Le Capitaine Ecarlate

by David B., Emmanuel Guibert (Illustrator)

Une libre évocation de l'univers onirique du poète symboliste Marcel Schwob. Ce récit symboliste, aux accents surréalistes, mêle rêve, aventure et fantastique, dans les replis de l'inconscient, pour raconter les péripéties du capitaine au masque d'or.

Genres: Comics

88 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2000

About the author

Pierre-François Beauchard, who uses the pen name David B., was one of the initiators of the French alternative editorial house L'Association, and is now well-known among the French comics audience. After his Applied Arts studies, David B. had his first publications in magazines such as Chic, Circus, Okapi and A Suivre. Among his early creations are 'Le Timbre Maudit', a story published in Okapi, and 'the mini-series 'Zèbre' in Chic. As a scenarist, he cooperated with Olivier Legan on 'Pas de Samba pour Capitaine Tonnerre', an album published by Glénat in 1985.

After he co-founded L'Association in 1990, he began using the pseudonym David B. and specialized in short black-and-white stories, detailing nightmarish dreams, collected in the album 'Le Cheval Blême' in 1992. As powerful as his dream imagery is in itself, it is amplified by his masterful use of black and white drawings. In the Association's magazine Lapin, he published series like 'Le Prophète Voilé', 'Le Jardin Armé' and 'Le Voyage de l'Est'. From 1996, Beauchard has concentrated on the autobiographical series 'L'Ascension du Haut-Mal', which earned him the highest praise from comics critics.

In addition to his work for L'Association, David B. cooperated with the publishing house Cornélius, where he published the quarterly comic book Le Nain Jaune from 1993 to 1994, as well as 'Les Quatre Savants' from 1996 to 1998. He was also present in the reviews Fusée and Le Cheval sans Tête (with 'Les Incidents de la Nuit'). Also present at Dargaud, he made 'Le Tengû Carré', an allegory of Japanese legends, and the scenarios of 'La Révolte d'Hop Frog' and 'Les Ogres', which were illustrated by Christophe Blain. For the publisher's collection Poisson Pilote, he made 'Urani - la Ville des Mauvais Rêves' (script by Joann Sfar) and 'Les Chercheurs de Trésor'.

After May 2000 David B's work would reach a wider public when his artwork was featured in the collection Aire Libre by the popular publisher Dupuis. After 'Le Capitaine Écarlate' (with artwork by Emmanuel Guibert) in 2000, David wrote and drew the album 'La Lecture des Ruines' in 2001. David B has also been active as an illustrator for Le Seuil, Automne 67, Albin Michel and Coconino Press.

Reviews

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pese a la fea tapa, el contenido del libro es muy bueno. Y si a la historieta de piratas voladores, cabezas intercambiables, tormentas portátiles, policías crueles y graciosos, ficciones que invaden realidades, diálogos filosos y tinta china profunda le sumamos "El rey de la máscara de oro", el cuento que inspiró este cómic -y de donde robaron a la mayoría de sus personajes-, de un autor que desconocía pero ya me enganchó -Marcel Schwob- no puedo más que recomendarlo.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Des pirates, Paris, des policiers paresseux, Marcel qui rêve d'aventure, Monelle qui aime les perdus, au-dessus de tous ceux-là : le Capitaine Écarlate au masque d'or... cet album mêle Tardi, Jules Verne, et des couleurs magnifiques. Magique.

[Marfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un scénario audacieux ! L'entremêlement dans l'imaginaire fonctionne avec une fluidité déconcertante. Guibert au dessin laisse un trait parfait, des expressions fugaces et incisives. Un délice à lire.

[Cem · Rating 4 out of 5]

david b. 's hallucinatory dimension in which supernatural events are as common as buying bread for the morning breakfast decorates this tribute to schwob and enigmatic figures of french criminal literary figures or, grandfathers of genet. especially two panels stand out as pure visual and verbal poetry. Although I deeply admire david b.'s own artwork, the pencil here (emmanuel guibert) has added a does of cute a la Hergé, thus balancing beautifully the eeriness of the plot with a nostalgia for childhood pirate fantasies. For me, this was a re-kindling of my late childhood where j. verne reigned supreme.

[Roldán · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me habían pintado este cómic mejor de lo que realmente considero que es. Una historia que parece potente si fuese desarrollada, tiene unas poquitas de ideas interesante y un puñado de ideas pretenciosas de elaboración un tanto artificial. Los personajes no me parecen carismáticos lo que hace que me tome la historia desde la distancia. El estilo de dibujo no apasiona ni engancha, aunque tiene algunas viñetas interesantes, nada me parece destacable. Si que hay un par de bocadillos de diálogo que me parecen aisladamente curiosos, muy en la línea del enfant terrible francés.

[Variaciones Enrojo]

Libro de historietas de piratas que incluye como extra El rey de la máscara de oro, el cuento que inspiró el comic.

NOTA: si bien la mar técnicamente no aparece en ningún momento del libro, se decidió marcarlo con el correspondiente tag debido a la naturaleza piratesca del relato.