The art of storytelling through comic books is generally overlooked and dismissed as the realm of cute fuzzy animals and superheroes. Comics are also generally associated with kids. This is a common misconception, especially in the case of Blacksad.
In this film noir Philip Marlowe inspired story, John Blacksad is a detective in New York trying to solve the murder of an actress, an actress he used to work for as a bodyguard and was involved with romantically. The closeness gets the detective removed from the case but he continues anyway, no matter where the manhunt for the killer takes him.
Yes, this type of story has been done before, in book, film and comic book form. It is also told through flashbacks and first person narration. However, what makes this creation new is its brilliant artwork and that the characters are not portrayed by people but upright walking animals.
Each character’s personality and traits reflect the animal the creators selected. The police chief is a German shepherd, a blackmailer is a lizard, a boxer is a gorilla, a sleazy bartender is a pig, a thug is rhino, and Blacksad is a panther. You get the idea. It may seem odd, but it works.
The artwork is a hybrid of The Secret of NIMH and Heavy Metal. The colors are washed-out, story panels are visually cinematic and characters emotions are illustrated as being completely human. The use of light and shadow in the novel also heighten emotion, adding a mysterious element. It’s a gritty, stylistic, new take on an old standard.
Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido created the graphic novel and both worked for the Disney Animation studios in France during the nineties. Their experience with animation is reflected in the novel’s cinematic approach. The artwork is so good, so convincing, that they make it seem easy to do. The story may not be new but the artwork’s approach certainly is. It has drawn raves from Will Eisner, Stan Lee and Joe Kubert.
The second volume deals with racism and a missing child. While these booms have been out for quite some, they are worth taking a look at. You won’t be disappointed.
Check them out at a comic book store in town.
- Brian Tucker
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