Customer Reviews

Blacksad, vol. 2 (v. 2)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Believe it or not, there has been a thriving grey market for this book in the USA. Foreign language copies with home-translated scripts in English have been circulating wildly. And now, Blacksad is in English!
It was worth the wait! The artwork is magnificent, and the storyline is worthy of any of the Film Noir classics of the late 1940's and early 1950's.
In an alternative world, where people have animal features, John Blacksad, a black cat detective, investigates the murder of a film starlet...his ex-girlfriend. Along the way, he uncovers the usual trademarks of Film Noir...corruption, betrayal, intrigue, sex, violence...and redemption.
The artwork...well, the book has won major awards in Europe (where books like this sell in the hundreds of thousands, even millions), and the detail is staggering. One can get lost in each and every panel in this book. One panel features Blacksad walking down a tree-shaded street, and the shadows of the leaves are on all of the figures in frame.
There already is a second book in this series (Arctic Nation), and I hope there will be more. This is a classic work of graphic storytelling.
If you're a Film Noir buff, a detective novel junkie, or an anthropomorphics fan, let this black cat cross your path. You won't be sorry!
(Is it just me, or does John Blacksad look a lot like Stacy Keach?)

I found this book at my library. I thought it was Batman on the cover at first, but a closer inspection revealed it to be a cat. I checked it out that very day, and spent all night reading it again...and again...and again.
All I can say is "WOW!" Mr. Canales's story is so engrossing, and Mr. Guarinido's pictures are wonderfully done. I feel a personal connection to Blacksad and his search for Natalia Wilford's killer, but mostly to Blacksad himself. When I showed it to my aunt, she said he looked like Stacy Keach. Thing is, I don't know who that is.
That aside, this is a wonderful book, and I heartily recommend it!!

When readers mention the greatest graphic novels ever made, they often think of "Watchmen" or "Dark Knight Returns" or "Kingdom Come". All three of these are not only superhero tales, but also long, multipart epics. So it's even more amazing how good this book is, as it is neither of those things. This is one of the absolute best books I've ever read period. And I put it up there with the rest of the hallowed graphic novel epics.

John Blacksad is back! On the search for a kidnapped girl, Blacksad finds himself in a small town torn apart by poverty, corruption, and organized racism. The concept of White versus Black is dealt with the color of one's fur. The White supremacist group, Arctic Nation, is comprised of white-pelted creatues, while a Black militant group has distictly black pelts. Blacksad, a black cat with a white snout, is literally in the middle.
The story is well-written, but not as gripping as the first Blacksad book "Somewhere Within the Shadows". The artwork is, like the first book, excellent. The attention to detail is staggering.
This isn't just for anthropomorphics fans, but everyone who loves a great graphic novel, or entertainment in the style of clasic Film Noir.
Strongly recommended!
(Is it just me, or does the white mink in this story look a bit like White supremacist Matthew Hale?)

I picked up Blacksad 1 & 2 yesterday and was rendered quite awestruck by the work. The fine detail, beautifully applied watercolor/acrylic technique, and perfectly proportioned images are not what I am accustomed to seeing within the comic book world. Within Arctic Nations, the authors have used the anthropomorphic to accentuate how useless the whole ideal of "the pure race" really is. Even if you are not a fan of the anthropomorphic, you will enjoy this. Accompanying the artistic scenery is a story that riveting and smooth. P.I. Blacksad, brought in from the city in investigate a young girl's kidnapping, quickly becomes aware that the Arctic movement (White power and all that rot, reminiscent of the KKK) has foul seeds planted throughout the town. After the murder of the girl's mother, the police are ordered by higher-ups to get off of the case -they must protect the reputation of the town's leaders before all else - and Blacksad is on his own. Can he save her, himself, and the hide of a weasel reporter whose been tailing him for the past week? You'll have to read to find out. Trust me, you won't believe the ending.

Have you ever tried to imagine a Raymond Chandler novel where all the characters are animals? Canales and Guarnido did it. Blacksad lets you enter a world with a gloomy atmosphere dating back from the 50s detective novels.

You need this book. The graphics are unbelievable. Blacksad is one of the great tough private-eyes. Juan Diaz Canales achieved one of the best mergers of animal and human of all time.

It may seem "Furry" but its a well composed literation of society>
The Blacksad comics have wonderful art design to them and a well developed story and well composed characters. I know some people cringe at the thought of "furries" but this doesn't really go there, it touches on society issues using anthromorphic characters as archetypes and stylization. Especially in this volume where the artic animals have organized a KKK-like organization.

"Arctic Nation" is the second of the Blacksad graphic novels. (And, disappointingly, the only one still in print in English; due to publisher issues, the first is out of print and the third was never finished). Blacksad is a detective in a world of anthropomorphized animals - he's a black cat with white around his muzzle.

The art is frankly amazing - Guarnido is a great artist, and he flexes his muscles here. The anthropomorphic characters are drawn in a realistic style that works perfectly, and the book is worth buying for the art alone. The story itself is a Noir one, set in a decaying neighborhood being taken over by racist thugs; fur color is used as the dividing line, while species is usually used as a shorthand to help define the characters.

The translated dialogue is fine; while nothing special, it matches the noir mood and isn't clunky or wooden. The main problem with the book is the pacing - it's too fast. The book is only 56 pages, and they cover a lot of ground. The art is obviously time-intensive given it's quality, but it still would have been better to have a little more breathing room in the book. The storyline and characters are good and have hints of depth, but never have time to reach the level of the astounding art.

"Arctic Nation" is a great book; I just wish it was longer.

This is a masterpiece. The illustration is unparralleled and the story is a thriller. Have read many graphic novels and seen many illustrators but there is nothing like this out there. Too bad it is so hard to come across, US publisher went bankrupt, perhaps can be found on international sites (French, spanish, German). Buy this book and see for yourself, you won't be able to look away.