Somewhere Within the Shadows

Blacksad #1

by Juan Díaz Canales, Juanjo Guarnido

Meet John Blacksad, a cat in the shadows. Imagine New York as a city of criminal rats, jazz-playing gorillas and rhino thugs. Enter a mystery where the suspects have tails. Enter the world of Blacksad. Natalia Wilford is a famous actress. To the world, she had everything anybody could want―beauty, fame, glamour, and lovers who would do anything for her. When she is found murdered in her home, it touches the man who had not seen her since their bitter breakup many years ago. private eye John Blacksad. He vows to find Natalia's murderer.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Bande Dessinée, Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Noir

56 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2000

About the author

Juan Díaz Canales is a Spanish comics artist and an animated film director, known as the co-creator of Blacksad.

Reviews

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic graphics, original ideas - I loved this beginning of the Blacksad series. I loved all the humanized animals and the dark, romain noir atmosphere. A pure joy to read.

[Raquel Estebaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novela negra detectivesca, protagonizada por animales antropomorfizados.

Muy bien contada, muy típica y con unas ilustraciones vívidas y expresivas.
Mientras lo leía me acordaba de Philip Marlowe, pero el tomo es cortito. A ver si se mantiene esa impresión.

[J.L. Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A star had been eclipsed, leaving my past in the darkness, lost somewhere within the shadows.
And nobody can live without a past."



Juan Diaz Canales' Blacksad #1 follows a detective, John Blacksad, who searches for the murderer of his ex-girlfriend. And he's a cat. Many of those walking the streets or playing in bands or policing the streets are anthropomorphic versions of various animals. It seems like something of a gimmick, but the thing is, it works. Blacksad #1 is gorgeously illustrated. Each panel is full of interesting details and feels like a work of art.



The story seemed straightforward but engaging. I've read that it takes off after the first installment. So, I'm looking forward to Blacksad #2.

[Jokoloyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

WARNING: in my opinion this comic book is not for children. The genre is noir, regardless the gorgeous arts of animals. The arts absorb some of the violence content of the story and I think that is the great quality of this comic.

One peek and I like it already. The art is really super. I love the puns here and there regarding the animals traits.

I can not say much more regarding the story without spoiler. The plot is a simple noir, and this is the first book from a series, so I think you could guess the story.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Един котешки Филип Марлоу разследва смъртта на бивша своя любима, в град поразен от алчност и порок.

Страхотен арт и история от тези двама испански творци, напълно издържани в стила на отличната френско-белгийската комикс школа.

[Sad Sunday (Books? Me?!? NEVER!!!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats.
Cats.
Cats.

I really wanted to love it (it has cats, it's sad, one cat is black, I love crimes) but I wish the story had more strength. The whole crime was solved quite easily, without much of a mystery and I wish the struggle or the "labyrinth" of solving a crime was a bit harder or unexpected. Now it was too quick and not revealing much about anything else. The drawing style is very nice and the characters are drawn perfectly. Loved that the various animals, not only cats, also appear in the comic.

[George K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Βαθμολογία: 9/10

Το Μπλάκσαντ ήταν ένα κόμικ που ήθελα πολύ να διαβάσω, αλλά πάντα κάτι άλλο μου τράβαγε την προσοχή και έτσι η ανάγνωση του πήγαινε συνεχώς από αναβολή σε αναβολή. Μέχρι που σήμερα το πήρα απόφαση, έστρωσα τον πισινό μου κάτω, και διάβασα τον πρώτο τόμο. Ήμουν σίγουρος ότι θα μου αρέσει, μιας και είμαι φανατικός των αστυνομικών νουάρ ιστοριών (βλέπε Τσάντλερ, Χάμετ, Μακντόναλντ, Τόμσον, Ελρόι κ.α.), και οι αγαπητοί δημιουργοί του δεν με άφησαν παραπονεμένο. Τουναντίον, το "Κάπου ανάμεσα στις σκιές" μου άρεσε πολύ. Εντάξει, η ιστορία δεν λέει και πολλά πράγματα από άποψη μυστηρίου και ανατροπών (τουλάχιστον στους έμπειρους αναγνώστες παρόμοιων βιβλίων/κόμικς), θα έλεγα ότι είναι αρχετυπική για το είδος, με τα κλασικά και αναμενόμενα κλισέ. Σίγουρα, πάντως, κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος, προσφέρει δράση, σασπένς και μια κάποια αγωνία. Το βασικότερο προσόν του πρώτου αυτού τόμου, όμως, είναι το σχέδιο: Απλά φανταστικό. Από τα διάφορα σκηνικά και τις σκηνές δράσης, μέχρι τους χαρακτήρες, το σχέδιο είναι άπαικτο. Και ο χρωματισμός είναι ο πλέον κατάλληλος και ταιριαστός, δίνει μια φοβερή νουάρ ατμόσφαιρα στην όλη ιστορία. Επίσης δεν μπορεί να παραβλέψει κανείς το γεγονός ότι οι διάφοροι πρωταγωνιστές είναι ανθρωπόμορφα ζώα, με την επιλογή να είναι η πλέον κατάλληλη με βάση τον χαρακτήρα και την θέση τους στην κοινωνία. Και, τέλος, όπως συνήθως γίνεται με τους πρωταγωνιστές ιδιωτικούς ντετέκτιβ στα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει, δέθηκα ιδιαίτερα με τον Μπλάκσαντ - ταίριαξαν τα χνώτα μας, που λένε. Τον δεύτερο τόμο, με τον τίτλο "Αρκτικό έθνος", θα τον διαβάσω σε λίγες μέρες.

[M. Tatari · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Biz kedilerle ilgili bir yığın basmakalıp söz vardır. 'Dokuz canlı' olduğumuz gibi... Açıkçası bunun doğruluğunu ispatlamaya hiç hevesli olmadım."

John Blacksad... İnsansı hayvanlarla dolu bir şehirde özel dedektiflik yapan bir kara kedi. Tıpkı her kara (noir) dedektiflik romanı kahramanının olması gerektiği gibi hep karamsar, hep parasız ve epey şanssız biri. Ve tabii ki yasaları çiğnemek uğruna kendi adaletini sağlayan bir anti-kahraman.

Günün birinde eskiden sevgili olduğu, ünlü bir aktris cinayete kurban gittiğinde ve polisin eli kolu bağlı kaldığında John katili kendi başına bulup cezalandırmaya karar verir. Tabii bu esnada başına gelmeyen kalmaz. Bir sürü farklı karakterle tanışır, bir sürü belaya bulaşır, bir araba dayak yer falan... Bu tür dedektiflik hikâyelerini okuduysanız büyük resmi gözünüzün önünde canlandırmanız kolay.

İşin aslı hikâye biraz klişe. Ama çizgi romanın İspanyol yaratıcıları bu 50 sayfalık, kısa eserin her karesine öyle güzel detaylar, öyle güzel çizimler ve öyle başarılı monologlar yerleştirmiş ki okurken bunu pek umursamıyorsunuz.

Çizimlerin yanı sıra en çok beğendiğim şey karakterler ve temsil ettikleri arketipler arasındaki güçlü bağ oldu. Şanssız dedektif, kara kedi. Soğukkanlı haydut, kertenkele. Sadık polis müfettişi, köpek... gibi gibi.

10 yıldır baskısı bulunmuyordu Blacksad'in. YKY bu bahtsız kediyi yeniden bizlerle buluşturmuşken bu fırsat kaçmamalı, kaçmaz. Umarım bu sefer geri kalan 4 cildi de basıp seriyi tamamlarlar.

[Mirnes Alispahić · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than I expected. How could I not? It's a noir graphic novel where Philip Marlow wannabe walks the world as an anthropomorphic cat and solves the murder of an ex-lover. Oh, yeah, all other characters are anthropomorphic animals, which leads to some interesting choices and reminds me of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I liked the use of "racism" in the novel. Great art, detailed. The story is nothing to write home about, and it's cut short, but it works.

[Теодор Панов · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Блексед“ се оказа един страхотно добър комикс (благодарности на Metodi Markov, че ми препоръча да му обърна внимание). Илюстрациите са наистина феноменални и успяват успешно да те пренесат и потопят в онази детективска атмосфера от 50-те на миналия век. Историята също е интересна и сюжета може да се каже, че е класически, а пък персонажите са ярки и отличителни.

Ще прочета и следващите части със сигурност 😊

P.S. (Между другото видях, че има и игра по комикса от 2019 г., погледнах няколко геймплей видеа в YT и не изглежда никак лошо в допълнение с приятна джаз музика, напомня като усещане L.A. Noire. Може след време да опитам и играта) 😊

[Artemy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blacksad is a very well-drawn book with a very boring, predictable and by-the-numbers story, with the only twist being those awful, AWFUL anthropomorphic talking animals as characters. This is something I hate in almost any story, and here I just couldn't get over it as well. I thought I'd read the whole hardcover collection, but after finishing this first chapter I just couldn't force myself to continue reading. So, not my cuppa.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este cómic fue el regalo de una amiga maravillosa que me conoce bien. Ha acertado de pleno, me ha resultado fantástico.
El dibujo es una verdadera pasada en todos los aspectos y en ese punto se lleva 5 estrellas.
La historia es muy típica, pero eso no le resta valor. La ambientación de los años 50 le suma puntos, es algo que me encanta.
Deseando leer el resto de tomos.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Un lugar entre las sombras es el primer tomo de detective privado Blacksad. La historia se desarrolla en universo donde los animales son los protagonistas. En un principio, se me pareció mucho con la película Zootrópolis, sin embargo al contrario que la película, esta tiene un tono mucho más amargo y oscuro.
Nuestro personaje principal es un gato negro que tiene que investigar por su cuenta, sin la ayuda de la policía, el asesinato de una antigua amante. A lo largo de la novela gráfica podemos ver a donde concluyen sus investigaciones y los problemas que le surgen al meter las zarpas en terrenos fangosos.
Desde un punto de vista de contenido, me pareció la típica historia de detectives privados, por eso no me enganchó del todo. Yo creo que lo que más me asombró fue el final puesto que no me esperaba. Aún así, estoy por el tomo 1 así que no puedo juzgar la obra al completo. Ni siquiera conozco a los personajes en su totalidad ni el por qué actúan de esa manera. Eso se verá desarrollado, lo más probable, en los siguientes tomos. Lo que sí puedo destacar es su dibujo, está lleno de detalles lleno de colores vivos. Me ha gustado mucho.

[Ivaelo Slavov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ок, без да преувеличавам хич. Това е един от най-яките комикси, които съм чел.

[Emerson‌●ω● · Rating 3 out of 5]

زیبا و فرحبخش!

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everybody can use about 50 which offers eropean comics album format well, but authors used limited space pretty well. Story is swift, there are no needless passages, and there is also place to build up some tension and mystery. Very well written, refreshing short noir story with great ending.

2024----

I love, that even on 3rd reading, you can still find some new things. Story is not really that special, but every time I reach the final pages when villain underestimate Blacksad, I really enjoy it.

This time I noticed few interesting panels, that masterfully compliments story being told:

Balcksad remembering end of relationship - withering flower in the vase.
Blacksad saying he is damned too - Death with scythe behind him.
Blacksad being hit - crying angel.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Blacksad on the recommendation of Ije, whom I thank.

I loved the sketches which eliminate the need for words being so full of detail.

Blacksad version of hardboiled noir went down a treat. Going on more more.

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Fitting into slot 10 of Lena's reading challenge. A book with a cat on the cover.

[Aleshanee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich bin ja noch etwas unerfahren, was Comics betrifft, aber schön langsam finde ich Gefallen daran :)

Dieses Mal ist es ein Krimi im New York der 50er Jahre und erinnert wohl an "film noir". Ich musste erstmal googeln, denn ich konnte mit dem Begriff im ersten Moment nicht viel anfangen. Aber die ganze Aufmachung spiegelt düstere Schauplätze wieder, raue Umgangsformen und eine Jagd nach einem Mörder. Passt für mich also auf jeden Fall in die alten Krimis und Detektivgeschichten, denn John Blacksad ist hier der einsame Ermittler, der vor allem aus persönlichen Gründen den Täter überführen möchte.

Wie schon im Klappentext geschrieben sind die Figuren alle Tiere, die menschenähnliches Aussehen haben - von der Figur und vom Ausdruck her; und das ist dem Zeichner wirklich perfekt gelungen! Vor allem passen auch die jeweiligen Tierarten genau und spiegeln absolut passend die Charaktere, die sie darstellen sollen.

Für die Atmosphäre ist alles eher in dunklen Farben gehalten mit vielen Details, die die Handlung unterstützen. Z. B. steht am Rand eine Statue mit einem weinenden Engel, als jemand brutal verprügelt wird, man sollte sich also die Bilder wirklich genau anschauen! Man merkt, mit wie viel Liebe alles zusammengestellt wurde, denn auch die Texte und Dialoge sind klasse und passen zu dem Jargon aus der damaligen Zeit.

Vor allem auch die inneren Monologe von Blacksad erinnern an die alten Filmstreifen und ich hab mich komplett zurückversetzt gefühlt!

Was Comics so an sich haben: es ist halt schon sehr kurz. Es ist zwar ein großformatiger Comic, was die Einzelheiten sehr gut wirken lässt, aber man ist doch recht schnell durch. Dabei geht die Handlung natürlich sehr zügig voran und hat jetzt keine bemerkenswerten Momente und ist recht einfach gehalten, aber die Szenen sind alle so toll eingefangen, dass es mir auf jeden Fall sehr viel Spaß gemacht hat!

© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer

Blacksad

1 - Irgendwo zwischen den Schatten
2 - Arctic Nation
3 - Rote Seele
4 - Die Stille der Hölle
5 - Amarillo

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blacksad es un cómic que utiliza animales antropomórficos como personajes en una historia de serie negra, esto sirve para que asociemos características de los animales en los personajes con lo cual podemos adivinar bastantes de sus rasgos de personalidad en la primera viñeta que aparecen. Es un recurso que ya nos suena de otras obras pero que aquí está muy bien conseguido por el soberbio dibujo de Guarnido, que consigue capturar expresiones y sentimientos en las caras de distintos animales a la perfección.

En este primer álbum tenemos una historia en la que el protagonista investiga la muerte de una antigua amante que ha sido asesinada, la verdad es que está muy bien llevada, pero quizás es una historia demasiado típica, se cumplen todos los clichés del género y nos puede parecer un poco predecible, en todo caso está muy bien contada y el dibujo, increíblemente detallado y perfectamente adecuado para la historia, es excepcional. son menos de 50 páginas que se leen sin darse uno cuenta. al terminarla entran ganas de empezar otra vez desde el principio, no para releerla, sino para recrearnos en las maravillosas ilustraciones.

[Fernando Gonzalo Pellico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un crimen con todos los aditamentos de la novela negra, investigado por un gato. Muy bien dibujado, además.
Continuaré con la saga.

[Titus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first comic from the hugely successful Blacksad series has a pretty by-the-numbers noir-homage crime story. The mystery at its centre isn't particularly imaginative or intriguing: I didn't find myself caring much about its outcome, there’s no surprise at the end, and of course all the clichés and tropes of the genre are duly ticked off one by one. What's more, the protagonist doesn't have much depth to him and there are even a couple of borderline plot holes (points where characters don't behave believably). Nonetheless, while reading I scarcely found myself caring about any of these shortcomings, because at the end of the day this comic is still a lot of fun.

I guess a big part of its enjoyability comes from the skillful way that the story’s told, with just the right mix of tension and action. Another major draw is the setting: a version of 1950s New York populated by anthropomorphic animals, it feels a bit like a grittier version of the Disney film Zootopia. It’s a fun premise and it’s executed well, with just the right balance of humour and seriousness. Undoubtedly, the biggest positive is the beautiful painted artwork, particularly the backgrounds, which are crammed full of brilliantly designed characters and other details that make the comic’s world feel like a living, breathing place.

In short, this comic didn’t blow me away, but I consistently enjoyed it. I’ve heard later volumes are better, and I’ll be happy to try one out to see if I agree.

[Vikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this issue as part of a bundle from humblebundle and I love them and I am not sure I would have stumbled on these comics, this was originally published in French and that's true for other comics and Graphic Novels in the bundle. This was just awesome, felt like part of BoJack Horseman but because it's Noir it was dark and this was definitely not for kids so there's that. Looked like almost all the shady animals were present but the ladies looked just like humans well like I said not for kids. There is nudity, violence and blood, and all the good things. This was wonderful and I would look to find more issues and would definitely play the game as soon as possible as it also looks nice.

I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to the bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Димитър Цолов · Rating 5 out of 5]

На този комикс албум няма какво да не му харесаш, а гледам, че е оценен по достойнство и от критиката - спечелил е наградите за Нов талант и Най-добра творба в "Салон на комикса" в Барселона през 2001 г. Мрачна детективска история, с ретро привкус, сякаш излязла изпод перото на Чандлър, само че героите са животни, на които сценаристът Диас Карналес и художникът Гуарнидо са придали човешки черти. Хипер яко, ще знаете! Джон Блексед е корав котарак, разследващ убийството на мацурана, с която е имал игра в миналото. Всички останали персонажи също бяха изключително свежи попадения, като започнеш от прасето - барман, с лекьосан потник, минеш през бияча-носорог и маймуната - китарист, та стигнеш до спретнатото влечуго - наемен убиец. Безапелационна петорка!!! И да, веднага подхващам втората част :)

[Adam M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an exceptionally quick read at just 52 pages and I'm glad that's all the more it was. The art is well done, technically proficient and clean, but it's not satisfying. The story is "noir-esque" sort of hard boiled detective fair, but in this case it's really predictable and ultimately uninspiring.

This made me uncomfortable and I think it was that it was randomly animals anthropomorphized for this story for seemingly no reason? Maybe the artist is way better at animal heads than human, but outside of that I'm at a loss. I feel like there are better examples of this kind of storytelling and better examples of animals as protagonists instead of just their heads on fully realized human bodies.

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 estrellas para el arte de este comic, es fantástico. Detallado, sepias, y colores.

3 estrellas para la historia que va por todo el Noir de detectives de los años 50s, la ex muerta, los polis comprometidos, los poderosos truculentos, tipos duros dando golpes a diestra y siniestra, el heroe todo aporreado, y femmes fatales. Y esa justicia que lo no lo es.

Realizado por autores españoles que lo hicieron en francés, luego fue traducido al español, y terminó en ingles.

[Marcos GM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puro género negro, donde hay detectives privados con mala leche, damas en apuros, femme fatale y un ambiente sórdido.

Según iba leyendo la historia me parecía oír música jazz de fondo y una voz en off narrando la historia. El dibujo está magnífico, completando una obra redonda.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I heard about this was almost 10 years ago when my best friend came back from Spain with the first volume and was head-over-heels for it. We even bought her a framed print of the character (which was really pretty). But back then she was reading them in Spanish, and I don't speak Spanish, so I couldn't borrow her copies to read them.
Time went on, I still heard about the series on a pretty regular basis, but never took the jump to actually go out and buy it.
And then at work, one of my co-workers talked to me about it with such passion, that when we received a restock of volume one, I grabbed one for myself. (I paid for it, mind you. I didn't just leave the store with it).

Bloody Hell this is so f*cking gorgeous!!!

The fact that it is bande dessinée is frustrating because the format/genre is restricted to 50 pages, so it's too short. I think I would have been okay with 3 volumes following Blacksad and the murder investigation.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spaniards obsessed with noir, racial oppression in the United States, and McCarthyism. Weird. Oh, and the characters are all anthropomorphic animals--Blacksad himself being a cat. The stories are okay but they are shallow raking across ground already dug deep.

Every panel, however, could be a painting hanging in a gallery. So much beautiful care wasted on human-shaped animals. Sigh.

This totally got dinged for one of my mystery-crime pet peeves: showing the dead body of a woman (a cat woman in this case) with her breasts exposed and pert. The very definition of gratuitous. It always creeps me out and makes me wonder if there are men out there who get off on seeing naked dead women. Gross.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Преди камара години от Студио Арт Лайн издадоха „Блексед 1: Някъде сред сенките”, който определено е един от най-красивите, най-стойностните и най-непреходни комикси, които някога са виждали печат у нас. Нещо повече, Блексед е един от най-добрите и епични комикси изобщо, в световната комикс история. Не преувеличавам ни най-малко. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле:

https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superbes dessins !