We just got reviewed in issue 3 of France’s ATOM Magazine- yes, a review of the whole project! This comes hot on the heels of our Paris show which got a lot of people talking over there. Meantime, we’re still putting the finishing touches on Volume 6, hoping to release at the end of this month.
Here’s the review. I had a couple of friends help with with translating the text—thanks to Cyrielle Gulacsy and Aude Yukiko.
Neo-Springfield, 38 years after the Third World War, 2030. Bart, Milhouse and others are racing through the streets on their bikes when they cross the path of a strange young boy who will lead them, after many adventures, in contact with a fabulous being with powers as immeasurable as they are dangerous. His name... is Ralph.
Yes, Bartkira takes on almost shot-for-shot Katsuhiro Otomo’s visionary masterpiece, replacing all the characters with the heroes of the Simpsons, and giving total visual freedom to more of 500 artists who reproduced the six volumes of the original manga in their own way- while always respecting the work of the master. The result is a protean monster celebrating Otomo's vision in a large stylistic orgy that increases even the initial shock of the original manga by giving it a new level of depth (the relationships between Groening’s characters bringing a fresh light to the material).
The quasi-gonzo succession of precise, raw, respectful or anarchist styles plunges the reader into a constant creative cataclysm, always on the brink of implosion, but always strengthened by its powerful singularity. While mash-up culture often comes down to the tricks of petty thieves who stand with cynical and postmodern posture, this time the experience gives birth to a meta-text of genuine substance that stands on its own while breathing new life into the universe from which it draws. No less.
