The Spectators

Our hero is a featureless silhouette. Every few pages he puts on a new body and a new face. Is he Everyman? Anyman? No man? All men? Or is he just inviting the reader onto the page to take his place? I like that answer.Our hero wanders about the City at night. He observes. One joke that runs through the drawings is that he will observe a simple tableaux involving one, two or three others. It will appear that a specific event is occurring - a fight, a tryst, an argument, dancing. Then the characters from the tableaux are recreatedd in identical positions, but framed by a new background that changes the nature of the event. So the fighters become dancers, even though they have not changed positions. The lovers become strangers, simply through the manipulation of the scene around them. This is elegant stuff, and makes a valid point.But the bigger question is - what is happening behind all of those lit and unlit windows, and in those cafes, and on the streets, and in the heads of all of the many people by whom our hero wanders? Everone sees, but doesn't see, everyone else and none of these spectatots know anything about anyone. This is intriguing stuff and nice material for light reflection.Is this heavy or deep? No. Is it interesting and worth consideration? Absolutely. Has Hussenot fairly called the question? You bet.So, if you at all like or admire spare watercolors, only the suggestion of a narrative, and reserved drawings that lead you to your own insights, well this subtle and gentle book might be just the thing.(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

This is quite unique graphic novel/ comic. It is philosophical contemplation of human existence, or nature of man.Author asks questions, and gives provoking thoughts. But every reader may take it in different way, since we all see things differently. Everything around us changes, and we as spectators may pay attention to one thing, while a person next to us to something different.We can be in the same subway car every day and we may see the same people, or new faces. And as circle of life, even the thing that change, actually repeat. We are kids, than adults, than old people. When we vanish, the circle repeats, because our kids become adults, than old, than they vanish.We only see the changes in friends and family, "while the strangers we encounter in our lives, seem timeless, forever fixed in their roles". The art in the novel is different from what I am used to. The illustrations are watercolor art. It is beautiful and lovely artwork.I enjoyed this novel a lot, even though it reads like authors wild train of thoughts.

This is a great book. It makes Existential thought very accessible for those with little literary skills.A high quality book with beautiful illustrations. I would strongly recommend getting it if you are interested in philosophy and like art. It would make a great gift for someone.

This book is simply amazing! Easy reading, although really thoughtful. The drawings are good and transmit how simple and complex is the human being, as we're constantly changing throughout lifetime.

Me ha encantado. Increible el uso del color y el aprovechamiento de las cualidades de la acuarela. El dibujo es sencillo pero directo y muy inteligente

Brilliant book!