Three Shadows

By Cyril Pedrosa

I am really happy with the publisher First Second (aka :01). They have been publishing some great comics that go in interesting directions. Scott McCloud in his Comics series described this medium as one with vast potential rarely lived up to. I came to that conclusion before ever reading his books, and I believe that :01 is one of those publishers who seeks out the innovators and gets them space on the shelf.

First Things: Pedrosa is French, and this is my first review of a European comic. Tin Tin isn't the only thing to come out of the old country, and I for one, am excited to see what they've been up all this time. The translation is seamless, and one would be hard pressed to guess it was originally written in another language. The tale might have some of an "old world" feel to it, but the subject matter is universal to the human condition.

Story: The story begins with a remote and merry agricultural family. Conflict comes to this Shangri La in the form of three silent figures who suddenly appear and start haunting the family. Soon they realizes that these three have come for the son, Joachim. The wife, Lise, soon accepts this. The father, Louis, is resolute to fight, flee, and do whatever it takes to hold back their relentless pursuers.

I didn't read the back flap until I finished the story, but there is one key piece of information back there: the motivation. It says that "Three Shadows was born out of the agony of [Pedrosa] watching his close friends' child die very young." Several of the story element are mystical and fantastic. I think this one statement unlocks understanding for the reader. All of the sudden it doesn't seem so cryptic anymore. This isn't a story that started out as "hey, wouldn't it be cool if..." but it is born out of the creator's own emotional struggle.

The Art: Pedrosa worked as an animator for Disney during the making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules. The art shows some of the best from animation: lines imbued with flow and movement, and distinct, expressive character designs. I am at a loss to try and pin point the medium employed in Shadows. At first it looked like pencil, but I realized that some of the pages show clearly that brush work was involved. There is everything represented from intricate line work to thick swaths of black dry brushwork. It is hard to tell with reproduction, and this could possibly be a mixed-media work. Regardless, I can adamantly state: this guy can draw, er... paint... whatever. Brushwork by a talented hand is quite satisfying to view, and has a kind of personality that fits well when focusing on portraying emotions. Basically, the pictures are wonderful.

Themes: Pedrosa often enough breaks into surrealism in his art, emphasizing the downright unnatural and disorienting feeling of "wrongness" that accompanies death, especially the death of the young. It is more than death, but fear, anger, grief, and other strong emotion permeate this saga. Context is often swepted away to a bare minimum so that we, the readers, can enter deeper into what these characters are feeling. Make no mistake, this narrative is more about coping with death than the realities of death itself. The battles aren't physical ones (as much as the father would have liked them to be), but the internal ones of the heart. This is heavy stuff.

Something I find beautiful are all the moments that don't deal with the main concern of impending dissolution. Louis is relentless about protecting his son Joachim, but other cares manage to eek in through the cracks. The first time the father laughed again was like the sweet release after holding one's breath for too long. In the midst of all the fear and mistrust, there is compassion that finally offered out toward others. Interestingly enough, this kindness and fellowship is initiated by the boy. Children are often the salvation of adults.

There is plenty more, and without a doubt I say that this book will give the reader much to meditate on. I wouldn't be surprised, too, if it would be a support to those finding themselves overwhelmed by the hardships of loss.

Recommened: No doubt about it.