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Grandville #4
Grandville Noël
With his trusty adjunct, Detective Sergeant Ratzi, away for Christmas, there’s no holiday for Detective Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard as he embarks on an investigation into the disappearance of his housekeeper’s niece, Bunty Spall.
The trail leads to a growing religious cult, where a charismatic unicorn messiah and his con men cronies, already responsible for mass murder in the United States, are about to lead a crusade for the ethnic cleansing of the French Empire’s doughfaces – the derogatory nickname for humans used by the majority, animal-headed population. Teaming up with Chance Lucas, a gun-slinging operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and reigniting his steamy love affair with the voluptuous Parisian badger prostitute Billie, LeBrock clashes with both cult fanatics and doughface terrorists, uncovering in the process a centuries-old religious conspiracy that threatens to plunge the world into bloody civil war.
With Paris in the grip of the mysterious crime lord, Tiberius Koenig, and an increasingly violent backlash by human extremists, can LeBrock stop the seemingly inevitable slide into fascism? What is the secret of the legendary True Gospels? Can he rescue Bunty Spall from the clutches of the strangely hypnotic unicorn named Apollo? But does Bunty want to be saved? And will LeBrock be back in time for Christmas dinner?
No badger does it better!
The trail leads to a growing religious cult, where a charismatic unicorn messiah and his con men cronies, already responsible for mass murder in the United States, are about to lead a crusade for the ethnic cleansing of the French Empire’s doughfaces – the derogatory nickname for humans used by the majority, animal-headed population. Teaming up with Chance Lucas, a gun-slinging operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and reigniting his steamy love affair with the voluptuous Parisian badger prostitute Billie, LeBrock clashes with both cult fanatics and doughface terrorists, uncovering in the process a centuries-old religious conspiracy that threatens to plunge the world into bloody civil war.
With Paris in the grip of the mysterious crime lord, Tiberius Koenig, and an increasingly violent backlash by human extremists, can LeBrock stop the seemingly inevitable slide into fascism? What is the secret of the legendary True Gospels? Can he rescue Bunty Spall from the clutches of the strangely hypnotic unicorn named Apollo? But does Bunty want to be saved? And will LeBrock be back in time for Christmas dinner?
No badger does it better!
104 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2014
4 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Talbot
286 books187 followersTalbot began his comics work in the underground comix scene of the late 1960s. In 1969 his first work appeared as illustrations in Mallorn, the British Tolkien Society magazine, followed in 1972 by a weekly strip in his college newspaper.
He continued in the scene after leaving college, producing Brainstorm Comix, the first three of which formed The Chester P. Hackenbush Trilogy (a character reworked by Alan Moore as Chester Williams for Swamp Thing).
He started The Adventures of Luther Arkwright in 1978. It was originally published in Near Myths and continued on over the years in other publications. It was eventually collected together into one volume by Dark Horse. Along with When the Wind Blows it is one of the first British graphic novels.
In the early to mid-eighties he provide art for some of 2000 AD's flagship serials, producing 3 series of Nemesis the Warlock, as well as strips for Judge Dredd and Sláine.
The Tale of One Bad Rat deals with recovery from childhood sexual abuse.
Talbot moved to the American market in the 1990s, principally for DC, on titles like Hellblazer, Sandman and Batman. He also produced the art for The Nazz by Tom Veitch and worked with Tom's brother Rick Veitch on Teknophage, one of a number of mini-series he drew for Tekno Comix.
Talbot has illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.
He has also illustrated Bill Willingham's Fables, as well as returning to the Luther Arkwright universe with Heart of Empire. He has also worked on The Dead Boy Detectives.
In 2006, he announced the graphic novel Metronome, an existential, textless erotically-charged visual poem,written under the pseudonym Véronique Tanaka. He admitted that he was the author in 2009.
In 2007 he released Alice in Sunderland, which documents the connections between Lewis Carroll, Alice Liddell, and the Sunderland and Wearside area. He also wrote and drew the layouts for Cherubs!, which he describes as "an irreverent fast-paced supernatural comedy-adventure."
His upcoming work includes a sequel to 2009's Grandville, which Talbot says is "a detective steampunk thriller" and Paul Gravett calls it "an inspired reimagining of some of the first French anthropomorphic caricatures". It is planned as the first in a series of four or five graphic novels.
Source: Wikipedia
He continued in the scene after leaving college, producing Brainstorm Comix, the first three of which formed The Chester P. Hackenbush Trilogy (a character reworked by Alan Moore as Chester Williams for Swamp Thing).
He started The Adventures of Luther Arkwright in 1978. It was originally published in Near Myths and continued on over the years in other publications. It was eventually collected together into one volume by Dark Horse. Along with When the Wind Blows it is one of the first British graphic novels.
In the early to mid-eighties he provide art for some of 2000 AD's flagship serials, producing 3 series of Nemesis the Warlock, as well as strips for Judge Dredd and Sláine.
The Tale of One Bad Rat deals with recovery from childhood sexual abuse.
Talbot moved to the American market in the 1990s, principally for DC, on titles like Hellblazer, Sandman and Batman. He also produced the art for The Nazz by Tom Veitch and worked with Tom's brother Rick Veitch on Teknophage, one of a number of mini-series he drew for Tekno Comix.
Talbot has illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.
He has also illustrated Bill Willingham's Fables, as well as returning to the Luther Arkwright universe with Heart of Empire. He has also worked on The Dead Boy Detectives.
In 2006, he announced the graphic novel Metronome, an existential, textless erotically-charged visual poem,written under the pseudonym Véronique Tanaka. He admitted that he was the author in 2009.
In 2007 he released Alice in Sunderland, which documents the connections between Lewis Carroll, Alice Liddell, and the Sunderland and Wearside area. He also wrote and drew the layouts for Cherubs!, which he describes as "an irreverent fast-paced supernatural comedy-adventure."
His upcoming work includes a sequel to 2009's Grandville, which Talbot says is "a detective steampunk thriller" and Paul Gravett calls it "an inspired reimagining of some of the first French anthropomorphic caricatures". It is planned as the first in a series of four or five graphic novels.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 22, 2021
This one wasn't as gripping as the other volumes. Infiltrating a cult just wasn't very interesting. There's a lot of time dealing with fascists and racists here too. In this anthropomorphic world, humans exist. They are called doughfaces and are treated as a 2nd class race, being denied basic rights. It's an interesting take on society but went on a bit too long for this kind of book and has been done before in stories like Planet of the Apes.
February 17, 2019
Ace badger detective Le Brock returns in Bryan Talbot's fourth Grandville graphic novel.
Talbot's artwork is as good as ever & he fills the story with numerous pop art references as usual. For some reason the plot failed to grab my attention this time around, but it's still an entertaining ride even if it's not a great one.
Talbot's artwork is as good as ever & he fills the story with numerous pop art references as usual. For some reason the plot failed to grab my attention this time around, but it's still an entertaining ride even if it's not a great one.
October 28, 2017
With Grandville Noël, Bryan Talbot’s Grandville has officially become my all-time favorite graphic novel series. I'm not usually that big on anthropomorphic characters but the magnificent artwork, dynamic alternate-history steampunk setting, action-packed plot, and timely themes totally sucked me in. If you like subversive plots like V for Vendetta, you should appreciate Grandville.
Grandville Noël is the fourth book (following Grandville, Grandville Mon Amour, and Grandville Bête Noire) in what will soon be a five-volume series of graphic novels. It can best be described as that you would dream after mixing The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Wind in the Willows, the Rev. Jim Jones and psilocybin mushrooms. The plot centers around a religious cult and its charismatic leader, a unicorn bent of finding hidden scriptures proving that Jesus was himself a unicorn. But the author seems to take a jab at mainstream religion as well when one character describes the cult in the following terms:
The Grandville of the titles is a nickname for Paris in this alternate university where the French rule the world and Paris is the center of all cultural and political activity. The series is becoming increasingly socially relevant, tackling subjects such as racism and anti-immigrant with humans, aka doughfaces, in the role of the despised minority.
FYI: Although this is technically a cartoon, its target audience is not children. Parents who control their children’s access to reading material may wish to review this one first. They might even learn something.
On my Series ranking scale¹ I give the Grandville series rating of three. The series has a substantial and evolving backstory and they are best read in order but readers without the inclination or access to previous books in the series will still be able to enjoy this book.
Hint: If you are looking for a copy of these books, check with your local library to see if they have access to Hoopla digital content.
¹ A Note on Series:Some people insist on reading series in order starting at the beginning. I believe that this is absolutely necessary with some series and unnecessary in others. In my reviews I assign books in a series a score of one to five in which the higher score denotes increased importance of reading the book in order. A series with returning villains, an ongoing story arc, and evolving family dynamics will rate higher than one where the plot in each book is totally unrelated to the others. As an example, a Nancy Drew book would be a one. There is no evolving story arc. Nancy hasn’t grown any older in fifty years and, face it, Ned is never going to propose to her. The Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, is a five. Reading the trilogy in order is essential to fully understanding and appreciating the story. One book picks up right where its predecessor leaves off and Fellowship of the Ring contains information that readers of The Two Towers really need to know. Besides, Tolkien originally wrote it as a single volume.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Grandville Noël is the fourth book (following Grandville, Grandville Mon Amour, and Grandville Bête Noire) in what will soon be a five-volume series of graphic novels. It can best be described as that you would dream after mixing The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Wind in the Willows, the Rev. Jim Jones and psilocybin mushrooms. The plot centers around a religious cult and its charismatic leader, a unicorn bent of finding hidden scriptures proving that Jesus was himself a unicorn. But the author seems to take a jab at mainstream religion as well when one character describes the cult in the following terms:
"It's a con, son, pure and simple. In fact, it's part o' the best con ever invented. See, a con only works when the mark wants to believe it. An' just who don't want to believe that when they die, they don't really die but just go someplace nice instead?
“An' just to win 'em over, you tell 'em that if they don't believe then they'll suffer in agony someplace else forever. The perfect con is what it is, son."
The Grandville of the titles is a nickname for Paris in this alternate university where the French rule the world and Paris is the center of all cultural and political activity. The series is becoming increasingly socially relevant, tackling subjects such as racism and anti-immigrant with humans, aka doughfaces, in the role of the despised minority.
FYI: Although this is technically a cartoon, its target audience is not children. Parents who control their children’s access to reading material may wish to review this one first. They might even learn something.
On my Series ranking scale¹ I give the Grandville series rating of three. The series has a substantial and evolving backstory and they are best read in order but readers without the inclination or access to previous books in the series will still be able to enjoy this book.
Hint: If you are looking for a copy of these books, check with your local library to see if they have access to Hoopla digital content.
¹ A Note on Series:Some people insist on reading series in order starting at the beginning. I believe that this is absolutely necessary with some series and unnecessary in others. In my reviews I assign books in a series a score of one to five in which the higher score denotes increased importance of reading the book in order. A series with returning villains, an ongoing story arc, and evolving family dynamics will rate higher than one where the plot in each book is totally unrelated to the others. As an example, a Nancy Drew book would be a one. There is no evolving story arc. Nancy hasn’t grown any older in fifty years and, face it, Ned is never going to propose to her. The Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, is a five. Reading the trilogy in order is essential to fully understanding and appreciating the story. One book picks up right where its predecessor leaves off and Fellowship of the Ring contains information that readers of The Two Towers really need to know. Besides, Tolkien originally wrote it as a single volume.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
July 4, 2020
Best part in the series so far. Story follows a charismatic unicorn Johnny alias Apollo as a religious cult leader. After escaping USA and landing in France, he conspires to attain power with local fascist politicians. Very likely aping German Nazi party and their purge of Jews, the writer produces an imaginary world of animals where "doughfaces" (Humans) will be killed.
July 3, 2021
I still like this book, but I have to dock it a star because I don't really like it as much as the other volumes in the series. There are two intertwined plots going on here. One is a riff on slavery and human rights, only the characters fighting for freedom are the "humans". All other characters are animals and they call humans "dough faces". Some definite and very obvious nods to fascism, with a thinly disguised swastika making the rounds. The second plot has to do with an evil cult leader.
The plot and ideas are really great. As is the stunning art. But the pacing is slow this time around. With lots of dialogue, too much for this type of story.
The plot and ideas are really great. As is the stunning art. But the pacing is slow this time around. With lots of dialogue, too much for this type of story.
November 30, 2014
Bryan Talbot war mir als herausragender Comic-Künstler bereits ein Begriff mit seinem Großwerk Alice in Sunderland. Die Grandville-Reihe galt es erst noch zu entdecken, und passend zur Weihnachtszeit habe ich nun mit Band 4 begonnen, GRANDVILLE NOEL. Wer die ersten Bände kennt, ist mit dem Setting vertraut, für alle anderen hier eine kurze Zusammenfassung:
GRANDVILLE spielt in einer alternativen Wirklichkeit, in der Napoleon den Krieg gewonnen und England unterworfen hat. Auch die Wissenschaft hat andere Wege beschritten, so dass sich gemäßigte Steampunk-Anklänge finden. Der entscheidende Unterschied ist aber dieser: der Mensch ist nur eine unter vielen Tierarten, unterdrückt und von der Ausrottung bedroht. Warum das so ist? Wer weiß, vielleicht wegen der Mythen vom Werwolf, also dem braven Wolf, der sich bei Vollmond in einen gefährlichen Menschen verwandelt?
Zur Handlung:
Detective-Inspector Lebrock vom Scotland Yard, ein distinguierter Dachs, reist im Vorweihnachtsurlaub von England nach Paris (=Grandville), um die Nichte seiner Vermieterin, Bunty Spall, zu finden, die möglicherweise in die Fänge einer fundamentalistischen Sekte geraten ist. Grandville wird von Demonstrationen der Menschen gegen ihre Unterdrückung und einer Mafia-Verbrechenswelle erschüttert, zudem hat sich die Sekte des Einhorn-Messias dort nieder gelassen, auf dessen Konto Massenselbstmorde (wie 1978 in Jonestown in unserer Realität) gehen.
Und dann gibt es auch noch die Suche nach einem verschollenen Evangelium, dessen Brisanz darin liegen könnte, dass es offenbart, welcher (Tier?)Gattung Jesus angehörte.
Also alles andere als ein leichter Job für Lebrock, und dann stellt sich noch die Frage, ob Bunty überhaupt gerettert werden und zu ihrem prügelnden Stiefvater zurückkehren möchte.
Da "Creationismus" eines meiner Lieblings-Hass-Themen ist, hier ein kleiner Dialog:
"Professor! What´s your opinion on the theory that the cataclysm was engineered by beings for another planet - Mars perhaps - to create intelligent life on Earth?"
"I think it´s about as credible as the Creationists´ belief that we all arrived fully-formed on the Ark with the Lord God Noah!
Though, theoretically, it will have happened somewhere.
In an infinite universe all physical things are possible. It´s even possible that another planet exists exactly like this one. In fact, it´s a certainty.
Think about it. All things are made of matter and there are a finite number of ways this matter can come together. In an infinite universe the exact sequence of events that mad our world is bound to repeat."
(Da wird es dann auch sonnenklar, warum Detective-Inspector Lebrock dort ein Dachs ist, wo er hier bei uns ein Mensch wäre! Wissenschaftlich betrachtet doch gar nicht so absonderlich)
Sektenwahnsinn und politischer Faschismus sorgen für ordentlichen Druck auf dem Kessel und fordern Lebrocks vollen Einsatz.
Spannend, temporeich, Text und Artwork sehr gut, wenn auch etwas didaktisch in Sachen Sekte.
GRANDVILLE spielt in einer alternativen Wirklichkeit, in der Napoleon den Krieg gewonnen und England unterworfen hat. Auch die Wissenschaft hat andere Wege beschritten, so dass sich gemäßigte Steampunk-Anklänge finden. Der entscheidende Unterschied ist aber dieser: der Mensch ist nur eine unter vielen Tierarten, unterdrückt und von der Ausrottung bedroht. Warum das so ist? Wer weiß, vielleicht wegen der Mythen vom Werwolf, also dem braven Wolf, der sich bei Vollmond in einen gefährlichen Menschen verwandelt?
Zur Handlung:
Detective-Inspector Lebrock vom Scotland Yard, ein distinguierter Dachs, reist im Vorweihnachtsurlaub von England nach Paris (=Grandville), um die Nichte seiner Vermieterin, Bunty Spall, zu finden, die möglicherweise in die Fänge einer fundamentalistischen Sekte geraten ist. Grandville wird von Demonstrationen der Menschen gegen ihre Unterdrückung und einer Mafia-Verbrechenswelle erschüttert, zudem hat sich die Sekte des Einhorn-Messias dort nieder gelassen, auf dessen Konto Massenselbstmorde (wie 1978 in Jonestown in unserer Realität) gehen.
Und dann gibt es auch noch die Suche nach einem verschollenen Evangelium, dessen Brisanz darin liegen könnte, dass es offenbart, welcher (Tier?)Gattung Jesus angehörte.
Also alles andere als ein leichter Job für Lebrock, und dann stellt sich noch die Frage, ob Bunty überhaupt gerettert werden und zu ihrem prügelnden Stiefvater zurückkehren möchte.
Da "Creationismus" eines meiner Lieblings-Hass-Themen ist, hier ein kleiner Dialog:
"Professor! What´s your opinion on the theory that the cataclysm was engineered by beings for another planet - Mars perhaps - to create intelligent life on Earth?"
"I think it´s about as credible as the Creationists´ belief that we all arrived fully-formed on the Ark with the Lord God Noah!
Though, theoretically, it will have happened somewhere.
In an infinite universe all physical things are possible. It´s even possible that another planet exists exactly like this one. In fact, it´s a certainty.
Think about it. All things are made of matter and there are a finite number of ways this matter can come together. In an infinite universe the exact sequence of events that mad our world is bound to repeat."
(Da wird es dann auch sonnenklar, warum Detective-Inspector Lebrock dort ein Dachs ist, wo er hier bei uns ein Mensch wäre! Wissenschaftlich betrachtet doch gar nicht so absonderlich)
Sektenwahnsinn und politischer Faschismus sorgen für ordentlichen Druck auf dem Kessel und fordern Lebrocks vollen Einsatz.
Spannend, temporeich, Text und Artwork sehr gut, wenn auch etwas didaktisch in Sachen Sekte.
March 28, 2024
So this is rather a departure from the other books so far in the series or at least on the surface it feels that way. Its a clever play on a few ideas which is interesting as there are some fascinating end-notes (yes I am that sad that I read the preface and end notes as often it gives you insights in to the book that throw the whole work in to a different light). But there are bigger issues brewing here which I guess we will see come to head in later books
I will be the first to admit I know next to nothing about graphic novels but I do know that the Granville series by Bryan Talbot are something very special - from the artistry, colouring and storyline they are a breath taking series of stories which appear to show no signs of disappointing me.
the story is on going so its rather tricky to pass comment with out spoiling there previous volumes in the series (although they are not critical they do lay some foundations and call upon previously introduced characters) as well lay the way for further volumes in the future (which I hope I do not have to wait too long for)
One thing i will say though is that the in jokes are still in abundance and still impressive - there are so many famous characters and references to popular comic culture here you have to re-read it just to see what you have missed. I loved every page of it apart from the last page, never wanted to read FIN all i can hope for is that its only a temporary state and soon to be remedied .
I will be the first to admit I know next to nothing about graphic novels but I do know that the Granville series by Bryan Talbot are something very special - from the artistry, colouring and storyline they are a breath taking series of stories which appear to show no signs of disappointing me.
the story is on going so its rather tricky to pass comment with out spoiling there previous volumes in the series (although they are not critical they do lay some foundations and call upon previously introduced characters) as well lay the way for further volumes in the future (which I hope I do not have to wait too long for)
One thing i will say though is that the in jokes are still in abundance and still impressive - there are so many famous characters and references to popular comic culture here you have to re-read it just to see what you have missed. I loved every page of it apart from the last page, never wanted to read FIN all i can hope for is that its only a temporary state and soon to be remedied .
October 4, 2019
Zatím vrchol celé série. Asi nikdy jsem si nepředstavoval, že budu číst podobně zdánlivě nesourodou směs mnoha témat i nápadů a přitom vše bude dokonale sedět. Příběh se strefuje jednou ranou do náboženství a náboženského fanatismu, naci(onali)smu i rasismu. Vše probíhá ve světě antropomorfních zvířat žijících v alternativní realitě jakési Pax Franca se světovou metropolí Paříž přezdívanou Grandville a kulisou všudypřítomné steampunkové technologie prolínající se s odkazy na náš svět. A je do dobré. Dokonce velmi dobré. Oproti předcházejícím dílům se navíc celý děj posunul na odlišnou tématickou úroveň i styl, paráda...
January 15, 2026
„Kdyby Bůh neexistoval, museli bychom si ho vymyslet.‟ A tak jsme taky udělali.
Tady „Bůh‟ existuje a je to jednorožec. :D
Už se tu plně řeší lidská otázka. Knedlíci chtějí rovnoprávnost se zvířaty. Jaká to troufalost!
Děj je skvělý mix existence NSDAP a sekt z USA.
„Víte podraz funguje, jen když mu heil chce uvěřit. A kdo by nechtěl uvěřit tomu, že až umře, tak vlastně neumře, ale pude na ňáký hezčí místo? A abychom jim to usnadnili, tak jim eště nakukáme, že když neuvěřej, čeká je nekonečný utrpení na úplně jiným místě.‟
Tady „Bůh‟ existuje a je to jednorožec. :D
Už se tu plně řeší lidská otázka. Knedlíci chtějí rovnoprávnost se zvířaty. Jaká to troufalost!
Děj je skvělý mix existence NSDAP a sekt z USA.
„Víte podraz funguje, jen když mu heil chce uvěřit. A kdo by nechtěl uvěřit tomu, že až umře, tak vlastně neumře, ale pude na ňáký hezčí místo? A abychom jim to usnadnili, tak jim eště nakukáme, že když neuvěřej, čeká je nekonečný utrpení na úplně jiným místě.‟
May 25, 2025
Quatrième tome des aventures du blaireau détective de Bryan Talbot. Cette série est un bijou. Le rythme et l'inventivité sont probablement ce que je préfère parmi ses nombreuses qualités.
Les hommages grands ou petits ajoutent une touche ludique à l'ensemble, qui allie parfaitement le suspense, l'humour et l'émotion.
Il ne me reste qu'un dernier opus à lire !
Les hommages grands ou petits ajoutent une touche ludique à l'ensemble, qui allie parfaitement le suspense, l'humour et l'émotion.
Il ne me reste qu'un dernier opus à lire !
January 20, 2018
In an alternate world, where animals rule and humans are second class citizens, a detective investigates a religious cult.
I found this book hugely entertaining. The alternate world had a real logic to it. The graphics were good as were the character development and the storyline.
I found this book hugely entertaining. The alternate world had a real logic to it. The graphics were good as were the character development and the storyline.
September 15, 2018
WARUM WOLLTE ICH ES LESEN? Im Zuge des Gratis Comic Tags habe ich die Reihe kennen und lieben gelernt und war so sehr froh, dass der vierte Teil nun auch so schnell erschienen ist. Wer meine Begeisterung für die Reihe noch nicht kennt, kann sich hier einen ersten Eindruck verschaffen.
HAT ES MEINE ERWARTUNGEN ERFÜLLT? Definitiv. Ich bin ja eh ein Fan von der Machart der Geschichte und das zieht sich sehr stringent und auf durchgehend hohem Niveau durch alle Teile der Reihe. So auch hier.
WAS HAT MIR GUT GEFALLEN? Ich möchte jetzt hier nicht auf alle Einzelheiten eingehen, die ich seit nunmehr vier Büchern an der Reihe liebe. Sie ist einfach toll. Toll gezeichnet, toll erzählt und mit interessanten Charakteren. Besonders gefällt mir jedoch auch eine neue Entwicklung: Die anfangs sehr in sich abgeschlossenen Geschichten werden nun nach und nach zunehmend zusammenhängender und es ergibt sich trotz der einzelnen Fälle so langsam ein roter Faden, der sich durch alles zieht. Ich bin an dieser Stelle sehr gespannt, wie es dahingehend nun weitergehen wird. Und natürlich sind auch alle Fans von popkulturellen Referenzen in diesem Band wieder gefragt, wenn es darum geht, die vielen Anspielungen in diesem Band zu entdecken.
WAS HAT MICH GESTÖRT? Überhaupt nichts. Die vielen Luxus-Kritikpunkte, die ich zu Beginn der Reihe gehabt habe, haben sich nach und nach verflüchtigt, denn es scheint, als würde Grandville mit jedem Band besser werden. So kann es gerne weitergehen.
FAZIT. Genau wie seine Vorgänger auch, konnte mich Grandville Noel wieder mit der tollen Kriminalgeschichte, dem unüblichen Setting und der gesamten Atmosphäre überzeugen. Ich bin zudem ein großer Popkultur-Fan und so ist es jedes Mal toll, die Zeichnungen nach Referenzen zu durchforsten und noch toller, wenn man eine entdeckt. Ich freue mich wahnsinnig auf Band 5. | ★★★★★
HAT ES MEINE ERWARTUNGEN ERFÜLLT? Definitiv. Ich bin ja eh ein Fan von der Machart der Geschichte und das zieht sich sehr stringent und auf durchgehend hohem Niveau durch alle Teile der Reihe. So auch hier.
WAS HAT MIR GUT GEFALLEN? Ich möchte jetzt hier nicht auf alle Einzelheiten eingehen, die ich seit nunmehr vier Büchern an der Reihe liebe. Sie ist einfach toll. Toll gezeichnet, toll erzählt und mit interessanten Charakteren. Besonders gefällt mir jedoch auch eine neue Entwicklung: Die anfangs sehr in sich abgeschlossenen Geschichten werden nun nach und nach zunehmend zusammenhängender und es ergibt sich trotz der einzelnen Fälle so langsam ein roter Faden, der sich durch alles zieht. Ich bin an dieser Stelle sehr gespannt, wie es dahingehend nun weitergehen wird. Und natürlich sind auch alle Fans von popkulturellen Referenzen in diesem Band wieder gefragt, wenn es darum geht, die vielen Anspielungen in diesem Band zu entdecken.
WAS HAT MICH GESTÖRT? Überhaupt nichts. Die vielen Luxus-Kritikpunkte, die ich zu Beginn der Reihe gehabt habe, haben sich nach und nach verflüchtigt, denn es scheint, als würde Grandville mit jedem Band besser werden. So kann es gerne weitergehen.
FAZIT. Genau wie seine Vorgänger auch, konnte mich Grandville Noel wieder mit der tollen Kriminalgeschichte, dem unüblichen Setting und der gesamten Atmosphäre überzeugen. Ich bin zudem ein großer Popkultur-Fan und so ist es jedes Mal toll, die Zeichnungen nach Referenzen zu durchforsten und noch toller, wenn man eine entdeckt. Ich freue mich wahnsinnig auf Band 5. | ★★★★★
September 3, 2017
The fourth instalment of DI Archie LeBrock's adventures takes place around Christmas, and has his pal DS Ratzi off to see the in-laws, while his landlady asks him to find her missing niece. Shorn of his usual sidekick, LeBrock takes the case that, as all roads do, leads him to Grandville, and a charismatic cult leader, as well as an agent of the Pinkerton detective agency.
This book delves a bit into the mythology of the Grandville series, including the persecution of humans and their growing calls for equal rights and the history of Christianity, with a search for some "lost Gospels" also in the mix. Billie gets more to do this time round as well and throws a bombshell at the end that looks like it will affect events to come. Although Roderick Ratzi is mostly absent from this volume, LeBrock does find an alternative sidekick in the form of American Pinkerton detective Chance Lucas who is also after the leader of the cult that LeBrock is investigating. It's the first time that we've had a lead character who is adoughface human but alas, he does mostly just take the Ratzi role and doesn't get to do an awful lot in his own right.
The theme this time round is religion and cults, including how charismatic leaders can rise and lead people into saying and doing horrific things. Something which is all too relevant today. But amongst this grimness, Talbot throws in a reasonable amount of humour as well, both visual and textual. It makes for a very entertaining read.
The art is still gorgeous but previous warnings still apply: despite the cartoony style, this is adult, and often violent, stuff.
This book delves a bit into the mythology of the Grandville series, including the persecution of humans and their growing calls for equal rights and the history of Christianity, with a search for some "lost Gospels" also in the mix. Billie gets more to do this time round as well and throws a bombshell at the end that looks like it will affect events to come. Although Roderick Ratzi is mostly absent from this volume, LeBrock does find an alternative sidekick in the form of American Pinkerton detective Chance Lucas who is also after the leader of the cult that LeBrock is investigating. It's the first time that we've had a lead character who is a
The theme this time round is religion and cults, including how charismatic leaders can rise and lead people into saying and doing horrific things. Something which is all too relevant today. But amongst this grimness, Talbot throws in a reasonable amount of humour as well, both visual and textual. It makes for a very entertaining read.
The art is still gorgeous but previous warnings still apply: despite the cartoony style, this is adult, and often violent, stuff.
February 20, 2025
I picked up this book a few times last year and put it back deciding to read it around Christmas time. Christmas came and went and I did not even think about it. So when I saw it again while looking at my shelves for something lighter to read, I just picked it up.
LeBrock is on a Christmas break when his landlady tells him about her missing niece. As he has nothing better to do and it gives him a chance to visit Billy in Grandville, he crosses into the continent once more to chase after the young girl.
I expected this installment to be lighter than the previous ones - not in the number of pages but in its tone and coverage. As it turned out, I could not have been more wrong. Talbot continues the story of the human terrorists and Tiberius Koenig's ascendance and throws a religious cult into the mix. If that was all that was in this part of the story, I would have been a very happy reader. But he decides to use this easier case to add more to the world mythology - and part of that is an explanation of how this world is so different from ours and some very disturbing revelations of how it got that way.
Of course it is Talbot so there are a lot of literary and historical allusions and part of the fun in reading the story is working them out.
My biggest issue with this series is that there is only one left for me to read. I don't think it will be long before I pick it up.
LeBrock is on a Christmas break when his landlady tells him about her missing niece. As he has nothing better to do and it gives him a chance to visit Billy in Grandville, he crosses into the continent once more to chase after the young girl.
I expected this installment to be lighter than the previous ones - not in the number of pages but in its tone and coverage. As it turned out, I could not have been more wrong. Talbot continues the story of the human terrorists and Tiberius Koenig's ascendance and throws a religious cult into the mix. If that was all that was in this part of the story, I would have been a very happy reader. But he decides to use this easier case to add more to the world mythology - and part of that is an explanation of how this world is so different from ours and some very disturbing revelations of how it got that way.
Of course it is Talbot so there are a lot of literary and historical allusions and part of the fun in reading the story is working them out.
My biggest issue with this series is that there is only one left for me to read. I don't think it will be long before I pick it up.
January 7, 2018
Починати читати цикл з четвертого тому - це я розумничка, але розумничка, очевидно, з фіксацією на символізмі. Енівей, "Гранвіль Ноель" - це дуже нарядне, але дуже специфічне різдвяне читання.
Зимовий Лондон, зимовий Париж, історія спасіння дитяти (шістнадцятирічної втікачки з дому) з пазурів тоталітарної секти, трохи екскурсів в історію раннього християнства, багато екскурсів в механізми побудови отих самих тоталітарних сект та політичних партій такого ж штибу (естетики НСДАП стільки, що ложкою не виїси), еволюційні теорії та розвиток емансипаційних ідей. А, ще сумнівні прошарки населення, британський коп, який всіх називає "Саншайн" (когось мені це нагадує), пінкертон з Америки і трохи прекрасних академічних дискусій, де сяяла чудова антропологиня-ведмедиця.
А! Про головне забула. Серія "Гранвіль" - це альт'історія, де люди - круто дискримінована меншість, а норма - антропоморфні звірі. Ще там наполеонівська Франція завоювала все і вся, Британія ледь-ледь, навіть не 25 років тому, скинула володарювання (і тепер маленька, але горда соціалістична республіка), а в США проголосили, що всі види рівні - такі от диваки. Замішана на ардеко стімпанкова стилістика додається. Інджой.
PS: а в кінці там буде різдвяна сімейна вечеря і поцілунки під омелою. Все як годиться!
Зимовий Лондон, зимовий Париж, історія спасіння дитяти (шістнадцятирічної втікачки з дому) з пазурів тоталітарної секти, трохи екскурсів в історію раннього християнства, багато екскурсів в механізми побудови отих самих тоталітарних сект та політичних партій такого ж штибу (естетики НСДАП стільки, що ложкою не виїси), еволюційні теорії та розвиток емансипаційних ідей. А, ще сумнівні прошарки населення, британський коп, який всіх називає "Саншайн" (когось мені це нагадує), пінкертон з Америки і трохи прекрасних академічних дискусій, де сяяла чудова антропологиня-ведмедиця.
А! Про головне забула. Серія "Гранвіль" - це альт'історія, де люди - круто дискримінована меншість, а норма - антропоморфні звірі. Ще там наполеонівська Франція завоювала все і вся, Британія ледь-ледь, навіть не 25 років тому, скинула володарювання (і тепер маленька, але горда соціалістична республіка), а в США проголосили, що всі види рівні - такі от диваки. Замішана на ардеко стімпанкова стилістика додається. Інджой.
PS: а в кінці там буде різдвяна сімейна вечеря і поцілунки під омелою. Все як годиться!
November 18, 2025
There is a lot going on in this volume, including subplots involving murderous cults, religious charlatans, fascism, the struggle for human rights, and controversies over evolution and the Bible. There are also rapid-fire pop-culture and historical references everywhere you look.
It was interesting to see humans struggling under the oppression of this world's sophisticated animals; readers get to experience how things might look if the shoe were on the other foot. (Although, in Grandville, non-speaking animals are treated in much the same way as humans treat other species in our world--a select few are pampered, the rest are ignored or thoughtlessly killed--resulting in some disquieting imagery. A character who disagrees with this arrangement is shown as an object of derision.) I was hoping that maybe this situation would be used to further bring up tough ethics topics, but that's not the direction the story went--it took perhaps a safer route.
Like the first volume in the series, GRANDVILLE NOEL tries to pack a huge number of ideas and concepts--not to mention smaller personal-life dramas--into a relatively slim volume, and can leave the reader rather overwhelmed at times.
It was interesting to see humans struggling under the oppression of this world's sophisticated animals; readers get to experience how things might look if the shoe were on the other foot. (Although, in Grandville, non-speaking animals are treated in much the same way as humans treat other species in our world--a select few are pampered, the rest are ignored or thoughtlessly killed--resulting in some disquieting imagery. A character who disagrees with this arrangement is shown as an object of derision.) I was hoping that maybe this situation would be used to further bring up tough ethics topics, but that's not the direction the story went--it took perhaps a safer route.
Like the first volume in the series, GRANDVILLE NOEL tries to pack a huge number of ideas and concepts--not to mention smaller personal-life dramas--into a relatively slim volume, and can leave the reader rather overwhelmed at times.
August 30, 2021
Two hundred years ago Britain lost the Napoleonic war. As with the rest of Europe, it was invaded by France and the members of its royal family were guillotined. It had been a part of the French Empire until twenty-three years ago, when it was begrudgingly given independence after a prolonged campaign of civil disobedience and anarchist bombings.
Three months ago, France experienced a revolution following the death of Emperor Napoleon XII and is now ruled by the Revolutionary Council.
I've wanted to read this for some time as I have always liked Bryan Talbot's style. It really lived up to all my expectations.
Steampunk meets Victorian mystery meets alternate history meets The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes meets anthropomorphic animals in a wonderful blend that will not disappoint!
Detective Inspector LeBrock is back and this time has been called in to help find the niece of his landlady who has run away from home. Soon he discovers that she has been sucked up by a mysterious cult who are believed to be behind a mass suicide in America. With his faithful sidekick Ratzi preparing for Christmas, Le Brock teams up with a doughface (the colloquial term for a human) to race against time to save the naïve girl.
Amazing. So fun and a joy to read. This will be treasured and reread many times! 5 stars.
Three months ago, France experienced a revolution following the death of Emperor Napoleon XII and is now ruled by the Revolutionary Council.
I've wanted to read this for some time as I have always liked Bryan Talbot's style. It really lived up to all my expectations.
Steampunk meets Victorian mystery meets alternate history meets The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes meets anthropomorphic animals in a wonderful blend that will not disappoint!
Detective Inspector LeBrock is back and this time has been called in to help find the niece of his landlady who has run away from home. Soon he discovers that she has been sucked up by a mysterious cult who are believed to be behind a mass suicide in America. With his faithful sidekick Ratzi preparing for Christmas, Le Brock teams up with a doughface (the colloquial term for a human) to race against time to save the naïve girl.
Amazing. So fun and a joy to read. This will be treasured and reread many times! 5 stars.
February 25, 2022
This would be worth reading just for the gorgeous artwork, but the story itself is filled with meaningful symbolism in a number of different ways. The world of Grandville is an alternate history where anthropomorphic beings rule and humans are treated as little more than animals. This brings out the most obvious metaphor of the series, namely the cruel treatment of ethnic minorities in our society over history. There is a subplot wherein some lost books of the Bible have been reportedly found that will upend this dynamic. There are a lot of religious undertones to the book, with a group of con artists using religion to make themselves powerful and wealthy. The book opens with a mass murder-suicide akin to the Jim Jones cult of the 1970s. Detective Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard is pushed to his limit in his quest to rescue the niece of his landlady from the deadly cult. If not for human Chance Lucas, a gun-slinging operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency from America, LeBrock might not succeed.
February 2, 2019
Bryan Talbotin Grandville jatkaa 4. osassa samaan tyyliin kuin sarjan aikaisemmatkin osat.
Talbot haluaa kertoaa poliittis-moraalisen viestin (tällä kertaa kohteena ovat uskonnolliset kultit ja viha ja monet muut epämiellyttävät asiat) jossa on yhtä paljon nyanssien tajua ja syvällistä analyysia elämästä ja politiikasta kuin maahan kaatuvalla norsulla on tajua alleen jäävistä kukkasista. Tämä on jokseenkin ärsyttävää, sillä luulen että Talbot haluaisi kertoa voimallisen viestin, mutta voimallisuus jää edelleen puuttumaan.
Mutta samaan aikaan Grandville on erinomaista toimintasarjakuvaa loisteliaassa ja omaperäisessä steampunk-universumissa. Ja vaikka Talbot ei kirjoita täydellistä kirjallisuutta, hän kertoo tarinan joka toimii omassa kontekstissaan.
Talbot haluaa kertoaa poliittis-moraalisen viestin (tällä kertaa kohteena ovat uskonnolliset kultit ja viha ja monet muut epämiellyttävät asiat) jossa on yhtä paljon nyanssien tajua ja syvällistä analyysia elämästä ja politiikasta kuin maahan kaatuvalla norsulla on tajua alleen jäävistä kukkasista. Tämä on jokseenkin ärsyttävää, sillä luulen että Talbot haluaisi kertoa voimallisen viestin, mutta voimallisuus jää edelleen puuttumaan.
Mutta samaan aikaan Grandville on erinomaista toimintasarjakuvaa loisteliaassa ja omaperäisessä steampunk-universumissa. Ja vaikka Talbot ei kirjoita täydellistä kirjallisuutta, hän kertoo tarinan joka toimii omassa kontekstissaan.
January 11, 2020
This is the 4th book of a graphic novel detective series, set in an alternative steam-punk style world where anthropomorphic characters are the norm and humans have no power. We follow Detective Inspector LeBrock as he attempts to track down his landlady's' runaway niece and butts heads with the Paris underworld and a murderous religious cult.
I am amazed I haven't come across this series or this author before now. These books are genius, the subtle nods to so many clues from literature, history and the arts, usually beginning with the naming of the characters themselves or the iconography splashed among the art; I was completely taken with the cleverness of this book.
A really enjoyable read and an author I will be looking out for from now on.
I am amazed I haven't come across this series or this author before now. These books are genius, the subtle nods to so many clues from literature, history and the arts, usually beginning with the naming of the characters themselves or the iconography splashed among the art; I was completely taken with the cleverness of this book.
A really enjoyable read and an author I will be looking out for from now on.
May 25, 2018
A London Detective returns to Paris to rescue a brainwashed girl from a cult.
A search for hidden gospel accounts of the Bible.
Dramatic action sequences.
All added together to be more than the sum of their parts.
Alongside all the praises for the rest of this series:
A steampunky alternative history when Napoleon won.
Amazing art.
Wonderful nods to European comic history (99% of which I'm sure I miss).
A search for hidden gospel accounts of the Bible.
Dramatic action sequences.
All added together to be more than the sum of their parts.
Alongside all the praises for the rest of this series:
A steampunky alternative history when Napoleon won.
Amazing art.
Wonderful nods to European comic history (99% of which I'm sure I miss).
January 4, 2018
Another gorgeous bloody trip to Talbot's world of talking animals, this time the bold Inspector tangles with a deadly cult fronted by a unicorn with strange powers of persuasion, whipping up hatred against humans, even as certain truths of ancient history are set to come to light, turning the world upside down. Always an enjoyable visit.
June 28, 2019
After the third installment of this series left me feeling like it might be going downhill, this fourth installment sent the steam train chugging right back up the slope. The art (as ever) is amazing and the story remains tight and focussed throughout. Plus, there's a nice little twist at the end of the mystery, which is always good!
July 17, 2018
I found this volume to be the best in the series; not because of the better plot per se, but because understanding more about this alternative reality universe and its relation to our own mythology and religion made it much more an interesting read.
September 11, 2018
Kind of silly to read it on my phone, but Hoopla, so there you go. Such an interesting alt-history with humans subservient to animals and all the political tropes present but twisted. A unicorn messiah. Fascinating.
April 29, 2019
It's the penultimate story of Grandville and the one I enjoyed the most. Shame it took this long to get interesting.
November 18, 2019
see meeldib mulle seniloetud Grandville'i osadest kõige rohkem - siin on kõik, mis need raamatud ilusaks ja lahedaks teevad (imeline graafika, nutikad viited, aurupunk, MÄGER) ja siis veel esimest korda päriselt huvitav ja asjalik lugu ka. liigutav lõpp on boonus.
August 7, 2017
Una historia victoriana, furry y extraña que encaja en una saga mayor que desconozco. Se deja leer.
April 24, 2018
Great world-building.
August 25, 2018
This was pretty good. Think it was the best of the series I've read so far. Bits of religious conspiracy. Fun.
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