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Michel
Mevrouw Hubeau is een 72-jarige weduwe. Ze zou van een rustige oude dag aan het genieten moeten zijn, ware het niet dat Michel, haar zoon van 43, nog altijd bij haar thuis woont. Niet omdat hij geen vrouw vindt, nee omdat hij mentaal gehandicapt is na een tragisch verkeersongeluk op zijn twintigste. Heel haar leven draait rond Michel en de vraag wat er met hem zal gebeuren als zij er niet meer is om voor hem te zorgen. Een vraag waarmee heel wat anonieme mensen elke dag weer worstelen. Dit verhaal is een hommage aan al die stille krachten.
Na Lydie, Het vel van de beer, Een mooie reis en De klant is Michel een nieuwe one-shot van scenarist Zidrou. Met veel gevoeligheid en humor snijdt hij complexe thema's als het moederschap en leven met een handicap aan. Een teder verhaal, getekend door Roger, de tekenaar van Jazz Maynard.
Na Lydie, Het vel van de beer, Een mooie reis en De klant is Michel een nieuwe one-shot van scenarist Zidrou. Met veel gevoeligheid en humor snijdt hij complexe thema's als het moederschap en leven met een handicap aan. Een teder verhaal, getekend door Roger, de tekenaar van Jazz Maynard.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 26, 2017
Catherine Hubeau, a seventy-two year old widow is caregiver to her forty-three year old son, Michael. In the blink of an eye, life as they knew it changed resulting from a car accident. Mikey has photos on his bedroom wall of fun times no longer remembered.
One day, Catherine takes the train to the seashore after arranging care for Mikey. A very inquisitive young child on the train asks his mother how long the trip will take? The young mother "weaves a yarn" to keep the child entertained for the duration of the train ride. The juxtaposition of the youngster's waiting time plays out against Mikey's non-stop need to know when the "Hippy Grandpa" show will start. Catherine tells him many times each day that the show starts at 7:30 P.M. Michael must wear his Hippy Grandpa "she-turt" while watching. If the tee-shirt is unavailable, a temper tantrum and toy breakage will ensue.
Catherine Hubeau is a heroine. She lovingly cares for Mikey. She is his rock. Others might abandon him or consider him to be an inconvenience. Despite frustration and sacrifice, Catherine is deeply invested in Mikey's quality of life.
"While the King of Prussia Was Waging the War Who Do You Think Was Darning His Socks?" script by Zidrou/Art by Roger helps the reader experience the life of both a mentally challenged adult as well as his caregiver. The wide range of emotions felt are expressed verbally and are beautifully, artistically rendered. In a short, fifty-eight page comic and graphic novel we meet a true heroine, a caregiver who greatly enhances her son's life. I highly recommend this tome.
Thank you Europe Comics and Net Galley for providing "King of Prussia" in exchange for my fair and honest review.
One day, Catherine takes the train to the seashore after arranging care for Mikey. A very inquisitive young child on the train asks his mother how long the trip will take? The young mother "weaves a yarn" to keep the child entertained for the duration of the train ride. The juxtaposition of the youngster's waiting time plays out against Mikey's non-stop need to know when the "Hippy Grandpa" show will start. Catherine tells him many times each day that the show starts at 7:30 P.M. Michael must wear his Hippy Grandpa "she-turt" while watching. If the tee-shirt is unavailable, a temper tantrum and toy breakage will ensue.
Catherine Hubeau is a heroine. She lovingly cares for Mikey. She is his rock. Others might abandon him or consider him to be an inconvenience. Despite frustration and sacrifice, Catherine is deeply invested in Mikey's quality of life.
"While the King of Prussia Was Waging the War Who Do You Think Was Darning His Socks?" script by Zidrou/Art by Roger helps the reader experience the life of both a mentally challenged adult as well as his caregiver. The wide range of emotions felt are expressed verbally and are beautifully, artistically rendered. In a short, fifty-eight page comic and graphic novel we meet a true heroine, a caregiver who greatly enhances her son's life. I highly recommend this tome.
Thank you Europe Comics and Net Galley for providing "King of Prussia" in exchange for my fair and honest review.
August 10, 2018
“He lives his life, with its little downs and big ups.
I do, too ...
...I live his life.”
I do, too ...
...I live his life.”
May 28, 2025
# Mothering May
Para mim, são estas as mães mais corajosas do mundo, as que cuidam de filhos com necessidades especiais, tenham eles a idade que tiverem, e isso está explanado aqui, com ternura e sensibilidade. Preciso de um lenço. Ou dois…
- Ya sabes, vive su vida, com sus pequeñas misérias y sus grandes alegrias.
- Y usted, Señora Hubeau?
- Yo también… vivo su vida.
Para mim, são estas as mães mais corajosas do mundo, as que cuidam de filhos com necessidades especiais, tenham eles a idade que tiverem, e isso está explanado aqui, com ternura e sensibilidade. Preciso de um lenço. Ou dois…
- Ya sabes, vive su vida, com sus pequeñas misérias y sus grandes alegrias.
- Y usted, Señora Hubeau?
- Yo también… vivo su vida.
stripovi-i-grafički-romani
August 29, 2018A jebote. Otplakah jednu turu, nije me stid da priznam.
Long story short, u pitanju je nekoliko kratkih priča o ženi koja se brine o svom hendikepiranom odraslom sinu, koji je takav od saobraćajne nesreće u mladosti, kada je vozio očev auto pod dejstvom alkohola.
Pa sad, pošto imam sličan real-life primer u svojoj daljoj rodbini, jedino što ću reći jeste da je ovo bolno i minimalistički tačno predstavljeno. Samo majka zna kako je njoj samoj sa sopstvenim mislima, a mi, posmatrači sa strane, možemo kroz ove priče da obratimo pažnju na neke detalje koji nam promaknu ako se zapitamo kako je to živeti sa nekim na ovakav način.
- What do we do, mom?
- Make some more coffee and carry on.
I tako, u ovom jednostavnom dijalogu je izrečena sva mudrost ovog sveta.
Long story short, u pitanju je nekoliko kratkih priča o ženi koja se brine o svom hendikepiranom odraslom sinu, koji je takav od saobraćajne nesreće u mladosti, kada je vozio očev auto pod dejstvom alkohola.
Pa sad, pošto imam sličan real-life primer u svojoj daljoj rodbini, jedino što ću reći jeste da je ovo bolno i minimalistički tačno predstavljeno. Samo majka zna kako je njoj samoj sa sopstvenim mislima, a mi, posmatrači sa strane, možemo kroz ove priče da obratimo pažnju na neke detalje koji nam promaknu ako se zapitamo kako je to živeti sa nekim na ovakav način.
- What do we do, mom?
- Make some more coffee and carry on.
I tako, u ovom jednostavnom dijalogu je izrečena sva mudrost ovog sveta.
May 31, 2025
"¿Quién le zurcía los calcetines al rey de Prusia mientras estaba en la guerra?", uma novela gráfica escrita por Zidrou (pseudónimo de Benoît Drousie) e ilustrada por Roger Ibáñez que provam ser uma excelente dupla.
A história centra-se na vida de Catherine Hubeau, uma mulher de 72 anos, uma senhora sempre de sorriso brando nos lábios, que dedica a sua existência ao cuidado do seu filho Michel, de 43 anos, que ficou com uma deficiência mental após um acidente de automóvel.
A narrativa desenvolve-se em pequenos quadros da vida doméstica: a rotina, os momentos de ternura, os silêncios, as frustrações acumuladas. O traço expressivo de Roger Ibáñez contribui decisivamente para a emoção da obra, em especial nos rostos das personagens — o sorriso persistente e gentil de Catherine esconde camadas de cansaço e resiliência que se revelam pouco a pouco, até ao dia em que algo se quebra.
Zidrou mostra a dureza do cuidado prolongado, com ternura, o impacto na vida da cuidadora, os vínculos familiares frágeis — como a filha de Catherine, que quer continuar a sua vida apesar do que aconteceu ao irmão. Zidrou não julga, deixa ao nosso critério. É uma história sobre o amor incondicional e também sobre os limites desse amor. Sobre aquilo que se aguenta, até já não se conseguir mais.
O título, retirado de uma observação feita por Michel, sintetiza na perfeição a obra: é uma pergunta simples, que contém uma visão de mundo. Quem cuida de quem cuida? Quem sustenta os bastidores do heroísmo silencioso?
"Quem cosia as meias do rei da Prússia enquanto ele andava na guerra?"
Este título parece estranho à primeira vista, mas é profundamente simbólico. Michel, o filho de Catherine, tem uma visão muito própria do mundo — simples, mas cheia de significado. Esta pergunta que ele faz ecoa ao longo de toda a história como uma metáfora:
Enquanto o mundo está ocupado com grandes feitos, guerras e heróis, quem cuida das pequenas coisas essenciais?
Quem ampara, sustenta, cuida do aparentemente invisível?
Numa sociedade que glorifica o sacrifício visível, Michel pergunta por quem fica nos bastidores — como a própria mãe dele, que cuida de tudo sem nunca ser reconhecida.
Há uma imagem poderosa, sem palavras, como um murro no estômago, com homens a sangrar na guerra, uma imagem metafórica, que nos aparece aparentemente do nada porém é uma parte muito forte da história que serve para contrastar o sofrimento épico e público da guerra com o sofrimento silencioso, privado, de uma guerra diária contra o cansaço, o tempo, a solidão, da mãe que cuida do filho. Há várias formas de heroísmo. Uma guerra externa que contrasta com uma guerra interna.
A velhice chega e os comprimidos são esquecidos de dar ao filho. Com isto vem a culpa.
Comovente, honesta e poderosa, esta é uma novela gráfica que permanece muito depois de virada a última página. Uma homenagem à dignidade das vidas “invisíveis” — e ao sorriso discreto de quem, todos os dias, remenda meias em silêncio, enquanto o mundo trava as suas guerras.
Tudo pode mudar num segundo. E é essa impermanência que Zidrou nos obriga a encarar. Com doçura, sim. Mas também com verdade.
Esta novela gráfica não está editada em português e merecia chegar a mais leitores.
Obrigada, Paulinha! 🌹😘
June 14, 2016
Muchas veces se asocia el mundo de las viñetas y bocadillos con mundos de fantasía, poblados de superhéroes. En la vida real, sin embargo, hay vidas que rara vez aparecen retratadas en los libros, en los cómics y en el cine. Son vidas cotidianas, de personas cercanas, vecinos, familiares. Vidas con sus pequeñas miserias y sus grandes alegrías. Vidas que pueden cambiar de rumbo rápidamente, como si de un coche a 160 kilómetros por hora se tratara.
Este cómic está dedicado a una de esas vidas: la de Catherine Hubeau. Muy pocos padres han pensado alguna vez que tendrán que cuidar de sus hijos también cuando estos sean mayores. Lamentablemente (...)
LA RESEÑA SIGUE AQUÍ: https://elbuscalibros.com/qui%C3%A9n-...
Este cómic está dedicado a una de esas vidas: la de Catherine Hubeau. Muy pocos padres han pensado alguna vez que tendrán que cuidar de sus hijos también cuando estos sean mayores. Lamentablemente (...)
LA RESEÑA SIGUE AQUÍ: https://elbuscalibros.com/qui%C3%A9n-...
December 25, 2018
I just read this book in one sitting, on Christmas, with my 2 month old son in my arms. Needless to say this book made me cry like a baby...
It’s a phenomenal story about an elderly, devoted mother and her 40 yr old special-needs son.
My gawd it hit me in the feels. I’m a mess.
Highly recommend to readers who wish to stay humble and keep life in perspective.
It’s a phenomenal story about an elderly, devoted mother and her 40 yr old special-needs son.
My gawd it hit me in the feels. I’m a mess.
Highly recommend to readers who wish to stay humble and keep life in perspective.
March 22, 2019
⭐️4.5⭐️
¡Qué ternura de comic, por favor!. Es cierto que te deja bastante tocada, por lo menos a mi, pero merece la pena leerlo. La historia es honesta, tierna, conmovedora y en pinceladas hasta divertida.
Me ha parecido una pequeña joya.
¡Qué ternura de comic, por favor!. Es cierto que te deja bastante tocada, por lo menos a mi, pero merece la pena leerlo. La historia es honesta, tierna, conmovedora y en pinceladas hasta divertida.
Me ha parecido una pequeña joya.
May 27, 2025
24×32 ¦ d/2013/0086/324 ¦ prix DA07 = eo(noté)
→₁₅words: my longest title owned (of >6000)
→₈pages: farthest into story I've seen title|copyright pages
Narrative: ****
I'm having trouble with the metaphors/juxtaposition, demonstrated through the scenes that don't involve the main characters, that Zidrou is using to deepen meaning within the family dynamic. I assume that I'll understand them by the end- as well as the reasoning behind the title, chapter titles and the scene preceding the title and copyright pages.
Now that it's read, I did end up losing so much aforementioned nuance within what seemed to be a brilliant story. That sort of thing usually maddens me but I enjoyed this enough to not be bothered to the point of breaking my new faster reading rules.
Zidrou, ever versatile with his oeuvre, nonetheless impressed me tremendously with what did sink in and effect me emotionally. He did a magnificent job engineering the scene, where mom is renting her son his favorite porn movie for the 13th time and then giving him tissue advise as he scurries into his room with it, in a way that made it both funny and heart-tugging evidence of a mother who helps her son through his confusing and difficult life without caring about awkwardness or "what people will say".
Visual: ****
He is so precise yet still able to "cartoon" a face for a laugh or extreme emotion!
→₁₅words: my longest title owned (of >6000)
→₈pages: farthest into story I've seen title|copyright pages
Narrative: ****
I'm having trouble with the metaphors/juxtaposition, demonstrated through the scenes that don't involve the main characters, that Zidrou is using to deepen meaning within the family dynamic. I assume that I'll understand them by the end- as well as the reasoning behind the title, chapter titles and the scene preceding the title and copyright pages.
Now that it's read, I did end up losing so much aforementioned nuance within what seemed to be a brilliant story. That sort of thing usually maddens me but I enjoyed this enough to not be bothered to the point of breaking my new faster reading rules.
Zidrou, ever versatile with his oeuvre, nonetheless impressed me tremendously with what did sink in and effect me emotionally. He did a magnificent job engineering the scene, where mom is renting her son his favorite porn movie for the 13th time and then giving him tissue advise as he scurries into his room with it, in a way that made it both funny and heart-tugging evidence of a mother who helps her son through his confusing and difficult life without caring about awkwardness or "what people will say".
Visual: ****
He is so precise yet still able to "cartoon" a face for a laugh or extreme emotion!
September 2, 2018
A bittersweet story; you’d enjoy it if you liked the movie ‘I am Sam ’
December 22, 2019
Koliko dugo mi ovo stoji na TBR-u, konačno sam je, uz malu pomoć, našla i pročitala.
Jako emotivno, ukazuje na stvari kojih se ljudi koji nisu u toj situaciji ne bi setili, ne bi na to ni pomislili.
Jako emotivno, ukazuje na stvari kojih se ljudi koji nisu u toj situaciji ne bi setili, ne bi na to ni pomislili.
September 26, 2014
Hoy vamos a cambiar de tercio con el tebeo que os traigo. Ni siquiera dentro del BD me gusta demasiado salirme de los géneros que mas disfruto (fantasía/aventuras/ciencia ficción), pero de vez en cuando me da por cambiar de aires. Esta es una de esas veces en las que nos pasamos a temas mas humanos, con la complicación de no crear de ello un drama, sino simplemente contar una historia.
Es la historia de una señora mayor que tiene a su cargo a su hijo cuarentón, quien sufre un retraso importante por causas que mas tarde conoceremos. No hay mas sinopsis y es que el tebeo va de la relación de esta señora, mas que con sus hijos, con la vida que le ha tocado vivir. No busca la lagrima fácil, no es empalagoso, ni grosero en sus formas de contar algo que bien podía haber caído en esos fallos.
Es simplemente una historia con mayor o menor moraleja, para quien la quiera encontrar, pero que como mínimo nos hará mirar con ojos un poco mas amables a nuestras propias madres, aunque no seamos ya una "carga" diaria como si lo es Micheal. Me parece recomendable y una alarde de maestria tanto de Zidrou a la hora de contar una historia "sencilla", humana y cercana dentro de la distancia con la situación y unido a un dibujo de Roger Ibañez que hace que todo sea aun mas "entrañable". Lo pongo entre comillas, pero es la palabra que me viene a la mente cuando veo sus viñetas y sus personajes.
Es la historia de una señora mayor que tiene a su cargo a su hijo cuarentón, quien sufre un retraso importante por causas que mas tarde conoceremos. No hay mas sinopsis y es que el tebeo va de la relación de esta señora, mas que con sus hijos, con la vida que le ha tocado vivir. No busca la lagrima fácil, no es empalagoso, ni grosero en sus formas de contar algo que bien podía haber caído en esos fallos.
Es simplemente una historia con mayor o menor moraleja, para quien la quiera encontrar, pero que como mínimo nos hará mirar con ojos un poco mas amables a nuestras propias madres, aunque no seamos ya una "carga" diaria como si lo es Micheal. Me parece recomendable y una alarde de maestria tanto de Zidrou a la hora de contar una historia "sencilla", humana y cercana dentro de la distancia con la situación y unido a un dibujo de Roger Ibañez que hace que todo sea aun mas "entrañable". Lo pongo entre comillas, pero es la palabra que me viene a la mente cuando veo sus viñetas y sus personajes.
April 25, 2020
Lo único que no me gustó fue que me hiciese llorar en la biblioteca.
December 30, 2017
This is a beautiful and poignant story about a widow who cares for her adult son because he has learning difficulties as a result of a car accident in his youth. The graphics and colouring are subtle but the story conveys a powerful message about love and family, and the fact that sometimes caring for somebody means that personal dreams and ambitions take a back seat and may never be realised.
The story is also a testament to the depth of sacrifice that can be found in parental love. Mrs Hubeau has gladly made sacrifices to care for her son but she knows that she is getting older and she no longer has the physical strength to help him. Despite this she solders on because she overflows with emotional strength and devotion and love for him.
Her daughter believes that Michel should go into a supported home for adults because she knows that if her mother is unable to look after Michel, she herself cannot do it. Mrs Hubeau just focuses on the day to day, taking simple pleasures in caring for her son and taking joy in the things that he can do and the friendships that he does have.
The story explores the complexity of caring for adults with special needs and what happens when those carers are no longer physically able to care. The story does this in the most beautiful and gentle way. As a mother I could understand frustration of Mrs Hubeau because had her son not had an accident he would have been living his life, marrying, maybe having a family of his own. Instead she has an adult child with ongoing care needs and yet she embraces this despite all the difficulties because at the end of the day he is her child and this is the story of a mother who loves.
Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The story is also a testament to the depth of sacrifice that can be found in parental love. Mrs Hubeau has gladly made sacrifices to care for her son but she knows that she is getting older and she no longer has the physical strength to help him. Despite this she solders on because she overflows with emotional strength and devotion and love for him.
Her daughter believes that Michel should go into a supported home for adults because she knows that if her mother is unable to look after Michel, she herself cannot do it. Mrs Hubeau just focuses on the day to day, taking simple pleasures in caring for her son and taking joy in the things that he can do and the friendships that he does have.
The story explores the complexity of caring for adults with special needs and what happens when those carers are no longer physically able to care. The story does this in the most beautiful and gentle way. As a mother I could understand frustration of Mrs Hubeau because had her son not had an accident he would have been living his life, marrying, maybe having a family of his own. Instead she has an adult child with ongoing care needs and yet she embraces this despite all the difficulties because at the end of the day he is her child and this is the story of a mother who loves.
Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 29, 2022
Дуже душевний графічний роман, складений із замальовок про побут сімдесятирічної жінки, що живе зі своїм сорокорічним сином і піклується про нього. Той в юності потрапив в аварію та на все життя залишився з ментальною інвалідністю. Старенькій тяжко турбоватися про нього самотужки, проте вибору у неї нема.
Читати для розвитку емпатії та як нагадування про сотні тисяч відданих батьків маленьких та дорослих людей, що не можуть самі про себе попіклуватися, та їх радощі й горесті.
Читати для розвитку емпатії та як нагадування про сотні тисяч відданих батьків маленьких та дорослих людей, що не можуть самі про себе попіклуватися, та їх радощі й горесті.
April 20, 2022
Una historia que te sorprendera. Es bastante dura como no podia ser cuando una persona tiene tantos problemas por causa de un accidente. Excelentemente dibujado por Roger y como siempre Zidrou está impecable
May 1, 2018
C'est surtout graphiquement que j'ai bien aimé, l'histoire en elle-même ne m'a pas vraiment touchée, allez savoir pourquoi...
March 13, 2020
Me encantó esta pequeña historia.
December 29, 2018
Agridulce. Este tipo de historias me llegan de manera especial y Zidrou es sin duda uno de mis guionistas favoritos. El dibujo excepcional.
December 18, 2017
La question est simple, mais le récit de cet album nous parvient dans le désordre.
C’est à nous, lecteur, à reconstituer l’histoire de Michelou et sa maman. Michelou qui a entre 40 et 50 ans, et sa vieille maman vivent ensemble. Sa mère va l’attendre tous les jours à l’arrêt du bus, et l’y emmène le matin.
Michelou adore jouer à Puissance 4, il gagne à chaque fois.
Tout le monde fait des efforts autour de lui, mais parfois, certains s’énervent, c’est humain.
Mais sa maman ne peut pas rester loin de son grand fiston devenu « un légume et tout le potager » comme dit sa soeur, après un accident de la route.
Un album aux couleurs douces pour des jours et des situations qui le sont moins.
Il est vrai que personne n’érige des statues à la gloire de la mère du Roi de Prusse.
http://alexmotamots.fr/pendant-que-le...
C’est à nous, lecteur, à reconstituer l’histoire de Michelou et sa maman. Michelou qui a entre 40 et 50 ans, et sa vieille maman vivent ensemble. Sa mère va l’attendre tous les jours à l’arrêt du bus, et l’y emmène le matin.
Michelou adore jouer à Puissance 4, il gagne à chaque fois.
Tout le monde fait des efforts autour de lui, mais parfois, certains s’énervent, c’est humain.
Mais sa maman ne peut pas rester loin de son grand fiston devenu « un légume et tout le potager » comme dit sa soeur, après un accident de la route.
Un album aux couleurs douces pour des jours et des situations qui le sont moins.
Il est vrai que personne n’érige des statues à la gloire de la mère du Roi de Prusse.
http://alexmotamots.fr/pendant-que-le...
November 20, 2019
Este álbum de Zidrou y Roger Ibañez es un gran trabajo, se nota el toque personal, el dibujo es excelente y la historia cercana hasta el punto de meternos en la intimidad de esta madre que cuida de su hijo tras un accidente que merma su capacidad intelectual, el caso es que no he terminado de sintonizar con el relato, estoy seguro de que esto es asunto mío, no lo he leído en el momento adecuado o quizás simplemente no es el tipo de historia que me apetece leer a día de hoy.
En todo caso como todo lo de Zidrou que he leído hasta ahora es un cómic que tiene un nivel de calidad importante, el autor sabe apelar a los sentimientos y el dibujo acompaña, además se agradece que es una historia cerrada a la que le puedes dedicar un rato sin que te exija nada más. Lo que si es verdad es que por mucho que te llegue no va a ser una historia que te alegre el día, así que mejor buscar el momento adecuado.
En todo caso como todo lo de Zidrou que he leído hasta ahora es un cómic que tiene un nivel de calidad importante, el autor sabe apelar a los sentimientos y el dibujo acompaña, además se agradece que es una historia cerrada a la que le puedes dedicar un rato sin que te exija nada más. Lo que si es verdad es que por mucho que te llegue no va a ser una historia que te alegre el día, así que mejor buscar el momento adecuado.
December 26, 2020
I picked this graphic novel only for the title, didn't know anything about it before I read it. I'm so glad I did.
Going into it blind I didn't know what to expect, it was a punch in the gut, sweet and short. The story was so compelling and it left me in tears. The struggle of an elderly woman taking care of his mentally disabled son, her daily routine and the way she leads her life, revolving around her son, it was heartbreaking. Her upbeat attitude and trying her best to stay positive before a situation that was never meant to happen, living day to day the best she can.
Going into it blind I didn't know what to expect, it was a punch in the gut, sweet and short. The story was so compelling and it left me in tears. The struggle of an elderly woman taking care of his mentally disabled son, her daily routine and the way she leads her life, revolving around her son, it was heartbreaking. Her upbeat attitude and trying her best to stay positive before a situation that was never meant to happen, living day to day the best she can.
January 8, 2018
"What do we do mom?"
"Make some more coffee and carry on."
"Make some more coffee and carry on."
Read
March 11, 2021 Il vit sa vie, quoi! Avec ses petites misères et ses grandes joies.
Et vous, madame Hubeau?
Moi aussi... je vis sa vie.
Ce sont des tranches de vie d'une mère, veuve, à 72 ans, qui s'occupe de son garçon, Michel, 43 ans. Michel a eu un accident de voiture au début de sa vie adulte. Depuis, il est handicapé - mentalement. Tout est flou de sa vie d'avant, il pète des crises si son t-shirt de hippie papy n'est pas propre le matin, il n'a pas d'impulse control -- "Un légume! Tu parles!! On a hérité de tout le potager, oui!!" -- c'est un enfant en format extra-large. Et pourtant, on assiste à une panoplie de moments quotidiens où Catherine, sa mère, s'occupe de lui avec énormément d'amour et de patience. Il y a des moments où elle se fâche, il y a des moments où elle semble blessée de ce qu'elle n'a pas pu avoir en regardant d'autres mères et leurs enfants -- mais jamais moins d'amour, moins de volonté de tout simplement "se refaire un peu de café et continuer".
On a le quotidien, la difficulté de l'éloignement, le tiraillement, la vieillesse et les choix, la sexualité, les anciennes amours -- le courage, beaucoup de courage. Toute une héroine, la Catherine. Elle m'a rappelée ma grand-mère, qui s'est toujours occupée de son enfant-potager, elle aussi, et qui a tenté de continuer après la mort de son mari -- mêmes courages, mêmes moments où le corps vieilli ne semble plus suivre.
Je me demande ce qu'en penserait ma mère si je lui mettais entre les mains cette bédé, du coup.
Et vous, madame Hubeau?
Moi aussi... je vis sa vie.
Ce sont des tranches de vie d'une mère, veuve, à 72 ans, qui s'occupe de son garçon, Michel, 43 ans. Michel a eu un accident de voiture au début de sa vie adulte. Depuis, il est handicapé - mentalement. Tout est flou de sa vie d'avant, il pète des crises si son t-shirt de hippie papy n'est pas propre le matin, il n'a pas d'impulse control -- "Un légume! Tu parles!! On a hérité de tout le potager, oui!!" -- c'est un enfant en format extra-large. Et pourtant, on assiste à une panoplie de moments quotidiens où Catherine, sa mère, s'occupe de lui avec énormément d'amour et de patience. Il y a des moments où elle se fâche, il y a des moments où elle semble blessée de ce qu'elle n'a pas pu avoir en regardant d'autres mères et leurs enfants -- mais jamais moins d'amour, moins de volonté de tout simplement "se refaire un peu de café et continuer".
On a le quotidien, la difficulté de l'éloignement, le tiraillement, la vieillesse et les choix, la sexualité, les anciennes amours -- le courage, beaucoup de courage. Toute une héroine, la Catherine. Elle m'a rappelée ma grand-mère, qui s'est toujours occupée de son enfant-potager, elle aussi, et qui a tenté de continuer après la mort de son mari -- mêmes courages, mêmes moments où le corps vieilli ne semble plus suivre.
Je me demande ce qu'en penserait ma mère si je lui mettais entre les mains cette bédé, du coup.
January 25, 2018
'While the king of Prussia was waging war, who do you think was darning his socks' by Zidrou is an unusual title for a very different kind of graphic novel story.
When we meet Mrs. Hubeau, she seems to be alone and waiting. The story becomes revealed as we learn that Mrs. Hubeau cares for her middle-aged disabled son Michel. It's not the life she wanted in her 70s, but who else is there to care for Michel. So, she buys him his beer, and rents him his porno, and makes sure his favorite t-shirt is clean and ready for another day. Michel is a hulking child who likes his favorite show and plays Connect Four in the park. We get small glimpses of what Michel was like when he was younger. We get big looks at the sacrificial love of his mother.
There are no answers here. There really isn't even a bigger moral. It's simply the story of this lady and her injured child and what she does to make his life comfortable. I really, really enjoyed this story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
When we meet Mrs. Hubeau, she seems to be alone and waiting. The story becomes revealed as we learn that Mrs. Hubeau cares for her middle-aged disabled son Michel. It's not the life she wanted in her 70s, but who else is there to care for Michel. So, she buys him his beer, and rents him his porno, and makes sure his favorite t-shirt is clean and ready for another day. Michel is a hulking child who likes his favorite show and plays Connect Four in the park. We get small glimpses of what Michel was like when he was younger. We get big looks at the sacrificial love of his mother.
There are no answers here. There really isn't even a bigger moral. It's simply the story of this lady and her injured child and what she does to make his life comfortable. I really, really enjoyed this story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
February 28, 2025
Il est difficile de faire pleurer, ou plutôt de le faire bien. Je ne dirais pas que j’ai vraiment lâché une larme, mais j’ai été émue par cette histoire de solitude. Ce n’en est pas vraiment une, puisqu’il y a toujours ce fils, conscient de son handicap, et cette mère qui continue de s’occuper malgré l’âge, malgré tout. Je trouve que la forme de vignettes courtes, quelques pages généralement, collait bien au contexte et permettait de faire le tour des histoires et des personnages d’une manière claire et rapide. Le handicap intellectuel chez l’adulte est traité d’une manière vaste, mais ne l’est jamais assez dans la littérature actuelle, avec un léger humour que le dessin et les couleurs montrent tout de même sous un regard doux-amer. Elle vieillit, aime son fils qui a été handicapé à l’âge adulte, comment elle fait, quasiment seule, comment les gens autour d’elles gèrent cette situation, que ce soient d’autres parents, d’autres personnes en situation de handicap, des gens l’ayant connu avant et après. Ici c’est du Zidrou sensible et plein d’émotions comme j’aime.
January 2, 2018
Pointedly showing a carer without a carer - a lady in her seventies with a huge, bloated son with brain damage after a car crash - this book does successfully convey the problems the two cause each other and how they both try to work around them, but I can't say I loved it as much as others. Yes, it's intelligently done, but I disliked both the art that made too many of the characters into ugly caricature, and the colouring, which went from one nostalgic semi-sepia tone to another and back again, sometimes within the same scene. Still, for scenes such as the old gal renting the bloke's favourite porn DVD from the back room of their local video shop, to her shouldering the blame for an honest lapse of laundry, the book definitely manages to make real people out of these characters, and for that it's worth considering.
February 12, 2025
Zidrou e Ibañez. «¿Quién le zurcía los calcetines al rey de Prusia mientras estaba en la guerra?» [Trad.: Antoni Guiral] Norma, Barcelona, 2013.
He escogido deliberadamente este título del guionista francés Zidrou, porque fue mi primer contacto con el autor. Decenas de títulos posteriores han reforzado mi opinión acerca de su extraordinaria capacidad para transmitir la visión completa de cualquiera que sea la historia que tenga entre manos. Todos los maravillosos dibujantes que colaboran con el guionista (Roger Ibáñez, Jordi Lafebre, David Merveille, Francis Porcel...) permiten que el proceso de transmisión de Zidrou consiga completarse, al materializar (recrear) con sus ilustraciones toda la carga emocional y la atmósfera ya planteada (crear) por el guionista.
Otros títulos: «La anciana que nunca jugó al tenis (Norma, 2011)», «El cliente (Norma, 2014)», «La obsolescencia programada (Oberon, 2019)», «La adopción (Norma, 2021)», «La Bestia / Marsupilami (Norma, 2ª ed, 2022-2024)», «Shi (Norma, 2017-2023)», «Los buenos veranos (Norma, 2016-2025)», «Lydie (Norma, 2023)», «Amore (Planeta, 2024)», etc.
He escogido deliberadamente este título del guionista francés Zidrou, porque fue mi primer contacto con el autor. Decenas de títulos posteriores han reforzado mi opinión acerca de su extraordinaria capacidad para transmitir la visión completa de cualquiera que sea la historia que tenga entre manos. Todos los maravillosos dibujantes que colaboran con el guionista (Roger Ibáñez, Jordi Lafebre, David Merveille, Francis Porcel...) permiten que el proceso de transmisión de Zidrou consiga completarse, al materializar (recrear) con sus ilustraciones toda la carga emocional y la atmósfera ya planteada (crear) por el guionista.
Otros títulos: «La anciana que nunca jugó al tenis (Norma, 2011)», «El cliente (Norma, 2014)», «La obsolescencia programada (Oberon, 2019)», «La adopción (Norma, 2021)», «La Bestia / Marsupilami (Norma, 2ª ed, 2022-2024)», «Shi (Norma, 2017-2023)», «Los buenos veranos (Norma, 2016-2025)», «Lydie (Norma, 2023)», «Amore (Planeta, 2024)», etc.
October 17, 2020
It's an ode to the struggles of caretakers who are family members: the repetitive gestures, the patience, the isolation, the love, the sense of meaning and the senselessness of it all. It's bittersweet, a little disgusting (minor reference to pornography, and a scene where Michel is quite naked. The color palette is dark, a bit dreary, kind of like the fog that surrounds you when you're depressed. It's become so normal that you can almost convince yourself it's ok...
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