The Kid

Trent #2

by Rodolphe, Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira (Leo)

After a botched robbery that claimed the life of his lover, an American outlaw crosses the border into Canada. As he’s already left nearly a dozen dead bodies behind, Sergeant Trent is sent to intercept him. But instead of the expected bloodthirsty murderer, it’s a sensitive young man that the Mountie finds, a free spirit with a deep love of French poetry. How is Trent going to reconcile doing his duty with his nascent liking for the kid?

Genres: Comics

48 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1992

About the author

Rodolphe is the pen name for Rodolphe Daniel Jacquette. His works are primarily written in French.

Reviews

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

It shows the covers of eight tomes on the back so shouldn't the copyright page list it as a second or later printing? Since it doesn't, it must mean that they had utter confidence in the series as they released this....

[Krishnakumar Mohanasundaram · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork .. the protrayal of Canada's landscapes.. simply awesome

[Marquise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever read a lawman & outlaw story in which the outlaw turns out to be a poetry-loving soul who incessantly quotes Arthur Rimbaud?

Me neither. And so this was a big surprise of a plot for me. A delightful one, and so tragic as well. I was wishing all along that the outlaw would be able to get something good out of life at least once, and so was our good boy Philipp Trent. But Fate (and author Rodolphe) is cruel and sadistic, and out for blood and reader's tears...

"Le Kid" is Rodolphe and Leo's take-with-a-twist on the life of legendary American gunslinger Billy the Kid, with a Canadian-French flavour because those are the origins of Émile, our sensitive outlaw. I'm reluctant to even sum up the plot for fear of spoilers, so suffice to say it's an excellent and moving story, and in my opinion one of the three best arcs in the eight-volume Trent series dealing with the far North adventures of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in the late 19th century. I'd highly recommend it, and since every issue is self-contained, any issue including this one can be read out of order, although it's not something I'd recommend you do.

[Simon Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume finds our mounted police sergeant on the trail of young man with a wicked talent for fast shooting. Starting off as a Bonnie and Clyde style duo, the Kid of the title is left alone after a blundered bank robbery sees the local law enforcement almost put a stop to their crimes. However, he’s faster and deadlier, and is able to make his escape across the border into Canada, where the situation becomes Trent’s problem. But there’s more to this young gunslinger than first meets the eye, and it’s because of Trent’s patient, dogged determinism that he gets to slowly build a picture of his quarry and become fascinated with his outlook on life, although don’t expect this to just be an exploration of poetry, philosophy and the human condition.

Trent’s an interesting companion piece to another great Cinebook series, Lucky Luke, echoing many of its themes and historical context, but naturally without the wit and slapstick. With Trent we get to see the other side of the coin, be that the consequences of dangerous choices, of struggling to maintain law and order in a wilderness still finding its feet, or simply surviving in a vast and sometimes hostile landscape. Trent manages to bring home the brutal realism of the situation, and gives us the opportunity to walk in Trent’s boots as we do so.

Very pleased to see that on the rear cover Cinebook is lining up a series that will run to at least eight volumes, so plenty more to look forward to in what’s shaping up to be a very a series full of promise.

[Bob Solanovicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about Trent... On one hand it looks like a typical western (with a lone Canadian mountie as a lead instead of a lone sheriff), maybe even too simplistic - but I think that's Rodolphe's concious decision so he can subvert as much as possible without coming off as too radical for the lovers of the western genre or the usual French mainstream audience. The stiffness in Leo's artwork is actually a bonus because it serves the overall subterfuge. I liked the first album, The Dead Man, but I love The Kid. I'm very curious to see where will this comic book series take me.