Russ Nicholson and I tried pitching a graphic novel gamebook to UK publishers in the late 1980s. Little did we know that Delacourt were doing exactly the same thing at about the same time. It probably helped that comics (bandes dessinées) are well-established in France whereas in Britain they are, as my agent says, "not even a cottage industry". La Sphère du Nécromant was by Thierry Cailleteau (writer) and Eric Larnoy (artist) and you can read more about it here. And A J Porfirio is continuing the tradition with the Graphic Novel Adventures series.
Another graphic novel gamebook that I really like is Ryan Lovelock's Kadath Express. This is something really unusual, an interactive sightseeing trip through a world of fantastical weirdness and charm. Full disclosure: Ryan sent me a free copy, but the book is such a thing of beauty that I'd have bought it anyway.
Thanks for sharing this! Looks like the last link is 404-ing, but was able to purchase here:
ReplyDeletehttps://kadathexpress.bigcartel.com/
There has been a real boom in children's bandes dessinées over the past few years, which have made their way to US shores just recently. YA titles like Hocus & Pocus are lovely.
You may also enjoy the recent work by Jason Shiga, Leviathan. It's the first in a series and really synthesizing some old ideas in fresh ways.
I enjoyed Shiga's Empire State, Josh, so I'll have a look at Leviathan.
DeleteAnd that link is now fixed. Thanks for pointing it out.
Waow, I didn't know that one. In general, comics is a really popular art, not only in France, but especially in the neighbouring Belgium.
ReplyDeleteThat was really brought home to me when travelling on Eurostar a few years ago. The French family sitting opposite - dad, mum, teenage daughter, younger boy - were all reading graphic novels. That's not something you'd ever see in Britain.
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