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Biotope #2
Biotope 2
After the scientific base he was assigned to investigate blows up and almost everybody on it dies, Captain Toussaint finds himself wounded, lost, starving and alone in the middle of an endless jungle on a distant planet. More violence and more surprises await him in his claustrophobic and hostile new environment, and though he does find answers to his questions, the biggest question of all comes with an answer that has even this tough, crusty, unflappable cop shaken to the core. The chilling end to an environmental sci-fi thriller dripping with atmosphere.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
7 people want to read
About the author
Appollo
47 books7 followersAppollo, de son vrai nom Olivier Frédéric Appollodorus, est un nouvelliste et scénariste de bande dessinée français né le 26 mars 1969 à Carthage, en Tunisie. Réunionnais, il fut l'un des piliers et fondateurs du Cri du Margouillat (dont il est l'actuel rédacteur en chef) et des éditions Centre du Monde. Il a par ailleurs collaboré à Capsule Cosmique. Il vit aujourd'hui à La Réunion après s'être installé à Luanda en tant que professeur de français en septembre 2007, puis plus tard à Kinshasa. Il a reçu le prix Jacques Lob pour l'ensemble de son œuvre en novembre 2012 et participe depuis 2013 à la revue Kanyar.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 18, 2020
In the first volume, a trio of Earth cops travel to a research base on a distant planet (the base is called Biotope, although it seems as if the planet is also referred to as Biotope) to investigate a murder-suicide. It all ends with the base getting blown up, killing almost everyone. One of the cops has been shot dead, another cop turns against our protagonist Toussaint, who flees into the surrounding jungle.
This volume picks up exactly where we left off, and Toussaint quickly discovers why the base was blown up (and by whom) and has to make some tough choices about what he wants to do next.
It's an engaging story, with a ever more timely theme of humanity destroying its own habitat, that does sort of peter out towards the end. Feels almost as if there should be a Biotope 3 (which doesn't seem likely as the original French publications were in 2007, I believe).
The art remains striking.
(Received an ARC through Netgalley)
This volume picks up exactly where we left off, and Toussaint quickly discovers why the base was blown up (and by whom) and has to make some tough choices about what he wants to do next.
It's an engaging story, with a ever more timely theme of humanity destroying its own habitat, that does sort of peter out towards the end. Feels almost as if there should be a Biotope 3 (which doesn't seem likely as the original French publications were in 2007, I believe).
The art remains striking.
(Received an ARC through Netgalley)
June 15, 2020
I have to say this second book was a bit of a letdown. It followed on the themes set up from the first one - enviromentalism, destructive mankind, how far you wanted to go to protect a foreign ecosystem, etc. - and presented them all without taking sides, just giving us the facts and the opinions and letting us draw our own conclusions, which I certainly appreciate. It's just that in the grand scheme of things not a whole lot actually happened in this one: all those big questions and dilemmas were left unresolved by the end, and we have no idea where it all would go from here.
This feels like the second part of a trilogy, rather than a finale in its own right. We really would have needed an episode three.
This feels like the second part of a trilogy, rather than a finale in its own right. We really would have needed an episode three.
March 28, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost, I did really like the end of this two book series. It was a little bleak, but it was honest and believable and I appreciate that the author didn't try to shoehorn in an unrealistic ending where everything worked out perfectly.
Again, I really liked the art and the addition of the Doc character gave the forest scenes a very Ghibli feeling to them. The elk-headed character was also a nice artistic addition.
However, most of this volume was a pretty standard story with nothing that really stood out about it as particularly surprising or unique. Overall I did enjoy the series and would give it a total rating of 3.5 stars. I would recommend it to people who like sequential art comics.
First and foremost, I did really like the end of this two book series. It was a little bleak, but it was honest and believable and I appreciate that the author didn't try to shoehorn in an unrealistic ending where everything worked out perfectly.
Again, I really liked the art and the addition of the Doc character gave the forest scenes a very Ghibli feeling to them. The elk-headed character was also a nice artistic addition.
However, most of this volume was a pretty standard story with nothing that really stood out about it as particularly surprising or unique. Overall I did enjoy the series and would give it a total rating of 3.5 stars. I would recommend it to people who like sequential art comics.
March 31, 2020
What I Liked
All the positive things I mentioned in my review of the first part apply to this one too. For instance, this time the limited color palette was perfect because most scenes depicted a jungle-like setting. And the art was as striking as it was in the previous one. The elk-head was a nice touch.
Touissant’s wry humor continued to shine in in this one, too.
What I Didn’t Like
The ending was a letdown because it left things unresolved. Will there be a final confrontation between our protagonists and the group led by an insane scientist? How come the latter doesn’t know of the nook the good guys found? It seems unlikely!
I requested this book on Netgalley and I'm glad I did!
March 15, 2020
Well Executed and Entertaining
The message is awfully heavyhanded - humans will destroy any new worlds they explore, and must be stopped. But you know that going in, so you can take that or leave it as you are inclined. The fun here is in the execution. The book is cast as a noir, or a police procedural, so think of it as the first green-noir.
Our main character is Captain Toussaint. There has been a murder at the isolated research station on planet Biotope, and Toussaint and his grumpy team have been dispatched to the planet to investigate. The scientists on site are defensive, hostile, and secretive. The actual murder is more or less beside the point; the investigation is where the story begins. Toussaint is confronted by a variety of types; some are amusing, some are ridiculous, and some are dangerous. What's going on? Well, that's the point.
This is one story arc carried through two volumes, and the reader should commit to both volumes because the first ends in a major cliffhanger, and the most fun is in the second book. SPOILER. It's not giving away much to observe that the first book ends in explosions and violence, and the second book moves beyond the original mystery into more of a survival/eco-philosophical/thriller mode. That was fine by me, and made this much more than a crime drama. Again, it's not much of a spoiler to note that the resolution was, to me, amusing, dry, and satisfying.
In any event, the most fun is in the characters, and in that regard Toussaint performs admirably. Deadpan humor, wry detachment, and a certain world weariness are nicely balanced by Toussaint's maturity and professional pride, and he is a capable character who holds the reader's attention. I enjoyed his company, and I'm not sure you could ask for much more than that from a novel like this.
As to the drawing, I was at first disappointed. The drawing is crisp and clear, with good inking and colors, but it was a little on the cartoony side. As the book developed, though, it became clear that the tale was driven by dialogue and character interaction, and I felt no need for elegant art or fancy splash pages. The art ended up as complementary to the story, and not distracting, and that seemed just right.
So, I enjoyed this, and enjoyed it more and more as it progressed, which I guess is the best thing you could hope for.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
The message is awfully heavyhanded - humans will destroy any new worlds they explore, and must be stopped. But you know that going in, so you can take that or leave it as you are inclined. The fun here is in the execution. The book is cast as a noir, or a police procedural, so think of it as the first green-noir.
Our main character is Captain Toussaint. There has been a murder at the isolated research station on planet Biotope, and Toussaint and his grumpy team have been dispatched to the planet to investigate. The scientists on site are defensive, hostile, and secretive. The actual murder is more or less beside the point; the investigation is where the story begins. Toussaint is confronted by a variety of types; some are amusing, some are ridiculous, and some are dangerous. What's going on? Well, that's the point.
This is one story arc carried through two volumes, and the reader should commit to both volumes because the first ends in a major cliffhanger, and the most fun is in the second book. SPOILER. It's not giving away much to observe that the first book ends in explosions and violence, and the second book moves beyond the original mystery into more of a survival/eco-philosophical/thriller mode. That was fine by me, and made this much more than a crime drama. Again, it's not much of a spoiler to note that the resolution was, to me, amusing, dry, and satisfying.
In any event, the most fun is in the characters, and in that regard Toussaint performs admirably. Deadpan humor, wry detachment, and a certain world weariness are nicely balanced by Toussaint's maturity and professional pride, and he is a capable character who holds the reader's attention. I enjoyed his company, and I'm not sure you could ask for much more than that from a novel like this.
As to the drawing, I was at first disappointed. The drawing is crisp and clear, with good inking and colors, but it was a little on the cartoony side. As the book developed, though, it became clear that the tale was driven by dialogue and character interaction, and I felt no need for elegant art or fancy splash pages. The art ended up as complementary to the story, and not distracting, and that seemed just right.
So, I enjoyed this, and enjoyed it more and more as it progressed, which I guess is the best thing you could hope for.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
April 19, 2020
“I wasn’t dead but that was the only good news” - Captain Toussaint.
Thank you to Europe Comics for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Biotope: Vol 2’ with script by Appollo and art by Brüno, in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 19 February and was translated from the French by Jonathan Farr.
The cover showing a grumpy deer-like being in the foreground with a disheveled looking Captain Toussaint in the background sets the scene for this second and final volume in this entertaining science fiction thriller. It takes up the story as a wounded Toussaint wanders around the forest and tries to make sense of recent events. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers both it and Vol 1.
I found this story very engaging and appreciated its quirky artwork. Brüno’s depiction of the characters isn’t trying to be realistic or idealistic yet manages to capture their personalities. Again, a muted colour palette is used with plenty of shades of dark green and olive to portray the planet’s ecosystem.
The ending did leave some unanswered questions about the future of the planet though with ‘Biotope’ being a short series this kind of ambivalence was likely. I loved Toussaint’s final statement, it was very in character.
Thank you to Europe Comics for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Biotope: Vol 2’ with script by Appollo and art by Brüno, in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 19 February and was translated from the French by Jonathan Farr.
The cover showing a grumpy deer-like being in the foreground with a disheveled looking Captain Toussaint in the background sets the scene for this second and final volume in this entertaining science fiction thriller. It takes up the story as a wounded Toussaint wanders around the forest and tries to make sense of recent events. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers both it and Vol 1.
I found this story very engaging and appreciated its quirky artwork. Brüno’s depiction of the characters isn’t trying to be realistic or idealistic yet manages to capture their personalities. Again, a muted colour palette is used with plenty of shades of dark green and olive to portray the planet’s ecosystem.
The ending did leave some unanswered questions about the future of the planet though with ‘Biotope’ being a short series this kind of ambivalence was likely. I loved Toussaint’s final statement, it was very in character.
March 16, 2020
Biotope is a distant planet that contains a scientific base. The purpose of the base is to investigate the surrounding area. However, a murder has occurred on this isolated research station, and for this reason, Captain Toussaint and his team have been sent from Earth to determine what is going on. Once they arrive, they discover that they are about as wanted as the plague. Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 leaves off. The captain is now working to figure out just what his next steps should be. Along the way, he is lucky enough to find someone to assist him. However, things are not always as they seem, and they begin to take a turn over which he has no control.
Just as with Volume 1, the illustrations are crisp and clean, and the story is enjoyable. Not to give anything away, but I would really like to see this story continued.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Just as with Volume 1, the illustrations are crisp and clean, and the story is enjoyable. Not to give anything away, but I would really like to see this story continued.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
March 23, 2020
Biotope is a distant planet that contains a scientific base. The purpose of the base is to investigate the surrounding area. However, a murder has occurred on this isolated research station, and for this reason, Captain Toussaint and his team have been sent from Earth to determine what is going on. Once they arrive, they discover that they are about as wanted as the plague. Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 leaves off. The captain is now working to figure out just what his next steps should be. Along the way, he is lucky enough to find someone to assist him. However, things are not always as they seem, and they begin to take a turn over which he has no control.
Just as with Volume 1, the illustrations are crisp and clean, and the story is enjoyable. Not to give anything away, but I would really like to see this story continued.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Just as with Volume 1, the illustrations are crisp and clean, and the story is enjoyable. Not to give anything away, but I would really like to see this story continued.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
June 7, 2020
Hmmm… I think the problem was that the end of Biotope Book One was so dramatic and 'cor blimey guv'nor' surprising that this second half of the series was always going to be on a hiding to nothing. It's not bad, for the design is still really good, and the pages still turn just as avidly as before – even with a very wordy beginning few pages here. However, I think the conflict, once we know what it was all about, was a little forced, and almost artificial, and the events of the first book did kind of mean the characters we were happy to see more of weren't allowed to be the kind of people, doing the kinds of things, we knew them for. Perhaps my instinct that they should never have put this in two separate volumes was right. Either way this is a cool pair of sci-fi graphics, even if I didn't enjoy this second half quite as much. Such was the power of the first book you could never have settled for just that, mind. Three and a half stars.
March 19, 2020
This wasn't a bad volume but I was a bit disappointed towards the end. The mystery of what happened unravels in this volume and the explenation makes sense. It's just that I'm a tad disappointed that there's an inter-group conflict with two opposing sides. It's not like both sides couldn't bring a combined solution and I get that humans are too often "either/or" but I would've loved to see an example of how these scientists work together despite their differing opinions in how to deal with future visits from Earth.
Nothing would've stopped them from creating a two-fold solution, preparing for any kind of outcome. Instead, the egos of two guys get overblown and things go sideways because everybody wants to be right and sees everything in black and white.
It could've been awesome if the people reacted not with war but with cooperation.
Nothing would've stopped them from creating a two-fold solution, preparing for any kind of outcome. Instead, the egos of two guys get overblown and things go sideways because everybody wants to be right and sees everything in black and white.
It could've been awesome if the people reacted not with war but with cooperation.
April 13, 2020
The second instalment started off with an exciting flourish, given the way the first ended, but I would say the ending was quite abrupt. If not for the feeling of being left holding incomplete pieces, I would have rated both books higher. The chief detective is out on his own in the wilderness, and he finds out all the intricacies of what happened at the base of operations and what he is to do next. It was an odd narrative but was weird enough to be entertaining. I am glad I read these books, but I still wish the ending was not so abrupt.
All characters introduced to us are not likeable, and that just adds to the flavour of the story.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based only on my own reading experience.
All characters introduced to us are not likeable, and that just adds to the flavour of the story.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based only on my own reading experience.
January 25, 2023
'Biotope Volume 2' by Appollo with art by Bruno is the sequel to a graphic novel about a very strange research station.
When we left Biotope, it had blown up and supposedly killed everyone. Captain Toussaint, police chief from Earth, has survived and is lost and starving. He finds a lone scientist that was out researching. He then finds factions fighting for control of the planet, but will there be anything left for rescue ships to find?
I really liked this very odd series and it's unusual and slightly comic art. It made for a good read.
When we left Biotope, it had blown up and supposedly killed everyone. Captain Toussaint, police chief from Earth, has survived and is lost and starving. He finds a lone scientist that was out researching. He then finds factions fighting for control of the planet, but will there be anything left for rescue ships to find?
I really liked this very odd series and it's unusual and slightly comic art. It made for a good read.
December 28, 2022
Picks up where volume 1 left off with Biotope destroyed and Toussaint wandering around the jungle. While you get answers about what happened, they aren't all that satisfying, especially since the remaining humans on the planet seem determined to get themselves all killed. It definitely feels like there should have been more as this feels unfinished. I'm guessing if sales had been better, there would have been.
February 25, 2020
Suite et fin de cette BD aux accents SF et écologistes, sur fond d'enquête et de suspense. Les personnages sont attachants, la conclusion est un peu abrupte mais est satisfaisante. Une très bonne série !
March 3, 2020
The ending is somewhat anticlimactic.
However i love the cynic Toussaint. "E: Come on Toussaint, quite pouting! You're the new Adam!
T: Some garden of Eden this is... E: You never liked trees anyway. Plus, as compensation you get two Eves! T: PFFF!"
However i love the cynic Toussaint. "E: Come on Toussaint, quite pouting! You're the new Adam!
T: Some garden of Eden this is... E: You never liked trees anyway. Plus, as compensation you get two Eves! T: PFFF!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2020
Liked this a bit less than the previous one but I still thought it was entertaining and thoughtful without bit being obnoxious. I'm really interested to know what happens next.
Me gustó un poco menos que el pasado pero aún así pensé que es entretenido y bien pensado sin ser pretencioso. Estoy muy interesado de saber qué pasa después.
Me gustó un poco menos que el pasado pero aún así pensé que es entretenido y bien pensado sin ser pretencioso. Estoy muy interesado de saber qué pasa después.
July 10, 2020
This really is shaping up to be a good series. There is plenty of action and once you think you know what is going on, something happens that dramatically changes events. Really looking forward to the next volume!
March 17, 2020
Nice way to continue the previous issue! The ending disappointed me a little, but I guess it just means I would certainly read more of these stories.
March 22, 2020
I just read Biotope 2. This book has lush artwork, beautiful styling, and a cool story. A great graphic novel experience.
Want to read
June 11, 2020Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 28, 2023
FormNorm (poisson pilote) ¦ D.L. 06/2008 = eo
May 9, 2025
le fin était de la merde 💔
October 17, 2021
This is the continuation of Biotope 1, which ended on a cliffhanger. Biotope 2 picks up right where Biotope 1 ended, giving the reader a chance to watch the story develop as the main character navigates the fallout from book 1.
I don’t want to give anything away, as this book does answer a lot of questions that are proposed in book 1, but it didn’t go the way I was anticipating. There are plenty of twists and reveals in this book but it was difficult for me to really hang on. I appreciated what the story was trying to do and the points it was making, but the resolution wasn’t very satisfying for me.
I would recommend this book to anyone that read book 1, as it’s nice to see how things are resolved. This was a nice duology but I think it could have gone a bit further and maybe extended the story into another book to help things develop and breathe. The story just felt a little rushed and complicated which feels very different from book 1.
An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t want to give anything away, as this book does answer a lot of questions that are proposed in book 1, but it didn’t go the way I was anticipating. There are plenty of twists and reveals in this book but it was difficult for me to really hang on. I appreciated what the story was trying to do and the points it was making, but the resolution wasn’t very satisfying for me.
I would recommend this book to anyone that read book 1, as it’s nice to see how things are resolved. This was a nice duology but I think it could have gone a bit further and maybe extended the story into another book to help things develop and breathe. The story just felt a little rushed and complicated which feels very different from book 1.
An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2020
The adventures on the new planet continue in book 2 of the Biotope series. Having been caught up in the middle of violence Captain Toussaint is lost, wounded and struggling for survival. As he tries to piece things together he realises that he must search for others, but when he does he finds himself in the midst of another struggle for power.
Once again this engaging series provides a suitably gripping sequel with the cops and the scientists and the ongong struggles for power in a green and verdant new world. Part two focuses on some of the other scientists but the characters and the story remain as interesting as book one. Although it appears book two is the end the story I do think it left too many unanswered questions for me. It was still enjoyable but I just felt I wanted more.
Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Once again this engaging series provides a suitably gripping sequel with the cops and the scientists and the ongong struggles for power in a green and verdant new world. Part two focuses on some of the other scientists but the characters and the story remain as interesting as book one. Although it appears book two is the end the story I do think it left too many unanswered questions for me. It was still enjoyable but I just felt I wanted more.
Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 20, 2024
literally nothing happened in this one and there was barely a conclusion
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews