Thursday, May 14, 2020

Graphic novel spotlight - Saturday and Sunday: Rock Heaven

Saturday and Sunday Rock Heaven by Fabien Vehlmann

If you read many European comic you begin to recognize a sort of random quality to the narrative absent from their American counterparts. Fans of Asterix and Tintin will find similarities in Saturday and Sunday. At face value, this is a story about a pair of friends having a low level adventure around their home, talking to other residents and exploring their island. At heart, it's an exploration of existential questions. These characters are asking about the nature of life and our purpose on this planet, seeking wise figures and sources of knowledge. Most of their attempts at an answer are met with silliness, but for the most part that humor adds to the meaning. The cartoony style, reminiscent of the Smurfs, belie  the complexity of the topic. While it doesn't find any real answers it does reassure the reader that these questions are a normal part of life and that none of us are alone.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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