Jazz Maynard : Une trilogie barcelonaise

Jazz Maynard #1-3

by Raule (Scénario), Roger Ibáñez Ugena (Dessins)

Barcelone de nos jours. Jazz Maynard et son ami Téo sont ligotés sur des chaises, dans une pièce sordide. Ils ne savent pas pourquoi, ni qui les détient. Mais Jazz sort à peine d'une aventure dangeureuse. Trois jours plus tôt, à New-York, sa soeur, qu'il n'avait pas vue depuis 10 ans, lui a fait parvenir une lettre desespérée, un appel au secours, et Jazz n'a pas hésité à pénétrer dans le repaire d'une bande de mafieux pour libérer Laura et ses proxénètes...

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Mystery

150 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2010

About the author

Raule a brièvement suivi des cours de bande dessinée à l’École Joso. En 1993, il lance le fanzine «Tribulaciones» avec le dessinateur M. Chaves. Tous deux remportent le «Prix du meilleur scénario dessiné» du concours de BD d’El Prat del Llobregat. En 1994, le duo crée notamment «Lady Down» pour la revue «De Tebeos» publiée à Almería. En 1995 et 1996, pour les éditions Camaleón, ils collaborent au premier et au dernier numéro de «Ryu», revue manga réunissant divers auteurs hispaniques, et ils produisent «Violencia Sonica», mini-série de 4 épisodes compilés en un tome en 1997. C’est alors que Raule entame une collaboration exclusive avec Roger Ibáñez dans «Otaku», la revue manga des éditions Norma. En 1999, toujours avec Roger au dessin, il travaille pour le magazine «Penthouse Comix» des éditions El Jueves. En 2002 et 2003, ils publient ensemble «Hole’n’Virgin», «Amores muertos» et «Cabos sueltos» aux éditions Amaníaco. Présentée au Salon de la BD de Barcelone, cette dernière réalisation séduit le scénariste J.D. Morvan («Al Togo» - «Reality Show») qui la soumet à Dargaud. De là naît au Festival d’Angoulême 2004, le projet du triptyque «Jazz Maynard». Le premier de ces 3 albums sort en juin 2007.

Reviews

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gangs, dirty cops, missing children, sex trafficking and murder explode across this noir crime thriller.

Childhood friends Jazz, Teo and Judas go down separate life paths that all involve crime. There is a significant flashback in chapter two explaining how the boys' paths diverged.

While rescuing his sister from poor decisions, Jazz runs into some unexpected luck in New York City. After escorting his sister home to a small suburb in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain, his luck runs out and he must rely on Teo and Judas' quick wits to rescue him from a bad situation. When approached by a local crime boss with a request that he can't refuse, Jazz starts down a slippery slope. Of course, there is always a dame from the past to muddy the waters.

Jazz Maynard is a good crime drama. The artwork is excellent. The scene is set in dusky but highly saturated greens, blues, reds and oranges. While dark, it is easy to see details and tell the characters apart. The only complaint is there is an excess of words on each page. It feels a bit clunky while reading. Still, Jazz Maynard is a good choice for noir or crime syndicate thriller lovers, where no one is wholly innocent. It is reminiscent of Reservoir Dogs or Chinatown.

Thanks to the publisher, Lion Forge, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Spanish John Wick in comic form. Jazz has been living in New York for the last 10 years. He returns to Barcelona when his sister gets into trouble with a sex slave ring and becomes embroiled with a couple of rival criminal gangs. He enlists his old friend Teo to help rescue his sister. Each story leads into the next, with Jazz next stealing a rare coin and then getting drug into a conspiracy that goes to the highest levels of Barcelona politics. The story is dark and gritty, delving into sex slavery and child prostitution. I'm always excited to see stories take place in Barcelona. It's one of my favorite cities on the planet. This one taking place in the Gothic Quarter, El Raval, the oldest part of the city, full of a character of its own. The art is fantastic. It's dynamic and portrays action extremely well.

Received a review copy from Lion Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Jazz Maynard" had the potential to be one of my fav comics out there. Art is beautiful (tho some of the baddies have really funny haircuts, i hope that was on purpose), Roger's style is really personal, both cartoony and dark at the same time. Coloring is a perfect match.

Thing is, as most of the times with modern BDs, with the story. The first issue got me hyped really bad: Jazz music, a dark and troubled anti-hero trumpeteer as the protagonist, crime, shady streets in Barcelona with a political air of independence floating around. And then, big-time "Arsen Lupen" type of heist, international thieves, global conspiracies, crime syndicates, rare coins, religious fanatics.

What the fuck happened? Is it too hard to keep it simple, give a back-alley noir story with fresh elements (concerning the whole jazzy background and the potential it had for a backstory (or a main one))? I've read the "The barcelona trilogy" and now I'm at "The Iceland Trilogy" of the same series, but tbh I'm disappointed. Not with what it is, but with what it could be.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spanish, Jazzy Cowboy Bebop

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up because I love the grit and detail European comix artists tend to bring, and also because I dig crime novels and am always on the lookout for a solid crime graphic novel. This ticks those boxes, but nonetheless left me underwhelmed by the end. Much of the problem has to do with the protagonist, nicknamed "Jazz", he's a troubled jazz trumpet genius who fled his hometown of Barcelona for the clubs of New York a decade ago. He's also a master thief of international renown, as well as a master of hand-to-hand combat, and a master of brooding looks. In other words, a cheesy action movie star.

The plot is so wildly convoluted it's laughable -- kicking off with him rescuing his sister from sex trafficking, which was only a lure to get him back to Barcelona where he is blackmailed into stealing an ultra-rare old gold coin from Romanian gangsters so that a Barcelona gangster can hand it off to some Chinese gangsters. Meanwhile, there is also child sex trafficking, a corrupt mayor and corrupt police force, his old childhood friend who's became another local gangster, a lefty newspaper lady he used to have a romance with, another super-thief, a cult of bald-headed katana-wielding maniacs, and more gun-wielding, suit-wearing goons than in all the John Wick movies put together.

In the midst of all this, it gets very hard to keep track of whose henchmen are whose, and how the various interests all intersect, and I found myself not really caring very much as the bodies hit the floor. The artwork is quite strong, although in its fidelity to maintaining realistically dim lighting, it can be a little murky at times. Every now and then there's a panel that uses a very unusual angle or perspective, which I appreciated. One element that some readers may enjoy less is how every female character has a literal hourglass form and tight/scanty to no clothes. This is a certain sensibility in European comix, but I found the constant parade of anatomical impossibilities tiresome. Other reader's results may vary.

[Michael Emond · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is kinetic and fantastic. The creator does an excellent job using the art to sell the action and the atmosphere of the city. The story is fast paced with a lot of characters and gangs and things to keep track of. On the one hand this makes for an exciting story that feels like an anime film bottled in a comic book, but it also does make it hard to keep track of all the players and their various motivations. That is my one complaint with the book - even though I could figure out the story in the end there were times when the scenes were cutting from one set of characters to the next I was having trouble understanding who was on the side I should be cheering for.

Jazz himself, as a main character, doesn't have a huge amount of character development other than his skills - he plays the trumpet, he is loyal to his friends, and he has the ninja skills of a trained spy. In fact the best bit of character insight we get is a flashback of Jazz as a kid. But even with that lack of insight he is a fun character to watch get in and out of trouble.

The story is a bit zig zaggy all over the place but it does come together in the end with a satisfying resolution. I was overwhelmed at the start but my patience was rewarded in the end.

Some reviewers have used "Cowboy Beebop" and "John Wick" as comparisons and I agree they have some similarities but in the end this is a unique and wonderful graphic novel that is worth checking out.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Jazz Maynard 1. Home Sweet Home' with story by Raule and art by Roger is a crime comic about a jazz musician. It's got a so-so story and above average artwork.

When we meet Jazz Maynard, he is tied back to back with his best friend Teo. He is home in Barcelona with his trumpet, just looking for a gig when trouble comes calling. He's been away in the states, but he comes home when his sister is in trouble. He finds himself in trouble over some missing diamonds, and the only way out is to break into a house and steal a precious coin. Along with ,this, there are strange, silent, sword-wielding assassins, and corrupt politicians. Can Jazz get himself out of this mess?

Jazz is the sort of action hero who can seemingly do anything and get himself out of any scrape. That kind of story gets a little dull after a while. This gets elevated by the cool angular art. The story is told in dusty brown tones which is a nice change from another noir ripoff. There are some interesting characters here. I just wish the main character had been allowed to be a bit more human.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Este integral incluye los primeros tres álbumes de Jazz Maynard... un personaje que pasó no se sabe muy bien cómo, de ratero de barrio a genial trompetista y en sus ratos libres sacó tiempo para aprender a ser un gran combatiente tanto en cuerpo a cuerpo como con armas de fuego y un ladrón de guante blanco de fama mundial.

En fin, no le dedicaré mucho tiempo, sólo diré que el dibujo está muy bien, pero aunque el formato en blanco y negro ayuda no me parece el mejor estilo para un relato de serie negra, tampoco encuentro rastro de la ciudad de Barcelona aparte de las menciones al raval y los nombres catalanes de ciertos personajes. En el plano argumental tenemos una trama de bajos fondos y corrupción política muy poco creíble y unos personajes que no ayudan demasiado a mantener el interés.

Para entretenerse un rato cumple la función, pero desde luego no tiene lo que busco en el cómic europeo.

[Ashkin Ayub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jazz Maynard is an excellent crime GN. The artwork is fantastic. The colors used for the scene are dark but highly saturated greens, blues, reds, and oranges. While it is dark, it is possible to discern details and distinguish the characters. Jazz is the type of character that appears to be able to accomplish anything and pull himself out of any situation. After a time, such a type of tale just becomes tedious. The sleek, angular art elevates this. The only criticism is that there are too many words on each page. While reading, it feels a little clumsy. I only wish the main character could have been a little more human.

[Metabull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for this graphic novel/integral collection. The story is a great action packed crime story set in gritty Barcelona. It involves an ensemble of characters that move along the plotlines set in past and present.

The artwork is semi-realistic with clean linework and mutted colours. The panels move with the action and make good use of cinematic feel.

As a whole it is a solid piece of neo-noir fiction.

[Edward Correa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entre Matt Murdock de Daredevil y el Spike Spiegel de Cowboy Bebop en plena Barcelona. Muy entretenida obra de acción con tintes noir. Entre mafiosos, policías y un poquito de drama. El arte es muy dinámico, riquísimo de leer.

[Max Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting writing! Astonishing artwork!

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

He drew the incorrect President Roosevelt, Teddy instead of FDR - kind of disappointing. I know it's a comic book, but he seems to do absolutely everything at a level that doesn't seem plausible - master thief, master trumpet player, master fighter - and he's well read and the chicks all dig him. It reminds why I never liked Superman - he has no weaknesses.

[GONZA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit I didn't like this graphic novel so much, but it is surely my problem.

Devo ammettere che questa graphic novel non mi é piaciuta poi tanto, ma sicuramente è un problema mio.

THANKS TO EDELWEISS FOR THE PREVIEW!

[Damián Vives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raule & Roger desarrollan un thriller criminal vertiginoso con Barcelona como escenario. Los bajos fondos, la política y el crimen organizado se mezclan en una trama que oscila entre la estética pulp norteamericana y el animé. El trompetista Jazz Maynard vuelve a Barcelona luego de rescatar a su hermana de una red de trata, sólo para verse arrastrado a participar en una oscura red de corrupción formada por los elementos de un pasado que no olvida su nombre.

[Kuba · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is so jazzy that there is almost no jazz at all. I excepted much more story-wise. Disappointed.