Hexagon Comics: Guardian of the Republic Special Underground Issue

 

GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC SPECIAL UNDERGROUND ISSUE

Story: J.-M. Lofficer; cover: Jim Dandy

7x10 squarebound comic, 

56 pages 

b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-215-9. 

US$9.95/GBP 8.99

https://www.hexagoncomics.com/shop-guardian-of-the-republic-special-underground-issue.html

GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC / LUNATIC LEGION: THE COFFEE MAKER THAT TERRORIZES FRANCE!
Story: J..-M. Lofficer; Art: Jim Dandy
The new MOOKS GANG poses a terrifying threat to the French Republic. Only the LUNATIC LEGION is capable of stopping THE COFFEE MAKER            THAT TERRORIZES FRANCE. Alone ? Not really, because the fearless GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC is enlisted to lend them a hand!


GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC / CAPTAIN GIROFLÉE: LOBSTER’S ROLL!
Story: J..-M. Lofficer; Art: Martin Espinoza 

The GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC joins forces with CAPTAIN GIROFLÉE to defeat the megalomaniac Erik Zamour (a.k.a. The Boil) and his associate, the mad monk Filipo Labattoir, as well as their creature, the LOBSTER, who are sinking English trawlers in the English Channel.


Both stories are satirical in style, although firmly entrenched in the regular continuity. They also include a variety of potshots taken at French celebrities and political figures, who are probably unknown to most American readers. Nevertheless, we chose to make these two stories available to our loyal English-speaking public to give them an idea of the diversity of styles and inspirations featured in Hexagon Comics in France.  

Well, I have to admit this is going to be hit-or-miss with a lot of people. Satire is okay so long as people know who the satire is aimed at and in this case even I was a mite confused. The art varies in style which is no problem in this type of comic and is quite cartoony in places. I know from past experience that "cartoony" and "satirical" draws certain comic collectors to a book and may well do so here.

Did it make any difference to just reading the story as a comic book with in-jokes? Not really but if you are aiming at an American audience you may be lost. As Jerry Ordway said to me at a UK Comic Art Convention in the 1980s: "Most Americans do not know their own state capitol so anything outside the United States can be made up and accepted" so it might work?

As for the UK there is a big following of anything satirical so anyone knowing about France may see the satire.