As I grapple with image-hosting issues, I noticed that Seth’s Imgur-hosted review* is still up from over four years ago, so I figured I’d share, with his permission. For those unfamiliar with him, he’s an amateur cartoonist and an amazingly dedicated reviewer. You can read more of his comics reviews here and there.

* Perhaps the lesson here is that when content is posted publicly to Imgur and receives upvotes, it’s more likely not to be deleted. Hroom…

The Smell Of Starving Boys
by Loo Hui Phang and Frederik Peeters
112 pages
published by Self Made Hero
ISBN: 1910593400

Phang writes a surreal western right in line with Peeters’ dreamy sensibilities. While it never quite coalesces into something perfectly explainable afterward, The Smell Of Starving Boys has enough points of interest along the way to satisfy many of its particular kind of audience.

In Texas, in the near aftermath of the Civil War, Oscar is a gay photographer taking a job in the wilds to avoid those he crossed both in terms of business ethics and social mores. Milton’s not Milton’s real name. And Stingley is a a Dave-Sims-esque utopian visionary whose vision will be built on the blood of aboriginals and women as he carves the frontier into a world that he prefers. Throw in a cadaverous bounty hunter, some exsanguinated horses, and a pile of honest-to-goodness magic and you’ve got a story deep in the Weird West tradition.

Peeters’ artwork is stunning as usual, though the often barren landscapes give him fewer hooks on which to hang his hat. Phang’s story is interesting but lurid. Maybe it’s your bag and maybe not.

(some minor editing done on the text above)

Switzerland’s Frederik Peeters is one of the great, modern BD creators for my money. This one-shot album feels totally native to him, so I was surprised to learn that he served only as the artist, and that Laotian-French Phang Loo Hui was in fact the script-writer. I’d never heard of her before, but she seems like an extremely talented writer, interested in bringing to light the stories of various historical figures.

As for the book, I consider it can’t-miss if you’re a Peeters fan. Sure, it’s a bit surreal, and even confounding at times, but that’s pretty much par for the course. It also kind of dances with significant issues (gay rights, aboriginal rights, man’s exploitation of land & resources) but was consistently observational, and not overbearing in message.

Art-wise, I felt that Peeters’ designs paired wonderfully with the American southwest setting, and that his colors have evolved considerably from his work on the masterpiece Aâma sci-fi series. Of course as usual for him (despite not being officially credited on writing), there was his wry, subtle observation of how people communicate… the little pauses and slight expressions that briefly flash across their faces… how their minds brush up against each other, so to speak, and how gentleness and savagery can intermix, just below the surface of demeanor.

I’m afraid those are some poor, bumbling words to describe how great Peeters is at capturing human psychology, but if you know, you know. He’s in that ‘Blutch**, Grégory Mardon, and Hugo Pratt’ territory, as I see it. Creators like these are so impressive to me, as they significantly raise the ceiling of “comics,” bringing them to the realm of noteworthy art and literature IMO.

** For those curious, I did a little review of Blutch’s Modern Speed here, thankfully still available at the moment.