Mauretania

by Chris Reynolds

Susan: an ordinary young woman employed by the Reynal Import/Export Agency, a company that seems to do no useful work, and has only one interest - quizzing Susan about her previous job at Fern Ltd, a factory closed down under mysterious circumstances... and Jimmy: the man in a helmet marked with two figure IIs, which he never takes off, an enigma driven by unknown forces. Originally published by Penguin Books.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

131 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 1990

About the author

Chris wrote and drew the graphic novel "The New World" published by New York Review Comics.

Reviews

[Joe Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put this down as one of the best comics collections of the year. Few books, whether prose or comics, can surpass its ability to set mood and use light and atmosphere to enrich the stories, which follow a loosely connected cast of characters in a vaguely dystopian near-future South Wales/England as they seek clues to a mystery that feels both repressive and existential.
The main hero is a helmeted quasi-superhero whose motivations and eyes we never penetrate behind a dark visor. Another character dies violently on a 'case', then reappears suddenly, only with no seeming interest in reuniting with her family. Distant military spaceships silently cross the sun-blasted sky, but the real dread seems to emanate from bland corporate facades.
Reynold's thick black inks hide shadowed lives, but also nearly miraculously evoke the rolling hills and misty light of southern England, and the bleak chill of Thatcher's repressive regime, which is when they first appeared.
A ground-breaking black and white comic that is now getting a deserved retrospective, Mauretania: Comics from the New World should be placed as 'Exhibit A' in the comics-as art debate.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stories that are interconnected- they each help you "understand" the others. It's all VERY mysterious and infused with strangely tender emotion.

Very unique but certainly reminiscent of "The Silent Invasion" in theme and art. It's the very surreal "whats REALLY going on" type plots with wonderfully complicated characters. The simplicity of the words and the drawings is fantastic and suits the action and mystery ideally!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious goings-on, involving companies and people. There is a guy with a helmet. (And there used to be another one.)

Black and white. Surprisingly beautiful.

[David Ansara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stark black and white graphics, and I identified with the character of Susie, but the narrative was a little underdeveloped.

[Lucy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bemusing, but charming. I loved the inky drawings and atmosphere, and I've never read a comic/graphic novel quite like it

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just re-read.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea what this was about.

[Kim]

interesting story.