Ultrasons

Generous Bosom #1-4

by Conor Stechschulte, Géraldine Chognard (Translator)

Après que deux de ses pneus ont crevé en pleine nuit sur une route de campagne, Glen frappe à la porte d'une maison isolée pour demander secours. Il est accueilli par un homme, Arthur, qui vit là avec sa femme Cyndi, plus jeune que lui. Le couple offre l'hospitalité à Glen, Arthur monopolisant la conversation et se livrant à d'étranges confessions tout au long de la soirée, avant de faire à Glen une proposition qui finit d'imposer le malaise. C'est le début d'une intrigue infernale, pleine de chausse-trappes et de rebondissements, où se mêlent escroquerie, manipulation mentale, services secrets et conspiration politique. Par son utilisation virtuose de la couleur et des superpositions, Conor Stechschulte articule avec brio dimensions temporelles et points de vue et amène le lecteur à s'interroger en permanence sur le niveau de réalité du récit. Une atmosphère hypnotique et troublante, digne d'un film de David Lynch.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fiction, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Bande Dessinée

Paperback

First published July 21, 2022

Reviews

[M. J.]

I'm speechless, what a brilliant piece of comic book art, if I was not already in love with this art form this book would probably convert me.

Ultrasound is Conor Stechschulte's second graphic novel, but one can tell by his mastery of the craft just how much effort he invested in this work (almost a decade in the making). Structurally the book is very interesting, Stechschulte employs several techniques and visual experiments to match the non-linear and winding nature of the plot. Despite the uncanniness of the events portrayed, the writing is mostly comprised of naturalistic dialogues which grant the story a sense of realism and results in characters that feel very real. Flawed and depressed, these characters are constantly looking for connection and belonging, trying to make the right thing with the lives they're given and hold on to something meaningful regardless of the mess they're in. But how can you trust someone when you can't trust yourself? How can you heal old wounds when you're no longer sure of the past? How can trauma affect your memories? A lot of questions are raised, suggested (and not imposed) by the text, while the reader is invited to decipher the puzzling events in the life of the characters. Trying to make sense of a constantly shifting world whilst haunted by traumas that never seem to go away. There's an urgency to the narrative, a claustrophobic feeling, a tension that builds and builds, qualities that make Ultrasound an hypnotic psychological thriller. One that I will for sure be re-reading pretty soon. Strongly recommended.

[Jonathan Hawpe]

Imagine a David (Lynch or Cronenberg) re-envisioning Inception: fans of Apple TV+'s Severance, Nick Drnaso's Sabrina or Charles Burns' Black Hole should drop into this immersive, trippy scifi/mystery graphic novel.

[Rod Brown]

A man with two flat tires knocks on a random door late one night and is soon offered an indecent proposal from a couple with a dysfunctional marriage. Were the rest of the book simply about the increasingly complex relationships between the trio, I might have liked it, but at a certain point it goes off onto a whole new level of wild sci-fi conspiracy theory twistiness that wants to be "Nolanesque" but for me was just a hot pile of garbage to be shoveled through to reach the last page (notice I did not write "the end").

This volume collects the original four parts that were published under the series name Generous Bosom and was released in conjunction with a film adaptation that is currently available to stream on Hulu. You can watch the movie trailer here: https://youtu.be/hlQo9XI_fQ8. I'm thinking about hate watching it.

[Bill Hsu]

I enjoyed the fragmented narratives, unreliable memories, and creepy manipulations. But I thought sometimes the art got in the way of the story. (3.5 stars, rounded down.)

[Jessie]

Haven’t read a graphic novel in a long time and this was so good. Really made excellent use of the medium itself and was a thrilling story!

[Lee Lai]

i've been fascinated with this story since reading the first instalment several years ago.

probably the well-crafted & extremely tense storyline will get a lot of airtime in the reviews, but i just want to throw in my appreciation here for conor's excellent command of naturalistic dialogue. it gives the characters so much depth and heightened my investment in the story tenfold.

also, the art is killer. so happy to own this book and revisit it regularly.

[Rick Ray]

Ultrasound is a masterclass in delivering a psychological thriller in comic book form. Conor Stechschulte experiments with formalisms with immense confidence, making for an engaging and rewarding reading experience. Lengthy conversation scenes flow incredibly well due to the expert lettering and panel layouts, while the dialogue itself is sharp and witty. There is a real claustrophobic nature to the story, where Stechschulte plants the reader in one setting long enough for the discomfort to set in. The story never feels dry and absolutely never feels predictable.

[Lili]

This book is FASCINATING. The pacing is incredible, the progression to bizarre is perfect, the artistic choices were exciting and effective. Stechschulte’s brain is DRIPPING, oozing, and overflowing with creativity. What and adventure that left me wanting more (but in a good way - I think if he gave us everything this would be less effective)

[b]

Noah, you’re probably reading this review, and if you are, you should really read this comic. Just a light suggestion. No hypnosis, promise.

[mads]

soooooooooo damn good

[Autumn 🦇]

I really enjoyed this, it was an absolute mind fuck and I can’t wait to reread this and gain new perspective:)

[Grace Wolcott]

There's some really interesting concepts explored here, but to be completely honest, I can't say I fully understood what was happening by the end.

[Rae]

The blurbs for this book promise you will want to reread immediately after finishing, and that is correct.

This is the wildest book I've read, maybe ever? Additionally interesting is that apparantly movie rights were purchased mid-creation, to the point that some lines in the book are credited to the actors.

Can't wait to watch the movie (which, TRUST that I'm firmly in the book is always better camp) just to see how this insane story plays out in film as opposed to graphic art. The book is masterful in it's approach, things that didn't seem important become critical, and ideas and actions you couldn't imagine playing out in a graphic novel are somehow successfully achieved.

An ambitious novel that somehow achieved it's intent, recommend to fans of cinematic storytelling. Hesitate to give any more specifics for fear of spoiling - this is a nutso cuckoo really good read.

[Álvaro]

3.5 que redondeo a 3.

Entretenido en su guión, aunque quizás busque rizar el rizo en la parte final, y un poco confuso en el arte, que quiere ser innovador y a veces acierta y otras no tanto.

Se nota que se editó por entregas y esto es un compendio, porque el autor da vueltas temáticas y visuales que, vistas en conjunto, no se entienden demasiado bien.

Para pasar un rato entretenido con ese rollo de conspiración y tal, pero tampoco mucho más.

Y de lynch no tiene nada, quizá de nolan...

[Boris Nonveiller]

Si t'aimes les histoires qui te tirent le tapis sous les pieds et qui te font dire constamment "My God, qu'est-ce qui se passe?" et qu'à la fin, finalement, t'as fini par comprendre tout, oh boy que j'ai le livre pour toi.

4.5/5

[Lucia Eovino]

i can’t tell anyone i read this because trying to explain the plot makes me sound crazy

[Jeff Jackson]

4.5

[cam]

C'est dense et j'ai pas tout compris dans les détails mais le dessin et l'usage des couleurs sont top

[David]

Fucking loved this. I've seen a number of comparisons to the works of David Lynch/Cronenberg and I feel like it leans more towards the conspiracy and paranoia created by the latter. (Though much love for mister Lynch always).

After a strange and awkward sexual encounter, two people find themselves in the middle of a mind bending plot involving mysterious think tanks, political candidates, and party entertainers. The art is beautiful and conveys the dream-like atmosphere expertly. As the plot unfolds, you find yourself reframing previous scenes and doubting the authenticity of events throughout the read. A great time all around, highly recommended.

[Clint Davis]

I was enthralled by this book. It's got more "novel" in it than most graphic novels, with the art style being minimal but effective. Stechschulte seems to be a writer first and artist second, which I love to see in these tomes.

I kept having to flip back and reread earlier sections as the truth of the book's conspiracy was revealed, which only made me like it more. Reading it, I couldn't help but feel it would make a remarkable movie as a mashup of Charlie Kauffman and David Fincher.

I knocked off a star because the final few sequences really felt rushed compared to what had come before and didn't land with the weight I expected. But this is a chilling story for sure. Very cool stuff.

[Josiah Hughes]

completely engrossing and insane, and it just keeps getting better and better as you go. the unique art style really pays off as more memories and stories start to overlap. i love that it looks like an indie comic but is a complex sci-fi story with a truly tense conclusion.

[Chris Brook]

Very weird, complex and sometimes confusing graphic novel about mind control, pregnancy, and memory. Started this thing almost exactly a year ago and after picking it up and putting it down a handful of times, I finally finished it last night. Some heavy David Lynch vibes here, as someone else noted. I'll seek out the feature film it was adapted to at some point and will probably try to re-read it at some point with a better frame of mind.

[Ido Cohen]

בתחילת הקריאה בספר, במשך אולי חמש דקות דילגתי בטעות על דפים, כל פעם דפדפתי מעל עמוד או שניים, ואז חזרתי והשלמתי את מה שפספסתי. לא יכולתי שלא לדמיין איך שמו ממש ממש קצת דבק בין העמודים כדי שזה יקרה לקורא בפעם הראשונה. זה תרם כל כך והרגיש כאילו הכישוף של הספר הזה פעל עלי עוד לפני שנכנסתי אליו.

[Tara]

Wtf. That was one hell of a crazy ride. I think I need to read it again immediately.

[Garrett]

4.5

[Ryan]

(3.5)

[Greg]

Best surprise read yet. Masterpiece!

[Millie Green]

This is such a good thriller comic - had me enthralled but horrified turning the page. Really clever illustration style too, enjoyed it a lot!

[Willow Gelphman]

A solid masterclass in mind/time/memory fuckery. Not sure if it’s intentional or the result of the book taking a long time to write, but the gradual shift of the art style from clear and simple to detailed and warpy makes the storyline (which shall not be revealed) really visceral. Good use of the medium. It all comes together in the end

[Steve]

I wouldn't recover.