Utown

by Cab

Après s’être fait connaitre avec sa série Hiver nucléaire, Cab nous revient avec une œuvre humaine et rassembleuse, le chaînon manquant entre la bande dessinée de genre et celle plus intimiste. Mettant en scène une brochette de personnages intéressants et colorés, le livre nous présente la réalité des gens touchés par la gentrification et nous fait découvrir Utown , où on a envie d’aller mettre les pieds, aussitôt le livre refermé.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Bande Dessinée, Fiction, France, Graphic Novels Comics, Canada

221 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2022

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘You gotta admit, this is the best place in the world.’

How can one live when the cost of living drives you out? Utown, the gritty yet heartfelt graphic novel from Cab (Caroline Breault of Nuclear Winter), captures the struggles of an artist, Sam, down on his luck and bank account as his beloved city district is becoming gentrified and the run-down building where he lives is set to be bulldozed. Told through really gorgeous, black and white artwork, Utown is emotionally charged yet never over-sentimental as is explores themes of addiction, patterns of self-sabotage, gentrification and community as we see Sam’s convictions to his neighborhood confronted by larger legal and economic forces as he spirals deeper into alcohol, drugs and despair instead of committing to the art project that could be his only life-line out of a place he never wanted to leave. Cab delivers a raucous, rebellious but ultimately tender story that is an ode to those living on the margins of society and finding that space is rapidly shrinking and threatening to push them off the edge.

I really felt for Sam even in all his frustrating flaws, stubbornness and self-destruction. An art school drop-out living in a studio space in a building full of a ragtag group of others like him (his ex girlfriend has just returned to live there, adding to his emotional instability), Sam is more concerned about having a good time than anything else. He’s a great artist but can’t commit, he’s a caring person but is usually blown out, he has the best intentions, but rarely follows through. But he has great weed. He shows up to interviews hungover in dirty clothes. He resents his best friend for moving into a lower-middle class lifestyle. He especially hates the fancy new bar run by Etienne that replaced the dive-bar he spent his childhood at waiting on his alcoholic father. And it’s hard to get motivated for work and the mundane needs of adulthood when there is a party happening every night with people you like. Sam’s choices start to not only hurt himself but others around him, including the sweet teen boy Sam takes under his wing and provides shelter to. Ed looks up to him, but is beginning to realize he is being exploited for his company and cooking, and its hard to watch the people you look up to fall so low.

Sam is someone I’ve definitely known. Admittedly, Sam is someone I’ve definitely been at times. The imagery of his filthy space full of art, art supplies, and empty bottles brought to mind many places I’ve been or even briefly lived in places like Detroit or Ypsilanti. Sam is 24 and being 24 is HARD, especially when you have no clear path forward, and I enjoyed that Cab includes a character in the mix that is a college graduate (Literature major, like myself in my lowest of times) to show how being on the verge of debt and homelessness is something that can happen to anyone. I work in a library, trust me, we are all a few events of bad luck away from that reality. This is especially difficult in areas where affordable housing is becoming scarce and so quickly batted down in city planning by the financially comfortable who stigmatize the lower classes while also being more interested in property values and economic growth than ensuring everyone is provided for. Society will focus on perceived dangers from those living on the margins instead of focusing on how living that way is a constant state of anxiety, agitation and desperation and the trauma exacerbates mental health struggles and can develop into PTSD. As Peter Moskowitz writes in his book, How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood:

‘Gentrification, at its deepest level, is really about reorienting the purpose of cities away from being spaces that provide for the poor and middle classes and toward being spaces that generate capital for the rich.’

For a book about a inner-city community facing displacement, the cast of characters is rather white which does sort of gloss over that displacement and hardships due to gentrification disproportionately affects people of color and contributes to already troubling financial inequalities. Though that said, I really enjoyed the characters here. Cab does an excellent job at making you empathize with flawed characters. It is a really tragic story but also very human and heartfelt.

I also love the art here. The character designs were great (you can really watch Sam grow more disheveled and looking increasingly unhinged as the story progresses) and I loved the architectural art. Artists that put a big emphasis on architecture in graphic novels tend to be some of my favorite art and it is truly lovely here. Also it is a story about art and creating art, and I love that. As a former street artist myself, I really enjoyed this. Utown really captures the feeling of the city district but seeing it through Sam’s eyes, you can’t help but love it too.

4/5

[on storygraph (macclown) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ADORED this graphic novel. God, I can't stop thinking about it, absolutely wonderful.

The characters felt real, the story had humour and action, there was enough drama an tension to keep you invested, and overall it had such a wonderful message. All about acceptance and growth, creating a community. So, so wonderful.

Not to mention the art! The art style in this was incredible, so gorgeous. The only thing I wish there was really was some colour! I think some pops of colour, maybe just for the chapter start pages, would have been great.

Absolutely superb, I'm so excited for the release of this! Gonna have to get a copy asap!

ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

[Gautier Langevin]

Après Hiver nucléaire, l’autrice nous offre un récit avec un peu moins de mutants, mais rempli de crusty punks ténébreux. Ancré dans l’esprit d’Hocelag’, Utown est un délice comico-tragique sur les affres de l’embourgeoisement des quartiers populaires et les tribulations de l’adolescence. Un moment marquant dans l’oeuvre de Cab, publié chez Nouvelle adresse!

[Ander · Rating 4 out of 5]

La gentrificación de nuestros barrios y pueblos parece un fenómeno imparable en una sociedad progresivamente capitalizada por fondos buitre y grandes empresas extranjeras a las que las políticas neoliberales ponen esos barrios y pueblos en bandeja de plata, dilapidando nuestro patrimonio cultural y social. Los cómics, en tanto que medio de expresión que tiene facilidad para moverse en los márgenes con más voz autoral que empresarial, se ha hecho también eco de la situación, desde su vertiente más ensayística (y nacional) en Todo bajo el sol de Ana Penyas, hasta acercamientos de género más metafóricos como el body horror de Bottomyards (BTTM FDRS), de Ezra Claytan Daniels y Ben Passmore. A esta ola se suma ahora Caroline Breault, alias CAB, con esta Utown .

Los apartamentos en los que habita el desastre de Sam, los últimos auténticamente baratos de Utown, se ha creado cierto ambiente de comuna entre sus habitantes, colaborando en su preservación y con el barrio para una mejor convivencia. Sin embargo, poco después de la llegada a su vida de Edwin, un adolescente que huye de los servicios sociales, el bar donde Sam se crio ha pasado a ser una cafetería hipster y, lo que es peor, al edificio de apartamentos acaba de llegar una orden de desahucio para todos los vecinos, ya que una empresa planea derribarlo para aprovechar las "oportunidades" que puede brindar Utown a una nueva población.

El blanco y negro con sombreados grisáceos que usa CAB en el cómic resulta apropiadísimo para definir a sus personajes, cuya apariencia los clasifica automáticamente en un extremo o en otro, pero la personalidad que demuestran habla de grises, de matices, del conjunto de decisiones complicadas que determinan sus vidas, de los errores y los aciertos que los han forjado, contraponiéndose la blancura de la novedad o de, especialmente, Thom, su mejor amigo, a la oscuridad del propio Sam y su chaqueta negra. En las páginas de Utown encontramos huertos comunitarios y vandalización de mobiliario urbano; búsqueda de oportunidades y decisiones que arrastran al pozo; voluntad de cambio y miedo al cambio... Blancos y negros fundidos en unos protagonistas a los que, en el fondo, une un profundo sentimiento de pertenencia, de comunidad, de empatía y colaboración, de alma y calidez frente a la frialdad de macroempresas sin rostro (pero guardando un pedazo de comprensión para el trabajador que solo busca sacar adelante un nuevo negocio). Utown es disconformidad combativa, es rebeldía juvenil transformada en conciencia social, es amor, amistad y fraternidad frente al desierto emocional de la maquinaria capitalista. Utown es activismo gráfico.

[Irene ➰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

- Huge thanks to the author and publisher for approving me a copy of this book through NetGalley -

I have mixed feelings about this graphic novel.
I had times where I really wanted to know more and others where I wasn't interested enough in the story itself.

It problably took me took long to complete it, as I was reading it in various occasions and all with super small sessions of like even a couple of pages, and all this on and off probably altered my perception of the whole world created by the author.

I liked the drawings, the various characters and the storyline in general, but I found it sometimes too stretched, resulting in me losing interest in reading it.

[Annie Laflèche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Même si ça ne détronne pas Hiver Nucléaire, j'ai adorée ma lecture !! Que du vrai, pas de science-fiction cette fois-ci. J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Sam qui passe son temps à s'auto-saboté. On connait tous un Sam que l'on veut tellement aidé, mais qui ne s'aide pas lui-même. Les gens que l'on veut expulser de leur immeuble de Utown et qui s'unissent pour contester m'a fait un peu penser à Je voudrais qu'on m'efface d'Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, mais la comparaison s'arrête là, puisque l'histoire est différente. Très belle bande dessinée.

[Katy Borges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une BD québécoise, personnages touchants, coup de coeur.

[Kim Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was reasonably good, but gritty, with themes which may resonate better with some readers than with others. It's a combination of stylistic choices and subject matter. There were few characters I could really root for, though it's obvious that their lives have all been hard, and firther that they found community and confidence in different ways than people of privilege might have to choose. Addiction is a big theme. It gives a different perspective on reliability than I had considered.

[Mykaell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellente BD sur la gentrification.

[David Germain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très bon!
Belle histoire touchante et superbes dessins.

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dios me lo he leído en un día y me ha encantado. Nuevo comfort book. Las ilustraciones son geniales

[Annie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personnages complexes. Réalités difficiles. Beaux dessins. On s'attache à chacun d'eux. On rage face aux injustices qu'ils vivent.

[ronnie♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ah yes, the dynamic trio: pretty pictures, starving artists, and punks against gentrification 🤌

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tc

[Valerie Roussel-Lemay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mes attentes étaient trop hautes ! J’en avais beaucoup entendu parler. Par contre, même si ce n’est pas un couo de coeur absolu, j’ai trouvé les personnages vraiment criants de réalisme et touchants.

[Gabríel Einarsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comfy story about artist block, small communities, trying to live up to others expectations and coffee shops.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Misfits have a way of finding one another. For this group of misfits, their home is Utown. It's not the cleanest or nicest neighborhood around, but it's theirs, and that's something! Or is it? Gentrification has a way of ruining everything, especially for those that have the least.

Samuel had always thought that this was a safe haven. Right up until it wasn't. Now he will have to find a new path as an artist. It's his best chance at fighting back. It's either that or a return to his old toxic cycle of bad behaviors.

Review:

To say that the story of Utown was so wholly human would be an understatement. This story has a way of getting under your skin, and I believe that had a lot to do with the characters. Samuel's story is not unique, which makes it resonate. This is something that could happen to anyone.

There is a perfect balance of tension, emotional turmoil, and drama to keep readers invested here. And there's certainly more than enough to keep them rooting for our protagonist. Rooting for the underdog is always fun, right?

I adore the artwork in Utown. I can see why it has been favorably compared to Scott Pilgrim. As a fan of that series, I can safely tell you to check out Utown.

Highlights:
Graphic Novel
Scott Pilgrim vibes

Thanks to Oni Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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[skoob]

The illustration felt so right for the atmosphere and place the author was creating, I am a complete sucker for good world building and I appreciate it whenever I see it. It’s grimy, messy and gothic, but it harmonizes so well that it becomes a place, almost like a stylistic view on a city that I have seen but never grew up in. Thom was my favourite character hands down, while he wanted change from his old way of life, shown through Sam and his friendship with him, you could see how he wanted another life of his own, he never hated Utown, rather the toxicity he associated with its strong roots, which is prominent within Sam. An artist with a low self esteem and a stubborn heart, but it comes off as charming as that is what the heart of the city is. It’s only through Sam’s perspective do we as the audience realize that his addiction and way of cope inflicts direct harm to other people, it’s only then does he see how bad all of was, for something he supposedly has great passion for. His expression for his hate of his own art and habits, comes out to other people more then it does to himself, because the people around him choose to be around him, and seeing thats how he chooses to feel/talk about himself around them, might feel like a reflection of them. ANYWAYS thom becoming a dad and being so happy about it, made me so happy. To see his growth, by not letting go necessarily of his past life, but seeing how being there for the growth of others, made him realize how to grow alongside it all, whether it all changes or not. Also the relationship with ed and sam, ended perfectly, while at first you might have wanted them to hash it out to what they used to have, Sam has a lot of work to do on his own and does not need a literal teenager cleaning up for him, ed looked up to sam, but after everything went down, you realize the relationship was based on mutual blindness, of a better tomorrow, which went on for so long because of a teenager’s naivety and an adult’s old and long habits.

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accidental new shelf graphic novel find #2! Although this did lack some of the emotional resonance of Light Carries On (though UTown did have a better timeline), Cab does a fantastic job depicting how gentrification pushes against "run down" communities, and the effects it has on the people who live in these said communities. Sam was a great protagonist who was stuck in trying to find a "better life" for himself while continuing to make the same decisions. It struck me how this was not only caused by his own attitude, but even in what was happening around him. His friendship with Thom struck me the most in this regard.

Cab's art was another highlight of this read. Her scenery was both comforting and jarring in how UTown can be viewed as a safe haven and danger zone by her cast of characters. Speaking of those, their designs were dynamic and displayed their hearts on their sleeves. Ed's progression was another strong plus. He was able to also find some confidence in himself; it just didn't have to do with Sam (the queer coding never hurts, though).

Some of the characters didn't feel as fleshed out as they could have been. However, I still liked what we saw of them. I'm sure the more I re-read this (and in a shorter time span), there will be more I get out of UTown. It's a community with life and respect, even if it's one wider society would rather forget or replace.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un roman graphique québécois. Samuel est le genre de personne que j'évite dans la vraie vie - c'est un poteux de 24 ans qui fume et boit trop, paresseux, irresponsable, pas fiable, sans ambition... C'est un artiste avec du talent mais il s'auto-sabote. Sa vie s'effondre et j'ai vraiment l'impression qu'il le mérite. Je le trouve très ennuyeux pendant le premier 60% de l'histoire.

Le thème de la gentrification dans les grandes villes est très intéressant. L'impact sur les résidents défavorisés et les travaux font par les organismes communautaires sont explorés dans l'histoire.

Mais finalement, étonnement, on voit que Samuel est capable de changer et de grandir. Je ne sais pas à quel point le développement du personnage soit réaliste, mais c'est touchant et ça fait une bonne histoire. Samuel a plusieurs amis (qui sont beaucoup plus patients que moi) qui lui donnent des encouragements et de l'inspiration, qui se tiennent également responsables de ses erreurs. C'est une belle communauté de misfits qui s'entraident. On ne sait pas ce qui adviendra de Samuel à la fin, mais au moins on voit qu'il est sur la bonne voie, qu'il a de l'espoir.

Also available in English / disponible en español!

[kaitlphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: substance abuse, violence

I had a hard time getting into this story because I was expecting something more whimsical from Cab, like her series Nuclear Winter. Once I committed to getting through this I found Sam's creative block relatable and his cast of supporting characters mostly very charming. Even the "rich guy" Etienne ended up being a good dude.

The story is reasonably dark, especially because Sam self-medicates with drugs and alcohol for much of the story. But the community around him keeps trying to support him through it all.

I loved Ed's character. He's clearly a direction-less kid and Sam isn't a great role model, but their roommate relationship is just the right amount of support that they both need in that moment.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une belle histoire de communauté, de solidarité, et d’évolution face à la gentrification et à la perte.

FLE: peut-être mes élèves AP pourraient comprendre assez pour suivre, avec l’aide des dessins.

Pour référence: Article du McGilldaily sur l’éviction des locataires des lofts Moreau à Hochelga-Maisonneuve à Montréal.

https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2013/09/g...

[itselv:#&309;]

About Sam, who gets a slap on his face, metaphorically and literally, that gets him to wake up and gets his life together after years of slacking off of his responsibilities as an adult. loved the art a lot, I think I found the style I like the most! The story isn’t anything special but i’m hundred percent falling for the vibes.

[Alex Sarll]

Grabbed from Netgalley because of promised parallels with Scott Pilgrim, which isn't entirely incorrect, but imagine if Scott Pilgrim had kicked off with that bit towards the end of the series where it all goes a bit long, dark night of the soul, and suddenly the being a daft wee slacker doesn't seem such a lark anymore. This opens with the lead saying that he no longer knows what to do with himself, wondering why he keeps fucking himself over; the only response is the person at the other end of the call saying they can't deal with his crap anymore, so please stop calling. He's tearing up his artwork, stealing from the till at work to fend off the landlord...none of this comes anywhere within sight of fun, and the other people in the building seem worse, so for all that the art really comes alive on cityscapes, that sense of possibility is always over there, somewhere off in the background, while the foreground is all squalor and tired posing. Which makes it hard to really engage with the purported theme of a rallying cry against gentrification, because if this is all the bohemians have to offer then fuck it, why not price them out and replace it all with lucrative nothingness? I know times are darker now, but is there really so little spark left? Persevering, I did start to develop more sympathy with the cast – but also with the story's main representative of gentrification, the guy who's turned a scuzzy neighbourhood boozer into a fancy coffee place and now wants to buy some local colour to replace everything he got rid of, but who despite everything turns out to be mostly OK. Really, Octopus Pie would be a better point of comparison, though even that has less of a sense of bleakness running quite this close to the surface. At the end, the mood I was left with was one of missing something that probably hadn't ever been all that good anyway, but dammit, it was ours. Perhaps the problem is just that I spend too much time in that mode already.

[It is I · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank you for the ARC of this book which the publisher kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"UTown" by Cab takes readers on a vivid and compelling journey through the lives of a diverse group of misfits residing in a seedy neighbourhood. The graphic novel revolves around Samuel, a twenty-four-year-old aspiring artist and part-time video store clerk, who finds himself grappling with the encroachment of gentrification on his beloved community.

Cab skillfully captures the essence of the neighbourhood, immersing readers in its gritty atmosphere and painting a vibrant picture of its inhabitants. Through the unique perspectives and experiences of the characters, "UTown" delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the struggle to navigate the challenges of adulthood.

Samuel, as the central protagonist, is a relatable and flawed character whose journey reflects the universal desire to hold on to the familiar and resist change. As gentrification threatens the only home he has ever known, Samuel must confront his own fears and confront the reality that the place he grew up in is rapidly transforming.

The artwork in "UTown" is both visually striking and evocative, effectively conveying the raw emotions and complexities of the story. Cab's skilful use of panel layouts and the interplay between visuals and dialogue creates a dynamic reading experience, immersing readers in the narrative and bringing the characters to life.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time to act! Samuel is twenty-four and slouches through life. He lives in a derelict building, dropped out of college and he doesn’t have a career. He has friends, community and talent as an artist and is content to coast through life, but all this changes when gentrification arrives with diggers, demolition trucks and plans for new expensive apartments. Samuel realises he needs to wake up and smell the coffee which he does from the new trendy cafe round the corner. His small world and comfortable life are about to change for good.

This is a great book. I liked the way it captures the opportunities and crises that gentrification can bring. A new lease of life for some, but destruction for others who are often the poor and powerless. Living in a major global city, I can see first hand how gentrification can affect neighbourhoods.

The artwork is good and has a way of conveying the edginess of the story and the hopelessness of poor communities in the face of the power of developers and government. It is a good story which drew me in and held my interest to the very end. Highly recommended.

Copy provided by Oni Press in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel about finding and taking care of your home and self. When a queer teen moves into town to escape a bad living situation, Samuel takes him under is wing and starts to teach him all that's wrong with the world - gentrification, bougie coffee houses and bars, having no one love your town like you do. Samuel drinks too much, stays up to late and can't seem to make (or keep) enough money. He's your typical, burnout slacker in his 20s - full of potential that he doesn't harness into greatness.

As the neighborhood deals with gentrification and his building is marked for demolition, Samuel spirals into his bad habits and jeopardizes his and other's well-being. He pushes people away and self-sabotages the opportunities in front of him. Samuel must pull himself together to help his hometown, his friends, and most importantly himself.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una novela gráfica emotiva y realista que habla sobre problemáticas que están a la orden del día como son la gentrificación y el encarecimiento de la vida en general. A pesar del tono tan melancólico y la tristeza implicada en la historia, la autora plasma muy bien el espíritu de lucha de los protagonistas y el sentimiento de comunidad que transmiten.

Visualmente me pareció una joyita, en especial los diseños de los escenarios que muestran esa parte "decadente" pero a la vez tan auténtica del barrio. Al ver a los personajes es inevitable pensar en Bryan Lee O’Malley aunque encuentro que los trazos de CAB son mucho más desenfadados y algo sucios encajando perfectamente con la historia.

Disfruté muchísimo de los personajes y de cómo van desarrollándose a través de la historia. La lectura se me hizo muy amena y es un cómic con bastante ritmo, ¡sin duda lo recomiendo!

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This graphic novel reminds me of Scott Pilgrim to an extent, but more than anything, it reminds me of Night in the Woods. The same feeling of wanting to just live a good life with your friends, but your town slowly is crumbling around you. I really do like how every character is written! They all feel like they could be real people, and they feel like people you could know. The overall plot feels achingly familiar, as anyone whose been pushed out of their neighborhood due to gentrification will understand. The helpless rage of being unable to stop the gentrification of your town, seeing everything you use to know suddenly change and being forced to accept your fate. I live in a town where most of the housing is getting bought out by companies or the rich and all are being turned into rentals or AirBnB's, and I'm always mad when I see another generic condo. This felt like a slice-of-life story, but with a sadder tone to it. The plot pace is fairly slow, but not mind-numbingly slow. Sam was easy to empathize with, and his mentality is relatable in a sad way. I loved the art style. It reminds me of Scott Pilgrim, but more scratchy, it felt like it was drawn with an old-style ink pen.

[Aurora Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of my favorite comics of all time. The characters, through their individual struggles, mirror the city itself as it struggles through gentrification—parallel identity crises of people and place, deeply intermingled.

Not only does the main character struggle with self worth and "deserving better," but also with others' accepted definition of "better": unfamiliar, elitist, fake, and uncomfortable for individual and neighborhood alike.

I feel like I've met all of these guys in real life.