I admit – since I hadn’t read French illustrator Blexbolex’s first book Dog Crime, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow his latest book – No Man’s Land. I didn’t have to worry though. Turns out that Dog Crime was a precursor to his latest book – one that was 3 years in the making. (For those who don’t know, his first book is now out of stock and I’m still trying to get a hold of a copy!)
The first thought when I opened the book was WOW. A total 140 pages of pure, unadulterated WOW. Printed in three spot colors to achieve an almost screen printed-like property (which was the artist’s signature style); each page of the book holds an illustrative narrative that brings you along a ride so surreal that you can’t argue with its experimental tagline. And it doesn’t disappoint.
The story starts with our main character – the detective from the first book. Sequences of events have led him to commit suicide – but the firing of two bullets didn’t quite end his life. And thus we’re treated to a whirlwind ride down memory lane and beyond, as he grapples for survival.
It’s storyline isn’t straightforward or linear – it took me back and forth on a mad adventure of the mind; one that can be a little unsettling yet riveting. The illustrations were beautiful and the thought of Blexbolex drawing each individual print for each page of the book made me gasp out loud a few times. I also found myself being extra careful to ensure that each matte page remained pristine – I felt that the book was like a work of art and I had merely gained an entry pass.
You can get your copy directly from NoBrow!
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Happy weekend everyone!
