Masturbation appears to be the theme of this issue, judging from the cover. The first story has nothing to do with it though – very, very strange, that first story, I guess ‘existentialist’ is a good word for it. Things seem to be much more dreamlike in Fidele’s world lately, which is both good and bad. Good, in that she has a real knack for coming up with images which feel really, really dreamlike (a sudden shot of feet sticking out from a barn door, for instance.) Bad, only in the sense that I kind of miss the innocent narrative style of her earlier work. But maybe I speak too soon – the last story, about a poor incontinent boy called Georg, still has that storytelling feel. And make no mistake, the drawings are excellent, the package is beautiful (full-color silk-screen cover and sepia insides). I guess just a bit more reality mixed in with the general absurdity is what I’m craving. Still, there’s no denying that Fidele is one of the most active and promising comic artists in the country today. There’s also no denying that I did indeed enjoy reading this comic. (LR)
40 pages, #2, $3 (specify whether you want English or French version), Fidele Castree, Box 277, Malahat, BC V0R 2L0