Crows, death all smiles, a passing hourglass. These elements take place in the Père-Lachaise cemetery and follow an old man staggering but driven by a fierce desire for revenge. In 20 years old in May 1871, Jacques Tardi took on the challenge of writing a story in 25 pages for the 25 Images collection from Martin de Halleux editions. This black and white story, without text, with one image per page, takes up the constraints imagined by Frans Masereel in 25 images of a man’s passion.
There, at Père-Lachaise, a cemetery where Tardi, the Parisian from the 20th arrondissement, can walk, but which he also drew for the adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, the cartoonist pays homage to the Communards. He attacks the tomb of Adolphe Thiers, who organized the repression of the Parisian insurrection of 1871 with more than 15,000 men, women and children falling under bullets or bayonets.
The old man doesn’t spit on the grave, that’s not contemptuous enough
This tribute involves the revenge of an old man, who was 20 years old in 1871. Despite his problems getting around, he advances with one goal: to go to Thiers’ grave. Faced with this imposing mausoleum, his rage is poured out, not by spitting on the grave, but in a much more contemptuous way for the man who ordered the massacres.
The Commune is part of Tardi’s work with the four volumes of Cry of the People. He returns with a character whose last journey is escorted by death, crows and an hourglass. And, even without text, we hear this old man shouting “Long live the Commune” when he takes revenge on Thiers.
“20 years in May 1871”, by Jacques Tardi, published by Martin de Halleux. 19.90 euros.