A unique short graphic novel about Mussolini's dictatorship. Unfortunately, the minimalist story had me wishing for a longer more detailed story, but really lovely abstract style. Each splash-page would make eye-catching displayed artwork.

Recommended for fans of The Arrival, The Complete Maus, The Complete PersepolisPersepolis

Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the copy

This is presented almost like a picture book. It's abstract to the point that it doesn't really get the point across that it's about the Franco who ruled Spain with an iron fist for decades. He's destroying shapes instead of people in the book.

'Frank - The Story of a Forgotten Dictatorship' with words and art by Ximo Abadia is an interesting take on telling the story of famous dictator Franco.

Told in a simple and symbolic way, this is the story of a small man who liked a certain shape. When other shapes start appearing, he does what he can to get rid of them. He gets help from other dictators. He elects a king. The world turned a blind eye.

It's a pretty simplistic way to tell history, but it has a certain elegance and power. The use of colors and shapes makes you think of one type of story, but the subtext says it all.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

While I have a few doubts as to whether the Franco regime is exactly a "forgotten" dictatorship as this book alleges, it has to be said it kind of got forgotten about courtesy of little ol' Adolf. What I have no doubt about is the distinction with which this book treats the subject. The pages are busy, but only have a sentence at most on; the imagery is dynamic yet everything is either black and white, red, blue or yellow – greens, browns, and other non-primary colours never get a look in. Yes it's an incredibly quick read, but it stands out for that – it's certainly different to the usual Europe Comics output – and the visual metaphors of the Generalissimo's tastes are really good. Strong iconography like this is very hard to come by these days, and this little fable is a rare evocation of the power of the wordless image.

A graphic novel about a forgotten dictatorship is a wonderful and easy way to learn about history. If I read this without any knowledge about what Francisco Franco did, I don't think it will have such a great emotional impact. It's written in a style that even a child can understand. The way that Frank couldn't accept that other people think in other figures than the square is a great metaphor for the way things were. I wish this graphic novel was longer because the art was fascinating. So many details and metaphors. So much sadness hidden behind an image. It's a great thing that books like these ones are published because people are still unaware of what happened. I had no idea things were so bad in Spain, but I'm glad this book allowed me to learn more. However, I don't recommend people go into this book without knowing anything.

According to Wiki 'Francisco Franco Bahamonde was a Spanish general and politician who ruled over Spain as Head of State and dictator from 1939, until his death in 1975."

This graphic novel manages to tell his story in about 46 sentences and using brightly designed graphics. The way the story is told is captivating. This isn't some long history book but it is a book that will grab your attention, hold it and then send you to go looking for the long history books.

It is hard to desrcibe this artwork. It is simplistic and yet very powerful in the way it tells the story. The book can be read at any age and although the story is told through bright colours, there are dark and subtle aspects of the story that it conveys.

This is definitely a good one for people who like graphic novels and history.

Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review

*Received via NetGalley for review*

Gorgeous panels, but light on information. With the amount of information it seems like it would appropriate for elementary school, if there was an interest for it.

Laid out like a children's book except no child will ever read this, Frank is a largely art piece giving scant details on the dictator's life that basically just says Franco bad, fascism bad. Great. So informative. Some of the art is interesting but there's very little here that's remotely impactful or worth reading.

A good introduction to the concept of dictatorship for children. Interesting analogy to explain it in simple terms.

Fantastically bold and colourful illustrations.

I'd have liked some accurate historical information at the end to encourage children to learn more.

Thanks to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

This was such a great work, the illustrations were amazing and I loved the use of colors and how minimalist it felt even though the colors were so vivid.

Through striking illustrations Ximo explores a heavy topic (dictatorship). I didn't know anything about the historical figure so would have liked an afterward or prologue with more information. This could be a good way to introduce the frightening topic of oppression to children through the examples of shapes as utilized in the book.

It's very hard to review this book. The graphics are wonderful. The idea behind the book is great, BUT, this is a book for children, not for adults who want to read something significant about Generalissimo Franco and what put him in power (not just a simplistic idea that partially works for children, of squares, triangles and circles).

This book doesn't give us any information at all.. And great graphics are not enough unless it is backed up by real ideas.

Even a book for children has to have some content that is important, more important than he didn't like people who were different from him.

The 2 stars are because the graphics are great.

A beautiful graphic novel that was really enhanced by its strong narrative. I could not think of a single improvement while I was reading it.

This graphic novel about Francisco Franco is very short. I read it in only a few minutes. It is very effective, though, in getting its point across to the reader. The author doesn't use the words "prejudice" and "war." In fact, he doesn't demonstrate the themes with people. In the book Franco likes squares and hates all other shapes. It is extremely smart and a simple way to teach the moral. The art is vivid and bright with strong colors and very graphic art. I liked this little history / culture lesson very much.

Thank you to Netgalley, Abadia Ximo and Europe Comics for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated and simply shared, this part of the history of Spain is something I have never heard of. Would look forward to reading more about this Forgotten Dictator and how it has shaped modern Spain.

Apparently Francisco Franco is a taboo subject in Spain. No one wants to think about the horrid past.

So, this is a very stark, very simple almost picture book quality about it. That doesn't mean it doesn't get to the point, it does, but with simple drawings that might fool the causual observer.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-10-at-11.34.07-PM.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5362" />

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-10-at-11.35.33-PM.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5361" />

Not sure if I would say this is a good way to introduce someone to Franco, but it does remind you of how horrid life under him was


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reivew.

I loved the art in this book, as well as the powerful story. It works like a kind of parable. I would call this more of an illustrated book than graphic novel — but still enjoyable and I’d be glad to own a copy.

Whatever I was expecting starting Frank this wasn't it. Ximo's book is Incredibly powerful for something that can be read within a few minutes. More piece of art than a graphic novel, where the phrase 'a picture is worth a thousand words' is the rule here.

Ximo's artwork is eye-catching and full of symbolism which has a way of staying with you long after the book is completed. The text is concise but just as potent, nothing is wasted.

Trying to think of other 'graphic novels' that have had the same sort of impact on me and I'm quite tempted to put it up there with The Arrival by Shaun Tan.

Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and Europa for the arc.

How do you write a book about a historical figure who polarises opinion and disturbs even unconscious thought.
The author writes. “Our grandparents were forced to fight. Our parents were forced to forget. It is our duty to remember the past so we can look towards the future.”
This book is short on narrative and full of colour. No words wasted, powerful and with meaning. Illustrations telling a thousand words.
A Spanish book for its own, a people tainted by their shared heritage which does not come out in the wash.
I am so pleased the book has been translated into English. Some of the imagery in words and drawings last with you.
The shame is the free world who turned their backs or aided the regime. The world has not learned its lessons as seen with the fate of Syria.
The light illuminating a prison cell was a tremendous image, those who rule in an authoritarian way want to hid the truth and silence opposition voices.
Democracy is being fought for still around the world; it is happening in Hong Kong even now.
This is a book that cannot be ignored and I trust it helps salve the troubled psyche of Spanish people.

Ximo Abadía narrates through words and vibrant colours the dictatorship of Franco, insisting on the need to remember one of the hardest periods in history. Between the two reading prisms, the image and the text, both very concise and intense, it remains up to the reader to interpret the story, to delve deeper into the symbolisms.