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Haunted
A surprising, wry, and deeply moving reflection on despair and the way back out Ten years after finishing the original French edition of Maybe Later ―the book in which the French superstar cartooning duo Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian worked separately for the first time―Dupuy set out on his own again with Haunted . Gone are the tightly constructed narratives and urbane, elegant graphics of his projects with Berberian. In their place, roughed-in drawings give an urgent,
spontaneous feeling to a series of hallucinatory stories and dreamlike sequences that register the raw distress of solitude and self-doubt―the dark core of the material held in balance by Dupuy's acid humor and lyrical sensibility. A jogging Dupuy runs around and sometimes through the stories of the misfit characters that haunt a self-amputating dog, a Left Bank artist in search of emptiness, an art-collecting duck, Lucha Libre wrestlers, and a group of single guys at the watering hole imagined as the anthropomorphic "Forest Friends." Heart pumping, gaze turned inward, the ground occasionally giving way beneath his feet, this alter ego concludes that sometimes you need to cross the line to figure out where it is. The original French edition of Haunted was nominated for the 2006 award for Best Comic Book at the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
spontaneous feeling to a series of hallucinatory stories and dreamlike sequences that register the raw distress of solitude and self-doubt―the dark core of the material held in balance by Dupuy's acid humor and lyrical sensibility. A jogging Dupuy runs around and sometimes through the stories of the misfit characters that haunt a self-amputating dog, a Left Bank artist in search of emptiness, an art-collecting duck, Lucha Libre wrestlers, and a group of single guys at the watering hole imagined as the anthropomorphic "Forest Friends." Heart pumping, gaze turned inward, the ground occasionally giving way beneath his feet, this alter ego concludes that sometimes you need to cross the line to figure out where it is. The original French edition of Haunted was nominated for the 2006 award for Best Comic Book at the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 16, 2012
I'm not really sure what this is. I breezed through it, as I think you're supposed to, but it's not a breezy book--it's anxious and uncertain, and the short pieces that make up its whole strain to be more thematically connected, and more purposeful, than they are. The author has a series of daydreams while running, maybe just dreams about running, and some of the dreams expand into narratives that may or may not impact the author's real life. There's a vague metaphor about running towards death, or something, and a cool story about a dog who gnaws off his own leg. But other than that, like, what the hell.
PS - As a junky dark comic, it just made me want to go read the new Prison Pit.
PS - As a junky dark comic, it just made me want to go read the new Prison Pit.
December 1, 2008
What a fantastic comic book! This comic is comprised of allegories, dreams, and reflections about dealing with fear of death and depression in a way that is extremely creative and poetic. Even with a fairly cartoonish natural drawing style, Dupuy crafts very dark images and a really compelling narrative that is woven together brilliantly. It is mysterious and provocative, while also being highly intimate and relatable. Recommended.
December 11, 2019
Ran through the pages, super speedy reading pace as if catching up with the main character’s running pace through the pages as he is running to clear his head and random thoughts would come across his mind, here and there. His mind wanders from time to time to bring some surreal snippets through animal-form dealing with various issues, insecurities, anxiety, mortality, etc.
Run Movie 6: the duck encounter. P132
The duck: “....with all that chasing around, I had forgotten about the self inside me... one day, I collapsed...wiped out.. I had run away from myself. I was so afraid of dying without knowing everything that I almost disappeared without knowing myself.”
D: I’m trying to put myself back together now, but these objects are such a burden. I don’t know what to do with them.
RM: Give them away! It’s not having them that matters, but knowing WHY you set out to find them in the first place.
D: get rid of them? I can’t just throw them out, can I?
RM: who said throw them out? Whenever anybody pisses in your backyard, give them a gift.. and pull out a forgotten memory that matters and belongs to nobody but you.
Synthesize this chapter for CBT tips for anxious hoarders on letting go of objects when owning specific objects serve no more its initial purpose, to let go by giving it away. To not be attached to the objects, but the memory it held is what matters.
Run Movie 6: the duck encounter. P132
The duck: “....with all that chasing around, I had forgotten about the self inside me... one day, I collapsed...wiped out.. I had run away from myself. I was so afraid of dying without knowing everything that I almost disappeared without knowing myself.”
D: I’m trying to put myself back together now, but these objects are such a burden. I don’t know what to do with them.
RM: Give them away! It’s not having them that matters, but knowing WHY you set out to find them in the first place.
D: get rid of them? I can’t just throw them out, can I?
RM: who said throw them out? Whenever anybody pisses in your backyard, give them a gift.. and pull out a forgotten memory that matters and belongs to nobody but you.
Synthesize this chapter for CBT tips for anxious hoarders on letting go of objects when owning specific objects serve no more its initial purpose, to let go by giving it away. To not be attached to the objects, but the memory it held is what matters.
February 9, 2022
A ritmo de la carrera de este señor hago la reseña sobre este cómic. Pues las coincidencias hacen que me recuerde que esta mañana me he marcado un sprint para no llegar tarde a la universidad. Y esa carrera olímpica marcada por la falta de aire me ha permitido reflexionar acerca de la vida, al igual que el protagonista de esta obra. Todo corriendo y sin parar para ver lo importante de la vida.
Aunque al principio iba a abandonar el cómic por necesidades fisiológicas de sueño y falta de concentración he acabado disfrutando de la misma. De hecho, es una reflexión vital en toda regla. No quiero ponerme intenso, solo remarcar las frases que más me han marcado:
"Aprenda a perderse. Así dejará de preguntarse dónde esta. Y así, ya no tendrá nunca más la sensación de estar perdido". 10/10 amigas
"Lo más difícil es estar dispuesta a amar, en cualquier caso. Incluso aún sabiendo que de todas formas va a ser difícil, que va a haber momentos duros, decepciones, errores. Eso es lo más difícil, estar dispuesto a amar a pesar de todo". Muy temático en este mes de cupidos y marketing amoroso
Aunque al principio iba a abandonar el cómic por necesidades fisiológicas de sueño y falta de concentración he acabado disfrutando de la misma. De hecho, es una reflexión vital en toda regla. No quiero ponerme intenso, solo remarcar las frases que más me han marcado:
"Aprenda a perderse. Así dejará de preguntarse dónde esta. Y así, ya no tendrá nunca más la sensación de estar perdido". 10/10 amigas
"Lo más difícil es estar dispuesta a amar, en cualquier caso. Incluso aún sabiendo que de todas formas va a ser difícil, que va a haber momentos duros, decepciones, errores. Eso es lo más difícil, estar dispuesto a amar a pesar de todo". Muy temático en este mes de cupidos y marketing amoroso
March 27, 2018
Good stuff, basically a meditation on aging and life, with several short segments interwoven into a framing device about Dupuy jogging and getting his thoughts in order. Beautifully drawn. Some parts don't seem to work, but others are very, very well done. It's a book I'll probably revisit every few years to see how my changing outlook on life reflects what Dupuy is sharing here. Recommended.
January 30, 2018
This is not a bad book but I didn't enjoy the illustration style so much. I didn't relate to the stories neither, it feels as if the author was merely expressing his anxiety through drawings.
March 10, 2018
Totally my kind of screwupedness.
Also, 'lots of drawings. I like drawings.
Also, 'lots of drawings. I like drawings.
April 5, 2024
You can really feel the anxiety through the artwork.
September 19, 2011
Fresh from the success of the full colour spectacular that was "Get A Life" by Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian, and the non-fiction book "Maybe Later", Dupuy here goes solo with a book of sketches and shorts far from his "Monsieur Jean" character and that world.
"Haunted" is framed by Dupuy taking up running. Dupuy goes running then encounters something, an old woman, a dog, a random thought, which turns into a story. Among the many stories included are: the story of a dog whose leg is caught in a bear trap and has to gnaw it off, Dupuy meeting a talking dog and falling down a well, a surreal journey through time and space with a homeless woman, a dream like sequence where he talks to his dead mother while running alongside her, a story where Dupuy imagines rats gnawing at his insides, meeting a talking worldly duck who dispenses wisdom from his luxurious duck house (probably bought by a Tory MP).
There are also stories without Dupuy in them. A starving Parisien artiste seeks to create true art, a strange "Forest Friends" strip where talking animals console their friend who has recently lost an arm, and a Mexican wrestler who can't fight a girl who enters his ring.
All of the strips are draw in sketch style with never any lining or colours or shades, and it's all in black and white. The style suits the stories which seem to be drawn from memory or a dream that's nearly faded.
It's a book that lingers in your mind long after you've put it down and it's easy to see why it's garnered so many awards. Drawn and Quarterly have as always done the book justice by binding it in a hardback with quality paper.
It's a fascinating book, an excellent comic, and a great read from one of France's best living comics artists.
"Haunted" is framed by Dupuy taking up running. Dupuy goes running then encounters something, an old woman, a dog, a random thought, which turns into a story. Among the many stories included are: the story of a dog whose leg is caught in a bear trap and has to gnaw it off, Dupuy meeting a talking dog and falling down a well, a surreal journey through time and space with a homeless woman, a dream like sequence where he talks to his dead mother while running alongside her, a story where Dupuy imagines rats gnawing at his insides, meeting a talking worldly duck who dispenses wisdom from his luxurious duck house (probably bought by a Tory MP).
There are also stories without Dupuy in them. A starving Parisien artiste seeks to create true art, a strange "Forest Friends" strip where talking animals console their friend who has recently lost an arm, and a Mexican wrestler who can't fight a girl who enters his ring.
All of the strips are draw in sketch style with never any lining or colours or shades, and it's all in black and white. The style suits the stories which seem to be drawn from memory or a dream that's nearly faded.
It's a book that lingers in your mind long after you've put it down and it's easy to see why it's garnered so many awards. Drawn and Quarterly have as always done the book justice by binding it in a hardback with quality paper.
It's a fascinating book, an excellent comic, and a great read from one of France's best living comics artists.
June 28, 2008
A wonderful assortment of stories that delve deep into the collective soul. The common theme that connects all of these tales seems to be loss. The art leaves something to be desired but the spirit with which the author conveys them leads you to forgive this. This graphic novel is best enjoyed at the top of a mountain alone on a bright summer day. Leave the trip back down the mountain to ponder its meaning.
September 25, 2008
Not nearly as beautiful as his "Maybe Later" work, done in tandem with Charles Berberian. This book is quickly sketched, with expressive art in lieu of full rendering. It's more a book of emotional comic book philsophies, spur of the moment thoughts, random cartooning. There is definitely some worth, here, but if this had been the first I'd seen of Dupuy's work then I would have enjoyed it, but felt no need to read his other projects.
February 15, 2010
I found it hard to get into "Haunted." I realize its narrative is meant to be dreamlike and disjointed, but each story that started left me wanting more. I most enjoyed the running sections and their accurate reflections on the feeling of running, both good and bad. The theme of losing hands was really unsettling, but powerful. There is a lot of self-reflection here, so I guess your enjoyment of the book depends on how much you can relate to Dupuy's inner life.
January 9, 2012
One of those fairly forgettable artsyish comics (as in I read it on a comics binge and it was the one I couldn't remember). At the same time, I picked it up because the style was up my alley, wispy, liney, quiet, dark and light at once. And so it was, sweet in its way, with the sad running author, and some mopey, adult forest animals. Not so bad, but nothing specifically struck me. Be bold, Philippe! Unless, of course, that's not what you're going for.
November 20, 2023
I enjoyed this - a collection of short and quick to read comics about anxiety, aging, loss and a lot of missing limbs (lol).
It's really a mish mash of comics about his experience running - how his mind wanders to create far fetched scenarios and stories that all in some way relate to the above themes - and other comics about these characters (a group of woodland friends, a nacho libresque wrestler) it makes it such a joy to read.
It's really a mish mash of comics about his experience running - how his mind wanders to create far fetched scenarios and stories that all in some way relate to the above themes - and other comics about these characters (a group of woodland friends, a nacho libresque wrestler) it makes it such a joy to read.
August 18, 2012
I guess I didn't get it... It's basically a dream diary about dealing with the author's fears and anxieties. It's very surreal, and very French. The art is sparse and there's no story to speak of, besides the common themes among the dreams.
May 26, 2015
nope.
felt like a personal sketchbook of dreams, which sounds like it should be interesting and artsy, but just didn't hold my attention. too scattered for me to hold onto, which then just made me angry.
felt like a personal sketchbook of dreams, which sounds like it should be interesting and artsy, but just didn't hold my attention. too scattered for me to hold onto, which then just made me angry.
June 16, 2016
Some great - and weird - cartoons here. Dream-like and surreal at moments and then also the mundane is captured (beautifully) as well. But it is uneven. There are lots of pages of what feels like nonsense or journal/work-book ideas...
May 21, 2008
Beautifully simple art accompanies dreamlike short pieces. Elegant and absorbing.
September 10, 2008
not a very strong effort. I much prefered his "Get a Life"
October 8, 2008
These dreamlike sequences are more revealing of Dupuy's inner workings than any straight-forward memoir would be. This is fantastically dark and filled with sadness, humor, despair, and ambiguity.
December 13, 2012
Stream of consciousness, personal reflection on death
July 31, 2010
Thoughtful, graceful and occasionally whimsical. A beautiful work, recommended to fans of Anders Nilsen and others who enjoy comics with (relatively) simple artwork and sparse, stirring text.
June 24, 2011
Very surreal, slightly disturbing graphic story. Great illustrations.
July 20, 2011
Slightly creepy dream sequences running through the author's mind, while he runs through the pages. My personal favorite was "Lucha Libre: Love Catch" (page 171).
March 21, 2013
I liked some if the stories but there wasn't a big connection. the drawings were basic. some interesting thoughts in there.
September 21, 2013
Holy shit.
October 23, 2013
Transformations without identities, dream-sequencing without the stability of an interpretative lens, quavering and sketchy lines given to what essentially become a mess of empty pages. Pass.
December 16, 2014
I'm going to be completely unfair and give this a low rating because I did not like how it made me feel. This book is a series of sad, scary nightmares that I do not wish to relive.
May 4, 2015
Mostly dialogue free pen & ink heta-uma for self-shaming puke and contortion fetishists. There is a man that runs and a Hegelian dog that pontificates. Good stuff.
January 8, 2016
sometimes inspiring, and very much delaune
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews