Slava: After the Fall

Slava #1

by Pierre-Henry Gomont

It’s the 1990s: the so-called “End of History.” The Soviet Union is no more. Once a promising young painter, Slava has abandoned his career and ideals to go scrounging with a pal from his school days, the consummate wheeler-dealer Lavrin, through the detritus of empire for whatever they can resell on the black market. It’s an anything goes, dog-eat-dog new world order, every comrade for himself. With his lively, springy art, witty dialogue, and sure grasp of character, Pierre-Henry Gomont delivers a penetrating and sympathetic study of the long-suffering Soviet people, and how yesterday’s dreams landed us square in today’s nightmares.

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Comic Book, Russia

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2022

Reviews

[johnny ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautifully written, insightful story about life in russia after the fall of communism. it’s a dangerous world, and cash is king. slava and his business partner lavrin are smuggling important soviet-era artifacts, artwork, and machinery to be sold at a high price. everything changes when they are almost caught, then saved by a girl named nina. as lavrin grows more greedy, nina questions and provokes slava to question his ethics and morality.

the artwork is absolutely gorgeous, uniform throughout the piece with strong muted colors and delicate lines. as someone of russian descent, i loved how the action words and sounds (“slam, pow, click,” etc.) were written in the cyrillic alphabet. the setting is strong and the characters are not caricatures of russian people, but very deep people portrayed with depth. captivating, beautiful, and thought provoking. you want to read this.

thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc is exchange for an honest review!

[mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russia in the 1990s, after the fall of communism. Slava is a former artist, and now he is a seller. He and his business partner Lavrin search for goods worth selling on the black market.

Slava is a good graphic novel that includes interesting characters. The illustrations are very good, distinctive, and colored. 3.5★

Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

[Zeynep T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel's colour, sketching, layout, and other artistic elements were totally up my alley. Despite the writer's exceptional talent, I found it impossible to understand the book because of the lettering even when zoomed in. Three stars for the outstanding artwork, but I'm not a fan of the font.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for offering reviewers an advanced reading copy of this graphic novel.

[Alexios P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rural post-Soviet Russia right after the fall of USSR. When corruption and exploitation of state assets was a normality. A small miner's valley tries to resist the sell-out of their mine to a dubious billionaire with the help of Slava and his resourful and inventive but morally corrupt friend.

Interesting story, nice colouring and illustration of the era and landscape,
but i didnt like the font type.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing me this ARC to read and give an honest review of Slava

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the 90s, the Soviet Union has fallen, and a new power has taken hold: capitalism. Slava, once an artist, is caught in this shifting landscape, learning to broker sketchy deals but uncertain of just how far along the capitalism scale he is willing to go.

The tale is about as lighthearted as it can be under the circumstances, though the humor is not always to my tastes (and the book definitely does not pass the Bechdel test). In terms of art style, my favorite parts by far were the moments that Gomont pulled back to show us the sweep of a mountain, or a city, or a mine—such dramatic scenery, and sometimes dramatic architecture, in what is at times a dark story. (Honestly, with the first sweeping snow scenes I thought, "Maybe he'll turn the Dyatlov Pass story into a comic!"—but that's just my pet obsessions showing through.) Worth the read for those sweeping images alone.

I'm grateful for the author's note at the beginning, which provides a bit of context and sets both scene and expectations for the rest of the book. This is a story about people caught in history's shackles, he writes, and that seems about right. The characters in this book would all be themselves in a different context, but if they had different opportunities and options...well, many of them would not be in the positions that they find themselves in for these hundred-odd pages. The story is not about today's Russia (although Gomont touches on the "idiotic war" in the author's note), but it feels timely nonetheless—small cogs in a huge machine, making the choices they need to, or think they need to, to get by.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a free review copy through NetGalley.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a comrade-eat-comrade world and Gomont drops you right in chilly post-Soviet Russia where ya gotta do what ya gotta do to stay alive. The tale of the scrappy gang of scavengers will not only keep you entertained, but explain a lot about the news you hear from that end of the world. The art is great: sweeping and reminiscent of Hank Ketchum.

[Moka Aumilieudeslivres · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tout dans sa personne suinte l'obscénité et la trahison."

[Richard Thornley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy. This book was a delight to read and one that I will definitely return to. The focus of this graphic novel is the capitalist plundering of post-Soviet Russia and how that impacts the lives of "ordinary" Russians. The art is lively, engaging and warm, and the story pulls you along with its unique mix of pathos, action, and sardonic humour. If you've been looking for something to explain just what happened to Russia after the collapse of communism (and continues to happen under Putin), this is a great place to start!

[James Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for a review copy of this graphic novel.

In Slava: After The Fall, Gomont presents life in Russia in the 1990s after the fall of communism and the USSR. We follow the main character Slava Segalov who was a political artist but left his work as no point in fighting the party that’s already lost. Instead, in the new capitalist, money-focused and dog-eat-dog world, he teams with a childhood friend Dmitri Larvin to steal from soviet buildings and sell off. After almost being caught by rival peddles, a young woman Nina saves them and introduces them to her father Volodya and other members of a valley mining town on the brink of closure. Larvin grows more greedy whilst Slava begins to question his morals and what he wants from this new country.

I think this was really good at showing the different perspectives people had in post-soviet Russia - we have the questioning and confused Slava, get-rich-quick swindler type in Larvin who in many ways is thriving but his line of work is a precarious one, Nina who grew up during the Bolshevik v Menshevik divide and power struggles who values the hard work of her community, this is something Volodya and the other miners retain valuing hard work, spirit and determination over money (soviet socialist/communist ideals). There are other characters which also add to the mix but what’s linking them all is how once again those in charge in effect failed the people under their control. A similar tale has plagued Russian history for many years and continues to this day (the ordinary Russian people do not want this war with Ukraine) where the common person’s ignored, used and left stranded when the current system inevitably falls. I studied Russian history from 1850-1970 at a level and I left it there so am glad I read this graphic novel as it’s piqued my interest for discovering how the fall of the Soviet Union impacted people and wish I had read more literature at the time.

Whilst the story and character types are suited to the time period it’s set, the themes and messages I guess are timeless. It doesn’t represent the contemporary Russia of today but in many ways her people are still cogs in the big machine of the country. Very insightful and I’ll likely pick up some more material to look into this further.

The artwork is pleasant and easy to understand. Not the most appealing to me personally but it’s good nonetheless, the best sections were of the large scale landscapes like the mountain and looking over the city. The same colour themes and style is prevalent throughout and it definitely adds to bringing the characters to life unlike some others I’ve read.

Overall, I would totally recommend this book as it’s rather short (under 100 pages) but is meaningful. It’s not a favourite but was an enjoyable read. Solid 4 stars.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the wake of the demise of the USSR, Lavrin and his apprentice, the titular Slava Segalov, are plundering an old Soviet establishment to sell items on the growing black market. Lavrin is all hustle, with clear intention to stand out from his proletariat brethren and join the upper echelons of a new society. His outfit of a vivid yellow coat set and red scarf serving as a litmus for the changing times. Compared to the confidence and ambition of his mentor, Slava demonstrates a bit more of an impenetrable personality. A prominent artist in his earlier days, Slava no longer can find work as Russian society leaps across the schism caused by the collapse of their government. Slava's need to find himself in the shifting landscape thrusts him deeper into a partnership with Lavrin, a man who is seemingly at odds with Slava's own outlook on life. Rounding out the cast are Nina and her father, Volodoya, who serve as alternate perspectives of the shifting times.

The story is dense in terms of ideas, but with a pleasing dose of humor to keep things light. Though it does feel light on plot, much of Slava: After the Fall rests on the exploration of how a seismic shift in societal ideology impacts the little guys. Lavrin is seemingly the most prepared for this change, while others like Slava are caught in between the widening gap between the social classes. While I can't say I was fully captivated by the story, it's the various character interactions here that made this an engaging enough read.

Pierre-Henry Gomont's use of color is really what stands out the most here. Much of the story takes place in the frigid landscapes of rural Russia or the dreary urban constructions of contemporary Soviet architecture, but Gomont infuses a sense of whimsy to the minimalist and brutalist designs with the use of warm, watered down colors. The use of red lettering for sounds or exclamations really stood out as well due to the sharp contrast it forms with the rest of the artwork. The hand-lettering was also very pleasing, albeit the small size of the font made for a bit of a challenge to read at times. Overall a fun time for the artwork and engaging concept, even if the story felt quite light on plot.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't crazy about the style, but the main character, in some ways and maybe even the way he was drawn; Slava though, this character halfway between Lupin and Rockerduck ,I liked quite a bit.

Lo stile non mi ha fatto impazzire, ma il personaggio principale, per certi versi e forse anche per come era disegnato; Slava peró questo personaggio a metá tra Lupin e Rockerduck mi piaceva parecchio.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Karine Mon coin lecture · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le portrait sans concession d'un peuple pris dans les méandres de l'histoire, notamment la flambée du capitalisme dans les années 90. C'est certes très masculin mais j'ai beaucoup aimé le regard de l'auteur et les plans d'usine, qui sont ma foi fort beaux et fort sombres.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger, bg russie annee 90, mafia, envie de flinguer Bordjack

[Celdema · Rating 2 out of 5]

J’ai trouvé ça long et pénible. Il ne se passe pas grand chose. On maintient le suspense pendant tout le livre pour avoir une suite.
Décevant.

[Claire Fauche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le dessin top, compo top, j’ai préféré la jungle de Malaterre. Mais j’attends la suite avec impatience

[on storygraph (macclown) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm some sort of Russian history expert, so I'll focus more on the story than that, but I really loved this one.

Firstly, I LOVED the art style and colour scheme, gorgeous. My only issue artistically was with the font, it was pretty hard to read sometimes even on a tablet. Maybe in print form that wouldn't be as big an issue.

The story I really enjoyed too, enough occasional laughs to make it enjoyable without detracting from the tension, and the relationships between the main characters were strong. What really grabbed me was the end though, the betrayal. I wasn't expecting it at all. It'll stick with me.

A great read, highly recommend!

ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1

[Eyliune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je suis ravie d'avoir découvert cette BD super originale qui a une bonne dose d'humour, un scénario qui tient en haleine du début à la fin, des dialogues piquants, et des personnages complexes (j'ai adoré détester Dimitri, et je suis ravie de son sort final, même si je ne l'ai pas vu venir, je ne pensais pas que l'auteur oserait).

Le contexte historique m'a énormément plu, et je suis toujours ravie de découvrir des œuvres qui abordent le thème de cette période trouble de la Russie post-soviétique, puisque comprendre cette époque importante permet aussi de comprendre l'état du pays actuellement. Et bien évidement, j'ai été touchée par l'histoire des ouvriers qui tentent de préserver leur mine, et qui se battent contre le capitalisme qui envahit peu à peu cette Russie des années 90. On ressent au final assez bien cette déchirure, entre les russes qui souhaitent vivre selon leurs traditions et vieilles valeur (le labeur, vivre avec ce dont on a besoin uniquement et sans superflu) et les autres, alléchés par l'idée globale du capitalisme et qui veulent adopter ce mode de vie consumériste.

Seul bémol pour moi, mais qui ne concerne pas l'histoire : j'ai parfois eu beaucoup de mal à lire cette BD, à cause de la typographie de cette dernière. Les lettres se confondent parfois et j'avoue avoir passé du temps pour déchiffrer certains dialogues, et ça m'a malheureusement coupé quelques fois dans ma lecture.

En dehors de ce très léger défaut, s'il en est vraiment un, je recommande chaudement ce premier tome et j'ai hâte de découvrir les deux prochains.

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is very Russian, with its cynicism and bleak outlook on life in post-Communist Russia. I appreciate that the writer didn't pull back any punches when describing the mad race to get rich quick in a society that had sharply pivoted from the worship of work to the worship of money.

Both the MCs, Slava and Lavrin, are as different from each other as they can be, yet similar in this new era of Russian society. After quitting his life as an artist (and a huge critic of Communist Russia) Slava's cynical outlook mirrors Russian society. It's not hard to see why he becomes entangled with Lavrin and his schemes. After all, a man's gotta eat. And critical artworks can't pay the bill.

The story and the art are both pretty simple and easy to follow along. I liked the characters and what they stood for: Nina and her father as bulwarks of the hardworking Russian people, Lavrin and his connections as the seedy underbelly of Russian society, and Slava as the lens through which the reader sees and experiences the new capitalist Russia.

I had some issues with the writing and the typeface. I'm not sure if it was my digital copy, but at times it was very hard to read some words due to the font and size. Even after zooming in, the font size is very small and the font color is very light.

But other than that, I liked the story, the art, and the characters.

Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for this arc.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

PT Os russos são frequentemente associados à corrupção, onde tudo é desviado sempre que há lucro a tirar.

Esta história capta um pouco desse espírito, acompanhando dois fura-vidas que sobrevivem apropriando-se do que não lhes pertence e vendendo-o a ricos ou a quem esteja disposto a pagar boas quantias.

Pelo caminho, acabam envolvidos numa disputa entre patrões e trabalhadores pela venda de uma mina, sendo arrastados para o lado dos trabalhadores — ainda que, como sempre, sem nunca perder de vista o próprio interesse.

Uma narrativa cativante, repleta de momentos divertidos, que nos dá um vislumbre da Rússia no período pós-URSS.

--

EN Russians are often associated with corruption, where everything gets diverted whenever there’s profit to be made.

This story captures a bit of that spirit, following two hustlers who make a living by taking what doesn’t belong to them and selling it to the wealthy or to anyone willing to pay a good price.

Along the way, they get caught up in a dispute between bosses and workers over the sale of a mine, eventually being dragged to the workers’ side — though, as always, never losing sight of their own self-interest.

An engaging narrative, full of amusing moments, that offers us a glimpse of Russia in the post-USSR period.

[Opal Edgar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adventure graphic novel set in Russia, looking at how people survive when the ones with power are all wrapped up in their own schemes, never caring what the consequences for others are. A story about disillusion and hope, about harsh survival, values... and adventure of course.
It reminded me of some of the ex USSR movies I've seen, where life is cheap and people do what they must to come a little bit on top, where scams are everywhere, where there isn't enough food, but always enough vodka...
If you like lighter mafia stories with James Bond touches you will enjoy this. It's a quick read, the illustrations are very vivid, full of energy and movement, they feel like snow is everywhere, taking the world in a blizzard, very atmospheric, a good match to the story, giving more character to it.
Truthfully, the only reason it doesn't have more stars is because this is not a genre I personally enjoy, the blurb made me think the story was going to be quite different (I was expecting a historical graphic novel offering insight into Russian culture... though in a way it was that too).

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drama of the ex-Soviet times, when all of Russia's industry and utility companies were being parcelled up by oligarchs and sold between them, thus taking pretty much everything the poor worker had and making it a capitalist concern. A wide boy (literally, given his girth) and a poor ex-painter are trying to pilfer some decorations from an abandoned Soviet building, then they are forced to abandon that plan, only to stumble upon the possibility of selling up a minehead and its equipment. It's done with some sense of levity, to counter the grim reality of it all, but I didn't exactly find much to enjoy or admire about anything. I'm probably neither economically nor politically minded enough to get that much out of things here, and even with my taste for all things Eastern European and ex-Soviet I can't get beyond the average three stars for this.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty random choice on my part to pick up. I found the location and time interesting, and I decided to give it a shot. Like several other graphic novels, this also seems to be a book that has some sort of follow-up.
The main duo who are introduced to us in the beginning, are both people who are trying to live within a new world order, and they have varying degrees of conscience. On their way around the abandoned countryside, they meet a group of miners who need help to survive.
This leads us further into the world that exists at the time. My copy was a little blurry, which could have contributed to my experience, but on the whole, it felt a little abrupt.
I appreciated the setting and the fact that I did not know anything about the country or its people at the time that is described. I would recommend it in passing, but I do not think I will be reading more of this.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set mostly in a snowy town in Russia, Slava is the story of two black market dealers who get in way over their head.

Pierre Henry Gomont gives us this interesting little story that allude to bigger themes overall. Things like the Russian state of mind at that time (early 90's), the coming of capitalism and how it steamrolls over more traditional states of, and of course, the seedy underbelly of business, which produces men like our main characters.

Lavrin, the "experienced" black market dealer, and our main protagonist Slava get caught up in an old mining town deep in the mountains of Russia. What they find is a town reliant on the mining facility, which is about to be sold to a business man who has more than nefarious plans in order to make a quick buck. The people then decide to make money by selling new equipment that was recently purchased, and they need the help of Lavrin and Slava. Gomont gives us a world that feels flesh out and interesting, with characters that are more than one dimensional caricatures. The art is not the most ground breaking of techniques, but its shaky pencil serves the story well.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but was thoroughly entertained while reading it.

[S.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25🌟, rounded to 3🌟


The start was pretty strong, in my opinion. It definitely caught my attention. But after awhile, my interest fizzled out. I barely felt anything for the main character(s). Now, not even 5 mins of finishing this story, I've forgotten pretty much everyone's names.

The graphics is cool though. I like the sketch-y feel of it all. I will say that the font is not the easiest to read. I had to squint a number of times to make sense of certain words. But it's not too bad to the point of being unreadable. Make of that what you will ¯\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Marie-Christine Wattiez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slava c’est l’histoire d’un jeune peintre un peu désœuvré qui assiste à la fin de son monde , la fin de l’URSS .
Période troublée où tout est permis , où on passe d’un système communiste verrouillé à l’anarchie la plus complète , période qui va voir la naissance très mal vue par les personnes plus âgées des nouveaux riches, qui vont faire fortune en pillant le pays sans vergogne .
Une triste période où la loi du plus fort domine , où tous les excès sont permis , pillages de bâtiments sans état d’âme .
Dans tous les cas , c’est le peuple qui trinque .
Très belle évocation de l’époque des années 90 .
Merci aux éditions Dargaud et à #netgalley .

[Clin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
L'histoire est sympa. C'est une époque que je connais peu, ça permet d'en apprendre un peu plus et de manière différente. Par contre la police d'écriture choisie, j'adhère pas du tout ! C'est peu lisible c'est dommage, ça casse un peu l'élan dans la lecture. Le dessin est bien, parfois on dirait du pastel. Je ne mettrais pas plus en note à cause de l'écriture qui est vraiment une gène pour moi, et , car il manque le petit truc en plus pour arriver à une meilleure note. Néanmoins c'est quand même pas mal.

[Abbey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5
I have previously studied Russian history so this comic instantly grabbed my attention. This comic is a quick read which I would recommend to any reader that has an interest in the aftermath and fall of the USSR.
pros:
- the use of colour is amazing- I particularly liked the use of red.
- I liked how it portrayed the issues of privatisation and the exploitation of the working class.
- short read.
- the illustrations of soviet architecture are amazing.
cons:
- Sexualisation of female character- I strongly disliked the fact that the female character was almost instant sexualised and only seemed to be there as a potential love interest.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Europe Comics for giving me the chance to read and give an honest review of Slava.

[Stephanie Racette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avril 2025. 3,5/5 Un peu difficile à suivre par rapport aux textes, mais les illustrations rattrapent un peu. Il y a quelque chose de profondément révoltant dans cette quête du gain au mépris de tout, dans ce pillage du bien commun pour enrichir le particulier mais c’est simplement le capitalisme sous miroir grossissant.
Tout à fait dans l’air du temps comme lecture.
Je l’aime bien Slava. Trop naïf par contre.

[William Alleix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tome 1 d'une trilogie, les bases se mettent en place, l'histoire se déroule tranquillement.
Mais si le rythme est un peu lent, je me suis bien senti dans cette bande dessinée.
Le dessin est agréable et l'humour donne un peu de cadence à cette histoire.
Je continuerai sur ma lancée avec les prochains tomes de la série!