Grandville: Bete Noire

I’ve enjoyed Bryan Talbot’s previous two volumes a great deal, but there was always something holding them back in the end.  Where the first one was a tightly plotted, intelligent thriller, it wound up tossing those attributes with a climax that has more in common with the films of Schwarzenegger’s 80’s heyday.  The second volume improved somewhat on that end, as its finale was only burdened by a last-minute reveal that felt tacked-on more than anything else.  Fortunately I’m happy to report that “Bete Noire” doesn’t stumble in the final stretch and emerges as the most satisfying tale in this (current) trilogy.

“Grandville” is such a mix of influences and genres that it’s almost surprising that these stories work as well as they do.  Using the work of early 19th Century French painter J.J. Grandville as a jumping-off point, Talbot gives us a steampunk, alternate-history Europe where England has only in the last few decades won its independence from France.  The world is also populated by talking anthropomorphic animals and humans exist as a kind of second-class race.  This particular volume is even described by the author as a “Bond Movie” featuring Mr. Toad from “The Wind in the Willows” as the villain.

Fortunately Talbot is a smart enough creator to not try and explain all of these things to the reader in the story.  He just presents them as is and lets you get swept up in all the intrigue.  Of course, this may prove to be an impossible barrier to entry if you just can’t accept talking animal comics, but the quality of the story here just leaves me thinking that you’d be missing out.

As always, the story centers around Detective-Inspector Archie LeBrock and his partner Roderick as they find themselves investigating a locked-room murder of an artist in France at the behest of a friend in the Paris police.  That’s only the start of things as the inspector soon finds himself embroiled in a plot by some of the nation’s most powerful individuals to usurp control of the government for their own ends.  Throw in a reunion with his old paramour Billie and you’d have the kind of plot that would crush a lesser protagonist under its weight.

A badger like LeBrock is no such protagonist.  Always a mix of the mind of Sherlock Holmes with the physical capability of a genuine action hero, Talbot finally gets that balance right here with a story that gives both of his skillsets an equal workout.  Yes, it’s a pastiche of many familiar story elements and influences, but the narrative ramps up nicely from its small beginnings to a real “fate of the nation” climax without its reach ever exceeding its grasp.  Some social commentary is also snuck in as well with the motives of the lead villain and his cabal ringing all-too-true in this day and age.  It’s not all seriousness, though, as the creator knows how to mix humor into the proceedings — seen in Roderick’s interactions with the young artists, LeBrock’s female troubles during dinner one night, and the punnish names given to some artists like Jackson Pollo.  Because he’s a rooster, you see.  They can’t all be winners.

Talbot’s art is also as impeccable as ever with the mix of animals and humans in “Grandville” looking like the most natural thing in the world.  The artist also has his anthropomorphic characters coming off as wonderfully expressive without sacrificing their animal-ness at all.  As for the world itself, it’s fantastically realized from the art schools, pubs, and museums looking perfectly lived-in for the time while all of the steampunk trappings appearing quite believable as well.  There’s also a good amount of fun to be had in spotting all of the little “homages” Talbot inserts amongst the cast.  That said, putting a couple of smurfs in the protest march towards the end of the story is pushing things a bit.

I’ll admit that I like saying “Damn furries!” as much as the next person, but “Grandville” transcends that kind of base sentiment.  “Bete Noire” is the work of an artist at the top of his game, taking some of his favorite influences from other media and synthesizing them into something different and highly entertaining.  I realize that as this series is now a trilogy, it also represents a convenient stopping point in the adventures of Detective-Inspector LeBrock.  With this series finally hitting its stride, I can only hope that Talbot is only taking a short break and will continue to chronicle LeBrock’s adventures for years to come.

Highly recommended?  You better believe it.