Frnk v2: “Trial By Fire”

“No pizzas, no internet, no comics… Boy, prehistoric times sure do SUCK!”
 

Things Get Better

I was slightly lukewarm on the first volume of “Frnk.”  It felt like a by-the-numbers piece that was aimed at a tweenie audience that might be expecting a Disney Channel movie of the week kind of thing.  It looked great, but it felt too obvious and left a lot of obvious open loops.

This second volume, though, is terrific.  I’m a big fan.  It doesn’t concern itself with dropping hints about the larger legacy Frank might leave or his status as a Chosen One or the mystery of his parents or even, really, the mechanics by which he arrived in this prehistoric world.  This book is mostly about him figuring out how to survive in this new world where he is disgusted by every food option he is presented.  What’s worse? The raw meat or the worm-ridden fruit laying on the ground?  Bocquet’s script milks that hunt for food to its maximum comic potential.

For example, here’s where Frank learns the teaching methods of olden times:

That sequence still makes me laugh out loud.  Cossu lays out that second panel perfectly.  (Don’t worry, the baby lives.)

Frank Is Not Insufferable!

The most impressive part of this book to me is that Frank is not annoying. He’s believable and you want to root for him.  He’s immature and young and values some stuff that maybe he shouldn’t as much in the situation, but he’s responding to things in a believable way. He isn’t turning into someone else for the convenience of the plot or the series writer.  He needs to work through some things, and that’s what this book is about. If you put yourself in his shoes, you’d likely do many of the same things.

In particular, it’s about him realizing he has knowledge that might help these cavemen.  He knows how to make fire and he also knows all the pleasant side effects that can have from keeping warm at night (and not having to live under a pile of furs) to eating cooked meat.  His new friends don’t quite see it that way, but they’ll get there.

There’s a bigger culture clash at work, as the cave family that’s adopted him sticks to their routine without question. They don’t know what they don’t know, so they don’t understand why Frank would want to change anything to begin with.

It’s an interesting clash of cultures, and it makes the book an interesting and fun popcorn comic.

Blending in the Manga

I continue to be impressed with how deftly Brice Cossu blends traditional Franco-Belgian storytelling with manga.  His panel work is more in line with classic European storytelling, but he has flourishes borrowed from manga for certain expressions.  And Frank’s hair design is straight out of manga land.

In this sequence, Frank is disgusted at the way the cavewoman pulls the egg out of the bird and cracks open the shell by smashing it on her head.  Who can blame him?

His eyes bug out in that last panel and, of course, you get lots of speedlines. Cossu adds elements borrowed form manga at appropriate times.  He’s not trying to lift the whole style.  It’s a great blend of the two worlds.

Cute Fuzzy Bunnies

At one point in the story, Frank needs to prove his worth to the group.  He vows to go out and bring back some food.

But he has a hard time when he corners this cute fuzzy bunny:

I mean, just look at that bunny’s face! How could you eat that little furry bundle of meaty goodness? And it only gets better from this scene. It turns into a big thing that’s hilarious and wonderful and completely Tumblr-worthy.

I can’t say too much about it, but I’d be remiss in ignoring it.

Recommended?

Yes. This is entertaining on its own merits.  It doesn’t feel like plot mechanics. It sticks to one story, has some good character work in it, and is a beautifully illustrated and colored book.

The third volume is already out in France.  I can’t wait until they translate that next, though I have a feeling we might be waiting a little while.  This volume just came out in February.

— 2018.026 —

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