Synopses & Reviews
Set in a suburb that is both nowhere and everywhere, is a glorious bastard, combining the intricacy and subtlety of the best European graphic novels with a hyperdetailed, controlled noir style derived from the finest American cartoonists. Mezzo and Pirus, previously best known in Europe for a series of cynical, brutal gangster stories, have abandoned their guns and gals for this cycle of suburban stories, but in the violence has just (for the most part) been interiorized. first appears to be a series of unrelated short stories, each starring (and narrated by) a different protagonist, but it soon becomes obvious that these seemingly disparate episodes weave together to form a single complex narrative, with events that are only glimpsed (or even referred to) revisited from different perspectives--revolving around Eric, a ne'er-do-well, drug-taking teenager at war with his stepfather and, apparently, the whole world. (He is the titular King.) is designed as a trilogy of albums, which will combine to form a single graphic novel of stunning intricacy and intensity. (Vol. 2, "The Beginning of All Things," will be released by Fantagraphics in the Summer of 2010.)
Review
"This hardcover features a series of short stories which at first seem completely unrelated but eventually begin to tie together to reveal a larger picture of depravity, lust, drug abuse and other sinister events taking place in a town that is utterly surreal and terrifyingly familiar." Chad Derdowski
Review
" is a very surreal and unsettling tale. Prius does a wonderful job creating a horror-driven universe that could really happen in real life... [I]t's definitely worth picking up if you enjoy dark tales of the human psyche." Mania
Review
"[A] darkly compelling, twisted, beautifully illustrated account of the broken souls and self-absorbed nihilism... It's a stunning piece of fiction, beautifully crafted in its prose, pacing, artistry and crushing understanding of humanity's ugliness." Freddie Young Fangoria
Review
"I love the art, with great layouts, nice thick lines, and coloring that's somehow both rich and muted. ... And the elliptical structure was a smart choice because it adds at least a little bit of mystery; instead of just reading to see what happens next you keep going to better understand what's already happened." Michael C. Lorah Newsarama
Review
"[G]ives us a glimpse of internal mayhem inside a controlled environment, executed with elegance and a touch of mystery. ... This is a weird tale that's easy to get drawn into." Michael C. Lorah Newsarama
Synopsis
An amazing European book, featuring tales of a small town done in a Charles Burns derived style. A collection of individual short stories with rotating first person narrators which interlock to form a larger narrative.
Synopsis
Mezzo and Pirus, previously best known in Europe for a series of cynical, brutal gangster stories, have abandoned their guns and gals for this cycle of suburban stories, but inKing of the Flies the violence has just (for the most part) been interiorized. King of the Flies first appears to be a series of unrelated short stories, each starring (and narrated by) a different protagonist, but it soon becomes obvious that these seemingly disparate episodes weave together to form a single complex narrative, with events that are only glimpsed (or even referred to) revisited from different perspectives revolving around Eric, a ne er-do-well, drug-taking teenager at war with his stepfather and, apparently, the whole world. (He is the titular King.) King of the Flies is designed as a trilogy of albums, which will combine to form a single graphic novel of stunning intricacy and intensity. (Vol. 2, The Beginning of All Things, will be released by Fantagraphics in the Summer of 2010.) "
Synopsis
Suburban horror delineated in a lush noir style.
About the Author
Michel Pirus was born in Thionville, France, in 1962. He broke into comics (as a writer/artist) with his series "Champagne and Cookies" for Métal Hurlant in 1983. He was the co-writer on the Richard McGuire-designed segment of the French animated horror anthology Fear(s) of the Dark, released in 2008.Pascal (Mezzo) Mesenburg (artist) was born in Drancy, France, in 1960. His French graphic novels (with Pirus) include Two Killers and Mickey Mickey. He is currently working on the third and final volume of King of the Flies.