The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Kim Duchateau is one of the standard bearers of the absurdist comic tradition in Belgium.  In series like Esther Verkest or Aldegonde, and in countless topical cartoons, illustrations and strips in newspapers and magazines, he allows his readers glimpses in the consistently weird world of his mind, filled with sadist midgets, blooper machines, mummies and other strange beings.  His stories are a wonderful combination of childlike wonder and sardonic sarcasm, and every possible mood swing in between.

(cover to Antisol by and (c) Kim Duchateau, published Oogachtend)

It is quite sad that, beyond a very well-meant but also careful attempt in France, his work has never been translated into English.  Maybe it’s his idiosyncratic humour, maybe his narrative and visual styles are too embedded in a Flemish tradition, it’s still a shame that the World doesn’t know these wonderful meanderings of mirth.

But all that may change, as Kim’s newest book, Antisol (Oogachtend) is completely wordless!  I wouldn’t say “silent”, as things tend to explode, hit other things or make other noises all over the pages, but beyond the occasional onomatopoeia, the book doesn’t contain a single word.  Translation is not necessary, and everybody around the Globe will be able to delight in Kim’s drawings.

(panels from Antisol by and (c) Kim Duchateau, published Oogachtend)

Or maybe not delight, as this book is quite darker than the rest of Kim’s work.  Delight very clearly made way for delirium, and the story often reminds of Franquin’s Idées Noirs in its pessimistic worldview.  Or how are we to interpret a story about an angel with a bullhorn that makes your hair fall out, and about two human beings who serve the sun poisonous cake because he drinks up all the water?

The story contains several elements that could invite a very traditional psychoanalytical analysis, like the sun who comes down to earth to eat a horse’s legs and drink a river, or the idea of an all-seeing Angel, and as such quite strongly refers to a surrealist tradition.  Kim’s artwork in this book is also more stylised than usual, and reminded me of the equally strange and surreal art by Spanish cartoonist Max.

(artwork from the back cover of Antisol, by and  (c) Kim Duchateau published Oogachtend)

Antisol is a stark, black-and-white book of 32 pages, and costs about 7 Euros.  It will be an adventure to find it, as it had a very limited print run, but if everybody mails the Oogachtend people, maybe it will turn up in some anthology or other.  Keep your (all-seeing) eyes peeled!

Wim Lockefeer lives in Belgium where this kind of work isn’t Absurdist, its actually what happens there. Really, it’s that kind of place. You can read more on his Ephemerist blog.