Uos

by Benjamin Adam

Dans un monde dévasté, près de l’océan, un homme hirsute en tenue d’astronaute vit seul, tel un gardien de phare débraillé des siècles précédents.

Machinalement, avec un respect des protocoles et une conscience professionnelle aiguisée, il veille sur le site dont il a la charge, un lieu dont l’intérieur constitue presque un sanctuaire secret, soumis aux règles sécuritaires les plus strictes, en raison de sa grande dangerosité : un centre d’enfouissement nucléaire.

Pourtant, cette centrale n’est plus que ruines. Les toitures sont effondrées, le béton des réacteurs est fissuré depuis longtemps, et c'est une loge vide que notre gardien salue machinalement…

Dans cette grande cathédrale, bâtiment mythique de la puissance de la Techno-science, les procédures du Gardien se muent en rituels, le silence et les ombres se chargent peu à peu de donner une âme aux lieux, et notre Robinson esseulé, dans son délire, fait de ce sanctuaire nucléaire un temple accueillant les esprits des aïeux.

Imaginée en contrepoint à Soon (avec Thomas Cadène, paru chez Dargaud en 2019), UOS est une exploration graphique de l’univers de l’Effondrement, une ballade sensorielle au pays du retour en grâce, parmi les ruines, d’un être humain à l’écoute de sa mémoire…

Genres: Bande Dessinée

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Postapocalyptic “narrative”. Many pages have full-page views, with only a few main panels per page throughout – except on the page where the man prepares for his “ritual”, where panels are used in the more usual way, to show what he does to get ready. In addition to the main panels, there are also inset panels in contrasting colours (monochrome, more faded), which show the past, first sporadically in random spots, and then concentrated on the man and his past activities, and the activities at the spot where he performs his ritual. The building he enters has the letters U …. O …. S …. spread across the facade. A hint at the original name of the place, and thus its function? Was it a nuclear reactor? A research lab? There are hints at the presence of radiation (the green glow), and perhaps even point to this spot being the origin of the apocalyptic event?
It is not clear what the man’s ritual is meant to achieve. A record of events, given that he draws on the walls? When he looks up through the dome at the moon, at the end, there is an inset panel all green with a sort of flame shape. What does that mean? The enigmatic text on the back of the book doesn't really help, and the cover seems to be false advertising, since there no giants to be found.
Then the scene changes to elsewhere, a place where someone used to live, not entirely uncomfortable, despite the conditions, it seems. Was this where the man lived? Is he coming back? The book doesn’t answer these questions. But there is an arrival to this spot: a beautiful bird with two heads - a mutant. Beauty out of disaster?

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is beautiful. A visually stunning book.

Limited colour palette, but beautifully used.

I can't give it maximum rating cos it lacks story - the book is short and all of it is just exposition.

But just as a collection of environment art it is wonderful.

There is no dialogue so anyone can enjoy this book.