Blacksad, Volume 1

By Alex De-Gruchy
June 28, 2006

Garnering praise from legends in the comic book field such as Joe Kubert, Neal Adams, Stan Lee and the late Will Eisner, Blacksad, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, is the story of private eye, John Blacksad, a cat who comes across a case which hands him a very personal score to settle. And yeah - I said "cat." The world of Blacksad isn't made up of human beings, but rather anthropomorphic (but still oh-so human) characters - gorilla boxers, blues-singing orang-utans, lizard henchmen and pig barmen. We encounter these and more as Blacksad plunges headlong into his latest case, one which could end up costing him his life.

Plot

It's always about a dame...

Blacksad is a private detective story written very much in the classic style, calling to mind the work of authors such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett, as well as other, more visual trademarks of the genre - neon signs, dingy bars, light filtering into an office through Venetian blinds, the detective taking a beating from some hired goons and a cast of shady dealers and ruthless killers. Set in a U.S. city during the 1950s (a perfect film noir environment), Blacksad opens with the beautiful, famous actress Natalia Wilford found murdered in her own home, shot once through the head. It is headline news, but the person who is hit the hardest by the murder is John Blacksad. He and Natalia had once been lovers, and he loved her until the day they parted, when her life had become too shallow and self-centred to leave any room for him. He hadn't seen her since - until he stood standing before her corpse.

Even though there is initially no motive or suspect, Blacksad is determined to find and take revenge on the killer. He begins his own investigation into the murder, and is soon drawn into a web of secrets, corruption, and lies. It results in a conflict with a number of dangerous characters who don't like having a private detective sniffing around in their business, and are prepared to put Blacksad in the ground. Although the plot of Blacksad is certainly not revolutionary, that doesn't make it any less of an entertaining and engaging story. It adheres to the conventions of its genre, but this doesn't mean that it is restricted or cliché. The narrative is carried out with style and confidence, and Blacksad's case is one that will keep you hooked, right up until the last page.

Characterisation

The anthropomorphic characters who populate the world of Blacksad are just as fully-rounded and three-dimensional as any human characters. They all have their own personalities that make them who they are, and they interact in realistic, believable ways. One visual tool that Canales and Guarnido use is creating a direct link between the species of a particular individual and their characteristics and personality traits. For example, one of Blacksad's old acquaintances is a large boxer who is a gorilla. In addition, the cast includes a reptilian hired killer and a seedy character that lures Blacksad into a trap, who also happens to be a rat. This might sound like easy typecasting, but these characters are never lazily written.

As the protagonist, Blacksad is the archetypal hardboiled private detective - tough-talking, able to handle himself in a fight, stubborn, and very much a man alone. However, beneath the hardened exterior, Blacksad has a heart, one which was broken by the woman he loved. Although, he is more than willing to put everything he has on the line to avenge her. He is a strong and likable lead character whose grit and determination drive him through the story.

The supporting cast is a small but strong one, perfect for this kind of story. On the side of the angels, there is Smirnov, the Alsatian Chief of Police and one of Blacksad's few friends, who is willing to break the law if it means doing what is right. As for the bad guys, there are several shady characters who try to stop Blacksad in his tracks, such as the lizard who tries to put Blacksad down permanently, yet isn't simply a cardboard cut-out villain, which we particularly grasp in the final confrontation between he and Blacksad.

Art

The art in Blacksad is simply stunning. Juanjo Guarnido puts an amazing amount of detail into every single one of his pages, while simultaneously keeping the art clear and accessible. His artwork, a seamless blend of pencils and colours, really brings the world of Blacksad to life. It feels as real as any other environment you might see drawn on a page, even if the world is inhabited by animalistic characters. Guarnido expertly renders elegant bedrooms, cluttered offices, seedy bars, and city streets in rich textures and subtle colours. He also does a great job with the characters - the range of emotions that he brings out in their faces and body language is very impressive. He skillfully blends realism with more exaggerated, "cartoony" expressions, without one ever overshadowing the other or having the two styles become uncomfortably jarring.

As charming and subtle as Guarnido's art can be, this doesn't in any way suggest that he can't portray action - quite the opposite, in fact. The action scenes are dynamic and brutally realistic, such as the swift but dramatic shootout at Blacksad's apartment, and a later occasion when the P.I. assaults two hired goons with a fire extinguisher. The realistic manner in which the violence is depicted only helps to immerse you further in the story and remind you of the stakes.

Overall

Blacksad simply shines as a great example of comic book storytelling. The art is vibrant and beautiful, bringing every page to life, really capturing your imagination and drawing you into the world that Canales and Guarnido seem to have created so effortlessly. If you're a fan of hardboiled detective stories, then don't make the mistake of writing off Blacksad as a Disney-esque tale because of the anthropomorphic characters - this story packs as much punch as any good detective story you might read. Even if gumshoes and dames - or cats even - aren't your kind of thing, Blacksad should still appeal to anyone who simply wants to experience a great story crafted by two extremely talented creators.

Publisher: ibooks
Writing: Juan Diaz Canales
Art: Juanjo Guarnido