The Coyote and the Snake

by Matz, Philippe Xavier (Illustrator)

USA, 1970. Joe is driving his camper in the wide open spaces of the Wild West. He makes several acquaintances along the way: a small coyote, to start with, but also local thugs, F.B.I. agents, a U.S. Marshal, old friends who seem to be more or less trustworthy... But who is this good ol' Joe? Those who cross his path tend to see their life expectancy dangerously decrease...

Genres: Comics, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2022

About the author

"Matz" is the pseudonym for French writer Alexis Nolent. He has written scripts for video games, a novel, and as Matz, a number of comics including Triggerman by Walter Hill. His graphic novel, Du plombe dan la tete a.k.a. Headshot, was adapted into the 2012 film, Bullet To The Head.


See http://www.dargaud.com/bd/Auteurs/Matz for a bio in French.

Reviews

[mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Coyote and the Snake is a crime thriller graphic novel set in the 70s. Joe is driving in his camper through the desert. His only companion is a young coyote. Along the way, we learn who Joe is and why he is wandering through the Wild West.

The art is very good.

Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

[marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solidan krimić koji je najbolje čitati uz Morikoneovu muziku za potpuni ugođaj. Jasno se može uočiti uticaj Leonea, Tarantina, te i braće Koen, a povremeno se oseti i slab trag Keruaka i to naročito u tipičnom američkom putopisnom smislu.

[Dávid Novotný · Rating 5 out of 5]

One piece from the early days of U.S. Federal Witness Protection Program. Old ex-Mafia informant is hiding in the desserts of Arizona and Utah, travelling in caravan. He is telling his life story to the stray dog he found somewhere on the road.

This is ganger/Mafia story told from a different angle. There is still quite enough action in it. But wandering through vast and mostly empty country, accompanied only by dog who cannot agree or disagree, just barks, gives it some nice, almost peaceful feeling.

What puts this book to another level is art. Simple lines, and warm colours of desert are adding to overall atmosphere. There are beautiful whole page panels depicting notorious landscapes of the west of the USA. But whole work with panels it just great. Combining big and small ones, keeping the pace and focus, holding the whole tone of the comics. Book you want to own and just flip through it from time to time...

[Marek Osvald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dustland Fairytale

The Coyote and the Snake is a great crime thriller taking place in the desert states of the USA. Or, as Brandon Flowers puts it, Dustland. While I’m not the biggest fan of desert aesthetics, the coloring really sells the overall vibe.

The main character is a criminal with a heart of gold, an old timer from the romanticized times of bootlegging and the prohibition mafia. His no-nonsense, I-only-hurt-the-bad-guys attitude is a bit cliché but makes the story work.

At times, the story can be a bit exposition-heavy. My suspension of disbelief was a bit bumpy at times, especially near the end of the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the comics and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first 'comic' in 65 years and it was 'first class'. An extremely interesting story that kept you turning the pages - finished in one sitting. The art work is brilliant bringing everything together in the comic novel. Well done to both Matz and Philippe Xavier and Europe Comics. Recommended read to all Comic Crime Thriller readers and worthy of five stars.

[Dusan Prvacki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jako naporan krimić.

[Sacha Declomesnil]

Une magnifique balade dans le désert ouest américain et une plongée dans la pègre des années 70 avec en toile de fond la mise en place historiquement recherchée du programme de protection des témoins. Mafieux de haut vol, petits truands de brooklyn, loubards des docks, flics pourris et avocats véreux côtoient un assassin repenti aux méthodes expéditives et même un gentil coyote des mythiques canyons de l’Utah. Un mélange entre un western des temps modernes à la Sergio Leone et un road trip à travers la Cosa Nostra.
Une perle du roman noir par 2 géants de la BD dans cette magnifique Collection Signé qui ne déçoit jamais.

[Filip Marinković · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solidan krimić, podseća na filmove iz devedesetih, kad su trileri još uvek imali radnju, a ne samo CGI jurnjave i eksplozije. Dijalog je ponegde nespretno realizovan, da ne kažem da zvuči neprirodno, no verujem da je tako i u originalu.

[Aleksa Stamenković · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zahvaljujem se mom prijatelju Nikoli za ovaj fenomenalni strip!

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Clin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jolie balade aux Etats Unis dans cette BD. Une histoire intéressante et le dessin est sympa.

[Bast8tor · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai bien aimé l'histoire, l'ambiance est très bien retranscrite, plutôt plaisante comme BD

[Bruno Menetrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les auteurs, l'album (142 pages, 2023) :
Philippe Xavier est un dessinateur formé sur le continent américain à la publicité et au graphisme.
Matz (Alexis Nolent) est un scénariste que l'on connait bien : c'est celui de la série Le Tueur, dont on retrouve ici quelques caractéristiques (monologues en voix off, ...) et de quelques autres albums remarquables, souvent des coups de cœur.
Tous deux sont régulièrement aux commandes d'une série d'albums : Tango, dont on reparlera certainement.
Voici donc Le serpent et le coyote, tout un programme !

On aime :
❤️ Les BD "à texte" de Matz qui sait jouer les "écrivains" et qui s'y entend pour nous faire partager la route d'un coyote solitaire comme on les aime : on ne se lasse pas de ces monologues ou de ces dialogues, de ce ton sec et nerveux qui claque et qui est celui des meilleurs romans noirs US.
❤️ Les cadrages "home cinema" de Xavier et la mise en couleurs soignée : les paysages US de l'Arizona ou du Colorado y sont fort bien exploités et les effets de zoom dynamisent les images tout comme l'histoire.
Même si, je cite : [le moment est mal venu pour faire le malin avec des références cinématographiques à la con].

Le contexte :
Les auteurs se sont emparés d'un thème cher au polar noir : le programme US de protection des témoins, le WITSEC (le Witness Security Program) qui offre, aux frais de l'État, une seconde vie aux truands qui acceptent de témoigner contre de pires truands. Un dispositif qui a connu des débuts difficiles quand il a été mis en place à la fin des années 60 mais qui a permis quelques victoires contre le crime organisé : c'est tout cela qui est évoqué dans cet album.

L'intrigue :
Dans son camping-car, "Joe" (c'est son nom aujourd'hui, comme celui de tous les témoins protégés du Witsec), parcourt le désert US entre Arizona et Utah. Il aura bientôt la compagnie d'un coyote à qui il peut raconter sa vie mouvementée.
Sur les traces de "Joe", on trouve bien sûr ses anciens amis qui ne lui veulent pas que du bien mais aussi les marshalls qui veulent le faire témoigner dans un nouveau procès ...
Pour celles et ceux qui aiment les mauvais garçons repentis.

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old man in a camper hiding in a desert. Who is he? Why is he hiding? These are questions that Matz explores in this book.

This was actually really interesting and hit the right tone for a "noir" book. The mysterious protagonist, the loveable sidekick, and the past that threatens to catch up to our titular character. Matz did a great job introducing us to the characters and the world, then slowly revealing what came before to get us to where we are now. With the Scorsese-esque story unfolding slowly but surely, the plot was interesting and captivating enough to keep the momentum even during the slower parts of the book.

The highlight however, is the art by Philippe Xavier who's art brings the world to life. Man, this guy can really draw. From his character work, to his action scenes, the set pieces and landscapes, the whole book looks really great and it's down to the art. Great art on this one.

Overall, the book is a bit predictable, but still entertaining. I would recommend this for people who like their comics with a bit of "noir" in them.

[Emre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amerika, 1970. Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois ve daha bir sürü yer... Joe, önceki adıyla Guiseppe, bir itirafçı ve tabiri caizse "yalnız kovboy" olarak takılan bir adam, bir de çölde bulduğu bir yavru köpeği var. Köpek zannettiği hayvan aslında bir çakal. 1930'lu yıllardan itibaren bir grup arkadaşıyla birlikte illegal bir sürü işe girişmiş, çok para kazanmış, işler kötü gitmeye başlayınca ihale ona kalmış. Çareyi itirafçı olmakta bulmuş ve adını Joe olarak değiştirerek, hiçliğin ortasında, tek başına bir hayat sürmeye başlamış.

Peşine düşenler, eski sevgili, uzun zamandır görüşmediği kızı, yozlaşmış polis gibi bu türün olmazsa olmazları yerini alınca okuması keyifli ama özgün olmayan bir metin ortaya çıkmış.

[Roeliox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onderhoudend misdaadverhaal gepend door Matz (bekend van de reeks 'Le Tueur') en getekend in de stijl die doet denken aan Largo Winch/XIII door Xavier.

Het verhaal bevat enkele waargebeurde elementen die te maken hebben met de invoering van het 'witness protection program' in de VS.

De dialogen zijn wel redelijk cliché. Ook het gebruik van een dier als plot device, waaraan het hoofdpersonage zijn verleden uit de doeken doet is al 100 keer gedaan.

3,5 *

[David Lefebvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’aime beaucoup le trait réaliste de Philippe Xavier, qui s’approche en qualité de Ralph Meyer. L’histoire est intéressante, quoique quelques béquilles scénaristiques et quelques rares bouts de dialogue viennent légèrement teinter la lecture. En plus de quelques bulles qu’on doit lire à la loupe, malgré le format de la BD… Mais généralement une excellente lecture.

[Marko Djurdjevic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nedostaje nekih pedesetak stranica da dobijemo uverljiviju karakterizaciju likova i produbljen origin story koji je dosta kratak. Crtež je vrlo lep, zanimljivo je da svako poglavlje ima svoju paletu boja i to je izuzetno efektno. Strip je vrlo atmosferičan. U opisu je povezan sa Tarantinom ali bih ga pre povezao sa Koen braćom. Solidna priča, malo zbrzana.

[Ushnav Shroff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely interesting story that kept you turning the pages - finished in one sitting. The art work is brilliant bringing everything together in the novel. Well done to both Matz and Philippe Xavier and Europe Comics.

[Comicland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe’s conversation with his pet reminds me of the Killer’s inner thoughts. Matz is a great writer. Xavier’s art is just awesome. Absolutely highly recommended.

[Saifullah Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey of a mixed breed of dog and coyote with a man who used to a mafia.Crime,politics and friendship,a perfect combination and a solid script for film adaptation.

[JamesJayWilliamsJr · Rating 5 out of 5]

dt. Die Schlange und der Kojote

[Marko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mlako...
Nisam imao ni jedan jedini razlog da navijam za glavnog lika...

[Patrice Poncelet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

[Ric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le dessin est intéressant scénario basique

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A graphic novel that is rather enjoyable, but on reflection isn't as good as it thinks it is, nor as good as it seems at first. Joe is a hardened old codger in a campervan in the wilds of the US deserts, who manages to adopt a coyote-x-tame dog puppy, which allows him to talk – and talk, and talk – about his life. For once upon a time he was big in organised crime, and is permanently on the move now as part of his testimony against his former colleagues and resulting place in witness protection. But the powers that be need to keep him under their thumb, as a retrial is imminent and one of the other main witnesses has just been despatched.

At first it's decently engaging seeing the man yack to the coyote cross, but once he's had his extended flashback into Mafia stereotypes we see it really is a contrivance the book needed, and however nice the budding friendship might appear it is just something that is there for different reasons. It all could have been different – we could have seen the man's character through action, not monologue after monologue – although one later beat when we think he's addressing the mutt and he's not is a benefit from the approach.

Elsewhere, we can see the author – who has a part-credit in his own translation – doesn't know when characters can just be allowed to shut up. One short scene might as well have been scripted as follows:-
Conversation with men A, B and C, where C makes A and B suspicious. Conversation ends, then...
Shot of A and B being left feeling suspicious.
Dialogue – A to B – "I feel suspicious…"
It's a good job Joe can talk to his canine friend properly, for some people here just cannot talk without exposition or like actual humans do.

That said, the historical basis of all this – the actual birth and actual moral debate about the criminal protection goings-on – is a flavour to the book I've not tasted elsewhere. Things can leave their lull in fine ways at times – there's a fight in a pet shop that will never be filmed these days with animal protection laws etc, and Joe can prove himself suitably adept at staying both alive and on the right side of things morally. I didn't dislike my time with him, nor the dog, but I did see their extended time together as a bit of a verbose ruse, in the hope this felt startlingly different from other such stories. It didn't, so this is three and a half stars on a good day.