Geek Syndicate
INTERVIEW: Bryan Talbot
world in an alternative reality populated by talking animals. That’s why it’s anthropomorphic and mainly set in France, though I set the stories in a later time period, the 1890s, La Belle Epoque. I’d been wanting to write a detective story for some while, so this seemed the perfect opportunity. GS: There are plans for 5 volumes, with Bete Noire having a more science fiction theme. What themes will future books focus on? Bryan Talbot’s first published work was in 1969 when his illustrations featured in Mallorn, the magazine of the British Society. Bryan’s comic work is prolific, but as well as producing serialized works (such as Luther Arkwright and work for DC Comics), in recent years, Bryan’s name has become almost synonymous with Graphic Novels. We managed to catch up with Bryan to discuss his work, particularly the ongoing “Grandville” Graphic Novel series. GS: I know you have already mentioned Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard as an influence but where did the idea for Grandville come from? BT: His work was the original inspiration for the book. Gérard produced many satirical anthropomorphic drawings in the early 19th century, under the nom de plume “JJ Grandville”. I’d had a book of his work for years but, shortly after finishing Alice, it suddenly occurred to me that “Grandville” could be a nickname for Paris, as the greatest city in the
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and Blondin and Cirage (two old Begian comic double acts), Victorian UK comic character Ally Sloper, a woman who looks like an adult Little Lulu and a guy who could be Archie Andrews ??!??$?????????????????????????????????????M?????????????????????????????????????Q?????????????????????????????? L??%?? ????????5?????????????????????????????????????????????????1? ?????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????]???????????????????????????????????????????????????? P????????????5????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????M???????????????????????'?e????????????????????????????????????????????? L??1????????????M?????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????]???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? P??e?????e??????????????????????????????????????????????????????e???????????????????5?????????????e?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e???????????() P??Q????????????? ????????;???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? L??Q??????????????????????????????????????????????I???????? ???????Q?????e?????M??????????????????????? ???9???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? P?????????A????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Q????????]??????????]???????5???????????????????????????????????????????????????q?????????t??????????????????????????????????????????%????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????e???????????????????????????????????M??????????????????????????????Q???????????5??????e?1????????????????????e? ?????1?? ???????????????5????????%?? ???9?????????e????????????????????Q????????Q????((0