Griffu

Streets of Paris, Streets of Murder #1

by Jacques Tardi

Conseil juridique un peu dans la gêne et détective à ses heures, Gérard Griffu a le tort d'aider une apprentie journaliste à mettre la main sur de mystérieux dossiers, qui disparaissent dans la nature. Il s'avèrera, à l'usage, que les fameux dossiers ont beaucoup à voir avec diverses combines immobilières dans lesquelles trempent, en vrac, des gens de la politique, de la police et du milieu... Bref, mauvaise pioche pour Griffu ; dans la France affairiste, bétonneuse et vérolée des années 70, les coups se mettent à voler bas, et les morts à tomber dru. Noir c'est noir : au ras du réel, la violence sans fard des relations qui mènent le monde, par un tandem Tardi / Manchette éblouissant.

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Comics, Graphic Novels

64 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1978

About the author

Jacques Tardi is a French comics artist, born 30 August 1946 in Valence, Drôme. He is often credited solely as Tardi.

After graduating from the École nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon and the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris, he started writing comics in 1969, at the age of 23, in the comics magazine Pilote, initially illustrating short stories written by Jean Giraud and Serge de Beketch, before creating the political fiction story Rumeur sur le Rouergue from a scenario by Pierre Christin in 1972.

A highly versatile artist, Tardi successfully adapted novels by controversial writer Louis-Ferdinand Céline or crime novelist Léo Malet. In Malet's case, Tardi adapted his detective hero Nestor Burma into a series of critically acclaimed graphic novels, though he also wrote and drew original stories of his own.

Tardi also created one of French comics' most famous heroines, Adèle Blanc-Sec. This series recreates the Paris of early 20th century where the moody heroine encounters supernatural events, state plots, occult societies and experiments in cryogenics.

Another graphic novel was Ici Même which was written by Jean-Claude Forest, best known as the creator of Barbarella. A satire, it describes the adventures of Arthur Même who lives on the walls of his family's former property.

Tardi has produced many antiwar graphic novels and comics, mainly focusing on the collective European trauma of the First World War, and the pitfalls of patriotism spawned several albums (Adieu Brindavoine, C'était la guerre des tranchées, Le trou d'obus, Putain de Guerre...). His grandfather's involvement in the day-to-day horrors of trench warfare, seems to have had a deep influence to his artistic expression. He also completed a four-volume series on the Paris Commune, Le cri du peuple.

Fantagraphics Books translate and publish in English a wide range of Tardi's books, done by editor and translator Kim Thompson.[3] The books released so far are West Coast Blues (Le Petit bleu de la côte ouest), You Are There (Ici Même), and It Was the War of the Trenches (C'était la guerre des tranchées); a single album collecting the first two Adele Blanc-Sec volumes has also been published.

->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_...

Reviews

[Χρήστος Γιαννάκενας · Rating 5 out of 5]

Μια εξαιρετική ιστορία δια χειρός Ζαν Πατρίκ Μανσέτ και Ζακ Ταρντί. Το δίδυμο φωτιά κάνει παπάδες με μια πρωτότυπη νουάρ ιστορία με ντετέκτιβ, διαφθορά και πολιτικό σχολιασμό. Παρότι το κόμικ δεν κυκλοφορεί ούτε καν στα αγγλικά είχα την τύχη να μάθω πως κυκλοφόρησε σε πέντε συνέχειες από το περιοδικό Βαβέλ και μπόρεσα να το αναζητήσω. Σίγουρα άξιζε τον κόπο.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well drawn but not that well constructed noir story, where tardi tries new techniques and styles. Most noticeably the double window where he keeps the same exact drawing while changing a slight key detail from one frame to the next.

Quite liked the poetic ending, I suggest the comic to any detective fiction enthusiast without rising your expectations that high. It has its flaws but it makes up with the excellent cinematography by Tardi. Still manchente fails to deliver as far as I'm concerned.

[Ricardo Nuno Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one was a great surprise!!!
If you enjoy thrillers, PI/detective "noir" stories, peppered with sarcasm/dark humor, a bit of violence and the ocasional nudity (NSFW) then you are in for a treat :)

As a fan of Philip Marlowe's character, Blacksad graphic novels, Gotham-like dark settings, and a very credible french "tour" into a battered violent Paris in the late '70s, I really enjoyed this story and the particular "sense of humor" of Griffu, the main character.

I bought this for mere 3€ in a Portuguese comics shop, and consider it a great find!
If you can´t find at your bookstore (it's a rather old edition) search for it at your local library.

[Graziano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una Mauser... serve a fare dei buchi, a porre fine alle discussioni, a semplificare l'esistenza umana.
(dalla copertina e dall'interno)

[Erik Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth it for fans of these collabs but not something I’d recommend to just anyone because the storytelling isn’t as honed as it would become much later.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice student edition of the French comic Griffu that Bill bought me for Christmas. I really enjoyed it though I must admit I did get a little lost in places and I think I need to read it again with Bill to help me understand what happened when I got confused. The book was a lovely film noir type pulp detective story. I must admit that I liked Tardi's art much better in this than I did in the Adele book. It seemed to really suit the detective style. The women were pretty and the men were rugged. There were bodies and betrayal and I liked the story and particularly the ending. There really were no punches pulled. In addition to the story this study edition also has loads of helpful study material at the back, not just a few questions to test your comprehension but huge descriptions of both the noir genre as well as the comics tradition of writing and art. Definitely one I'd recommend and one I will be reading again.

[Lionel Berthoux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une bédé noire, avec une histoire pas nouvelle de personnages tous plus déplaisants les uns que les autres qui se disputent pour de l'argent. On est dans la France des années 80 mais les personnages sont habillés et agissent comme dans la culture du roman noir (et du film noir) des années 40 et 50, incluant la femme fatale, le politicien lâche, les policiers à moustache, le détective à gabardine et la jeune femme idéaliste. Tout ça n'est pas mal fait, mais j'avoue ne pas beaucoup aimer la langue de Jean-Patrick Manchette. Pour quelqu'un qui se spécialise dans l'argot et le langage coloré, je trouve que ses mots manquent singulièrement de musique. Et puis, difficile de s'attacher à une histoire quand les personnages attachants sont éliminés et qu'il ne reste que les salopards qui s’entre-tuent sans joie. Reste que le coup de crayon de Tardi est inimitable et donne de la personnalité à tout ce qu'il dessine.