Le tueur # 5: La mort dans l'âme (The Killer; Death in soul

European Comics
Le tueur # 5: La mort dans l'âme (The Killer; Death in soul
By El Yanosh
January 20, 2005 - 13:30

Casterman
Writer(s): Matz
Penciller(s): Luc Jacamon
Inker(s): Luc Jacamon
56 pages, color

CASTERMAN (-another big publisher in Europe)
Story: Matz.
Art : Luc Jacamon.
56 pages, color, european.

Second round of this European Fest, going along slowly this time around the fifth installement of the ‘Le Tueur’ serie, published by Casterman in Europe.

Le Tueur is an introspective tale about a professionnal assassin’s life, thoughts, fears and longings, as well as the deep process of his self-justificating thoughts. In this peculiar episode, the hero now attempts to pull the worms out of Biscay, old ally gone ennemy, with the help – and interests – of his newfound mafiosi friends. A heavy murder contract befalls to him during the course of his pace, and he’ll have to clear out a few things before taking out the trash.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Jacamon’s efficient, simple yet complex art. His storytelling being one of his greatest assets, he remains simple when needed and adds layers of complexity when the story pertains to it. Dynamic, the art flows with the pulse of the tale itself, the artist seemingly having no restriction or shame to bring up extreme close-up on the character’s details, or working close with electronic medias. The line is an integral part of Jacamon’s work, be it seen from very close, or from very far, expressive yet precise. My only negative point regarding visual materials is his lack of efforts to renew himself in his art. A player who prefers going safe.

The story, in this episode, although not hard to follow, isn’t linear at all, wich is quite interesting. Despite the occasionnal lack of point to the plot, Matz manages to keep a grip on the reader. However, the artist’s strong narrative sense more than makes up for every lack the script might possess, and is probably what brings the story to life itself.

I’ll give 7.5 “yes” out of 10 “you’d-better-talk.”