All species in the world evolve…except one. Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris, or the square crab, has suffered with the same evolutionary defect for it cannot change direction. Condemned to walk in one straight line forever, these crabs living along the Gironde estuary have largely resigned themselves to their fate. However, one seemingly ordinary summer, three crabs decide to take matters into their own claws and rebel against the straight and narrow path they have been sentenced to, upending the entire ecosystem in the process. From critically-acclaimed French illustrator and animator Arthur de Pins comes the first volume in his hilarious and touching trilogy about scuttling towards your own destiny.
An offfbeat story of the Marble Crab. A crab that can only walk back and forth in a straight line. The art has this quirky 60's animation vibe. Takes a long time before you can see an actual story start to emerge from the book.
Received an advance copy from Archaia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A tale of endangered species by French filmmaker, illustrator and comics novelist Arthur de Pins about a couple of documentary filmmakers dedicated to a project focused on an interesting evolutionary issue: All species in the world evolve. . . except one, Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris, or marbled crabs, that can only move in one direction. These crabs are, as are thousands of others, endangered, of course. The filmmakers are stuck on this idea even though many people who watch nature shows really only want to see lions and so on. Crabs? Who cares? Let them die, they stink, and so on.
I only just got the news that this species is a fictional one, which makes me like the work slightly less.
In this first volume we also get the story from the perspective of the crabs, as three of the crabs decide to challenge their destiny. So itspeaks to an issue that all art---not just documentary filmmaking, but even comics such as this one!-- that hopes to speak to the sixth mass extinction must face: How to make people care about eco-systems of which we are all a part. Attractive digital art, with just the right balance of goofiness to spice up the educational dimensions. I'll say 3.5 rounded up for the planet.
I see March of the Crabs and two things come to mind: the Red Crabs on Christmas Island and Annette Finklestein (junior/senior prom, 1979). Neither can be found in this book.
What CAN be found is cancer simplicimus vulgaris, the marbled crab, also known as the square crab (depending on the french/english translation). Marbled crabs have the inauspicious distinction of being the only animal on the planet that does not evolve. They spend their entire lives moving back and forth in a straight line, unable to make even the slightest turn. This inability to alter their course, to adapt to pollution and habitat destruction, has set them on a trajectory toward certain extinction. Or so it seems...
Arthur de Pins has constructed a humorous but sad apologue. He has set his cast of characters smack-dab in the dire straights of the anthropocine, against the backdrop of ecosystem annihilation and its accompanying wake of human indifference. As contrived as this feels, I still applaud his efforts and I hope this 'entertainment' inspires a little empathy and activism.
Who would have thought crabs live such interesting lives? This was lots of fun. So there is this species of crab, the marbled crab, that can only move back and forth. Due to the configuration of its shell, it is incapable of turning. De Pins gets humor and pathos in equal measure from this (one gag I didn't catch at first was the opening scene. Two marbled crabs have chanced to meet at an abandoned guitar. One strums while the other changes chords and sings. And the song is that Johnny Cash classic, "I Walk the Line." Yeah. So was the song the same in the original French--if so, coolness for having a foreign language dependent joke--or was it a different, equally apropos song in French--in which case, kudos to the translator for going the extra mile?) In any case, we meet three of these crabs, Boater, Sunny, and Guitar, and follow their lives as they discover how to break the rules of marbled crab locomotion. There are humans in this book too. Raymond and Dominique want to film a documentary about crabs, but their producer insists they go to Africa for more exciting footage. "I want to see prides of lions tearing gazelles to pieces and then having orgies till sunrise! " I like how, in this book, there really don't seem to be any minor characters. Everyone seems to have a role to play. De Pins even spends a few pages giving motivation to a character whose only purpose seems to be to cause a shipwreck. We even get foreshadowing of the character earlier in the book. This is a lovingly crafted story, very fun and with great attention to detail. I look forward to seeing it unfold further in volume 2.
We think of evolution as inevitable, but what if you are a species that hasn't had to evolve for millennia? This cute and poignant story is told from the POV of three Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris, or the square crab, who decide to try something radical one summer day. The art is wonderful, and I enjoyed the deeper exploration of rebelling against the straight and narrow and finding your own path. An informative and fun summer read, especially if you plan to spend some time on a beach.
This was both a funny, but also thought-provoking graphic novel. Just loved the scene where two crabs are playing 'I walkt the line' on a guitar, and the fitting meaning of that title is revealed soon. The story centers around a couple of square crabs, a species of crabs that can only walk in one line, endlessly going back and forth without ever changing direction. For some, this means they won't ever be able to meet other crabs, like the sad crab which is cornered by two boulders limiting it's path to a line of several feet only. Others are more lucky, but still they can only follow their destined path without breaking out of their habit. Or can they? One day, a bold crab decides to make a change by carrying a another crab which crosses its path away from it's route, finally creating a means to escape the species' regional limits. At the end of this first part, the crab even manages to break free of its boundaries on its very own.
The story was based on a simple, yet cleverly presented morale. Some environmental additions (a pipeline to be build through the sea, Greenpeace activists and some guys doing a documentary on the crabs) made it more complex, which was not that bad, but personally, I would have preferred a shorter 'pure' story featuring only the crabs. The illustrations were done in a clear but very cartoon-ish way, which was easy on the eyes but is not exactly my favorite style. However, this book definitely sets itself apart from other graphic novels, and not just for its unusual main characters.
(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
This had a lot of potential and there was a lot about it I really liked. I do wish Sunny and Guitar had been better individualized. There was some great humour in here and a lot of research on crabs, I bet. I'm eager to see where this series goes from here!
Very entertaining and well-written. Art is cool, but some parts were a bit awkward to follow. Interesting topic about crabs with nice personalities attached to them.
This graphic novel is both educational and amusing. It is a story about the crab, Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris, otherwise known as the square crab.
Unlike other kinds of crab this one can only crawl in a straight line. They cannot change direction and as a result suffer all kinds of indignities and bullying from other crabs, human beings and fate in general. And they seem unable to change this until three crabs decide that enough is enough and that they are going to rebel against the confines of the straight and narrow path, and do something very different.
As they initiate this monumental plan of rebellion, other things are happening that influence their destiny. Greenpeace are staging a blockade which goes horribly wrong, two cameramen decide that the crabs would be an excellent documentary subject and the crabs themselves suddenly realise that working together can help them achieve their freedom and this graphic novel shows us what happens to the evolution of Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris when the pieces to the puzzle fall into place.
This is the first highly entertaining volume of the three part series. The art is good, the dialogue is just the right amount of text for a graphic novel and the pace of the story is just right. It feels as if it should be set to music!
I definitely want to read the next two.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Cute graphic novel about crabs. Since they are my favourite animals I had to read this! Loved the characters, wish we'd find out even more about the cute little crabs. The art style is so much fun, love the colours used and the drawings. So definitely loved it, I just wish the main crabbies were a little more fleshed out. Also, the story sometimes takes a small detour which is pretty hard to follow.
A short and sweet graphic novel (the first installment of a crabby trilogy) about Marble Crabs (an author-invented species, boohoo) that can only move back and forth sideways < < < - > > > in straight lines (the"End is Nigh" crab has only a short path of a few of feet between two rocks, so sad). I kind of wish the "human" part of the story was simply implied and the dialogue was all crabs!
Not since Adam Sacks' Salmon Doubts have underwater critters been so damn adorable and human. The art is just as charming as the story, the crabs (nameless for the first half of the book) are adorable, determined little fellas. You can't help but root for their success in taking charge of their own destinies. This is the first volume of a trilogy, and I cannot wait for the next two to come out.
The sad life of the marbled crab, unable to turn and thus condemned to spend its whole life going up and down the same line...it may not be biologically accurate, but as a metaphor it's gold. De Pins (and what a great name for someone dealing with crabs) has a style which reminds me of those weird late Tom & Jerry cartoons where they lived with the young couple, but it works for this.
I was so disappointed to find out the featured crabs weren't a real species! Nevertheless, it was a clever and unique story that was delightful to read, surprising and interesting with each turn of the page.
Free copy provided by Netgalley in return for an honest opinion
Rating
I am giving March of the Crabs, Vol. 01 4 out of 5 stars.
Genre
This is a humorous graphic novel based around a small species of crab.
About the Book
Information from GoodReads
Crabs versus The World.
All species in the world evolve…except one. Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris, or the square crab, has suffered with the same evolutionary defect for millennia: it cannot change direction. Condemned to walk in one straight line forever, these crabs living along the Gironde estuary have largely resigned themselves to their fate. However, one seemingly ordinary summer, three crabs decide to take matters into their own claws and rebel against the straight and narrow path they have been sentenced to, upending the entire ecosystem in the process. From critically-acclaimed French illustrator and animator Arthur de Pins comes the first volume in his hilarious and touching trilogy about scuttling towards your own destiny.
Why did I choose this book to read?
I decided to request this book from Netgalley as it was a graphic novel and I love reading graphic novels. It promises to be humorous and to focus on animals which is two things that I adore. The artwork and cover also drew me in.
Pricing
The pricing for this is listed as $19.99 on Netgalley
What did I think of it?
I think this was a really cute graphic novel! It features a crab who can’t turn, getting sick of his daily life, and trying to start a revolution. This really touched me, and there was one point where I ended up very on edge, with my hand over my mouth as I devoured the beautiful pages in front of me.
I also loved this story for the scientific research put into this. I’d never know about the Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris before, and this was a wonderful piece of work that has left me more knowledgeable after reading this. I’m definitely going to go write a report on the square crab once I’ve finished writing this review and expand my knowledge more – this novel has left me completely intrigued by these tiny crabs.
Did I have any qualms with it?
I had no qualms with this graphic novel whatsoever.
Would I recommend it and who to?
I would definitely recommend this to any animal lover or to people who enjoy short(er) graphic novels to read. This was a joy to read through, and I got through it pretty quickly, and I really want to read this over numerous times.
Overall opinion
This is an absolute gem, and I’m really thankful I got the chance to read this. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, managed to expand my scientific and animal knowledge, and got to get some joy out of doing it at the same time. Thank you Netgalley, Arthur de Pins, and Archaia for giving me this chance. I am definitely going to be reading the other two in this series when I can get my hands on them!
'March of the Crabs (The Crabby Condition)' by Arthur de Pins is a graphic novel based on an animated feature by the same author. It's an odd tale and I enjoyed it.
The story centers around the square crab, who can only walk in a straight line. There lives can cross another crabs as long as that crab is moving in a line that crosses theirs. If they are lucky enough, they find a mate. If they are unlucky, the get stuck between two rocks and spend their lives moving back and forth a few feet at t a time.
There are also humans in this story who capture the crabs in buckets and on film, but the crabs aren't as helpless as they seem.
The original story has been translated into English, and the art looks like it's been adapted from an animated feature, but that's ok. The story works on a few levels. The humor might be a bit risque for younger readers, but there is a pretty good story here as well as some food for thought about the lines our own lives cross.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Archaia, Boom! Studios, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
*Received a free digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review*
I picked this up with little knowledge of what it was about. Crabs defying fate sounded amusing and I liked the cover.
This volume both surprised me and exceeded all my expectations.
While the art is wonderful, the story takes some effectively unexpected turns, and the humor is a lot of fun - the central story also has a lot more heart than I was originally expected. "March of the Crabs" is essentially an adventure story. Through the experiences of three crabs - and the other sea life and humans they interact with - this is a story about the value of relationships and the desire to overcome one's boundaries. It has regular philosophical moments woven in with humor and hijinks, that ultimately create a story that is touching, delightful, and simply fun to read.
Una storia molto carina e profonda senza essere pesante. Un bel messaggio sulla possibilità di liberarci dalle catene che ci rovinano la vita e che crediamo indistruttibili solo perché ci è sempre stato detto che tali sono. E un po' di satira sulla società, sull'industria dell'intrattenimento e sull'ambientalismo che può essere solo di facciata. Il tutto dal punto di vista di un gruppetto di granchi che vivono sull'estuario della Gironda. Anche i disegni mi sono piaciuti un sacco. Devo recuperare in fretta gli altri due volumi della trilogia.
I was given a free cope of this graphic novel by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This graphic novel was adorable. The illustrations were very nicely done, the storyline was interesting and often humorous, and the characters (human and creature) were all enjoyable. I am looking forward to Vol 2. Highly recommended!
I was extremely intrigued by the synopsis for this graphic novel and although the story evolved in ways I never would have suspected, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot.
It was around the halfway point of the novel that I decided to research Cancer Simplicimus Vulgaris, only to discover that it was not a real species of crab. Perhaps I was foolish in believing in the first place, but I admit it left me a little deflated. I had been becoming fascinated and eager to learn more about the endangered marble crabs! However, this realisation was also a turning point for me in reading the story. I began worrying less about the symbolism alluded to by the author and just let myself enjoy the story and its quirks.
I really enjoyed the writing, character interactions and dry, often morbid humour. There were even some laugh-out-loud moments, which is usually only a reaction I get from reading a comic strip, not a graphic novel. With a decent cast of characters in play there were quite a few overlapping storylines. It will be interesting to see how these play out in the next two volumes.
The illustrations were not minimalist but had a similar feel with a clean style, but enough detail to prove realistic. The only issue I had was identifying between the three main crab characters – Boater, Sunny and Guitar. Despite one of them having a missing limb, I almost never knew which crab was which unless a particular conversation gave me context.
Unexpected and a little odd... but i'll definitely be looking out for the next volume.
Thank you to Netgalley and Archaia for providing me a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
The positive reviews plus the fact that this involved crabs made me believe I would enjoy this graphic novel. That was not meant to be. I was irritated by the fact that there was pretty heavy, bash-you-over-the-head, symbolism for humans and surprisingly not terribly much in terms of human interactions with the environment. I'm also pretty sure the species of crab detailed in this graphic novel does not exist. Maybe I'm wrong but I could not find proof of the species online. If there was any hope of an actual environmental message, a real species would have been used.
Another issue with the novel was the various storylines, many of which seemed completely unnecessary. For example, an entire sequence of some random boat captain and his wife having dinner was so annoying and cheesy and despite what it wanted to accomplish, it could have been so very much better.
The artwork was not bad but it wasn't anything to write home about. The colors were bland, which was perhaps to force you to focus on the story more. Unfortunately I did not really care for the story much either.
The crabs themselves were charming, but they were pretty much impossible to tell apart. But they were still the only redeeming aspect of the book.
This graphic novel was so very cool - if you can imagine a crab world, with crab issues, and crab politics! This book was a pleasure to read - also the drawing was superb. Somehow, it reminded me of Tomine's work, if he were dealing with wildlife rather than humans. I shall definitely look for more books by de Pins. It was also fun being inserted via the book into a French seaside resort, and the culture and types of people, and their activities, including their issues/problems that might occur there.. "March of the Crabs" is a refreshing, fun read -- definitely an up!
...what did I just read? You know, classic crabs who can only move in straight line begin to evolve and create a life with more hope and individuality than just moseying back and forth on the path they were born story, with the added twist of a documentary crew and a jilted ferry driver.
I'll admit, I kind of liked it, but would not necessarily expect anyone else to.