Spa

by Erik Svetoft, Melissa Bowers (translator)

Somewhere in northern Europe, a five-star spa and conference hotel caters to anyone who can afford it. But, at every turn, where luxuriance should reign, things are amiss. A demanding VIP client disappears without a trace. A business seminar is cut short. A young official gets lost looking for his room. A socially outcast masseuse struggles to find acceptance. Two lovers struggle to escape the horror of everyday life — which includes horrific apparitions routinely haunting them. An egocentric manager doubts himself. Abused employees accept their sad fate. Curious inspectors come to settle their accounts.
Meanwhile, mysterious moisture damage is spreading. Amidst the extravagant decor, black and viscous liquid flows slowly in the labyrinthine alleys of the resort and trickles down the walls. Hot and humid, the dampness is suffocating. Mold sets in and with it skin diseases, hallucinations, ghosts, malevolent spirits, hybrid creatures, and other monsters both dead and alive. Spa is a horrific graphic novel debut marked by grotesque and whimsical humor.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Manga

328 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2021

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t get this. It was just random things happening at this spa. There was no thru line or story to speak of. The characters all had the same doltish, fugly look.

[Ivy Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absurdly terrifying while evoking a comic anxiety. Reminiscent of Spirited Away & Grand Budapest Hotel- but with a gnarly spin. Such a fan of the art style as well- it’s so visceral and raw. Excited to see what comes next from this Swedish graphic novelist.

[David Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Som en svensk Junji Ito.

[Alenna Burleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to explain what went on in this book….

This story is about an all inclusive resort where people can come and truly relax. We follow multiple people, the owner and some of his employees to some of the guests and what they are up too. From a guest who can’t quite seem to find his room to an employee who must be shamed and trained properly if he wants to work at that fine establishment.

This was such a good graphic novel, I genuinely loved every single panel, every character. This was beautifully drawn and the story was so eerie and genuinely hilarious at the same time which is such a hard thing to pull off. I cannot praise this enough this was such a wild and fun ride!! Definitely one of my top reads of the year!!

[B.J. Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

People will either love or hate this depending on their sense of humour and whether they appreciate the art style. I loved it. Creepy, surreal, and darkly funny, with dashes of cosmic horror. Some parts had me laughing out loud, whilst at other times I found myself in awe of the evocative nightmare imagery. Went great with Goblin's Contamination and Zombi soundtracks as backing music.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strange, anxious book. With oddly detailed and unsettling illustrations, this loosely plotted book evokes a sense of dread more than a linear narrative. From the perspectives of the manager, HR representative, employees, and clients, we follow the growth and unease literally growing in the bowels and pools of this spa, almost as though it's an algae.

Great great great graphic novel, perfect for the spooky season.

[Chr*s Browning]

sometimes fantagraphics will just publish the stupidest shit

[Przemysław Skoczyński · Rating 3 out of 5]

Przy okazji recenzji o „SPA” uświadomiłem sobie, że praktycznie nie znam twórczości Von Triera, z kolei pisanie o Lynchu w notatkach o „dziwnych komiksach” jest jednym z najbardziej wyświechtanych zabiegów w historii świata. Dzieło Erika Svetofta wpisuje się za to świetnie w szerszy kontekst współczesnej krytyki branży wellness, z „Białym Lotosem” i wspaniałym „W trójkącie” – Rubena Ostlunda na czele. Są tu elementy body horroru w stylu Conenberga i trochę mangi Junji Ito, choć rysunkowo widzę chyba silniejsze nawiązania do surowego i statycznego stylu „Nejishiki” – Yoshiharu Tsuge.

Całość oczywiście może zaintrygować i po części tak się dzieje, problem jest jednak taki, że te wszystkie elementy i inspiracje nie składają się na jakąś sensowną fabułę. Prawdopodobnie poczujesz charakterystyczny niepokój, wynikający z mieszanki horroru i parodii, który sprawi, że uznasz „SPA” za coś większego, niż to, czym w istocie jest, ale paradoksalnie w całym tym ciągu okropieństw zabrakło pomysłu na większe zaangażowanie szarych komórek odbiorcy. Niby warto, choć lekki zawód

[Méli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish they would have kept the same red details found in the french translation to the english translation.

[Anna Boklys]

поки без оцінки, бо про цей графічний роман треба подумати🤔

[Andreas Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ett gift par beslutar sig för att boka en avkopplande weekend på ett förstklassigt spa- och konferenshotell. Dels för att varva ner och tänka på något annat i ett par dagar men mest för att komma bort från lägenheten, som kanske är deras, vilken är full av ruttnande gamla lik. Det är inte bara parets verklighet som vacklar. Även det exklusiva spahotellet befinner sig i ett stadium av förruttnelse bakom de smäckert utformade badanläggningarna, de bländande leendena och den ypperliga servicen. Bakom fasaderna, både hos gästerna och personalen men också själva byggnaden, börjar sammanbrottet…en fuktskada som äter sig genom märg och murbruk.

Erik Svetoft har ett särpräglat och stilistiskt fulländat bildspråk som resulterat i fyra fulländade serieböcker - "Limbo", "Hakken", "Mondo" och "Domus" - som svämmar över av detaljer, mustiga färger och bisarra groteskerier, alla löst sammanhållna, ordlösa utflykter i en drömliknande värld. I Svetofts femte bok Spa (Sanatorium Förlag) spänner han musklerna ytterligare med sitt hittills mest ambitiösa projekt: en psykologisk och existensiell thriller i svart-vitt med blodröda inslag där verkligheten sakta men säkert förvandlas till en mardröm.

Till skillnad mot Svetofts övriga verk från Sanatorium Förlag så bjuder Spa på en sammanhållen berättelse med dialog men handlingen förs alltid framåt och domineras av bilderna. Vi får lära känna en mängd mer eller mindre knepiga karaktärer, som den nitiske spa-direktören med faderskomplex, en ung tjänsteman på tjänstekonferens som går vilse, en massör som förtvivlat försöker närma sig sina avvisande kollegor och en nyanställd som utsätts både för pennalism och mobbing. Förruttnelsen i väggarna präglar inte minst arbetsmiljön med en tydligt hierarkisk organisation där alla sparkar neråt men Svetoft använder sig också av nollställda ansikten vilket för tankarna till ett bisarrt maskspel.

Det är lätt att dra jämförelser med Lars von Triers Riket när spahotellet närmast får ett eget liv och övernaturliga och bisarra händelser driver människorna till vansinnets kant men här finns också ett härligt drag av David Cronenberg med en raserad verklighet, utanförskap och brutal body horror som skulle ge även den kanadensiske filmregissören mardrömmar. För att skruva till denna härlighet ytterligare så levererar Svetoft även slapstick och klassiskt våld à la Tom och Jerry i form av två komiska och odugliga VVS-reparatörer.

Spa är både en bisarr rysare och en stilistisk fullträff som befäster Erik Svetoft ställning som en av Sveriges mest unika serieskapare.

[VeggieMan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews often but this graphic novel just isn’t it for me. I picked it up because of its Junji Ito vibe but I feel like that’s an insult to his work. The horror illustrated in this graphic novel was great and I would say that aspect is similar, but like some of the other reviews, there was no plot and it was confusing. The simplistic art style wasn’t the problem, it was how similar the characters looked. Some characters were hard to differentiate. I don’t mind mindless stories, but nothing really made much sense to me and not in a good way.

The only things I really liked about it were those plumber twins, they were really funny, and how the horror was drawn. I would’ve given it 3 stars to be generous but no thanks

[Aleena · Rating 3 out of 5]

No plot just vibes and the vibes are rancid. My face the whole time 😦

[Andrew Shaffer]

Like David Lynch in that it makes sense to no one but the author. 🐷🐷🐷🐷

[Bill Hsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this on some "best surreal graphic novels" list. But I knew I had to check it out ASAP when I saw reviews like:

It was just random things happening at this spa. There was no thru line or story to speak of. The characters all had the same doltish, fugly look.

I really enjoyed the sustained dream-like and unsettling atmosphere, the slow, steady pace, and the little bizarre eruptions. I thought it could have been a bit tighter, and the ending sequences could have been more restrained; hence 3 rather than 4 stars.

I'm impatiently waiting for the new Michael DeForge, hoping for more random things happening, and fugly-looking characters. All skillfully executed, of course.

[Johan Thilander]

Spirited Away via Junji Ito.

Läst jämte Svetofts helt fantastiska konstbok Koloss.

[Mary_ame · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Il manquait du dialogue/ de la narration et les planches n'étaient pas suffisantes pour supporter l'intrigue. Pareil pour les personnages et le spa, on ne comprend pas vraiment leurs intentions (le spa était le "personnage" le plus intéressant.)
Dommage, le style est très beau.

[Senga krew_w_piach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Co za poje…y komiks 😂❤️ „SPA” to jakby Lars von Trier napisał scenariusz „Białego Lotosu”, a do wykonania rysunków zaprosił ekipę od tworzenia plakatów na crustpunkowe koncerty 😃
Jest to klasyczne dzieło gatunku new wierd, łączące zgrabnie horror, komedię i komentarz społeczny, ale nie spodziewajcie się znaleźć tu większego sensu, rzeczy wynikających z siebie nawzajem, jakiegokolwiek porządku, spójnej historii. Tu wszystko co nietypowe, śmieszne, groteskowe, niespodziewane, spada na czytelniczkę bez uprzedzenia. Jak łatwo się domyślić po tytule autor stworzył dzieło, które jest satyrą na kulturę wellnes i sposoby spędzenia czasu zamożnej klasy średniej i wyższej, zahaczając o śmieszki z firmowych wyjazdów integracyjnych, jednak nie sili się na pogłębioną analizę, krytyczne wnioski i podsumowania. Komiks utrzymany jest w konwencji serialowej, zawiera kilka luźnych wątków, zbiór scenek, które dzieją się równolegle i nie przynoszą na koniec żadnego rozwiązania. Rozumiem, dlaczego dla wielu recenzentów jest to problem - jak ktoś się tak wydurnia, to lepiej żeby miał do tego dobry powód i ukryty cel, bo inaczej będziemy mieli go za głupka. Dla mnie jednak w kategoriach czysto rozrywkowych ten komiks jest świetny, ubawiłam się przednio, nie raz byłam zaskoczona wyobraźnią Erika Svetofta i celnością obserwacji. Jeśli lubicie jak jest dziwnie, polecam!

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

To what end?

[Executionereniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keby mali Majling a Junji dieťa, toto by bol ten spolužiak, ktorý by ho šikanoval.

[maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

weird!!!! bizarre!!!! creepy yucky goopy illustrations with off dialog that made me chuckle quite a few times. confusing!! fun!!!

[Jessica Mae Stover]

Note at a little over halfway through. Weird. I.e. for weird fiction lovers (such as me).

2024

[Michael Bohli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein grafischer Grusel im "Spa". Die Graphic Novel von Erik Svetoft ist experimentell gestaltet, folgt nicht einer üblichen Struktur und findet immer wieder Momente der Ruhe, in denen ganzseitige Illustrationen zum Innehalten und Details entdecken einladen.

Krude Figuren, Monster, gruslige Geschehnisse und die Ignoranz der Oberschicht finden auf aufregende Weise zusammen.

[Chris Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second graphic novel published in 2023 - this one via Fantagraphics, too. Weird, dark and twisted story about a very shady five-star spa. Breezed right through this.

[Stijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. Lynch, yes; Ito, probably. But it's own nightmarish style and nonsense dialogue. This European realism and dryness makes as an European even more relatable or 'hooked' than other styles, I believe. A must-read, must-have for weird fiction enthousiasts.

[Online Stig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Som om deforge, forsman och donner fick en liten bortbyting ihop. Kul!

[𓆩♡𓆪]

Läskig! Kul! Gillade!! Senkapitalistisk dystopi. Massa roliga o skarpa hån mot företagskultur t ex

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically this is about a creepy spa. The art is excellent and compliments the narrative well. The blurb on the back namechecks Ito and Lynch, which definitely feel like points of inspiration for the author.

I was hoping the book would do more/say more with its premise of a place of healing and rejuvenation actually having negative effects on its clientele, like Todd Haynes' Safe or even Cronenberg's The Brood, but still, it's a good time. Much like Lynch and Ito, it's more concerned with the 'whoa, weird' of it all.

The part where the employee has to put on a pig nose and all his coworkers oink around him was a highlight.

[Lisa Frankenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sauna-induced fever dream with more desiccated corpses than you’d expect in a setting so focused on skincare. The puppy-face trio’s innocent yet sinister appearances are hauntingly comedic, and the creepy muppet plumber twins could easily carry a whole graphic novel on their clammy shoulders.

["Robert Ekberg" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Men rolig.