Bandette Volume 1: Presto!

Presto! Dark Horse seems to be making a habit of printing these digital first comics into fantastic collected volumes. Its a good habit to have, Dark Horse. Bandette is fun.... Probably the most accurate work for it. Bandette is also more fun when you read everything with a silly French accent, non? Writer Paul Tobin and artist Colleen Coover created one of the most exciting adventures that I've read.... I was going to say "in a long time", but so many good graphic novels have came out recently! I guarantee you'll crack a smile or two at the dialogue. I applaud Tobin at creating quite a few fantastic one-liners. One of the turn offs I could see for others would be the art... Many would look at this and think it is a comic for young girls, but I assure you that it isn't. The art is the main thing that drew me to the comic. It is masterfully ink washed by Colleen Coover (a process she thankfully shares in a tutorial at the end of the book) and some of the content is adult. Colleen is no stranger to adult material (check out Small Favors), but it is kept to a level where I would feel comfortable letting my teenager read it. From a parent's standpoint, there is a scene where a man and woman are about to make out, but hey are still clohed in underwear. Another is after the main story in a short by a different artist. It has reference to a bordello and has a woman topless, but covering herself. There is also some bad language, but it isn't used very often. Two, maybe three times. The physical package is perfect. Smaller than the usual graphic novel, but hardbound with thick, glossy pages. Because the main story is relatively short, there are several short comics by different artists, as well as a 10+ page "glimpse" into the creative process behind Bandette. Definitely a nice presentation for the low price. Again with the good habits, Dark Horse. =) Overall, great volume. Can't wait for more. (And if you're like me, you'll get the digital comics on Comixology. Issue 6 should be out now.)

Since everybody else uses "charming" to describe this, I'll throw out a different term and say "whimsical". Because it is. It's charming, too. Bandette is a tonic for the ever increasing angst and grim show that so many comics have become over the past couple of decades. She is, in fact, about as angst-free as you can get, and if this seems lightweight, well joy and happiness and silliness can all seem pretty lightweight. So what. There should be a place in everyone's reading for some pure, unadulterated fun. Given the choice between living in this world and, say Gotham City, ship me off to Paris and the cafes and bookstalls. And Bandette's multiple hideouts. She soars for the joy of soaring; laughs because that is more fun than not laughing. This is clever, witty, packed with little visual details and delights. Skimming the surface is fine, and you'll enjoy yourself; slow down, dig into the art and reread the dialog and you'll be ever further rewarded. The bonus materials here are almost as much fun. Quite simply a wonderful time at the comics and I look forward to seeing what she is up to next.

Part heist caper, part screwball comedy, with a dash of superhero theatrics, Bandette is a delightful romp. Bandette is the world's greatest thief (self-proclaimed), merrily skipping across the rooftops of Paris as she "acquires" various objets d'art from their undeserving owners. She's just as likely to help the police as defy them, though, since for her it's as much about the challenge (and the fun) as it is the loot. The stakes are raised when Bandette runs afoul of the shadowy organization "FINIS", and they target her for death. But nothing fazes Bandette as she twirls and taunts her way out of every sticky situation. Paul Tobin's script is witty and breezy, and Colleen Coover complements it perfectly with her lively cartooning and lush, evocative colors. There's no pretention or attempt at deep meaning here, just a couple of crafty entertainers plying their trade with a deft touch that Bandette herself would surely admire. Presto!

Bought this for my 9 Y.O. girl and was disappointed to see the very sexual situation right in the first couple pages with a man and woman in bed. I should have returned it, but now I have to keep it until she's a bit older.

Fun and quick read for me and the kids. We really liked the story and the artwork. The females is the family were exited that the main character is female and the good thing is that the boys didn't complain about it. We like this one so much I think we will purchase the next volume too.

There are some things that, almost as soon as you meet them, you recognize in them their greatness. I would say this is all ages-ish with my only reservations being an overt sexual depiction (no nudity) in the first pages, and themes of grey morality that run through the characters as well as threats of violence and death. In some ways I would say these are things any kid might be better equipped to deal with than their parents, but it is for you to make the purchase decision, not them. If I was a teenager I am sure I would become absorbed in this world. Excellent, Excellent reading and something you could enjoy together.

Adorable book! A French thief and her gang of urchins work to stop a crime and start to tackle the leader of an infamous crime group. Bandette is quirky, cute and clever. The two rivals she faces in this book are also likable. Can't wait to read the next volume!

Fun, but is it worth the money? Depends

Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover have created a masterpiece (it has won a number of awards). This is a truly fun read full of superb artwork and a wonderful set of characters (even if they are all a little cliched but who cares when it such a superb readable tale). French BD from America.

Paul Tobin est un auteur de comic books qui a notamment travaillé sur les séries "Marvel Adventures" (version des super-héros Marvel réalisée pour de jeunes enfants). Née un 14 juillet, épouse de Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover est une illustratrice et dessinatrice qui travaille aussi fréquemment pour Marvel Comics (parfois avec son mari, comme pour un "King Size Spider-Man Summer Special"). Dans le monde indépendant, elle a dessiné le comic book adulte ' Small Favors ' et le plus familial 'Banana Sunday', une série écrite par son mari sous le pseudonyme de Paul Nobit. Le couple a commencé sa série "Bandette" en 2012, pour Monkeybrain Comics, une société tout récemment créée diffusant en ligne des "creator-owned" comic books. Aux lecteurs français, Bandette rappelle bougrement le personnage de "Fantômette" créé dans les années 1960 pour la Bibliothèque Rose par Georges Chaulet (cf. ' Les Exploits de Fantômette ' et les 50+ tomes suivants). Sauf qu'en plus de la plupart des qualités (jeune âge, culture, espièglerie, intelligence, chance, adresse, ami(e)s fidèles etc.) et des éléments de costume de Fantômette (le loup, la cape, le collant. Le jaune, le noir et le rouge), Bandette est une cambrioleuse spécialisée dans les oeuvres d'art. Son expression favorite n'est pas "Mille pompons !" mais "Presto!" Pour autant, il ne faut probablement pas taxer Tobin et Coover de plagiat pur et simple. Le couple Tobin installe Bandette et son petit monde dans un Paris d'opérette dans lequel l'élégance et l'art de la répartie amusante restent de mise. Bandette a un rival en larçins, "Monsieur", et un ennemi mortel, "Absinthe". Elle a un petit ami livreur de plats thai, Daniel, un chien et beaucoup d'amis dévoués à sa cause. Elle peut aussi compter sur le commissaire de police Belgique (c'est son nom !), qui la poursuit, qu'elle fait tourner en bourrique mais qu'elle aide à arrêter de vrais méchants. Les dessins se placent dans une certaine lignée "franco-belge" ouverte par Dupuy & Berbérian, Hervé Bourhis... Les roughs ressemblent peut-être aussi à du François Avril. Le tout n'est pas sérieux mais montre de l'érudition. Cela pétille et primesaute pour nous divertir avec un ensemble de grande qualité dont on attend désormais la suite avec impatience. Cet élégant recueil regroupe les 5 numéros publiés à ce jour de la série de webcomics, de 13 à 17 pages chacun, ainsi que huit histoires courtes (2-3 pages) écrites par Tobin mais dessinées par d'autres, mettant en scène différents personnages de la série. Parmi les généreux "extras", une nouvelle de Tobin narre la rencontre de Bandette et de Daniel. Un article détaille le pedigree les oeuvres volées ou convoitées par Bandette. Un extrait du script de Tobin est fourni ainsi qu'une explication très détaillée de la manière dont Colleen s'y est prise pour dessiner la série, récompensée d'un Eisner Award. **** et 1/2

Von der Qualität dieses Web-Comics bin ich vollkommen überrascht. Warum habe ich geglaubt, dass Web-Comics zeichnerisch eher weniger ansprechend sind? Tobins BANDETTE ist toll gezeichnet und in gewisser Weise vergleichbar mit "Die fabelhafte Welt der Amelie": BANDETTE ist unkonventionell, charmant und setzte sich über übliche Genregrenzen mit spielerischer Leichtigkeit hinweg. Ein "Wohlfühlcomic" - und das ist in keiner Weise abwertend zu verstehen! BANDETTE hat etwas kindlich Naives, und diese Qualität findet sich in heutigen Comics viel zu selten. Von Superman & Co. ist sie genauso weit entfernt wie von Donald Duck. Wunderbar eigensinnig, eigenartig und einzigartig: Presto!

Coover and Tobin have put together a wonderfully whimsical world. A love letter to classic bande dessinée. The sly, cheeky protagonist, the down trodden always one step behind detective and a great supporting cast. All the tropes are here. Highly recommended.

Too simple and short. Mainly for kids and teens.