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Black Cotton Star
Philadelphia, 1776: George Washington asks Betsy Ross to design the first flag of the future United States of America. Her housemaid, Angela Brown, adds to it a secret tribute to the black community: a black cotton star that she slips under one of the white stars.
Dover, 1944: A soldier named Lincoln receives a letter that reveals Angela Brown’s memoirs. Does the star that she mentions truly exist? In light of this revelation, three African-American soldiers set out on a dangerous mission, ranging from liberated Paris to the snow-covered Ardennes, seeking answers, and the ultimate prize…
Dover, 1944: A soldier named Lincoln receives a letter that reveals Angela Brown’s memoirs. Does the star that she mentions truly exist? In light of this revelation, three African-American soldiers set out on a dangerous mission, ranging from liberated Paris to the snow-covered Ardennes, seeking answers, and the ultimate prize…
96 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 19, 2018
2 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Yves Sente
102 books30 followersYves Sente was born in Brussels in 1964. When he was little, he read La Marque Jaune, Jacobs' masterpiece, over and over again. Little did he know at that age that The Adventures of Blake and Mortimer would determine his destiny...!
In 1998, while he was working for Le Lombard, he worked with the cartoonist André Juillard on the script of La machination Voronov, a new episode of the Blake and Mortimer, a Cold War story acclaimed by critics and the public. Yves Sente then went on to write Les Sarcophages du 6e continent, where he reveals the young life of Professor Mortimer. He confirmed his writing talents with La Vengeance du Comte Skarbek (Dargaud; The Revenge of Count Skarbek, Europe Comics) and then Thorgal (Le Lombard; Cinebook/Europe Comics in English), taking over for Jean Van Hamme alongside Rosinski.
In 1998, while he was working for Le Lombard, he worked with the cartoonist André Juillard on the script of La machination Voronov, a new episode of the Blake and Mortimer, a Cold War story acclaimed by critics and the public. Yves Sente then went on to write Les Sarcophages du 6e continent, where he reveals the young life of Professor Mortimer. He confirmed his writing talents with La Vengeance du Comte Skarbek (Dargaud; The Revenge of Count Skarbek, Europe Comics) and then Thorgal (Le Lombard; Cinebook/Europe Comics in English), taking over for Jean Van Hamme alongside Rosinski.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 7, 2020
This is an African American spin on Monuments Men, with the action amped up closer to Saving Private Ryan levels and a hit of National Treasure added for spice. And yet it is dull as dirt.
During World War II, a North Carolina college student named Johanna Bolton discovers the Revolutionary War diary of a Black woman who altered Betsy Ross' very first American flag by sneaking a black star representing all African Americans under one of the thirteen white stars. Somehow dominoes fall and Bolton's brother who has been serving in support positions in the U.S. military in England is attached to the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program with his two closest buddies to track down the flag which has made its way to German-occupied France by way of a Hessian mercenary.
Everything in the plot seems highly unlikely, the dialogue is wooden, and the ending is just awful. Possibly in an attempt to make up for the flatness of the characters in the script, the artist seems to draw the three soldiers with the likenesses of Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Despite the focus on American race relations, the work is created by what look like a couple of white Belgian dudes. This originally appeared in print in French but I find no translator credited on this edition. I'm going to assume Edward Gauvin because he seems to translate all the boring French graphic novels I read.
During World War II, a North Carolina college student named Johanna Bolton discovers the Revolutionary War diary of a Black woman who altered Betsy Ross' very first American flag by sneaking a black star representing all African Americans under one of the thirteen white stars. Somehow dominoes fall and Bolton's brother who has been serving in support positions in the U.S. military in England is attached to the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program with his two closest buddies to track down the flag which has made its way to German-occupied France by way of a Hessian mercenary.
Everything in the plot seems highly unlikely, the dialogue is wooden, and the ending is just awful. Possibly in an attempt to make up for the flatness of the characters in the script, the artist seems to draw the three soldiers with the likenesses of Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Despite the focus on American race relations, the work is created by what look like a couple of white Belgian dudes. This originally appeared in print in French but I find no translator credited on this edition. I'm going to assume Edward Gauvin because he seems to translate all the boring French graphic novels I read.
October 14, 2020
Racism in the US is, apparently, world famous. So much so that other nationals (even from countries with their own terrible history of colonialism and racial oppression) are taking it on. But America, obviously, sadly, doesn’t do things like shame, so presumably it’s fair play. And so you get this excellent story, a quintessential American story that blends history and fiction and spans from colonial past of 1776 Philadelphia to the trenches of WWII. Both storylines address the horrible injustices done to black people in the US, whether they were forced to labor for it or chose to risk their lives for it. The title refers to a symbol of black presence secreted away on the very first American flag, courtesy of the sawing prowess of Betsy Ross in 1776. When a young woman studying history discovers this secret in 1944, she writes about it to her brother, a black soldier fighting the Nazis in Europe. Upon hearing about this, he and his friends join the Monuments Men (read that book or watch that movie) to find and protect this profoundly important historical artifact. So it’s a WWII narrative, primarily, and an excellent one at that, with a. terrific backstory to boot. A tragic and poignant tale of racial injustice that seems to have always been a present factor, it resonates especially loudly these days. But while it’s definitely a story with a moral, it doesn’t preach and balances the message just right. The story itself is completely engaging, very dynamic and impossible to put down, owning in no small way to the really spectacular art. Gorgeous, striking panels of cleverly balanced tones for different times and places. Terrific portraiture. Really stunning graphics in this graphic novel, very much on par with first rate storytelling. On a personal note, I’ve passed by Betsy Ross’ house countless times and have never been inside further than the courtyard, it was really neat to visit the place in this format. On a random note, apparently Betsy Ross was a babe. I always imagined someone older, she lived to a very respectable, especially by then standards, 84 years. But in 1776 she was a 24 year old widow, she remarried the following year and then again later in life, so she wasn’t even technically Betsy Ross for more than a few years, but managed to enter history then and there once and for all and that’s pretty awesome. So yeah, so many ways to enjoy this book, to reflect upon the storied and complicated past and the way it echoed into an ugly present. Or just enjoy it on a very superficial level as a work of art, which is certainly is. Loved it. Great read. Recommended.
July 15, 2024
As bases desta história são muito boas, mas confesso que a partir do momento em que os soldados são largados de pára-quedas e iniciam a busca pela bandeira, o argumento perdeu um pouco o interesse, arrastando-se eventualmente por páginas a mais. O fim também me desiludiu um pouco, pois pareceu apressado e não estando ao nível do início, que prometia algo "épico".
Entre as 3 e as 4 estrelas, opto pelas 4, porque não deixa efectivamente de ser um bom livro, com um argumento que sabe desenvolver-se sem pressas (excepto o fim), bem arquitectado e bem sustentado por boas ilustrações.
Entre as 3 e as 4 estrelas, opto pelas 4, porque não deixa efectivamente de ser um bom livro, com um argumento que sabe desenvolver-se sem pressas (excepto o fim), bem arquitectado e bem sustentado por boas ilustrações.
March 24, 2025
To bardzo filmowy (żeby nie napisać "hollywoodzki") komiks. Wyobrażam sobie, że Amerykanie robią z niego trzygodzinnego, pełnego patosu i pompy potworka, który zgarnia masę Oscarów. Na szczęście "Sztandar" stworzono z zachowaniem w tych kwestiach względnego umiaru. Rzecz czasami naiwna, ale wykonana zgrabnie. Dosyć tradycyjna w formie, momentami imponująca graficznie. Nie zagości na półce, ale jednocześnie spędzonego czasu nie żałuję
June 17, 2018
This graphic novel is the first part of a series that follows three African American soldiers during World War II. Back home, one of the guys' sister finds a authentic document from a slave woman in 1777 stating that she had sewn a black star behind one of the white ones in Betsy Ross's original U.S. flag.
The three young men get sent to work under the famous Monuments Men and are tasked with finding the flag which has been traced to France. The novel ends as they parachute into France to retrieve the flag. This was disappointing as the title did not imply that this was not a complete work.
The three young men get sent to work under the famous Monuments Men and are tasked with finding the flag which has been traced to France. The novel ends as they parachute into France to retrieve the flag. This was disappointing as the title did not imply that this was not a complete work.
March 30, 2019
A very well done book, astutely mixing the american war of independance and WWII with a matter-of-fact sobering view on segregation without any tears wringing agenda.
The Monuments Men side of the story might not seem very enthralling at first but the historical and moral stakes are high once contextualized.
One minor regret would be that the plot takes precedence over the characters who're lacking a bit of flesh.
As for the art, let's simply say it is very good. Strong storytelling too and last but not least an impressive monochromatic color chart (almost all pages are fully single-colored- mostly green, ochre and blue- setting places, periods or moods) giving an eerie but not unpleasant feeling to the whole
The Monuments Men side of the story might not seem very enthralling at first but the historical and moral stakes are high once contextualized.
One minor regret would be that the plot takes precedence over the characters who're lacking a bit of flesh.
As for the art, let's simply say it is very good. Strong storytelling too and last but not least an impressive monochromatic color chart (almost all pages are fully single-colored- mostly green, ochre and blue- setting places, periods or moods) giving an eerie but not unpleasant feeling to the whole
March 19, 2020
Très belle histoire de guerre, d’esclavage, de fraternité, d’amitié et de racisme qui traverse les âges et qui essaie ambitieusementbde réécrire l’histoire du drapeau américain. Des planches magnifiques en noir et blanc + une couleur, qui change en fonction des époques et des épisodes. Et une manière très habile de conter une histoire qui rejoint la guerre d’indépendance américaine à la 2eme guerre mondiale. C’est rare d’avoir ces deux guerres dans le même scénario, bien joué. C’est tellement une belle histoire qu’on aimerait qu’elle soit vraie. Pas un coup de cœur mais une belle performance du 7eme art. Un très bon moment.
June 14, 2019
"Cinq branches de coton noir" est un magnifique album historique. L'histoire est dense et très documentée, l'accent est mis sur le réalisme de la seconde guerre mondiale, le racisme au sein de l'armée américaine, la ségrégation raciale aux USA, sur l'évolution des mentalités, sur la bravoure des soldats pour servir leur drapeau (un des sujets principaux), sur la place de l'art en temps de guerre et la manière des "Monuments Men" de traiter leurs missions.
Une relation épistolaire s'instaure entre notre personnage principal et sa sœur tout au long du récit, et c'est simplement très touchant, j'ai beaucoup aimé cet aspect de l'album. Scénaristiquement parlant, le choix de mettre en parallèle plusieurs périodes afin de poser les bases est très bien, tout comme la manière de suivre notre groupe de soldats dans leur mission. Nous ne sommes pas dans une énième histoire pour faire gonfler l'ego américain que nous pourrions retrouver dans un film par exemple.
En ce qui concerne les dessins, le trait est vif et intéressant, assez original et cela plaira au plus grand nombre.
Les couleurs sont assez sombres mais cela colle bien à l'ensemble parlant de guerre et de racisme, c'est cohérent.
Je conseille cet album assez conséquent du haut de ses presque 200 pages à tout le monde, il est instructif et utile pour un pan de l'histoire peu abordé en BD.
Sur le blog :
https://unbouquinsinonrien.blogspot.c...
Une relation épistolaire s'instaure entre notre personnage principal et sa sœur tout au long du récit, et c'est simplement très touchant, j'ai beaucoup aimé cet aspect de l'album. Scénaristiquement parlant, le choix de mettre en parallèle plusieurs périodes afin de poser les bases est très bien, tout comme la manière de suivre notre groupe de soldats dans leur mission. Nous ne sommes pas dans une énième histoire pour faire gonfler l'ego américain que nous pourrions retrouver dans un film par exemple.
En ce qui concerne les dessins, le trait est vif et intéressant, assez original et cela plaira au plus grand nombre.
Les couleurs sont assez sombres mais cela colle bien à l'ensemble parlant de guerre et de racisme, c'est cohérent.
Je conseille cet album assez conséquent du haut de ses presque 200 pages à tout le monde, il est instructif et utile pour un pan de l'histoire peu abordé en BD.
Sur le blog :
https://unbouquinsinonrien.blogspot.c...
February 7, 2018
In 1944 a group of black soldiers are sent on a mission behind enemy lines. They have been sent to find one of the original American flags which is in danger of falling into the hands of the Nazis.
Of course there is more to this story than meets the eye because the soldiers are not allowed to serve the front line because of their race. The discovery of a historic journal back home has led to this opportunity. The journal belonged to a black housemaid called Angela Brown. She kept a journal during the revolutionary war and recorded how she sewed a black star under the white stars on the first American flag.
Angela did this because she knew that even if America gained its independence, the slaves will not be free. Having lost her two brothers and her parents, she decides to make this commemoration and she leaves a journal explaining what she has done. The flag is lost to the Prussians who support the British forces in their battle against American soldiers on the battle field and the story is also lost until the journal is discovered in 1944.
A young woman is delighted to find this journal amongst the belongings of her aunt who has died and from this discovery the powers that be decide they should hunt for this flag behind enemy lines and the black soldiers should do this because the journal was written by a black woman. And so three young black soldiers get sent on this mission. It is a chance to prove that they too can serve their country.
This is a really fascinating story and I really enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately this is just book one. It provides a background to the story about the flag and the story about the young men and how the journal was discovered. The book is very clear in its depiction of racism and discrimination, and the early civil rights movement in the United States. In this way the reader is drawn into the history and the importance of the flag, not just to America but also to black America.
I thought this was a very interesting book and I certainly want to read book two. I don't know how much of this is historical fact and how much of this this is fiction, but it's a great story. It provides some amazing contrasts when you look at the history of racism and discrimination. The hundreds of years between the revolutionary war and the Second World War and the way in which racism and discrimination passed down through the years are illustrated by both the journal and by the segregated US army, but it also shows the resistence and strength of those people who were oppressed and their willingness to fight for their country.
I loved the courage of the soldiers, but I also loved the courage of the youg servant who found a way to give voice to the loss of her family and the oppression of slavery.
This is a brilliant book and I intend to read Part 2 whenever it is published.
My only gripe about this book is the colouring. I dont think the colouring does the story justice. The book has great drawings but they are coloured in monotone for each page, This is rather boring and a bit lazy and unimaginative.
Brilliant story though so I overlooked the colouring.
Copy provided by Publisher via Netgalley
Of course there is more to this story than meets the eye because the soldiers are not allowed to serve the front line because of their race. The discovery of a historic journal back home has led to this opportunity. The journal belonged to a black housemaid called Angela Brown. She kept a journal during the revolutionary war and recorded how she sewed a black star under the white stars on the first American flag.
Angela did this because she knew that even if America gained its independence, the slaves will not be free. Having lost her two brothers and her parents, she decides to make this commemoration and she leaves a journal explaining what she has done. The flag is lost to the Prussians who support the British forces in their battle against American soldiers on the battle field and the story is also lost until the journal is discovered in 1944.
A young woman is delighted to find this journal amongst the belongings of her aunt who has died and from this discovery the powers that be decide they should hunt for this flag behind enemy lines and the black soldiers should do this because the journal was written by a black woman. And so three young black soldiers get sent on this mission. It is a chance to prove that they too can serve their country.
This is a really fascinating story and I really enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately this is just book one. It provides a background to the story about the flag and the story about the young men and how the journal was discovered. The book is very clear in its depiction of racism and discrimination, and the early civil rights movement in the United States. In this way the reader is drawn into the history and the importance of the flag, not just to America but also to black America.
I thought this was a very interesting book and I certainly want to read book two. I don't know how much of this is historical fact and how much of this this is fiction, but it's a great story. It provides some amazing contrasts when you look at the history of racism and discrimination. The hundreds of years between the revolutionary war and the Second World War and the way in which racism and discrimination passed down through the years are illustrated by both the journal and by the segregated US army, but it also shows the resistence and strength of those people who were oppressed and their willingness to fight for their country.
I loved the courage of the soldiers, but I also loved the courage of the youg servant who found a way to give voice to the loss of her family and the oppression of slavery.
This is a brilliant book and I intend to read Part 2 whenever it is published.
My only gripe about this book is the colouring. I dont think the colouring does the story justice. The book has great drawings but they are coloured in monotone for each page, This is rather boring and a bit lazy and unimaginative.
Brilliant story though so I overlooked the colouring.
Copy provided by Publisher via Netgalley
June 25, 2023
Ça casse pas trois pates à un canard mais le sujet est intéressant et la BD à le mérite d’avoir des POC comme perso principaux.
July 31, 2020
Billet complet sur le blogue: http://moncoinlecture.com/cinq-branch...
June 4, 2025
Very good graphic novel where we have the mixture of real events with some fiction. I really liked this story where the main focus is to makes us have another profound connection with the suffering of the black community with the racism ideology in this world.
My grandfather was a chief commander of a division in the war in Angola and we was a man that treated every one with respect despise the color of their skin!
War is always something we must avoid.
He wrote a book of his memoirs where he made me a dedication saying: I hope you never have to live an experience like this...
I really like these themes because you always add something more to your knowledge.
My grandfather lived to be 97 years old and I had the privilege of listening to his life stories and those remarkable years of the Angolan war that he portrays in his book. It would give an incredible graphic novel!
My grandfather was a chief commander of a division in the war in Angola and we was a man that treated every one with respect despise the color of their skin!
War is always something we must avoid.
He wrote a book of his memoirs where he made me a dedication saying: I hope you never have to live an experience like this...
I really like these themes because you always add something more to your knowledge.
My grandfather lived to be 97 years old and I had the privilege of listening to his life stories and those remarkable years of the Angolan war that he portrays in his book. It would give an incredible graphic novel!
December 4, 2020
An interesting foray into Sgt Fury territory — American GI against the evil nazis. This book tries to sweep Betsy Ross up into the narrative, and the monuments men, and the NAACP, and so on. The depiction of the life of Black servicemen in the US army during WWII was relatively accurate—especially compared to revisionist dreck like the movie Pearl Harbor.
There was a lot to like in this graphic novel, but really fizzles at the end.
Yet again, another European take on an element of US history and culture. Has America stopped being its own best reflection?
There was a lot to like in this graphic novel, but really fizzles at the end.
Yet again, another European take on an element of US history and culture. Has America stopped being its own best reflection?
July 24, 2021
This is an interesting work. I thought that the art work was easy to follow like a storyboard for a movie. The artist laid a few Easter eggs by using some some actors from World War II movies as models. I'll leave it to you to discover which ones. As for the story - well that was easy to follow too, maybe too easy. I truly liked some of the characters and was concerned for them but I found the story's motivation to be the problem.
Apparently, this is supposed to be a trilogy which surprises me because the ending wasn't a cliff hanger.
Apparently, this is supposed to be a trilogy which surprises me because the ending wasn't a cliff hanger.
April 13, 2019
Une histoire passionnante, réaliste, tellement réaliste qu'on aurait aimée qu'elle soit vraie, mêlant habilement deux époques de l'histoire tourmentée des afros-américains, rendant justice aux diverses formes de combat, sous diverses formes, les genres, les époques, les moyens.
le scénario, bien documenté, est très bien rodé et dense, et le dessin, tout en hachures est "à l'américaine des années 50" et expressif.
D'apparence classique, s'adressant de prime abord aux garçons, cette BD mérite d'être lue comme un grand film hollywoodien, appuié par quelques clins d'oeil.
le scénario, bien documenté, est très bien rodé et dense, et le dessin, tout en hachures est "à l'américaine des années 50" et expressif.
D'apparence classique, s'adressant de prime abord aux garçons, cette BD mérite d'être lue comme un grand film hollywoodien, appuié par quelques clins d'oeil.
April 24, 2019
j'ai beaucoup aimé cette BD. L'histoire est une fiction mais tout est si bien raconté, on est plongé dans l'histoire et on dévore ce gros album (160 pages quand même).
Un vrai moment, un vrai plaisir, et une histoire qui reste marquée dans les esprits. Un graphisme qui plait, les périodes et la guerre sont bien représentées.
Ca fait un peu "Le soldat Ryan" avec des blacks américains et un drapeau. Mais vraiment, c'est top.
Un vrai moment, un vrai plaisir, et une histoire qui reste marquée dans les esprits. Un graphisme qui plait, les périodes et la guerre sont bien représentées.
Ca fait un peu "Le soldat Ryan" avec des blacks américains et un drapeau. Mais vraiment, c'est top.
November 16, 2024
Algo normal na banda desenhada franco-belga, pegando no tema de um filme de Holywood, desenvolver uma história autónoma.
Neste caso Cuzor e Sente partem dos "Monument Men", com piscadelas de olhos aos cinéfilos,veja-se a semelhança com Sammy Davis Jr. de um dos heróis.
A obra criada tem uma história interessante servida por um bom desenho, a ler
Neste caso Cuzor e Sente partem dos "Monument Men", com piscadelas de olhos aos cinéfilos,veja-se a semelhança com Sammy Davis Jr. de um dos heróis.
A obra criada tem uma história interessante servida por um bom desenho, a ler
April 26, 2019
Une superbe histoire, tellement prenante que j'aurais aimé qu'elle soit vraie. On est pris dans l'aventure, on a envie d'y croire. J'écris cette critique plusieurs semaines après l'avoir lu donc je n'ai plus tous les détails en tête mais dans mes souvenirs les dessins étaient bons.
February 2, 2021
Magnifiques illustrations! Histoire touchante et malheureusement encore d’actualité. Mots en N fréquents dans cette bd, interdits maintenant au Québec, mais comment parler de l’Histoire sans nommer ce qui se retrouvait dans les discours de l’époque?
February 20, 2018
Una obra maestra de la que pudimos participar en su presentación en el Festival International de la Bande Dessinée - Angoulême 2018 y conseguir la firma del autor.
July 19, 2018
Une histoire qui permet d'aborder des thématiques très intéressantes : la guerre, la ségrégation, les découvertes historiques et l'histoire qu'on décide ou non de laisser de côté.
August 3, 2018
Quelle histoire bouleversante... renversante... belle réussite!
January 30, 2021
Très bon roman graphique qui nous offre une perspective différente et originale sur l'histoire. Belle transition entre les époques. Intrigue et action qui soutiennent la lecture. Je recommande.
July 17, 2022
Excellente BD. Chaleureusement recommandée.
May 28, 2018
Je ne lis pas beaucoup de bandes dessinées, mais quand il m’arrive de le faire, j’espère passer un excellent moment de lecture, aussi puissant qu’un bon roman. Et là, je tombe sur Cinq branches de coton noir avec sa couverture intrigante. Magnifique ouvrage, un graphisme au top, des couleurs superbement bien nuancées, mais tout en sobriété ; un scénario qui tient en haleine et des personnages que l’on suit avec beaucoup d’entrain.
L’histoire en elle-même n’a rien d’extraordinaire puisque l’on connaît déjà le problème de la ségrégation, etc., et pourtant, elle se distingue un peu par son contenu, et par deux personnages qui se situent à deux époques différentes : 1776 et 1946.
1776, nous avons Mrs Betty, une jeune veuve, couturière, dont le mari, proche des indépendantistes se voit proposer de travailler sur le tout premier drapeau des États-Unis, puis de l’autre côté, 1945, la Seconde Guerre mondiale, nous avons trois soldats noirs afro-américains, envoyés sur le front, en France, pas pour participer à la guerre, mais pour retrouver ce fameux drapeau tombé entre les mains des Allemands.
En fait, ce drapeau a une particularité : une étoile noire cousue par Angela, une esclave noire, affranchie, au service de Mrs Betty. On apprend, bien sûr, comment cette étoile est arrivée là, symbole d’espoir, pour ne jamais oublier l’inégalité entre les blancs et tous les noirs assassinés, dont les deux frères d’Angela. C’est donc par le biais d’un journal intime retrouvé par la sœur d’un des soldats, et de lettres, que nos trois protagonistes vont se lancer au périple de leur vie, dans une aventure où personne n’en sortira indemne.
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’ensemble de l’histoire ainsi que les personnages, surtout nos trois compères, malgré une guerre, un racisme très fort, la mort et j’en passe ; les mecs y vont comme un seul homme, dans le froid. Je ne sais pas si c’est basé sur des faits réels ou simplement une fiction inspirée de faits réels, mais ça prend vachement aux tripes au fil des pages.
Très belle découverte que je recommande !
L’histoire en elle-même n’a rien d’extraordinaire puisque l’on connaît déjà le problème de la ségrégation, etc., et pourtant, elle se distingue un peu par son contenu, et par deux personnages qui se situent à deux époques différentes : 1776 et 1946.
1776, nous avons Mrs Betty, une jeune veuve, couturière, dont le mari, proche des indépendantistes se voit proposer de travailler sur le tout premier drapeau des États-Unis, puis de l’autre côté, 1945, la Seconde Guerre mondiale, nous avons trois soldats noirs afro-américains, envoyés sur le front, en France, pas pour participer à la guerre, mais pour retrouver ce fameux drapeau tombé entre les mains des Allemands.
En fait, ce drapeau a une particularité : une étoile noire cousue par Angela, une esclave noire, affranchie, au service de Mrs Betty. On apprend, bien sûr, comment cette étoile est arrivée là, symbole d’espoir, pour ne jamais oublier l’inégalité entre les blancs et tous les noirs assassinés, dont les deux frères d’Angela. C’est donc par le biais d’un journal intime retrouvé par la sœur d’un des soldats, et de lettres, que nos trois protagonistes vont se lancer au périple de leur vie, dans une aventure où personne n’en sortira indemne.
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’ensemble de l’histoire ainsi que les personnages, surtout nos trois compères, malgré une guerre, un racisme très fort, la mort et j’en passe ; les mecs y vont comme un seul homme, dans le froid. Je ne sais pas si c’est basé sur des faits réels ou simplement une fiction inspirée de faits réels, mais ça prend vachement aux tripes au fil des pages.
Très belle découverte que je recommande !
December 14, 2025
Pięknie zrealizowany, narysowany z rozmachem i bardzo ciekawie pokolorowany komiks (nie przekonuje mnie jedynie duże podobieństwo postaci do znanych aktorów amerykańskich), w którym niestety scenariusz nie dorównuje stronie graficznej. Opowieść łączy w sobie walkę o równość rasową czarnoskórych obywateli USA, przygodowo-wojenne "kino" o II wojnie światowej i historie pierwszego sztandaru USA. W kwestii tego ostatniego, bardzo żałuję, że o ile w jego powstanie uwzględniono apokryficzny wkład Betsy Ross, to nie połączono jej z apokryficznym udziałem Tadeusza Kościuszko, który akurat jako znany przeciwnik niewolnictwa i zwolennik równości wszystkich ludzi, niezależnie od rasy i pochodzenia, bardzo by pasował tematycznie do tej opowieści (w testamencie zapisał cały amerykański majątek na wykup czarnoskórych niewolników).
Choć fragmenty tej historii są naprawdę dobre, to nie brakuje też tych bardziej niedorzecznych. Jako całość to po prostu się nie broni w moich oczach, a moim zdaniem Sente ciągnie za wiele srok za ogon w jednym komiksie, przez co poszczególne elementy opowieści osłabiają się nawzajem zamiast wzmacniać.
Scenariusz:**
Rysunki:****
Choć fragmenty tej historii są naprawdę dobre, to nie brakuje też tych bardziej niedorzecznych. Jako całość to po prostu się nie broni w moich oczach, a moim zdaniem Sente ciągnie za wiele srok za ogon w jednym komiksie, przez co poszczególne elementy opowieści osłabiają się nawzajem zamiast wzmacniać.
Scenariusz:**
Rysunki:****
February 22, 2018
'Black Cotton Star' by Yves Sente tells an interesting story that takes place in a couple different times in history. At first, it didn't seem related, but I'm glad I stuck with it.
A group of black soldiers in World War II have the duty of tending to an airbase full of balloons shaped like tanks. They are there to throw the Germans off, but they'd rather be fighting on the frontline. Meanwhile, one of the soldiers has a sister back home. She finds a diary from the Revolutionary War that talks about a unique artifact. That artifact may now be in Germany, so she helps get her brother and his friends on a mission with the Monuments Men.
Then this volume ends, just as it's starting to get pretty interesting.
The art is pretty good. The story is very interesting. I'd really like to read the rest of this story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
A group of black soldiers in World War II have the duty of tending to an airbase full of balloons shaped like tanks. They are there to throw the Germans off, but they'd rather be fighting on the frontline. Meanwhile, one of the soldiers has a sister back home. She finds a diary from the Revolutionary War that talks about a unique artifact. That artifact may now be in Germany, so she helps get her brother and his friends on a mission with the Monuments Men.
Then this volume ends, just as it's starting to get pretty interesting.
The art is pretty good. The story is very interesting. I'd really like to read the rest of this story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
February 26, 2018
Hmmm… I wasn't sure what to make of this book – it veers too much from pleasant look at a few guys who are eager to be some of the first black soldiers allowed by the US Army to fight in the European theatre of WW2, into some fanciful back story that I just didn't gel with. The guys eventually become Monuments Men and are tasked with capturing the first ever USA flag – which secretly contains a rallying call for black power that their racist and white superiors could never suspect. However, that seemed far too Dan Brown (no pun intended) to my taste, and even if the writing and artwork couldn't really pin the characters of the grunts down, I had wanted more of their pioneering spirit and less of the earlier history. In the end the colouring probably is what I would remember of this book the most, but I doubt I'd be back for the rest of the story.
March 8, 2018
Yves Sente speelt hier op een interessante, slimme wijze met de geschiedenis door van de allereerste Amerikaanse vlag een mogelijk symbool van de zwarte burgerrechtenbeweging te maken. Hierdoor krijgen 3 zwarte soldaten verrassend genoeg de kans om hun leven te wagen aan het front, iets wat in het gesegregeerde Amerikaanse leger normaal gezien niet mogelijk was. (Zwarten leverden enkel logistiek werk en aten, sliepen en dronken apart van de blanken, een leidinggevende was altijd blank.)
Het stoorde me een beetje dat Cuzor voor één van de drie hoofdpersonages duidelijk foto's van Sammy Davis Jr. heeft overgetekend maar verder heb ik enkel lof voor het meesterlijke tekenwerk.
Een topper in de reeks Vrije Vlucht.
Het stoorde me een beetje dat Cuzor voor één van de drie hoofdpersonages duidelijk foto's van Sammy Davis Jr. heeft overgetekend maar verder heb ik enkel lof voor het meesterlijke tekenwerk.
Een topper in de reeks Vrije Vlucht.
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