PISTOUVI

Pistouvi the fox explores life with his human friend, Jeanne.

Pistouvi and Jeanne are best friends in a strange world with strange rules. The only adult presences come from the friendly Wind (shown as an ethereal, beautiful White woman) and abrasive Tractor (a light-skinned, bald man with an abundant black beard). Despite this, Pistouvi and Jeanne, who is a small, blond-haired White girl, make do with their treehouse home and have many goofy adventures together. Danger is never far off, however, as Pistouvi has a unique predicament: If he ever understands what the birds are saying, he will be forever changed. The birds are ever present, as the target of Pistouvi and Jeanne’s pranks or as bigger, more menacing figures. They add an ominous air to an otherwise lighthearted narrative, serving as a reminder that one day Pistouvi and Jeanne may grow apart. The prologue and each of the 10 subsequent chapters serve as their own separate but connected interludes, making this volume more accessible to casual readers. Merwan and Gatignol have crafted a whimsical—and sometimes dark—narrative similar in tone to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The art is gorgeous, the style reminiscent of a black-and-white manga with gray tones. Details such as hair and fur are particularly well executed. The ending is both inevitable and saddening, surprisingly bleak in contrast to the overall more carefree tone.

Sure to strike readers like a hammer.