Grasse Carcasse

Blast #1

by Manu Larcenet

Un homme seul, obèse et sale est amené au commissariat. Au cours de l'interrogatoire, il livre sa vie et explique comment il a, un jour, lâché prise, et est parti sur les routes à la recherche du Blast, cet instant magique où tout s'illumine et où la vie devient parfaite.

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, France, Graphic Novels Comics, Crime

204 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2009

About the author

Manu Larcenet (full name: Emmanuel Larcenet) is a French comics writer and artist. He has been working with Fluide Glacial magazine since 1994 and with Spirou magazine since 1997.

Reviews

[Mariana Orantes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bueno, los primeros días en mi regreso a Barcelona no sabía muy bien qué hacer. No me pude quitar de encima el jetlag tan rápido como pensé y se me olvidó el libro que quería leer para el viaje. Así quee un día Andreas se sentó conmigo, sacó este cómic (su edición está en neerlandés) y me dijo ¿quieres leer conmigo? Miento si digo que no me derretí. Así que este es el primer volumen que leemos juntos, él me traduce y avanzamos así por las páginas. Leer libros en compañía de alguien era algo que extrañaba mucho (lectura en voz alta, comentarios, miradas cómplices, risas, nervios compartidos, cercanía). La historia trata de un hombre que ha sido detenido y es interrogado. Hay algo que parece latir en cada página, como si la historia tuviera un trasfondo más complejo y oscuro que el dibujo de Larcenet deja ver. Pero también hay momentos muy hermosos, cargados de intensidad poética que avanzan la historia. Al término del primer volumen ya quería seguir con el segundo, pues en sólo 2 sesiones (creo que leímos más de 100 páginas por sesión) habíamos terminado, pero me pareció que era excesivo para mi traductor. Me tiene muy emocionada esta novela gráfica, creo que se perfila como una de las mejores que haya leído.

[Ross Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite kind of graphic literature. Dark. Depressing. Sad. Empty. And, in the dark emptiness, hope.

The artwork , to me, is breathtaking. It's some of my favorite artwork in any comics I've ever read. Mostly black and white, but with these washes of water color textures and photo-realistic elements.

The story is simple. The police are questioning this large man who's suspected in a murder. The whole story is the suspect's story of how he got to be in this situation. It's a strange, dark odyssey. One that is alcohol fueled, at times nihilistic and misanthropic, but ultimately, there's a mystical center to the whole thing. Despite the decay, the protagonist is reaching into refuse and finding something real and genuine.

I don't know that everyone would like this. I think most people wouldn't, in fact. It's kind of repulsive. But it's also incredible.

[Negativni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blast je jedan od najboljih stripova koje sam pročitao.
Trebalo mi je malo da se naviknem na crtež ali onda sam se kasnije divio nekim stranicama. Manu Larcenet mi je odmah postao novi omiljeni autor, i nakon ovoga sam pročitao i sve ostalo što mu je prevedeno.

Osim što je ovdje uspio "ismisliti" novi stil crtanja koji će bolje pristajati odličan je i kao scenarist. Priča je zanimljiva i dobro se raspetljava, jedini minus mi je u biti sam kraj, za kojeg imam osjećaj da je malo forsiran i zbrzan. No neću ići u detalje jer se ovo stvarno mora doživjeti. Ocijena mi je između 4 i 5, pa sam dva toma ocijenio sa 5, a dva sa 4.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manu Larcenetin "Röykkiö ihraa" (WSOY, 2011) aloittaa neliosaisen Blast-sarjakuvan, jonka luin suunnilleen yhteen pötköön viikonlopun aikana. Ja melkoinen saagahan tämä oli. Huh huh.

Sarjakuva kertoo Polza Mancini -nimisestä miehestä, valtavan ylipainoisesta kaverista, joka on pidätetty henkirikoksesta syytettynä. Laitoksella poliisit saavat kuulla hämmentävän kertomuksen, joka polveilee, rönsyilee ja saa melko hämmentäviä piirteitä. Mancini kertoo kuulustelijoilleen isänsä kuolemasta, päihteistä, tien päällä kohtaamistaan persoonallisista hahmoista, mielenterveyden järkkymisestä, silmittömästä väkivallasta ja maailman väreihin räjäyttävistä blast-kohtauksista. Mutta miten luotettava kertoja päähenkilömme mahtaa olla?

Sarjakuvan käänteet pitävät otteessaan, mutta ei päästä lukijaansa helpolla. Sisältövaroituksia voisi jakaa kaikkiin mahdollisiin suuntiin. Larcenet räjäyttää silmille henkistä, seksuaalista ja fyysistä väkivaltaa, päihteitä, mielenterveysongelmia ja kaikkea muuta vastaavaa. Jotkut kohtaukset saavat voimaan pahoin. Uskokaa kerrankin kun sanon.

Larcenet on kuvittajana käsittämättömän hieno, ja etenkin tunnelmalliset luontokuvaukset huuhkajineen ja muine elikoineen ovat todellista iloa silmälle. Vastapainoksi nähdään sitten melko groteskeja, suorastaan vastenmielisiä visioita. Ihmishahmojen kuvauksessa ei ole pyritty fotorealismiin, minkä huomaa etenkin heidän nenistään. Blast-kohtaukset rikkovat mustavalkoisen maailman ja niissä on käsittääkseni käytetty hyväksi lasten luomaa taidetta.

Aikamoinen lukupaketti!

[Goran Gluščić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polza je ekstremno debeo pisac koji živi relativno rutinskin životom. Tako biva sve dok mu ne umre otac (posljedni preživjeli član njegove obitelji, izuzev njega). Noć prije očeve smrti, Polza doživljava Blast, događaj koji je opisan kao neka vrsta duševne eksplozije koja ga šalje negdje daleko, u neki drugi mistični prostor koji nadilazi tradicionalnu perspektivu normalnog čovjeka.

To u potpunosti mijenja Polzu koji, konačno slobodan nakon smrti oca i samim time odgovornosti, napušta svoju ženu i cijeli svoj stari život i kreće na osobnu odiseju u kojoj je cilj ponovno doživjeti Blast.

Cijela radnja prepričana je od strane Polze pred policajcima koji ga ispituju zbog nečega što je napravio. Razlog zašto je tamo u prvoj knjizi nije objašnjen, ali to cijelu stvar samo čini zanimljivijom.

Što reći... Riječ je o stripu koji odmah proglašavam pravom umjetnošću, djelom kojemu je cilj izlučiti emociju, ne samo zabaviti. Zbog nekih sam rečenica morao odmaknuti pogled sa stripa koliko su bile udarne, a crtež je, mada neobičan, toliko savršen partner prepričavanju priče da je fantastično vidjeti koliko je dobra simbioza nastala između ta dva umjetnička izražaja.

Ne znam u kojem će smjeru ići ova priča, ali već sada sam dobio psihološku i fizičku avanturu toliko veću od života da mi je žao što će jednom, uskoro, to putovanje stati.

[Tazitazitazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prekrasan crtež i odlično pogođena atmosfera, ali priča s prvim albumom nije zaokružena, pa se veselim nastavku.

[Malou Vandevorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mooi, inhoudelijk en visueel. Tragisch. Triest, maar op een grappige manier. Spannend. Eindigend op een cliffhanger, potvolkoffie. Ik kijk uit naar deel twee.

"Met mijn blik op de grond voelde ik hoe de wereld zich al wriemelend verplaatste. Het troostte me te zien dat hij op me leek. Hij vindt nooit rust." (104)

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Istinu je lakše reći nego čuti."

Nikako se ne mogu odlučiti jel mi se sviđa ili gadi ovaj strip. Kao kad gledate u nesreću: istovremeno želite otići i ne možete odvratiti pogled.
Vrlo netipično Larcenetovski, nisam očekivala ovakvu količinu mraka i užasa (čak ni nakon Brodeckov izvještaj). Dugo nisam nešto u ovoj mjeri tjeskobno i uznemiravajuće vidjela. Mislim da ću ipak malo pričekati s nastavcima, bar dok ne prođe zima.

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

This is an intriguing story about an obese man who leaves his wife, home and career, to go and live wild and free from the structures and constraints of society.

Something happens to him, but we dont know what. All we know is that he has committed a crime and has been arrested and is now being questioned by the police. As he begins to tell his story he slowly reveals who he is and how he has lived. All of this we hope will tell us why he committeed the crime and what the crime was, but for now we have to journey step by step listening to this unusual tale of a person who has taken himself beyond the margins of society.

The man just steps out of his life and wanders around drinking alcohol and sleeping rough. He ends up living in a forest until he becomes unwell and then he is eventually placed in a psychiatric home, but that doesn't hold him and after a while he is back living on the margins of society. We can sense that there is something dark about his story, and a side to him that we are not yet seeing.

The story drew me in from the beginning and the story is enhanced by the black and white graphics which add to the atmosphere of the story, giving it an edge and letting the reader know that something about this story isn't quite right.

This is book one in a four book series and it does an excellent job of introducing the main characters and the story but what the real story is remains to be seen.

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

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Blast 1. Dead Weight' with script and art by Manu Larcenet is a strange tale of a man being interrogated by the police and how he got here. We don't find all that out in this first issue, but the journey is an odd one.

When we meet Polza Mancini, a very large man, he is being held by the police. Someone named Carol Oakley is in a coma and apparently Polza had something to do with it. The police interrogate him, but his story is strange and takes a while. He was a married man who gave it all up one day to live in the woods under a big tree, eat chocolate, and drink alcohol. When he meets a group of people living nearby in the woods, things change a bit. Throughout, there are touchstone moments that Polza refers to as "blasts" which are accompanied by images of stone statues like those found on Easter Island. Could one of these "blasts" be what led to his encounter with Carol?

The art is black and white and the characters are a bit garish with long noses like beaks and blotchy skin. Polza is just huge, in size and fat.

The story feels like it could translate into an interesting indie film. I'm curious to know more.

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.

[Vanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blast 1 : Debela tjelesina
Fibra, 2010.

"Smatra se da misterij ne postoji osim zato da se razotkrije... Smatra se da je sve objašnjivo, da je dovoljno potražiti odgovore na internetu... Moja priča nije matematika! Ona se u biti potpuno sasotji od sudara između sreće i mojih...opsesija."

Ovo je ono što sažima Polzinu životnu priču i filozofiju. Ono što prepričava dvojici policajaca koji su ga, nakon dugog traženja napokon ulovili, zbog zločina koji se u ovom dijelu, prvom od četiri, ne razotkriva potpuno. Taman, dojmljiv crno-bijeli crtež savršeno je kompatibilan s Polzinim mračnim razdirućim emocijama i željama. A onda - blast - kao unutarnja eksplozija, osjećaj lebdenja - opisan šarenim eksplozivnim bojama, postaje cilj kojeg Polza želi dostići.
Biti će zanimljivo u preostalim dijelovima doći do saznanja kako se Polza od odbjeglog pisca i alkoholičara pretvorio u zločinca i uhićenika. Nastavak mi je već spreman za čitanje!

[Romain Blandre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un premier tome kafkaïen qui pose les bases de cette plongée dans un univers sombre...

[Aurélie · Rating 2 out of 5]

On sent le travail d'illustration mais je n'ai pas accroché avec le style et le récit.

[Carloesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ecco una graphic novel originale per contenuti (cupi e inquietanti), per stile narrativo visivo (a sequenze che dettano un ritmo preciso), per stile grafico (elegante acquarellato in toni di grigio), per la definizione dei personaggi (sia psicologicamente che graficamente)i.
Unico neo: la storia continua, in volumi successivi... (che bisognerà però a questo punto acquistare: perchè lo merita, sì, certo che lo merita! Anche se il prezzo non è poco...)

[Joanie Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les dessins sont absolument magnifiques ! Hâte de voir où l’histoire nous amènera par la suite. J’aime quand les narrateurs ne nous disent pas toute la vérité.

[Charlie_lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ces albums risquent de créer chez vous une étrange fascination pour les statues Moaï. C'est en effet ce qui m'est arrivé.

[Emilia Benedetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno dei fumetti migliori che abbia mai letto

[Agathe 🧚🏻‍♀️🍧 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’a plein de répliques intelligentes qui donnent à réfléchir, des dialogues assez poétiques malgré l’ambiance étrange/pesante

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aproveché de leerlo en la biblioteca. Iba sin expectativas y ahora quedé con ganas de leer el segundo volumen.

[Salino · Rating 5 out of 5]

« Si vous voulez me comprendre, il faut que vous passiez par où je suis passé. »

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely fascinating and super character driven journey, the main character Polza Mancini is a brilliant, melancholy man. His dialogue is great at capturing his personality, he's definitely a tortured soul, I can't wait to keep reading to find out more.

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Blast' bestaat uit vier delen: 'vette bast', 'de openbaring van sint-jacky', 'halsoverkop' en 'en nu maar hopen dat de boeddhisten zich vergissen' en vertelt het verhaal van Polza Mancini. Hij vertelt dit verhaal aan twee politie-inspecteurs nadat hij werd aangehouden voor een ernstig misdrijf waarvan een zekere Carole Oudinot het slachtoffer is en in coma ligt.
Zijn verhaal begint met het overlijden van zijn vader. Na zijn eerste ervaring met de 'Blast' gooit hij zijn leven over een andere boeg en wordt 'clochard'. Polza Mancini, ex-schrijver, is duidelijk een intelligent man maar zoals vele van zijn slag aan de drank en de drugs. Met mondjesmaat krijg je het hele verhaal te lezen en te zien.

Alhoewel het in vier afzonderlijke delen is uitgegeven volgen de delen wel degelijk op elkaar en moet je ze ook in die volgorde lezen omdat het alleen op die manier betekenis krijgt.
Getekend in zwart-wit met alle tinten grijs er tussenin wordt heel goed de desolate en deprimerende sfeer gevat. Alleen de 'Blast'-ervaringen of andere momenten waar hij als het ware 'buiten zinnen' is, zijn in kleur weergegeven. Vaak zijn de tekeningen slechts rudimentair en soms zelfs gewoon lelijk. Er zitten echter ook heel veel pareltjes tussen, met veel oog voor detail.
De Blast-tekeningen zijn op één uitzondering na kindertekeningen en zijn vaak slechts gekleurde kribbels over een in het zwart-wit getekende Polza.

De ontknoping waarbij de titel van het laatste deel verschillende betekenissen kan hebben stemt tot nadenken. Een stripverhaal dat de naam getekende roman meer dan waard is en me nog lang zal heugen.

[Alex Sarll]

A grotesque man (but then everyone here is fairly grotesque, the most attractive character resembling an inexpertly shaved George RR Martin) is questioned by police about something bad that he's done, and begins to unfold his story, albeit in a digressive fashion which winds the detectives up something chronic. He talks about growing up fat, about the fear of disappointing his family, and the terrible relief he felt when the last of them died, freeing him to be a bum. This is only the first part of his account, so we still don't know exactly what his crime was, but I already feel more invested than I expected in his story, helped by the way in which Larcenet's art, for all that the humans are hideous, really captures the quiet beauty of northern Europe in the cold seasons, and of the wildlife that haunts it if you stop long enough to let them show. And then, of course, there's the blast of the title, the strange epiphanies which upend the protagonist's life. These are represented as intrusions of colour into an otherwise monochrome story, which wouldn't be that original – except that they're the crude crayon scribbles of a child. And that, oh that is fabulous. Like in James Branch Cabell, where our world is indeed the work of the gods...but of the youngest and most immature of them, intently engaged in an activity the more respectable deities consider roughly akin to making mud pies. The notion that our greatest mystics are being overwhelmed by the most minor and amateur expressions of the highest world; I love the audacity, the use of the comics medium to inject something which stands so much unpacking. Excellent work.

(Netgalley ARC)

[Vilmos Kondor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd never have thought that I'd like this but I did. For some reason I tend to dislike black and white comics, plus the characters in this one are... not that perfect, so to speak. If it is not enough, the story is quite philosophical, the plot is simple yet I read the whole thing in practically one sitting. Touching, interesting, funny, thought provoking and entertaining. I don't know how M. Larcenet did it but he pulled it off and I can't recommend it strong enough. This comic novel clearly, very clearly shows the difference between American and European comics. I'm not saying one is good, the other one is bad but this is a new level, almost a new quality in itself.

[Aildiin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of a serie of 4 books that are all out now and that have received very high critical acclaim and I can now see why.
This is not your typical 48 pages bandes dessinees, this is a 200+ page black and white book.
The art takes a few pages to get used to but there are some wonderful pages in this book.
The story is a kind of social chronicles as we listen to a man arrested ,by the cops for a crime ( it involves a woman, we are not told much, we suspect he killed her in a gruesome way), tell the story of his life to explain how he got there.

[Martina S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capolavoro.
La dimostrazione di come il fumetto è un mezzo specifico, e ci sono cose che non si possono esprimere altrimenti.
Blast è la storia di un uomo che sceglie di abbandonarsi al caos, di inseguire dei brevi momenti di pace e verità (i blast appunto) attraverso la distruzione più completa del corpo e l'annichilirsi del buon senso e del giudizio. Ma blast è anche la storia di uno scrittore che sceglie di abbandonare la cosidetta società civile, le sue ipocrisie e un concetto ormai completamente snaturato di famiglia e matrimonio. Incredibile scoperta, Larcenet magnifico.

[Bus · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sé ni qué pensar. Tiene reflexiones brillantes y visualmente me gusta mucho, pero la lees y vas perdido. Tengo la sensación de leer algo sublime, inteligente, especial y en paralelo no me llega lo que debería. Como quiero que me llegue, y no me gusta dudar de mi capacidad para captar lo que transmite un autor, pues dejo la obra en duda hasta que lea la siguiente y compruebe si me empapa y lleva donde parece que puede hacerlo

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know how to describe this book or what to write about it. It's unique, extremely different in tone, dreamlike and just quite good? I know, I've failed miserably. Read it and decide for yourself. I can recommend it with all of my slow mind.

[Mikko Saari · Rating 3 out of 5]

As comics are: I flip the pages, admire the art, but nothing really takes in. The art is nice, on some cases really good, but the story doesn't interest me all that much. Well, I've got the first three parts on loan from the library, I'll wade through them.