21 November, 2024
Journal de Spirou #3998 cover (ill. Téhem, Makyo & Toldac; (c) Dupuis and the artists)

The Big Head has landed

Journal de Spirou #3998 cover (ill. Téhem, Makyo & Toldac; (c) Dupuis and the artists)
“Spirou Superstar in The Big Head”

As 2014 draws to an end, it’s hard to keep up with all the Spirou stories coming out! Last week’s issue of the Journal saw the first episode of La Grosse tête (“The Big Head”), the new one-shot by Makyo, Toldac and Téhem. Let’s have a peek…

"The Big Head" p. 1 ('La Grosse tête'; ill. Téhem, Makyo, Toldac; (c) Dupuis and the artists; from JDS #3998 via izneo.com)

"The Big Head" p. 2 ('La Grosse tête'; ill. Téhem, Makyo, Toldac; (c) Dupuis and the artists; from JDS #3998 via izneo.com)

"The Big Head" p. 3 ('La Grosse tête'; ill. Téhem, Makyo, Toldac; (c) Dupuis and the artists; from JDS #3998 via izneo.com; SR scanlation)
Images from Izneo.com

The art seems to be a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it affair. Some find it hard to accept such a radically different look. Personally I find it very amusing, and perfectly suited to the story.

The plot so far (having read the first three installments, or 23 pages) involves Fantasio’s novel, a coup in Bretzelburg that creates a refugee crisis, a celebrity crush, a charity play and a film project. Seccotine has a fairly important role, and (as you can see from the excerpt above) the gags don’t hold back. In accompanying interviews, Makyo talks about what a big Franquin fan he is and the fun of irreverently mixing elements of those classic adventures with the modern world. While it’s not yet clear where it’s all going, various bits and pieces that have been released provide some pretty good hints:

"Next week: Spirou will come down with The Big Head!" (ill. Téhem, Makyo, Toldac; (c) Dupuis and the artists; from JDS #3997)
“An autograph, Mr. Spirou?” “I don’t have time to waste on bellhops!”

It will be interesting to see what becomes of Spirou’s swollen head!

Spirou Reporter

I grew up reading Spirou in Scandinavian translations. Now I'm learning French and trying to decode the originals.

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