Artist Simon Bournel-Bosson arrives with his debut graphic novel Trumpets of Death (from Graphic Universe™, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group) and if his first comic work is any indication, we are going to see a lot more from him.
Bournel-Bosson’s complex, mysterious, and engaging graphic novel deals with a family’s intergenerational conflict with a healthy dose of the magical elements.
We spoke to the artist/writer about Trumpets of Death in our exclusive interview with the creator.
This is your first graphic novel. Can you explain your process and what it was like to create Trumpets of Death?
Simon Bournel-Bosson: Creating Trumpets of Death took quite a long time. I first drew the entire storyboard. I wanted to finish at least one story in my life. It was Covid. I had time on my hands. I hadn’t done a comic strip in about ten years. It was time to propose a project.
I received quite a few rejections, and after a few months, Guillaume Griffon from Editions l’Agrume called me and said he wanted to sign it as is! I was very happy. He really wanted me to create the story I wanted. I had a lot of freedom.
After that, I gave up my apartment in Paris and spent months in Brittany in a small house by the sea, drawing the 230 pages. I drew everything digitally. At the time, I didn’t feel up to doing everything on paper. Since this was my first comic strip, I learned by doing. I made a lot of mistakes.
For example, I didn’t work hard enough on my character design at the beginning. I had to redraw Antoine’s head for the first 50 pages, for example. Overall, it was difficult to maintain my style over such a long period (a year and a half). It evolved constantly. The drawing became more and more flexible.
The book was released in October 2022. I received a fantastic reception from the press and the public. I wasn’t expecting it! It’s not a simple story… It leaves a lot of room for interpretation.
You have called the story “a two-part mirror story”. Can you explain this further?
Bournel-Bosson: The mirror narrative is where Trumpets of Death finds its originality. To resolve reality, we step through a mirror, so to speak, to land in a fantastical realm. Fantasy allows us to talk about this conflict in a more imaginative and metaphorical way, when reality alone isn’t enough.
Antoine’s transformation highlights his desire for emancipation. It shows that he is growing up. He doesn’t try to become a little boy again, but accepts his condition and seeks a new balance. The shadow of his grandfather looms large, that of a patriarch from an old world. Antoine, transformed into a deer, confronts him and overturns his power. It is a passing of the torch.
What influences, both artistic and writing, did you use in Trumpets?
The film The Bear by Jean Annaux was a great inspiration. In the film, a little bear who has lost his mother must survive the forest and predators. What surprised me when I saw it as a child was that the voice dubbing of the bear’s cries was done by a human. I always felt as if a small child was inside this little bear. This voice dubbing created a strong sense of empathy for him. We could identify with him. We could put ourselves in his shoes.
You blend the real and unreal/imaginary in Trumpets. Was it difficult to strike a balance between them?
Bournel-Bosson:What speaks to me is that fantasy can explain a situation that reality alone cannot. For example, showing in a down-to-earth way that a child is growing up isn’t easy. With fantasy and transformation, I easily evoke and suggest this idea.
Magic comes to the rescue when reality lacks the means.
What will you take from Trumpets when you start your next project in terms of what you learned?
Bournel-Bosson: You have to be really demanding at the beginning, regarding all the graphic and story details. Because then you’re stuck with it for several years. Comics are very demanding and sometimes they make you impatient. Sometimes it’s better to give things time to mature rather than to jump in without a safety net.
Upcoming work?
Bournel-Bosson: I’m currently finalizing the storyboard for my next big project, which will be published. It’s a comic strip about boxing. It tells the story of a small group of boxers who train in a shed in an old lady’s garden while waiting for a real gym. It’s a collective story. Far from the spotlight. It’s about boxing practiced downstairs. It is z story also driven by the energy of a collective.
Trumpets of Death will be available at your local bookstore on August 5 and your local comic book shop on August 6.
