Lipstick to escape the trenches

It took almost a century to get there but today the trend is undeniable: women authors BD finally prominently on the shelves of bookstores! The designer and writer Chloé Cruchaudet furnishes striking proof by signing "Mauvais genre" a strong and sensitive graphic novel based on true story of a deserter forced to disguise to escape the prison and ends up taking a liking to the fact BE woman . Sinspirant historical lessai "The Boy and assassin" (written by Danièle Voldman and Fabrice Virgili, Chloe Cruchaudet had once heard of their book on the radio, which gave him the idea to do a comic adaptation den), "Mauvais genre "recounts the extraordinary destiny of Paul Grappe and Louise Landy. At first, the story of these two young men from the early twentieth century has nothing dexceptionnel: they fall in love during dun ball then marry. But very quickly, the First World War broke out and Paul was sent to the front. It is not long in discovering hell of the trenches, and sees his comrades Mon. be tear the head by a shell just before his eyes. Chloe Cruchaudet devotes a few pages to war but, thanks to its very expressive design and clever the use of black and white (sprinkled with touches of color), it truly immerses readers in particular atmosphere of those years, as it manages to do so as in the pages located in a sewing workshop or in the Bois de Boulogne. Yet she admits that she had to fear sattaquer episode trenches. "I was doing a complex with respect to Tardi. So I havent nothing reread his works before I started, "she says in an interview to the site Bodoï. But back to Paul. After watching helplessly the death of her boyfriend, cen is too much for him to escape the war, he nhésite not to cut off a finger, allowing it to stay warm and to linfirmerie denfin to enjoy Company Louise. Alas, it can not stay there indefinitely. With the help of Louise, he decided to desert. The problem with this is that once hid in a hotel in Paris, it is not long to realize that he is condemned to remain locked, which puts him in a very bad mood. The solution that he finds so to walk without fear BE decree is to dress as a woman. This is how Paul is Suzanne, and that he began a new life as a worker in a workshop of women's underwear. At first he found it exhilarating. But again, Paul does not take long to get tired. Fortunately for killing his boredom, he discovers that his character transvestite famous among nocturnal visitors to the Bois de Boulogne, who like sy indulge in unorthodox practices. In no time, Suzanne becomes the star of the Bois, while Louise, increasingly neglected by her husband, sinquiète to see it become increasingly Suzanne and less Paul "Mauvais genre" is a novel graphic speaks psychological ravages of war, sexual didentité problems, and even alcoholism and domestic violence. All topics that are a priori rather shabby. Yet the book does not ballast at all. Chloe Cruchaudet manages indeed to address this amazing story with great lightness and delicacy, which is already now this comic one of the very pleasant surprises of the year 2013. Logic, therefore, that "Mauvais genre" come to win the Landerneau BD prices, award given by the Leclerc store chain in France. A well deserved prize.

More critical comics on my blog "André Georges, Edgar and the others" (matvano.wordpress.com).