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Aâma #1-4
Aâma - L'intégrale
Dans un futur lointain, Verloc Nim se réveille amnésique au milieu de nulle part. Grâce à son journal, qu'un singe-robot nommé Churchill lui remet, il se plonge dans son passé. Verloc y apprend qu'il mène une vie misérable, qu'il a perdu travail, famille et amis depuis qu'il a décidé de vivre en marge d'un monde hypertechnologique. Jusqu'à ce que son frère Conrad l'emmène sur une autre planète pour y récupérer une mystérieuse substance nommée aâma.
362 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2019
2 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Frederik Peeters
53 books217 followersFrédérik Peeters (born 13 August 1974, in Geneva) is a contemporary Swiss graphic novelist. He received his bachelor of arts degree in visual communication from the École Supérieure d’Arts Appliqués in Geneva in 1995. Peeters currently lives with his partner Cati, her son, and their daughter in Geneva.
His autobiographical graphic novel Blue Pills received the Polish Jury Prize at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, where it was also nominated for Best Book. Blue Pills also won the Premios La Cárcel de Papel in Spain for Best Foreign Comic. This is his first work to be translated into English.
His autobiographical graphic novel Blue Pills received the Polish Jury Prize at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, where it was also nominated for Best Book. Blue Pills also won the Premios La Cárcel de Papel in Spain for Best Foreign Comic. This is his first work to be translated into English.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 27, 2023
4.5/5
Simply amazing. Verloc Nim wakes up in a molten crater. He remembers nothing about his past and must learn about it from a journal given to him by a cigar-smoking robot gorilla named Churchill. The journal reveals how Verloc’s younger brother, Conrad, found him and took to an isolated experimental colony at the edge of the cosmos. As they reach their destination, Conrad's true intentions and Verloc's role in the unfolding events become clearer.
I’m a huge fan of loss of memory scenarios. You have to know your history to know who you are. Once you lose it, you have to reshape yourself. Also, from a storytelling standpoint, it’s an efficient way to hook the reader at the beginning of the story. It certainly captivated me!
I loved Aama for many reasons - the art is stunning, the writing strong, and the characters likable. The plot gets thrillingly bizarre the further it progresses and the art aligns with evolutionary marvels imagined by Peeters. Verloc’s journey is mixed with dreams and visions, which are fascinating (graphically and thematically).
In Aama, Peeters imagined a scientific society, which had replaced the worship of intangible gods with the worship of technology, networks, and communication. Humans are wirelessly connected through implants, yet Verloc deliberately lives without this connection, adapting better to the solitude on the uninhabited planet Ona(ji).
The main story revolves around Verloc’s uneasy past with his ex-lover and their mute daughter, whom he is now banned from seeing. He shares the near-impossible challenges faced when choosing to have a human baby in a society favoring 'progress' over such ideas.
The art is sensational, and Peeters’ portrayal of the planet and various bioforms awed me with its imagination and rich palette of colors and lights.
If you’re looking for a wonderfully imaginative futurism with strong writing and a focus on familial bonds and (in a way) spirituality, you can’t go wrong with it.
PS: The story is also available in English in four volumes. It seems the collected edition is available only in French.
Simply amazing. Verloc Nim wakes up in a molten crater. He remembers nothing about his past and must learn about it from a journal given to him by a cigar-smoking robot gorilla named Churchill. The journal reveals how Verloc’s younger brother, Conrad, found him and took to an isolated experimental colony at the edge of the cosmos. As they reach their destination, Conrad's true intentions and Verloc's role in the unfolding events become clearer.
I’m a huge fan of loss of memory scenarios. You have to know your history to know who you are. Once you lose it, you have to reshape yourself. Also, from a storytelling standpoint, it’s an efficient way to hook the reader at the beginning of the story. It certainly captivated me!
I loved Aama for many reasons - the art is stunning, the writing strong, and the characters likable. The plot gets thrillingly bizarre the further it progresses and the art aligns with evolutionary marvels imagined by Peeters. Verloc’s journey is mixed with dreams and visions, which are fascinating (graphically and thematically).
In Aama, Peeters imagined a scientific society, which had replaced the worship of intangible gods with the worship of technology, networks, and communication. Humans are wirelessly connected through implants, yet Verloc deliberately lives without this connection, adapting better to the solitude on the uninhabited planet Ona(ji).
The main story revolves around Verloc’s uneasy past with his ex-lover and their mute daughter, whom he is now banned from seeing. He shares the near-impossible challenges faced when choosing to have a human baby in a society favoring 'progress' over such ideas.
The art is sensational, and Peeters’ portrayal of the planet and various bioforms awed me with its imagination and rich palette of colors and lights.
If you’re looking for a wonderfully imaginative futurism with strong writing and a focus on familial bonds and (in a way) spirituality, you can’t go wrong with it.
PS: The story is also available in English in four volumes. It seems the collected edition is available only in French.
February 18, 2023
I am cheating a bit here. This is not the edition I read; I read the four individual volumes, but this will save me some time.
Cerebral, visually impressive science-fiction (especially the last volume with its large full pages spread) that brings to mind the work of Stanislaw Lem.
In the distant future, Verloc Nim wakes up in the middle of nowhere, confused, with no recollection of who he is, or how he got there. He is given his own journal by a cigar-smoking gorilla android, and proceed to re-learn about his life, which isn't great: a mostly unsuccessful existence on the fringe of society. Rejecting technology, he lost his marriage, his business and his health. He also has a daughter, one conceived "naturally" and born with a unknown condition (we can guess that his daughter is autistic, we can also guess that autism has been completely eliminated- doctors and scientist in Nim's world have no clue...)
Basically, Nim is drifting around getting high, until his brother, a high ranking employee of a powerful corporation, finds him and convince him to go on a mission to retrieve a scientific experiment on a distant planet called Aâma.
I read a lot of science fiction, and quite frankly the only book I ever read that come close to Aâma in terms of strangeness and alienness is Eden by the aforementioned Lem. Peeters creates scenes that can't be explained, they have to be shown, and that really showcase the scope of the graphic novel as a media to do just that. You have to wait until the later part of the book for his best work visually, but when you get there, wow.
What Aâma is, really, is a scientific experiment, an attempt at creating a new techno-bio life form, perhaps. Imagine a Cambrian explosion, but add to it an AI or a computer. Thematically, Peeters talks of the danger of merging biology and technology, but in reality is it a danger or a salvation? Could it be that the only way to redemption for humanity is to leave biology behind? It is not going to be fun to think about, but it might not be an completely inane question either... In the story, the answer to that question is not entirely clear and it is what makes this work great. At another level Peeters also explores the idea of fatherhood, and I suppose the work could be seen as an analogy of sort, of what it means to become a father, I would have to read it again to explore that angle.
Good stuff all around, its not going to please everybody because it can be at time hard to follow and broken down, but worth exploring and probably also worth re-reading.
Cerebral, visually impressive science-fiction (especially the last volume with its large full pages spread) that brings to mind the work of Stanislaw Lem.
In the distant future, Verloc Nim wakes up in the middle of nowhere, confused, with no recollection of who he is, or how he got there. He is given his own journal by a cigar-smoking gorilla android, and proceed to re-learn about his life, which isn't great: a mostly unsuccessful existence on the fringe of society. Rejecting technology, he lost his marriage, his business and his health. He also has a daughter, one conceived "naturally" and born with a unknown condition (we can guess that his daughter is autistic, we can also guess that autism has been completely eliminated- doctors and scientist in Nim's world have no clue...)
Basically, Nim is drifting around getting high, until his brother, a high ranking employee of a powerful corporation, finds him and convince him to go on a mission to retrieve a scientific experiment on a distant planet called Aâma.
I read a lot of science fiction, and quite frankly the only book I ever read that come close to Aâma in terms of strangeness and alienness is Eden by the aforementioned Lem. Peeters creates scenes that can't be explained, they have to be shown, and that really showcase the scope of the graphic novel as a media to do just that. You have to wait until the later part of the book for his best work visually, but when you get there, wow.
What Aâma is, really, is a scientific experiment, an attempt at creating a new techno-bio life form, perhaps. Imagine a Cambrian explosion, but add to it an AI or a computer. Thematically, Peeters talks of the danger of merging biology and technology, but in reality is it a danger or a salvation? Could it be that the only way to redemption for humanity is to leave biology behind? It is not going to be fun to think about, but it might not be an completely inane question either... In the story, the answer to that question is not entirely clear and it is what makes this work great. At another level Peeters also explores the idea of fatherhood, and I suppose the work could be seen as an analogy of sort, of what it means to become a father, I would have to read it again to explore that angle.
Good stuff all around, its not going to please everybody because it can be at time hard to follow and broken down, but worth exploring and probably also worth re-reading.
April 12, 2020
Nestvarna priča o svijetu koji se mijenja koja savršeno sjeda na ovaj nestvaran trenutak u povijesti kada se svijet zbilja mijenja.
Bez ikakvih predznanja o ovom stripu, nisam jasno imao niti prevelikih očekivanja. A kad ono: slojevito, uzbudljivo, savršenog ritma i izmjena brzine radnje, ne trenutke istinski zastrašujuće. Čak je i strah da će svršetak priče upropastiti doživljaj bio neopravdan.
Ovakve bi se knjige u knjižnicama morale nalaziti u dva primjerka: jedan za odjel sa stripovima i jedan za odjel s (u ovom slučaju francuskom) književnosti.
Bez ikakvih predznanja o ovom stripu, nisam jasno imao niti prevelikih očekivanja. A kad ono: slojevito, uzbudljivo, savršenog ritma i izmjena brzine radnje, ne trenutke istinski zastrašujuće. Čak je i strah da će svršetak priče upropastiti doživljaj bio neopravdan.
Ovakve bi se knjige u knjižnicama morale nalaziti u dva primjerka: jedan za odjel sa stripovima i jedan za odjel s (u ovom slučaju francuskom) književnosti.
March 3, 2022
Pós-humanismo em quadrinhos
Em Aâma se abarca toda discussão ética e teórica sobre o processo inclusivo da nanotecnologia como estágio máximo para evolução biológica da espécie humana. A simbiose do "eu sujeito" ao "eu máquina" coíbe novos sistemas de formação de vida criativa no universo. E isso acontece quando a humanidade do futuro pesquisa a junção de células robóticas a células vitais da era cambriana. Aâma corresponde ao resultado líquido desse novo paradigma biológico paralelo a expedição científica em Ona(Ji), planeta quase amniótico do pós Big-bang. Desastre... natureza e robótica fundidas. A biodiversidade maquínica gera o primeiro sistema nervoso da natureza, independente da inteligência artificial, onipresente e onisciente, hostil às interferências humanas, causa distúrbios psicoativos, que numa expansão explosiva é capaz de destruir qualquer ameaça. A seguir ordens do oligopólio ultratecnológico da Muy-tang, a missão de recolher Aâma é o mesmo que saquear as propriedades naturais desse novíssimo ecossistema. Por um novo tipo de DNA, a eugenia faz parte do projeto de poder da empresa. Objetivos almejados, a terceirização de robôs e humanos fazem parte do seu jogo de manipulação. No entanto, nem tudo está sob controle previsível quando os planos são tentativas longínquas ao imesuravelmente desconhecido. Acima de tudo, fundir corpo e máquina, mente e universo acarreta sabedoria, seleção natural do eternamente intangível.
Personagens, em ordem de importância: Verloc Nim, humano romântico, idealista o suficiente para ler livros e recusar implantes de Internet no cérebro, nunca teve o sistema nervoso hackeado. Contraponto ao irmão, Conrad Nim, julga-se prático, para ele, os meios justificam os fins, trabalha de comissário na Muytang, tem implantes cerebrais. Lilja, filha do casal divorciado Verloc e Silica, concebida ilegamente, é fruto do idealismo naturalista dos pais. Silica, mãe superprotetora, não encontra alternativas legais para filha. Yuri, novo companheiro de Silica, agente da Muy-tang. Churchil é o robô guarda-costas de Conrad Nim, superior na inteligência e na força, possui forma de macaco, seu hobbie é fumar charutos eletrônicos. Myo, Kaplan, Frienko, Peelerin, Rajeev, e outros, são cientistas abandonados pela cientista Woland em Ona(Ji), esposa do sócio proprietário da Muy-tang. Na técnica dos flashbacks, ou na psicodelia, personagens terciários se apresentam como justificativa dos primários. Espalhados por essa cenografia futurista, o colorido das espécies interplanetárias dão tonalidade caótica as cidades superlotadas do futuro planeta humano. Certamente, esse quadrinho atualiza a temática do gênero e homenageia a vanguarda dos quadrinhos da cena Sci-Fi francesa da revista Metál Hurlant (1975-1987), de Moebius a Druillet, essa arte de Frederik Peeters ultrapassa a velocidade da luz.
No Brasil, "Aâma" possui 4 volumes de aproximadamente 85 páginas cada, de 2014 a 2019, teve sua publicação completa pela editora Nemo
(Yuri Ulrych)
Em Aâma se abarca toda discussão ética e teórica sobre o processo inclusivo da nanotecnologia como estágio máximo para evolução biológica da espécie humana. A simbiose do "eu sujeito" ao "eu máquina" coíbe novos sistemas de formação de vida criativa no universo. E isso acontece quando a humanidade do futuro pesquisa a junção de células robóticas a células vitais da era cambriana. Aâma corresponde ao resultado líquido desse novo paradigma biológico paralelo a expedição científica em Ona(Ji), planeta quase amniótico do pós Big-bang. Desastre... natureza e robótica fundidas. A biodiversidade maquínica gera o primeiro sistema nervoso da natureza, independente da inteligência artificial, onipresente e onisciente, hostil às interferências humanas, causa distúrbios psicoativos, que numa expansão explosiva é capaz de destruir qualquer ameaça. A seguir ordens do oligopólio ultratecnológico da Muy-tang, a missão de recolher Aâma é o mesmo que saquear as propriedades naturais desse novíssimo ecossistema. Por um novo tipo de DNA, a eugenia faz parte do projeto de poder da empresa. Objetivos almejados, a terceirização de robôs e humanos fazem parte do seu jogo de manipulação. No entanto, nem tudo está sob controle previsível quando os planos são tentativas longínquas ao imesuravelmente desconhecido. Acima de tudo, fundir corpo e máquina, mente e universo acarreta sabedoria, seleção natural do eternamente intangível.
Personagens, em ordem de importância: Verloc Nim, humano romântico, idealista o suficiente para ler livros e recusar implantes de Internet no cérebro, nunca teve o sistema nervoso hackeado. Contraponto ao irmão, Conrad Nim, julga-se prático, para ele, os meios justificam os fins, trabalha de comissário na Muytang, tem implantes cerebrais. Lilja, filha do casal divorciado Verloc e Silica, concebida ilegamente, é fruto do idealismo naturalista dos pais. Silica, mãe superprotetora, não encontra alternativas legais para filha. Yuri, novo companheiro de Silica, agente da Muy-tang. Churchil é o robô guarda-costas de Conrad Nim, superior na inteligência e na força, possui forma de macaco, seu hobbie é fumar charutos eletrônicos. Myo, Kaplan, Frienko, Peelerin, Rajeev, e outros, são cientistas abandonados pela cientista Woland em Ona(Ji), esposa do sócio proprietário da Muy-tang. Na técnica dos flashbacks, ou na psicodelia, personagens terciários se apresentam como justificativa dos primários. Espalhados por essa cenografia futurista, o colorido das espécies interplanetárias dão tonalidade caótica as cidades superlotadas do futuro planeta humano. Certamente, esse quadrinho atualiza a temática do gênero e homenageia a vanguarda dos quadrinhos da cena Sci-Fi francesa da revista Metál Hurlant (1975-1987), de Moebius a Druillet, essa arte de Frederik Peeters ultrapassa a velocidade da luz.
No Brasil, "Aâma" possui 4 volumes de aproximadamente 85 páginas cada, de 2014 a 2019, teve sua publicação completa pela editora Nemo
(Yuri Ulrych)
May 1, 2020
I'm not sure what this really says about Aâma, but upon finishing it, I immediately read it through a second time. I don't usually do this with any comic, and it's especially odd that I did it with a work as long as Aâma.
I think part of the reason I felt a second read was necessary was that Aâma is difficult to pigeonhole. On my first read, I came in expecting a heady, enigmatic work in the vein of other European comics I've read, such as Les Murailles de Samaris, Die Wahrheit über Shelby, Cyrrus and Mil. Instead, I found Aâma to be a surprisingly conventional sci-fi adventure story. On my second time through, I expected a straightforward adventure, and I was repeatedly struck by the sense that this isn't a conventional plot-driven narrative at all. There is certainly a clear plot driving events forwards, up to a dramatic climax at the end. However, the real meat of the comic consists of numerous threads that never actually amount to much in terms of the plot, but rather serve to flesh out characters and explore themes. In other words, the comic repeatedly violate's Chekhov's gun: there are countless conversations and even whole characters that do nothing to propel the story onward, but do lend the comic great richness and depth. As such, Aâma is a bit like a meandering slice-of-life comic masquerading as a conventional adventure.
Aâma has both intellectual and emotional depth. It touches on several classic sci-fi themes, such as societal stratification, powerful corporations, technology and, above all, transhumanism. At the same time, it gives much attention to the psychology of its protagonist, Verloc, and his brother, Conrad. Through these characters, Aâma explores family, love, pride, loss, alienation and man's search for purpose in the world.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Aâma is its sheer imagination. Peeters clearly put a lot of thought into details like costumes and technology, avoiding clichés and creating a real sense of a unique, complex universe. The extraterrestrial lifeforms that pop up look great: totally original and genuinely alien. Peeters particularly excels at depicting bustling futuristic cities and otherworldly landscapes; they invariable feel genuinely alive, brimming with small details that reward close attention.
In addition, Peeters exhibits real mastery of the medium. His action sequences are dynamic and exciting, and I particularly love the way he does sound effects. There are also some trippier sections, where Peeters uses really nice techniques to depict the mind-bending consequences of its transhumanist themes.
The comic's main problem is one of tone. The characters' slightly cartoony appearances and exaggerated facial expressions take me out of events at times, detracting from the comic's seriousness. Similarly, the protagonist sometimes seems to have a whimsical, happy-go-lucky mood that's at odds with the gravity of the situation. There are also a few plot points that don't quite seem to add up – though I'm not sure whether these are actually plot holes, or just things deliberately left ambiguous.
Overall, Aâma is a great comic that I enthusiastically recommend to anyone looking for some smart science fiction. I look forward to reading more of Peeters's work in future.
I think part of the reason I felt a second read was necessary was that Aâma is difficult to pigeonhole. On my first read, I came in expecting a heady, enigmatic work in the vein of other European comics I've read, such as Les Murailles de Samaris, Die Wahrheit über Shelby, Cyrrus and Mil. Instead, I found Aâma to be a surprisingly conventional sci-fi adventure story. On my second time through, I expected a straightforward adventure, and I was repeatedly struck by the sense that this isn't a conventional plot-driven narrative at all. There is certainly a clear plot driving events forwards, up to a dramatic climax at the end. However, the real meat of the comic consists of numerous threads that never actually amount to much in terms of the plot, but rather serve to flesh out characters and explore themes. In other words, the comic repeatedly violate's Chekhov's gun: there are countless conversations and even whole characters that do nothing to propel the story onward, but do lend the comic great richness and depth. As such, Aâma is a bit like a meandering slice-of-life comic masquerading as a conventional adventure.
Aâma has both intellectual and emotional depth. It touches on several classic sci-fi themes, such as societal stratification, powerful corporations, technology and, above all, transhumanism. At the same time, it gives much attention to the psychology of its protagonist, Verloc, and his brother, Conrad. Through these characters, Aâma explores family, love, pride, loss, alienation and man's search for purpose in the world.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Aâma is its sheer imagination. Peeters clearly put a lot of thought into details like costumes and technology, avoiding clichés and creating a real sense of a unique, complex universe. The extraterrestrial lifeforms that pop up look great: totally original and genuinely alien. Peeters particularly excels at depicting bustling futuristic cities and otherworldly landscapes; they invariable feel genuinely alive, brimming with small details that reward close attention.
In addition, Peeters exhibits real mastery of the medium. His action sequences are dynamic and exciting, and I particularly love the way he does sound effects. There are also some trippier sections, where Peeters uses really nice techniques to depict the mind-bending consequences of its transhumanist themes.
The comic's main problem is one of tone. The characters' slightly cartoony appearances and exaggerated facial expressions take me out of events at times, detracting from the comic's seriousness. Similarly, the protagonist sometimes seems to have a whimsical, happy-go-lucky mood that's at odds with the gravity of the situation. There are also a few plot points that don't quite seem to add up – though I'm not sure whether these are actually plot holes, or just things deliberately left ambiguous.
Overall, Aâma is a great comic that I enthusiastically recommend to anyone looking for some smart science fiction. I look forward to reading more of Peeters's work in future.
February 18, 2022
In previous year I've read "Pachyderme" by Peeters and it was a blast for me. Even though I've read previously "Blue pills" and "Sandcastle", the "Pachyderme" was the one that has put the Peeters in the top artist for me.
Maybe because of that, my expectations for "Aama" were too high, and I didn't get the same feeling of pleasure and satisfaction as I got after reading "Pachyderme".
First of all, I think that "Aama" is unnecessary long. There are 4 books of 80 pages, but it's not about the number of pages, it's that there are events that make the story go up and down, and on some moments I got myself running through pages as I lost my attention. Although I really enjoyed the non-linear story that jumps back and forth, some events really kill the dynamics of it.
This is a science fiction story but there are moments that some events and explanations are too pretentious, like Peeters was trying to push his imagination instead of making some scientific research to explain some events and make it logical for the readers.
The art is amazing and if it was just about the art it would be straight five stars. The futuristic world based on biological science that Peeters drew is really magnificent and you'll get a couple of full-page or even double-page drawings that would really blow your mind. You can stop by a lot of frames and just look at it and admire the art.
The thing is that except admiring the art you wouldn't get much of a context of what's really going on. Peeters created a kind of world with confusing events in "Pachyderme" but somehow I felt the context over there and in "Aama" there is a couple of beautiful scenes that I couldn't figure out the context except beautiful art and filling up the pages.
I would definitely give this book another chance now with lower expectations but I'm not sure that will anything change.
Maybe because of that, my expectations for "Aama" were too high, and I didn't get the same feeling of pleasure and satisfaction as I got after reading "Pachyderme".
First of all, I think that "Aama" is unnecessary long. There are 4 books of 80 pages, but it's not about the number of pages, it's that there are events that make the story go up and down, and on some moments I got myself running through pages as I lost my attention. Although I really enjoyed the non-linear story that jumps back and forth, some events really kill the dynamics of it.
This is a science fiction story but there are moments that some events and explanations are too pretentious, like Peeters was trying to push his imagination instead of making some scientific research to explain some events and make it logical for the readers.
The art is amazing and if it was just about the art it would be straight five stars. The futuristic world based on biological science that Peeters drew is really magnificent and you'll get a couple of full-page or even double-page drawings that would really blow your mind. You can stop by a lot of frames and just look at it and admire the art.
The thing is that except admiring the art you wouldn't get much of a context of what's really going on. Peeters created a kind of world with confusing events in "Pachyderme" but somehow I felt the context over there and in "Aama" there is a couple of beautiful scenes that I couldn't figure out the context except beautiful art and filling up the pages.
I would definitely give this book another chance now with lower expectations but I'm not sure that will anything change.
July 15, 2020
This book set in hyper-technological far future is one big mystery novel with layers of satire and added flavor of very colorful drawings.
As usual, I won't go too much into story content, I'll just describe it as a bit hard to follow, but there's then an added value of re-reading the novel. I got a feeling that author got a bit bored towards the end, with less substance to the dialogue, less depth, and much crazier art, but the end didn't disappoint.
Fibra again made a small breakthrough as it appears that their Croatian edition was the first hardcover that published Aama as integral story (all four editions in one book). Translation is good, I haven't noticed any mistakes.
Good book, maybe not for readers that aren't enjoying SF, as this is highly graphic fantasy of the future world, visiting some of the modern problems (and solutions). I'd recommend it to anyone who likes art, is into futurism concepts and off course - graphic novel/comic book fans. Fresh and at some points outright trippy.
As usual, I won't go too much into story content, I'll just describe it as a bit hard to follow, but there's then an added value of re-reading the novel. I got a feeling that author got a bit bored towards the end, with less substance to the dialogue, less depth, and much crazier art, but the end didn't disappoint.
Fibra again made a small breakthrough as it appears that their Croatian edition was the first hardcover that published Aama as integral story (all four editions in one book). Translation is good, I haven't noticed any mistakes.
Good book, maybe not for readers that aren't enjoying SF, as this is highly graphic fantasy of the future world, visiting some of the modern problems (and solutions). I'd recommend it to anyone who likes art, is into futurism concepts and off course - graphic novel/comic book fans. Fresh and at some points outright trippy.
April 6, 2024
Une société futuriste, adepte de la transhumance, où la nature a disparue. Un peuple avec de nouvelles maladies, de nouveaux drames, de nouvelles drogues pour oublier quelques instants. C’est un monde qui sombre que nous présente Frederik Peeters, centré autour d’un vaurien, d’un raté : Verloc Nim. Passif, il se laisse emporter dans une mission sur une planète lointaine, rendu terrain pour une expérience laissée à l’abandon durant dix ans. Il laisse derrière lui une femme qui le quitte, une jeune fille qui ne peut plus le voir.
Ce devait être un voyage de quelques jours, tout au plus, pour se remettre au vert. Pourtant, ce qu’il découvrira là-bas ne lui permettra jamais de retrouver son passé pathétique.
Révéler un univers ne suffisait pas à Frederik Peeters : il lui fallait croiser les mondes, en faire naître de nouveaux, en tuer certains dans l’œuf. Il en résulte la sensation d’un tout, fragile et changeant, qui à chaque instant pourrait disparaître.
Éblouissant !
Ce devait être un voyage de quelques jours, tout au plus, pour se remettre au vert. Pourtant, ce qu’il découvrira là-bas ne lui permettra jamais de retrouver son passé pathétique.
Révéler un univers ne suffisait pas à Frederik Peeters : il lui fallait croiser les mondes, en faire naître de nouveaux, en tuer certains dans l’œuf. Il en résulte la sensation d’un tout, fragile et changeant, qui à chaque instant pourrait disparaître.
Éblouissant !
April 20, 2021
3.5 Solid sci fi with a trippy, emotional twist. I'm rating it four starts even though I didn't love it because I really want to read it again in paper format. E-version led to a strange combo of overwhelm and fragmented focus. Even though he's not such a great guy, we all think we'd be more like Verloc than his brother (minus all the failures, i mean in terms of rejecting the status quo) and not sure how Peeters managed it but somehow the cheesy spoiler* wasn't as cheesy as it could've been. Probably because the visuals were so rich
*Jesus-like symbolism and message about self sacrifice for (family and) humanity
*Jesus-like symbolism and message about self sacrifice for (family and) humanity
August 7, 2022
- def a 2010s sci fi comic (strong aesthetic choices, contemplative pacing, implicit and heavy worldbuilding) to begin with, but takes on some heady (if pre-existing) literary themes which sets it apart
- techno-millenarianism, autism, and alienation
- top-tier best-in-class enviro/prop design
- too expository not just in plot but also in chars communicating their inner lives
- owes too much to literature and film, too little to comics
- still, one of the best of its time, place, and type
- techno-millenarianism, autism, and alienation
- top-tier best-in-class enviro/prop design
- too expository not just in plot but also in chars communicating their inner lives
- owes too much to literature and film, too little to comics
- still, one of the best of its time, place, and type
October 24, 2023
Eu li em português, mas pretendo em breve ler no original francês.
Que coisa linda!
Uma verdadeira viagem, tanto exterior quanto interior. Até que ponto vai nossa ganância e nosso processo de autodestruição? E pergunto isso tanto do ponto de vista do mundo lá fora quanto do nosso mundo íntimo.
Para quem gosta de ficção científica e autoconhecimento, leitura indispensável!
Altamente recomendável a todos!
Que coisa linda!
Uma verdadeira viagem, tanto exterior quanto interior. Até que ponto vai nossa ganância e nosso processo de autodestruição? E pergunto isso tanto do ponto de vista do mundo lá fora quanto do nosso mundo íntimo.
Para quem gosta de ficção científica e autoconhecimento, leitura indispensável!
Altamente recomendável a todos!
January 10, 2025
Without a doubt one of the most thought provoking and beautifully drawn comics I’ve read in YEARS! It might even dethrone Tille Walden On a Sunbeam as one of the best scifi stories of the 21st century
January 18, 2021
Enjoyable comic book on designing a futuristic world and human experimentation.
October 15, 2021
Incroyablement fantastique, Peeters semble avoir une imagination sans limite. Un voyage merveilleux et parfois extrêmement dérangeant - magistralement raconté et dessiné !
December 30, 2021
The pace is so quick, out of nowhere the main character became a superhero
March 11, 2022
Beaux dessins, mondes et idées intéressants, imagination sans limite de l'auteur mais j'ai personnellement pas accroché avec l'histoire.
August 30, 2022
While the comic definitely sets up an interesting setting, especially with how technology is visually portrayed, the themes could have been more original and interesting, as the super-evolved techno-biological being concept has been done time before (though I can't remember any examples for some reason).
Thematically, I was disappointed by the inclusion of predestination and higher-purpose ideas, which I don’t find to be particularly well suited tp sci-fi stories, especially when another concept that was explored was evolution the challenges faced by humanity to make the next big leap and become a “superior” species. I find these sorts of questions very interesting and quite relevant in an age where we are starting to see substantial progress in the fields genetics, AI, prosthetics, etc. Unfortunately, that concept wasn't explored to a significant depth, which felt like quite the miss in my opinion.
The main character I found him unconvincing (as in too happy-go-lucky in times of crisis) to be a real person I could connect with and I think his arc lost a lot of its force after some of the explanations that were given in the final volume. Having some of the events happen because of manipulation makes his marital struggles seem less real and disconnected from any sense of reality.
The art was not to my personal taste at first, especially Peeter’s drawings of people, but his more abstract art in some of the later volumes made up for it nicely. This was especially the case in volumes 2 and 3 and the final panels of volume 4, where I think he brought his drawing and coloring A-game. As for the people, I personally prefer his black-and-white work (i.e. Lupus) but I wouldn’t call it bad by any means. I did quite like Churchill, both in design and personality, though the later one was marred by a narrative twist.
Overall, I think the story was interesting but the set-up was somewhat generic and not explored in the direction I would have preferred. Still, the art was decent at first and quite good through the middle that I’m pretty sure a lot of people would enjoy this, especially those who like French sci-fi. That said, for a better exploration of themes, I would recommend Stanislaw Lem’s fantastic Solaris.
Thematically, I was disappointed by the inclusion of predestination and higher-purpose ideas, which I don’t find to be particularly well suited tp sci-fi stories, especially when another concept that was explored was evolution the challenges faced by humanity to make the next big leap and become a “superior” species. I find these sorts of questions very interesting and quite relevant in an age where we are starting to see substantial progress in the fields genetics, AI, prosthetics, etc. Unfortunately, that concept wasn't explored to a significant depth, which felt like quite the miss in my opinion.
The main character I found him unconvincing (as in too happy-go-lucky in times of crisis) to be a real person I could connect with and I think his arc lost a lot of its force after some of the explanations that were given in the final volume. Having some of the events happen because of manipulation makes his marital struggles seem less real and disconnected from any sense of reality.
The art was not to my personal taste at first, especially Peeter’s drawings of people, but his more abstract art in some of the later volumes made up for it nicely. This was especially the case in volumes 2 and 3 and the final panels of volume 4, where I think he brought his drawing and coloring A-game. As for the people, I personally prefer his black-and-white work (i.e. Lupus) but I wouldn’t call it bad by any means. I did quite like Churchill, both in design and personality, though the later one was marred by a narrative twist.
Overall, I think the story was interesting but the set-up was somewhat generic and not explored in the direction I would have preferred. Still, the art was decent at first and quite good through the middle that I’m pretty sure a lot of people would enjoy this, especially those who like French sci-fi. That said, for a better exploration of themes, I would recommend Stanislaw Lem’s fantastic Solaris.
April 10, 2023
Super univers, histoire qui reste mysterieuse jusqu'au bout et personnages touchant (Churchill le gorille surtout). Se lit vite !
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