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Blacksad #2
Arctic-Nation
His name is John Blacksad. He's a private detective who's seen much evil in the past, but never in his long life has he encountered a case as bizarre, as twisted, or as deadly as the one he accepts now. In a town where white supremacists have moved in and are brutally seizing control, Blacksad is asked to find a kidnapped child and bring the kidnappers to justice. As he gets deeper into his investigation, Blacksad discovers a tale of sickening horror involving murder and worse that condemns some of the town's most powerful citizens.
56 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
34 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Juan Díaz Canales
70 books415 followersJuan Díaz Canales is a Spanish comics artist and an animated film director, known as the co-creator of Blacksad.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
May 6, 2022
"Look, you piece of filth. You'd better get out of here if you don't want this to end badly. You're starting to clash with the white landscape."
Juan Diaz Canales'Arctic-Nation, Blacksad #2 is as fabulously illustrated as its predecessor, but the stakes in this graphic novel are even higher. In this installment, John Blacksad takes on white supremacy. Represented by white-colored animals, this movement comes across as cruel, petty and hypocritical. Again, this worked. I was reminded of the depiction of mice hanging in Maus and remembered how powerful that had been. I think it's somehow easier not looking away from hate or atrocities when it's depicted by animals rather than people. Not sure where Blacksad is going next, but this was a worthy followup. 4.25 stars
Juan Diaz Canales'Arctic-Nation, Blacksad #2 is as fabulously illustrated as its predecessor, but the stakes in this graphic novel are even higher. In this installment, John Blacksad takes on white supremacy. Represented by white-colored animals, this movement comes across as cruel, petty and hypocritical. Again, this worked. I was reminded of the depiction of mice hanging in Maus and remembered how powerful that had been. I think it's somehow easier not looking away from hate or atrocities when it's depicted by animals rather than people. Not sure where Blacksad is going next, but this was a worthy followup. 4.25 stars
November 25, 2021
Un nuevo caso a resolver en este volumen, que me ha gustado igual o más que el anterior.
4,5🌟
4,5🌟
November 3, 2025
Националсоциалистите са си противна пасмина, даже и по страниците на комикса за Блексед.
Трябва да бъдат изобличавани непрестанно, както и болшевишките им червени братя - съучастници по идеология и престъпления!
Трябва да бъдат изобличавани непрестанно, както и болшевишките им червени братя - съучастници по идеология и престъпления!
November 3, 2025
11/1/25: I read this again in a beautiful hardcover collection of the first three volumes with an introduction by comics great Jim Steranko.
Original review 4/8/15: This is the second volume of Blacksad, originally released in 2003, though the order doesn't really seem to matter. Start anywhere. I liked the first one fine, in part because the characters-as-animals approach was so well done, and it was so fresh for me. It's a better story than the first, as it deals not only with typical noir tropes, but deals with issues of race in surprising ways. Still, I thought it was a little too much story for 56 pages, I think, but as with all of these in this series, the storytelling and dialogue take second place anyway to the amazing Juan Guarnido artwork, which is all by itself worth picking it up. Guarnido brings characters, even animal characters, to life, and uses watercolors with a sense of flair and style. Gorgeous artwork.
The story is a potentially rich one, focused as it is on southern racism of the 1950;s, involving a kind of KKK white supremacist organization, and Blacksad as (mostly) black works his way into the tale as not only investigator but object of derision. The tale involves a kidnapping, (maybe) pedophilia, and a mixed marriage.
But even if you just look at the artwork, you will be amazed, so I will continue to find all the other volumes. It sort of is standard noir type telling, very much in the fifties noir style, which I like, generally, but it's just okay as story in spite of its relevant theme.
Original review 4/8/15: This is the second volume of Blacksad, originally released in 2003, though the order doesn't really seem to matter. Start anywhere. I liked the first one fine, in part because the characters-as-animals approach was so well done, and it was so fresh for me. It's a better story than the first, as it deals not only with typical noir tropes, but deals with issues of race in surprising ways. Still, I thought it was a little too much story for 56 pages, I think, but as with all of these in this series, the storytelling and dialogue take second place anyway to the amazing Juan Guarnido artwork, which is all by itself worth picking it up. Guarnido brings characters, even animal characters, to life, and uses watercolors with a sense of flair and style. Gorgeous artwork.
The story is a potentially rich one, focused as it is on southern racism of the 1950;s, involving a kind of KKK white supremacist organization, and Blacksad as (mostly) black works his way into the tale as not only investigator but object of derision. The tale involves a kidnapping, (maybe) pedophilia, and a mixed marriage.
But even if you just look at the artwork, you will be amazed, so I will continue to find all the other volumes. It sort of is standard noir type telling, very much in the fifties noir style, which I like, generally, but it's just okay as story in spite of its relevant theme.
June 20, 2020
My second read of Blacksad. After reading this I suspect the creator prepare excellent background and setting. The background is about fur coloured discrimination. In real life we have layer upon layer of discriminations (gender bias, economy classes, racism, etc.), and this graphic novel could deliver another kind of discrimination! White fur coloured animals supremacy campaigns, black fur coloured street gang. And this unique setting affect the plot.
The jokes and plots related to animal traits are still there as on the first book.
The jokes and plots related to animal traits are still there as on the first book.
November 27, 2020
Историята и във втората част на комикса е сравнително добра, но ми хареса малко по-малко в сравнение с първата. Някак не успях докрай да се потопя в зимната атмосфера (може би защото в момента съм на по друга лятна вълна). Иначе илюстрациите отново са страхотни. А развръзката успя да ме изненада и ми допадна.
Оценка: 4.3.
P.S. Скоро ще погледна и третата част, а и четвъртата, защото този комикс определено ми грабна вниманието. 😊
Оценка: 4.3.
P.S. Скоро ще погледна и третата част, а и четвъртата, защото този комикс определено ми грабна вниманието. 😊
November 29, 2019
4.5
Cierto. No se rinda nunca, Miss Grey. Hacen falta personas como usted, que sepan educar a los niños sin odio. Quizá de esta manera este barrio se convierta sin duda en aquello que soñaron sus primeros habitantes.
Años 50. Nos encontramos en un barrio problemático de un pequeño pueblo de los estados unidos, donde el color de tu plumaje o piel es lo único que importa. En medio de todo esto se encuentran dos grupos opuestos. Por un lado tenemos el bando de animales de pelaje blanco con tendencias fascistas que quieren la erradicación del resto de animales de pelaje que no sean polares, mientras que por el otro tenemos los Black Claws, una banda de animales de pelaje negro que tienen aterrorizada a la zona.
Blacksad tiene la misión de encontrar a una gatita pequeña negra que ha desaparecido. Quien denuncia su desaparición no otra que su profesora al ver que nadie movía un dedo al respecto. Ambos grupos se echan la culpa entre ellos. Pero Nadie sabe quién tiene a la pequeña. Es por esto que la profesora decide contratar a un detective privado.
Sin duda, este tomo 2 mejora en grandes dimensiones su anterior publicación. Se desarrolla más el personaje de Blacksad y nos muestran otros personajes bastante interesantes. Me ha encantado sin duda, además hace una crítica a la sociedad de la época uniéndolo a un caso bastante peliagudo. Lo recomiendo si o también. La única pega sería que se me hizo demasiado corto.
Cierto. No se rinda nunca, Miss Grey. Hacen falta personas como usted, que sepan educar a los niños sin odio. Quizá de esta manera este barrio se convierta sin duda en aquello que soñaron sus primeros habitantes.
Años 50. Nos encontramos en un barrio problemático de un pequeño pueblo de los estados unidos, donde el color de tu plumaje o piel es lo único que importa. En medio de todo esto se encuentran dos grupos opuestos. Por un lado tenemos el bando de animales de pelaje blanco con tendencias fascistas que quieren la erradicación del resto de animales de pelaje que no sean polares, mientras que por el otro tenemos los Black Claws, una banda de animales de pelaje negro que tienen aterrorizada a la zona.
Blacksad tiene la misión de encontrar a una gatita pequeña negra que ha desaparecido. Quien denuncia su desaparición no otra que su profesora al ver que nadie movía un dedo al respecto. Ambos grupos se echan la culpa entre ellos. Pero Nadie sabe quién tiene a la pequeña. Es por esto que la profesora decide contratar a un detective privado.
Sin duda, este tomo 2 mejora en grandes dimensiones su anterior publicación. Se desarrolla más el personaje de Blacksad y nos muestran otros personajes bastante interesantes. Me ha encantado sin duda, además hace una crítica a la sociedad de la época uniéndolo a un caso bastante peliagudo. Lo recomiendo si o también. La única pega sería que se me hizo demasiado corto.
December 7, 2016
Para mi mejora bastante respecto a la primera historia de Blacksad, una trama más compleja y original que introduce temas como los problemas raciales y que tiene varios giros interesantes.
El dibujo de Guarnido es fantástico, nos ofrece un nivel de detalle, un dominio del movimiento y la expresión de los personajes y un sentido de la estética excepcional.
El dibujo de Guarnido es fantástico, nos ofrece un nivel de detalle, un dominio del movimiento y la expresión de los personajes y un sentido de la estética excepcional.
December 1, 2024
moest deze lezen voor uni maar was wel heftig
June 12, 2018
This second installment of the Blacksad series was beautifully illustrated and a great followup to the epic first volume. A dark, brooding police story with fascinating characters, it is a fascinating universe that Canales has created here!
July 21, 2013
Blacksad takes on racism, as good if not better than the first one
February 25, 2022
Dedektif kara kedimiz Blacksad'in maceraları ikinci cildiyle devam ediyor. 1950'li yılların Amerikasını andıran ama sadece insansı hayvanların yaşadığı alternatif bir dünyada geçen hikâye bu kez dönemin ırkçılık sorunlarını ele almış. Ama yine kendine has bir şekilde...
"Sınır" adı verilen bir kasabada kutup ayısı, samur, kar tilkisi gibi beyaz kürklü hayvanlar toplumun üst basamaklarında kendilerine saygın birer yer edinmiş ve siyah kürklü hayvanlara karşı savaş açıp onlara ikinci sınıf vatandaş muamelesi yapmaya başlamıştır. Sokaklar eskisi kadar güvenli değildir. Linçler, sokak kavgaları gırla gidiyordur.
Bu esnada siyah kürklü, küçük bir kız ortadan kaybolur ve öğretmeni onu bulması için Blacksad'i tutar. Kara bir kedi olan Blacksad kasabanın ırkçı halkı tarafından pek hoş karşılanmaz. Ama ilk ciltte de öğrendiğimiz gibi kafayı birine yardım etmeye taktı mı hiçbir zorluktan kaçmayan biridir Blacksad.
Çizimler her zamanki gibi şahane. Her karede rüzgârda uçuşan yapraklar, bir vitrinde sergilenen mallar, kalabalıktaki diğer karakterlerin hareketleri, gökten düşen yağmur damlaları gibi bir sürü güzel ayrıntı var. Karakterler de yine her zamanki gibi kişiliklerine en uygun hayvanlar olarak çizilmişler. Her panel ayrı bir sanat eseri âdeta. Bu ciltte kara kedimizin sadık dostu Sansar Weekly ile de ilk kez karşılaşıyoruz.
Ama bu seferki konu bir önceki kadar ilginç gelmedi bana. Hatta biraz karışıktı. Sanki çok daha fazla şey anlatmak istiyorlarmış da sayfa sayısı az gelmiş gibi ortasından dalıyoruz hikâyeye. Bazı şeyler çok hızlı olup bitiyor, bazıları da tam açıklanmıyor. Bir de öyküde çok fazla isim var ve cildin ortalarına gelinceye kadar kim kimdi bir türlü kafanızda tam olarak oturtamıyorsunuz. Güzel tanıtılmamış karakterler.
Yine de Blacksad'e bir hikâyede daha eşlik etmek güzeldi.
"Sınır" adı verilen bir kasabada kutup ayısı, samur, kar tilkisi gibi beyaz kürklü hayvanlar toplumun üst basamaklarında kendilerine saygın birer yer edinmiş ve siyah kürklü hayvanlara karşı savaş açıp onlara ikinci sınıf vatandaş muamelesi yapmaya başlamıştır. Sokaklar eskisi kadar güvenli değildir. Linçler, sokak kavgaları gırla gidiyordur.
Bu esnada siyah kürklü, küçük bir kız ortadan kaybolur ve öğretmeni onu bulması için Blacksad'i tutar. Kara bir kedi olan Blacksad kasabanın ırkçı halkı tarafından pek hoş karşılanmaz. Ama ilk ciltte de öğrendiğimiz gibi kafayı birine yardım etmeye taktı mı hiçbir zorluktan kaçmayan biridir Blacksad.
Çizimler her zamanki gibi şahane. Her karede rüzgârda uçuşan yapraklar, bir vitrinde sergilenen mallar, kalabalıktaki diğer karakterlerin hareketleri, gökten düşen yağmur damlaları gibi bir sürü güzel ayrıntı var. Karakterler de yine her zamanki gibi kişiliklerine en uygun hayvanlar olarak çizilmişler. Her panel ayrı bir sanat eseri âdeta. Bu ciltte kara kedimizin sadık dostu Sansar Weekly ile de ilk kez karşılaşıyoruz.
Ama bu seferki konu bir önceki kadar ilginç gelmedi bana. Hatta biraz karışıktı. Sanki çok daha fazla şey anlatmak istiyorlarmış da sayfa sayısı az gelmiş gibi ortasından dalıyoruz hikâyeye. Bazı şeyler çok hızlı olup bitiyor, bazıları da tam açıklanmıyor. Bir de öyküde çok fazla isim var ve cildin ortalarına gelinceye kadar kim kimdi bir türlü kafanızda tam olarak oturtamıyorsunuz. Güzel tanıtılmamış karakterler.
Yine de Blacksad'e bir hikâyede daha eşlik etmek güzeldi.
December 27, 2024
Another great story, this times centered around racism and prejudice. Sidekick is introduced and I like how the history events and movements are told in the background of lives of common people.
2024---
This album is one of my favourites. Set in depressive, cold, snowy sub-urban area. Social and political commentary. Racism, depression...
Antropomorfism is playing bigger role this time, as characteristics of protagonist are more tied to the stereotypes of animals that they are represented by. Few times I've got little bit lost who is who.
But again, few beautiful scenes:
Blacksad brooding over the city (Batman homege?)
Crow mechanic dying as hero, bringing conclusion to his miserable life.
2024---
This album is one of my favourites. Set in depressive, cold, snowy sub-urban area. Social and political commentary. Racism, depression...
Antropomorfism is playing bigger role this time, as characteristics of protagonist are more tied to the stereotypes of animals that they are represented by. Few times I've got little bit lost who is who.
But again, few beautiful scenes:
Blacksad brooding over the city (Batman homege?)
Crow mechanic dying as hero, bringing conclusion to his miserable life.
January 29, 2021
Autant le dire tout de suite, ce deuxième tome est un cran – voire deux – au dessus du précédent – et pourtant il était vraiment très bien. Les dessins étaient déjà d’un excellent niveau et ceux du deuxième tome le sont tout autant – peut-être meilleurs, mais difficile à dire lors d’une simple lecture sans s’y pencher plus en détail. La couleur dominante du tome précédent était le noir, celui de ce tome est le blanc. Bien que très réussi sur le plan esthétique, ce choix est porteur de sens.
C’est donc plutôt du côté de l’histoire qu’il faut chercher. Elle a gagné en profondeur en abordant un sujet de fond: la ségrégation raciale aux Etats-Unis. Ce thème est bien exploité en utilisant l’une des forces de cette série l’anthropomorphisme. Les animaux à fourrure blanche (Ours polaire, Hermine, etc.) sont oppos��s à ceux à fourrure noire (Rotweiller, Cheval, Taureau). Blacksad est noir – ça parait évident – mais son menton est blanc, faudrait-il interpréter cette particularité comme un signe de métissage ?
Mais, il ne se limite pas à ça puisque l’histoire – nous sommes toujours sur le principe d’une histoire complète au sein d’un tome – est plus complexe, mieux pensée. Le dynamisme du scénario et du découpage font qu’on ne lâche pas cette BD avant de l’avoir terminée.
Également publié sur mon blog.
C’est donc plutôt du côté de l’histoire qu’il faut chercher. Elle a gagné en profondeur en abordant un sujet de fond: la ségrégation raciale aux Etats-Unis. Ce thème est bien exploité en utilisant l’une des forces de cette série l’anthropomorphisme. Les animaux à fourrure blanche (Ours polaire, Hermine, etc.) sont oppos��s à ceux à fourrure noire (Rotweiller, Cheval, Taureau). Blacksad est noir – ça parait évident – mais son menton est blanc, faudrait-il interpréter cette particularité comme un signe de métissage ?
Mais, il ne se limite pas à ça puisque l’histoire – nous sommes toujours sur le principe d’une histoire complète au sein d’un tome – est plus complexe, mieux pensée. Le dynamisme du scénario et du découpage font qu’on ne lâche pas cette BD avant de l’avoir terminée.
Également publié sur mon blog.
June 9, 2015
4.5
Much better story than the first volume!
Much better story than the first volume!
January 26, 2022
Absolutamente excepcional.
June 28, 2020
Зимният сняг опитва, но не успява да покрие с белотата си изметта в града. Отвлечено дете е катализатора на изчистването на малко боклук в града, а една войнствена расистка организация ще пострада.
П.П. Нямам против употребата на думата "негър", когато се използва за човек, защото в българския език тя няма никакво обидно значение. За антропоморфизирание представители на фауната, които са героите на тая класна поредица, ми дойде нелогично.
П.П. Нямам против употребата на думата "негър", когато се използва за човек, защото в българския език тя няма никакво обидно значение. За антропоморфизирание представители на фауната, които са героите на тая класна поредица, ми дойде нелогично.
February 28, 2012
Original review in French, on my blog: http://moncoinlecture.over-blog.com/a...
J'ai préféré ce tome au premier. Le scénario est plus abouti et les images sont, encore une fois, magnifiques!
J'ai préféré ce tome au premier. Le scénario est plus abouti et les images sont, encore une fois, magnifiques!
February 12, 2021
Много често ще си разлиствам и преглеждам тази поредица!!
January 26, 2024
Blacksad: Arctic Nation is written by Juan Díaz Canales and illustrated by Juanjo Guarnido. It was originally published as Blacksad 2, Artic-Nation by Europe Comics.
Blacksad has been hired by an inner city elementary school teacher to investigate the kidnapping of one of her students. Blacksad's case will lead him down a rabbit hole of conspiracy, race supremacy, segregation, police corruption, and revenge.
The core of this story remains as relevant as ever as race issues continue to plague this country. Seeing the issues play out with animals by the color of their fur makes the continuing issue seem even more ridiculous on how some people judge superiority and class. This issue has a lot of twists and turns along the way.
Blacksad has been hired by an inner city elementary school teacher to investigate the kidnapping of one of her students. Blacksad's case will lead him down a rabbit hole of conspiracy, race supremacy, segregation, police corruption, and revenge.
The core of this story remains as relevant as ever as race issues continue to plague this country. Seeing the issues play out with animals by the color of their fur makes the continuing issue seem even more ridiculous on how some people judge superiority and class. This issue has a lot of twists and turns along the way.
April 24, 2015
“Blacksad – Arctic - Nation”, segundo livro de banda desenhada de dois jovens autores espanhóis, Díaz Canales (n. 1972), argumentista e Guarnido (n. 1967), desenhador, numa publicação conjunta do jornal Público/Edições Asa, Volume 3 da “Colecção Grandes Autores de Banda Desenhada” editada em 2008 em Portugal, num volume que engloba dois álbuns - “Blacksad – Algures Entre as Sombras” e “Blacksad – Artic - Nation”.
No segundo volume “Arctic – Nation” o detective Blacksad, o gato preto, conhece o jornalista Weekly, um rato castanho claro, do “What´s News”, na “The Line”, uma cidade “prestes a rebentar. De um lado, temos esses cretinos esbranquiçados convencidos de que no Mundo só existe o Pólo Norte… do outro lado temos os “Claws”, cujo ponto de união é o facto de serem todos tão negros como o olho do cú…” (Pág. 56)
A dupla Díaz Canalez (argumentista) e Guarnido (desenhador) envolve Blacksad numa investigação sobre o desaparecimento de uma miúda negra, a pequena Kyle, em que todas as personagens são animais antropomorfizados, numa génese de “film noir”, repleto de violência, com destaque para a temática da corrupção, o racismo, a pedofilia e o adultério.
“Arctic – Nation” apresenta uma qualidade gráfica excepcional, com um enredo que nos revela um dos períodos mais negros da história da América, nos anos 50: a segregação racial, associada a uma violência inter-racial, num ambiente de depressão económica, e onde a repressão sexual e a perversão, são reveladores de segredos antigos, num livro com muito suspense, reviravoltas inesperadas e um final surpreendente.
April 12, 2024
Simply superb!
Blacksad is one of the best series I ever read!
Everything is flawless here.
The density and substance of what is done in a 50 pages story is fantastic and it goes to show that these amount of pages are enough to create great stories.
The panels are some of the best I ever saw.
This duo is one of the bests of the industry.
A must read. Period.
Blacksad is one of the best series I ever read!
Everything is flawless here.
The density and substance of what is done in a 50 pages story is fantastic and it goes to show that these amount of pages are enough to create great stories.
The panels are some of the best I ever saw.
This duo is one of the bests of the industry.
A must read. Period.
March 18, 2018
Loved it. More than the first story. This one was more twisted and more detailed.
July 21, 2020
Страхотна динамична история! Не съм сигурна коя книга ми хареса повече - втора или трета, но поредицата определено си заслужава. А художника направо те отнася на местопрестъплението!
June 4, 2022
This is an intriguing detective story that deals with the issue of race.
May 3, 2025
damn it, what a beauty
those four opening panels, allegedly breaking the fourth wall... but then, after the pageturn.
Nope.
we've been within the confines of the story
brilliant. effing brilliant.
and the whole 56 pages just reek of
comic book
QUALITY
this art is God-tier.
anti-disney masterpiece
those four opening panels, allegedly breaking the fourth wall... but then, after the pageturn.
Nope.
we've been within the confines of the story
brilliant. effing brilliant.
and the whole 56 pages just reek of
comic book
QUALITY
this art is God-tier.
anti-disney masterpiece
December 6, 2020
This second volume I liked a bit more! It wasn't intricate, but still I liked how it was written. And the mystery was quite interesting!
February 19, 2024
Jamás pensé que leería un comic con Furros nazis pero la verdad que está muy bien
June 30, 2022
Much better than the first one. More excellent characters, a finer plot, nice plot twists. Totally, really better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews