Review -- GRANDVILLE

Grandville
Written by Bryan Talbot
Pencils by Bryan Talbot
Dark Horse Comics
I have to start this review by simply stating that whenever a graphic novel is afforded the luxury of a hardcover printing, it just gains a level of aesthetic enjoyment that is difficult to explain. I suppose in part it’s the satisfaction of seeing a medium I’ve loved for years reach the acceptance level to warrant hardcover treatment.
As you may have guessed by now Grandville is a hardcover. It has a ‘leather-look’ cover, with raised lettering, which gives it an old-book look and feel. That is again an esthetic plus.
However, a cover only attracts the eye to a book. What’s inside is ultimately what’s important.
In this case creator Bryan Talbot has created a tale which draws on a number of classic elements.
The main character Detective Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard is equal parts Sherlock Holmes and James Bond, and oh yes did I mention he’s a badger.
Yep, Talbot has populated the story with talking critters, who all hold a higher station in life in this alternate reality tale than do humans. That in itself is not new either, but it does add to the fun. Anthropomorphic tales are generally fun romps.
And while this is a rather gritty detective story with blood splashes on a few pages, one can’t help but get a few smiles either.
The setting is a ‘steampunk’ one, set in a more or less Victorian age, in a reality where England and France are not on good terms -- OK that’s pretty standard too.
The art here is lavish and striking, and that will bring a lot of readers to Grandville. Once you get into the story you will enjoy it as a detective yarn in the grandest tradition.
Talbot said a number of classic tales were in his mind as Grandville took shape.
“I got the original idea while looking at a book of illustrations by the early 19th century French artist Jean Ignace Isadore Gerard, who worked under the pen name JJ Grandville. He did many drawings of anthropomorphic animals in then contemporary dress,” said Talbot. “Britain also has a long tradition of anthropomorphic comic characters and I grew up reading comics like Rupert the Bear, Harold Hare and Korky the Cat. By the way, the apparent suicide near the beginning of the story takes place in Rupert Bear’s village, Nutwood, and you can see his dad gardening in the background. So Rupert was a big influence, as was Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows.
“The French illustrator Albert Robida was another. He was really the first science fiction artist and something of a visionary.
“Other influences are the Sherlock Holmes stories of Conan Doyle and some of Quentin Tarantino’s films.”
Talbot said the development of Grandville was really quite a departure for him in as much as everything fell into place rather quickly in terms of story and design.
“I usually think about graphic novels for a long while before starting them, often for years, but in this case I had the idea in one big rush and sat down and wrote the first draft of the script in a week,” he said. “It was like taking dictation. I was so excited by it I had to do it as my next book.”
The art style came along easily too.
“I did a sample illustration in the style I used in the book at the same time that I did the proposal, so that publishers could get an idea of what the artwork would look like,” said Talbot.
The final result is one the creator is rightfully proud of.
“I’m extremely happy with both. I’ve never really done a book like it,” said Talbot.
For the fans of Inspector LeBrock, and that is likely to be anyone who gives Grandville a read, the good news it that there is more to come.
“In Grandville Mon Amour, Detective Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard is pitted against a crazed serial killer, an urban guerrilla fighter who’s an old adversary,” said Talbot.
The creator added “there are some sample pages and a trailer here: http://www.bryan-talbot.com/grandville/index.php#grandvilletourdates
Check it out, this is one well worth picking up.
-- CALVIN DANIELS

-- Appeared on Yorkton This Week WebXtra