Contre la bande dessinée by Jochen Gerner
One year after the demise of the journal L’Etrialette, the Critical Collection of L’Association is getting back on track for Angoulême 2008 with two new titles, one in drawing and the other in the text. It’s inevitable that people will discuss this exceptional work by Jochen Gerner. Although it implies that Gerner has written a furious pamphlet there against this beloved and failing Ninth Art, its inflammatory title is actually misleading.
Jochen Gerner has gathered hundreds of quotes, statements, or press excerpts referencing comic strips, comics, or comics over a long period of time and in anticipation of this work (most frequently displaying contempt, condescension, complete incomprehension, or profound stupidity). He then re-orchestrated this material into a reflection in images that speaks more about the perception of comics in our culture than any pamphlet. To be able to convey the typical aberration with which this kind of communication is typically and frequently seen, an author had to be as fun as he was conceptual, as acute as he was an observer, and as Oubapian as he was critical.
Contre la bande dessinée by Jochen Gerner
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Contra La Bande Dessinée is more of a collection of text and images than a comic book. He interests me, in my opinion. There doesn’t seem to be anything he can’t draw in this charming, simple manner he possesses, and his language is exquisitely condensed. Frenchman Jochen Gerner is. It’s a collection of quirky, humorous, and absurd graphic essays addressing many facets of comics. I appreciate his straightforwardness, gorgeous artwork, and absurdly scientific approach to things, as seen on a page where he lists every sound effect a comic book writer may use.
