious. It was simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. The style combined with the narrative created a feeling of childhood and gives you back hope after you feel worried for Jean Loup for the majority of the story. It was a very encouraging read and I liked that Jean Loup overcame some of his fears and confronted them.

[Louise Gooding · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m so sorry to say I just couldn’t get on with this book. The font style wasn’t as friendly as I would have liked it to be.
The artwork is simple but very effective, and appropriate for the story line.
The story follows a young boy who is dealing with loss, social anxiety and OCD. I’d say it’s suitable for teens plus due to the subject matter.
The story seemed pretty long for an EBook, but i wonder if i felt like that just due to the font used. A simpler font may make it easier to follow and be drawn in, rather than me zooming in every now and again to work out a word.

[Jessica Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Europe Comics for an ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book hit me in all the feels. It was a very sweet story regarding a young man learning to deal with grief in his life. The topics that are covered in this book are important for any middle schooler-high schooler to have experience with. This book also covers mental diagnoses in such a way that is accessible for younger readers. I absolutely loved the artwork in this graphic novel. Highly recommend!

[Sorcered · Rating 3 out of 5]

Începe foarte încet, umorul e foarte negru, și până pe la jumătatea cărții m-am cam plictisit, nu părea nimic extraordinar, deși e o bandă desenată nominalizată la Angouleme, deci ar trebui să fie crème de la crème de la BD. Până la final, însă, am descoperit o poveste amuzantă și emoționantă despre un puști de 11 ani care se plimbă peste tot cu urna plină cu cenușa mamei lui, și care încearcă să fugă de probleme (la propriu) până când alunecă pe o coajă de banană. O carte despre cum să învingi fricile copilăriei și cum să crești mare.

[Lily_Hu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible narrative art, the prologue have already hinted us everything about the story, even though the banana peel, Chekhov, the king of Belgium and protesters have no connection at all, they changed a little boy's life. Our lives are also made up of these inconspicuous things.
this is not only a story about autistic children, but also a story about existentialist philosophy.
And yes, life is incredible.

[Víctor A. Cahero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo increíble de este libro no solo es el título, son las citas tomadas casi textualmente de otro libro, que haya sido una obra de teatro, que me la imagino como una película, que nos hace reflexionar, que es para jóvenes lectores pero tiene ecos para los menos jóvenes, que toca temas complejos desde la depresión hasta los TOC y la salud mental, son sus ilustraciones, es que ya sea la segunda novela gráfica que leo de ambos autores... en fin ¡es increíble!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. 11 year old Jean Loup loves facts and has a very vivid imagination. He is afraid of everything and life is tough but he has alot of coping measures that help him through the day. Life is hard however when Jean forgets his school presentation and he has to make up a presentation on the spot his life starts to change as he starts to belief in himself and overcomes his fears. It is incredible what you can do if you believe in yourself. I liked this graphic novel. I was not expecting the ending it really gave a new perspective on Jean and his struggles. The layout was clear and logical and the artwork has a muted palette that suited this story.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je l'ai emprunté puisque c'était en recommandation dans ma bibliothèque, avec un gros stickers "coup de coeur" dessus. Et je comprends pourquoi, c'est une très belle fable. Jean-Louis est un personnage très attachant, très intelligent. J'ai pleuré avec le dénouement.
C'est beau de raconter parfois la vie des autres, plutôt que celle qui s'arrête.

[Antonio Feitoza Gomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. I read this because I wanted to read a character who was really into books. While to some extent there is a lot of books in the story, the cover does not necessarily convey the right message of the story, but still: a nice tale of self discovery and overcoming fears.