I feel like American comics are made with an entirely different intent than the European ones. Or at the very least the publishers have a different approach. I think is due to big cultural differences.

If you ever want an interesting read; Alessandro Baricco wrote a series of essays for an Italian newspaper using the fall of the roman empire to the barbarians as an example for trying to understand why all sorts of cultural ‘barbarians’ have a tendency to not respect their predecessors, rich as that heritage might be. He uses all sorts of examples close to the Italian heart (Wine, soccer, food ect.) to explain why other countries barbarize these institutions. All to eventually paint a picture of the modern ‘barbarian’ and why they act the way they do. It was a real eye opener for me, and since then I look at other comparable situations (like the difference between european, american and eastern strips) with entirely new eyes.

Nothing Graphic about this, still I recommend: (2006) I Barbari - [Alessandro Baricco] (It’s been translated in quite a few languages)

Edit: Hmm, maby that is a bit of an off topic leap. The reason why I’m bringing this up, is because I’ve often been annoyed with a lot of american comics, to the point of being snobbish. Having had the privilege of growing up around Gaston/Guust, Thorgal, Suske & Wiske, Asterix, ect. I’ve always felt that what the americans offered, seemed kinda empty in comparison.

But then again, those strips aren’t perse empty in comparison (as much as it pains me to admit it) but just cater to needs different than my own. which… brings me again to Baricco.

Ces barbares ne sont pas si fous après tout ;)

Still, we have the right to our own preferences

This doesn’t have enough upvotes imo. Contingency hell can be dealt with. (mind you, noting wrong with having a contingency plan or two, but there’s a point where it goes from a healthy survival mechanism to a debilitating maladaptive coping mechanism)

I’m still in contingency plan hell, but I’ve managed to deal with it in some parts of my life and that feeling of just coming out of a situation that used to make you tense AF and then realizing you were not even considering to worry about it is the best feeling even. This was something I never expected to be possible.

And honestly, I have been stressing out about the other bits of my life that are still contingency hell, kinda thinking I might never get rid of them, just how I felt about the things I actually did deal with…

Guess I came here to remind some internet rando’s that it is in fact possible; ended up reminding myself :')

Btw, I googled Esther Verkest and apparently her creator (Kim Duchateau) is Flemmish.

Still, thanks for the find :)

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I think it also has to do with her being inspired by both the belgi-franco stuff as well as the world of manga. She’s very much a new-generation artist in that sense where she’s definitely touching on that heritage, but is also separated from it in a way.

I’m glad you enjoy this though! I’ve gotten to know quite a few new artists trough this group. Hell, I think it even rebooted my love for strips and graphic novels.

Maby I can do a few more posts in the coming days… I rather enjoyed this, and there’s a few more amazing artists on my shelf.

edit: let me rephrase that question now that I’ve found the sidebar and actually read the rules >.< Do we still consider British authors as European? Because I’m dying to do a spread or two on Alan Moore

Ah right, yeah its a struggle sometimes, bouncing between 3 languages. French isn’t really my forte anyway ^^"

I think the Dutch talk of franco-belgische strips as an alternative to BD. Often just ‘Strips’ As for the american/japanese varieties we tend to use Comics/Manga respectively.

We used to have have a stripmuseum in Groningen. More info here

Apparently there’s also a museum of comic art in noordwijk aan zee.

I havn’t been to either, sadly.

what do you mean by BD? i feel like im missing something…

I can’t get over how good that explosion is

Also, I wouldn’t say its worth making the trip, but anyone who does find themselves close to Rotterdam NL, they have a really nice expo about her in the Kunsthal (museum) right now. The other expo’s they currently have on are worth visiting too.

Ok, maby I should just make a post about her… at this point im spamming so much anyway XD

Shh, don’t tell anyone ;)

So for I have only read Le retour. Its her debut, and for a debut its more than decent. Gotta give a heads up for some triggering themes though (I won’t spoil which, if you’re really concerned, pm me) The book is about dealing with trauma, so go figure.

I browsed trough taxi, and it definitely seemed decent, but it didn’t appeal to me as much as Le retour which I ended up buying. Title is a pretty accurate description.

Jours de Sable is critically aclaimed, I’ve only seen some pages from it, but my guess is you won’t be disappointed. It’s about dust bowl, a man-caused ecological disaster in the states.

Soixante printemps I’ve also only seen a few pages from. I’m excited to buy it. Thematically its part of 2 books adressing love at a later age. the other one, I think, is called fleurs en automne. Both are made as a collab (soixante with Ingrid Chabbert, and the other with Zidrou)

So I think Le retour de la bondree is definitely a sound starting point. Although if one of the other themes or artists she worked with draw your interest, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to start there. She also did a rendition of lord of the flies. That one has amazing art as well.

I scrolled by this post more than a few times now, but I guess with time my tastes have changed? Or I’m more actively avoiding work than usual.

Either way, I’m so glad to have stopped this time. The 3rd page alone is a little work of art. The thension is palpable. I’ll be looking into this artist some more!

Also, maby (but probably not) I’ll make a post about dutch artist Aim’ee de Jongh later. Her GN de terugkeer van de wespendief (the return of the honey buzzard) also has that powerfull slice of life art. Amazing expressive faces, ect.

anyway, thanks for this.

Quick reply from me… I’ve left lemmy and most socials behind, but sparsly come here to lurk bc of the good content.

Yet topics you touch on here cross my previous (current?) field of work so I thought I’d drop my 2ct anyway.

I’d say a good starting point is actually what Calvin actually wants. Did you have clear conversations about that? or did you make assumptions? Bc a lot of helpers (me included) tend to skip that step or just assume they took it.

To prove my point, let’s take a step back and acknowledge that your frustrations are legit and deserve acknowledging. It would drive me mad too to be in your shoes. Maby you’re not even posting this to ask for help, but just to vent. (see how easy it is to make assumptions on that ^^")

Now comes the less fun part. Please, please! make sure you take care of yourself before you take care of him. I know all to well how much easier it is to be there for someone else (ask me how I became a mental health worker…). It’s all to easy to overexert yourself helping someone who might not even be ready to be helped. Either way, there’s no point in being there for Calvin if you end up collapsing under the stress.

Now I get that losing your house or even your power is a big f-ing deal, and it’s not something I’d wish on anyone. Based on where you live there might be organizations that can support in cases like these. Either governmental, or in the form of peer-support groups. Also uniting the network around a person can do a ton, both in results achieved as well in spreading the load. Assuming there are others of course. If you can’t find anything locally, there are also some pretty active communities on Reddit, maby Lemmy too, that function as support groups.

Finally; I’m sorry you’re in such a shite situation, and I hope you’re taking care of yourself as much as you’re taking care of him. I hope everything will work out in the end.

Edit: not so quick reply after all. >.< sorry for the rambling