Insectopolis: Une histoire naturelle

by Peter Kuper

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2026

About the author

Peter Kuper is an American alternative comics artist and illustrator, renowned for his politically charged, socially conscious, and often autobiographical work. He co-founded the influential anthology World War 3 Illustrated, and is best known for his long-running reinvention of Spy vs. Spy for Mad magazine from 1997 to 2022. Kuper has produced numerous graphic novels, including award-winning adaptations of Franz Kafka’s Give It Up! and The Metamorphosis, as well as autobiographical works like Stop Forgetting To Remember and Diario de Oaxaca, documenting life, travel, and social struggles. His illustration work has appeared on covers and in publications such as Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. Kuper’s style often merges comics and illustration techniques, with both wordless narratives and text-driven storytelling, reflecting his belief that the two disciplines are inseparable. He has traveled extensively across Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia, often documenting these experiences in sketchbook journals. Kuper has taught courses on comics and illustration at the Parsons School of Design, the School of Visual Arts, and Harvard University’s first class on graphic novels. He has received numerous awards, including recognition from the Society of Newspaper Designers, the Society of Illustrators, and Eisner and NCS awards for his work. His comics combine sharp political commentary, personal observation, and inventive visual storytelling, establishing him as a prominent figure in contemporary alternative comics and illustration.

Reviews

[Ludivine Poussier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Des insectes colorés dans un monde post-apocalyptique gris bleu dans lequel les humains ne sont plus. Les insectes héros de l'histoire visitent la New York Public Library et s'intéressent principalement à une exposition qui leur est consacrée.
Le procédé de visite de l'exposition permet de lire dans le décor, ce qui n'arrive que très rarement dans le format de la bande dessinée. On se retrouve en pleine lecture de BD, à lire des écriteaux d'une exposition imaginaire qui reprend tous les codes de la muséographie (j'ai creusé et en 2022, une exposition de ce roman graphique a eu lieu dans la NYPL, bien joué, les gens !). On visite donc un musée du point de vue des insectes ! Le contraste des couleurs engendre un réalisme chatoyant, c'est souvent très beau.
Seulement 4 étoiles parce que l'ouvrage est didactique (c'est bien nécessaire), mais peut-être un peu trop ? Je n'ai pu me départir de lire certaines pages avec la tonalité de ma maman en vacances lorsqu'elle me lisait le guide du Routard dans n'importe quelle église que nous visitions...