For their latest compilation, Drawn & Quarterly heads north,
with three stories set in northern lands from two Scandinavian artists
and one American. North American publishers have been steadily putting
out translations of work from the Franco-Belgian comics tradition over
the past few years, but there’s some great work coming out of northern
Europe these days, so it’s nice to see D&Q giving that some
exposure overseas. Swedish artist Anneli Furmark contributes a story
with an Ingmar Bergman-like psychology about a young gay couple
journeying to visit one man’s parents and pretending they are merely
bandmates. Amanda Vähämäki, a young Finnish artist, has
a story of two children on a remote fjord who have a remote control
that doubles as a time machine. Furmark’s scratchy pens are highlighted
by strategic use of coloured pencils and Vähämäki’s
lush, finely detailed drawings suck you in. American T. Edward Bak’s
story follows a man wandering through a post-apocalyptic wasteland,
evoking a sparse northern aesthetic, fairy tales and native folklore.
Between the narratives and bright colours that still convey a sense of
desolate Nordic light, the three stories compliment each other
perfectly. It’s an ideal compilation to curl up with on a bleak winter
day.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2009.
