Nebelgrad Blues vol 1: TraktorfuzzBy: Sigbjørn Lilleeng
Jippi Forlag, 2008
Language: Norwegian
136 pages, black and white, softcover
ISBN: 978-82-92226-15-5
Nebelgrad Blues vol 2: EksossoloBy: Sigbjørn Lilleeng
Jippi Forlag, 2008
Language: Norwegian
136 pages, black and white, softcover
ISBN: 978-82-92226-16-2
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was one of the first to write about the Norwegian artist Jason internationally (i.e. in the Swedish magazine Bild & Bubbla). Since then Jason has become a true international phenomenon and many new Norwegian artists have emerged, althought none have so far reached the same heights as Jason. Having read the two volumes of Nebelgrad Blues by the artist Sigbjørn Lilleeng, I think we might have a contender. This is the story of a young man, living in a small rural Norwegian town, trying to make it in a band, trying to survive surounded by what he thinks are inferior, inbred people, trying to find love - and not succeeding especially well... The storyline is not as clichéed as this might sound like, as the characters and their relationship to each other are very well defined. The art is a mix of European, American and Japanese influences, but also very Norwegian if you have followed the evolution of comic art from this country the last decade or so. All in all, this was a really good read, with interesting art and characters that I want to know more about. The latter is possible, since Lilleeng has just started a new series, called Nebelgrad Blues: Betongdrømmer (Dreams of concrete), where the main chracters move to Oslo, the capital of Norway. For those of you living in Scandinavia, I really recommend picking up Nebelgrad Blues from Jippi Forlag, and if you are a foreign publisher, pick up the rights to these graphic novels as soon as you can!
