As someone who didn't really know who Boulet was before picking up this collection, I sometimes found myself feeling as though I'd missed a trick. This is a collection of strips and comics from Boulet done throughout his life and then collated and edited for this book. I enjoyed one of the comics very thoroughly, and enjoyed some of the humour, but mostly found it a little overwrought. This one, I think, would benefit from a little more context and knowledge of the artist beforehand.

I've seen excerpts of Serbian edition of Boulet's comics greatest hits, and it seemed to be something I would like to read. So when I got the chance to read this collection (volume one, I guess) I embraced the opportunity.

Boulet to this day draws these vignettes for his blog. Since the rule is to draw without sketches and pencils, the art changes from situation to situation. But I liked it since it's fairly interesting to have someone's diary (in a way) layed-out in front of you as interesting comic pages. Stories are short, but sometimes connected. There are recurring jokes and characters - Boulet's friends. Even when you're thrown inside of his life abruptly, it's okay, it is easy to connect the dots.

To be as meta as possible, those vignettes are sometimes connected with his dialogue with a friend, in "present time". Boulet that way gives a commentary on his early works, his intentions and his hopes that it will resonate with today's audience. He is a really strong character and sometimes he can make himself unlovable. But it is important to be said that it's his perception of himself. In real life, maybe it's better or maybe it's worse. What we get is real life adventures in artistic form with all the self-censoring that goes with it. So when the author gives you TMI, it is always intentional even if it doesn't look that way.

I would recommend this collection to every fan of web-comics, to fans of autobiographies, to art lovers and comic book aficionados. I let it be a slow burn for myself, I read it slowly and savored it. It could be a book you'll come back to for inspiration. It creates that feeling of "if he can do it, maybe I can". In terms of creativity, this could be that one more push for you as much it was for me.

I'd really like to thank NetGalley for a copy of this wonderful book. Reading this was a very nice experience.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Oni Press in exchange for a free and honest review.

This graphic novel consists of a series of webcomics by Boulet, that were collected over 20 years. These comics recount his experiences from childhood to adulthood in a non-linear manner. The book has a slow start but picked up considerable, the comic contained funny anecdotes and the drawings were quite good. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and would recommend the 'for Louis' comics (about a overzealous fan of Boulet, who appears at his signings asking him to sign his comic to Louis) and 'the black cat comic' (about a delightful cat with a very interesting description). I would highly recommend.

This book is a collection of carefully curated comics from French Illustrator and Artist Boulet.

He takes the best of his webcomic entries and frames them with his current thoughts about them.

The variation and simultaneously consistency of his style as well as the progresses he made in the development of the stories and slice of life comics are building a beautiful arch from start to the end of this book.

A very nice mixture of everyday life, travellogs, childhood memories and little stories bursting with fantasy, with beautiful rough sketches of people and places thrown in between the comics and panels.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Born to Be a Larve" is a lighthearted personal and introspective journal about the simple pleasures of everyday life and exploring the quirks of Parisian culture. It is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy lighthearted and informative comics that seem a bit random.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Boulet’s Notes: Back in Time by Boulet is a captivating journey through the whimsical and introspective mind of one of France’s most celebrated cartoonists. A treasure trove of Boulet’s early works, offering readers a glimpse into the raw creativity and evolution of an artist who has been sharing his life and thoughts online for over two decades.

The book spans from 2004 to 2007, a period where Boulet’s artistry took shape amidst the skyscrapers of Seoul, the jungles of Cameroon, and the bustling streets of Paris. Each page is a testament to Boulet’s versatility, showcasing a range of styles from the simplistic to the intricate, all bound by a common thread of wry observational humor and a knack for storytelling.

What stands out in Boulet’s Notes is the seamless blend of the mundane with the fantastical. Boulet has the unique ability to transform everyday frustrations—be it dealing with over-eager comic book fans or confronting mutant leftovers—into cringe-worthy yet relatable tales. His idiosyncrasies are laid bare, making each comic strip not just a piece of art but a slice of life that resonates with the reader.

The selection of comics in this collection is said to be the best from the early years of Boulet’s blog, and it’s easy to see why. There’s a rawness to the humor, a freshness to the perspectives, and a daringness to push boundaries that is both refreshing and inspiring. It’s a reminder of the power of webcomics and the potential they hold in the hands of a skilled artist.

In essence, Boulet’s Notes: Back in Time is a dive into the depths of a creative mind that is unafraid to explore and express.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Boulet or new to his work, this book is a delightful introduction to Boulet's world—a place with humor and heart, where the art of cartooning is celebrated in all its glory.

This graphic novel is a collection of sketches from the artist Boulet jotting down passing thoughts, experiences, and everyday moments of his life. It's a genuine look into a French illustrator's life, bitter sweet, with some fun punchlines and a fair dose of nostalgia.
I had a good laugh seeing the references to Craig Thompson as the intellectual aspiration of graphic novelists. It's so tough to always being compared, and it's a rather steep dichotomy to be sandwiched between Thompson and Zep.
I hadn't known about the webcomic before, so I can't compare to the online version, but there is a nice continuity in this volume, which was remastered and given a conductive thread with new strips drawn up to join it all together. I had expected something disjointed like a diary of passing thoughts, but this is more like going to a comedy show, sure, there are some quick punchlines, but there is a really good use of recurring themes, and reminders, and world building into a satisfying volume. The thoughts on the condition of being an artist are obviously central to this work, and the interview at the end is a very nice touch.
I highly recommend even if you don't know Boulet but love the comic book art, are interested in life in France, artists, thoughts on creation and the likes.

An anthology of Boulet’s Notes - cartoons extracted from his webcomic.
If you’ve never heard about this French cartoonist, this is a perfect insight into his universe full of daily life, travels and crazy thoughts.
And if you know about him, enjoy diving back into this concentrate !

Thanks, NetGalley, for this ARC. t's a comic, but it felt like a collection of "day in the life" stories,

Wow Its a very interesting bio that delivers you his early hits. The art and words are has this underground-nish vibe. Not really for people who wants some actions and suspenseful story but for those who want to get to know the author and his development as an artist.

Full transparency: I didn't know Boulet before reading this book. Boy, have I been missing out. This French cartoonist/artist hits hard at all the embarrassing emotions we're feeling inside, and dumps them out on the page, messy and raw, for everyone to see. His style leans toward that "classic French quick cartoonist" style that probably has more official or technical name, but you probably know what I mean. But he's clearly a talented artist as well, based on sketchbook pages that he's included here and there, especially from some international travels.

It's hard to pick favorite strips or moments from this book, so I won't even try. I will say that there were several times I laughed out loud, and just as many where I got gut-wrenchingly embarrassed right along with him. His visually simple work and the tendency of his main character (him) to burst into Donald Duck-sized tantrums all disguises the fact that underneath, there's some deep storytelling going on across these pages. Of course, there's also many that are just plain fun, like the Leftovers series that is apparently infamous among his webcomic followers.

If you enjoy comics, or cartoons, or liked reading the Sunday funny pages as a child, do yourself a favor and check this one out. I think you'll enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review. This review will be cross-posted to my social media accounts closer to the book release date.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Oni Press for an advance copy of this look at the humble beginnings of a famous French cartoonist, his adventures with food, his travels around the world, and lengths he goes to be left alone and create.

Creating something new means sometimes staring at a blank page, blank screen and even worse a blank mind. These humble beginnings can sometimes be a story in themselves, a origin story one could say in while working in comics. Starting as a young man who hung with the nerds, though he tried not to be one. Imaging the future with rocket cars, flying skateboards and of course pretty girls. While slowly, gradually and sometimes without even the artist noticing art, and creating stories starts to become more and more important. Boulet's Notes: Back in Time is a collection of early works, with some framing stories to explain events, by the noted French artist Boulet, whose real name is Gilles Roussel. Boulet was one of the first French artists to have a blog, and in addition to his popular children's works has a webblog also entitled Notes that he was worked on for almost twenty years.

Boulet's Notes begins with the artist explaining to a female friend that after years of not wanting to collect his early works, the time has finally come to go back and and look at the beginning. This will also, Boulet hopes, put him in the adult field of graphic novels, allowing him better convention spaces, better interviews, and everything that comes with it. A trip to the archives, what looks like a basement, lets him explain the early years, working on websites, designing posters, and gradually learning how to set up, and soon build his own computer. And start his own blog. Most of these works are autobiographical, if a little fantastical. Boulet has sections about the places that comics have brought him, a convention in Seoul, South Korea, or teaching art in Cameroon and other African nations. Some strips detail his dealings with the French train system, about expenses, and crazy destinations trying to get to simple conventions outside of town. There are stories about the battle between leftovers, his own lack of social skills, and how Boulet avoids people, sometimes going to elaborate lies to do so.

Notes is a collection that sort of follows a set chronology, from past to today, but does jump around a bit, when the stories share a common theme. I enjoyed this collection, my first introduction to the writer/artist and found it funny, a little weird, a bit French, and a bit absurd. So more that a bit French. The art is very good, well not when showing himself, but the details especially in traveling to foreign countries is very good. Boulet can tell a story, and has no problem making himself the butt of the joke, or even a completely unlikable person, if the shoe is apt. One follows a shy person, gradually finding themselves and their art, coming together, and as one reads, can see a real progression in Boulet as a person.

Recommended for people who like graphic novels about people, with a touch of the weird. Also fans of European comics will enjoy the names, the people and situations. The parts set in comic book conventions with odd fans, and many, many things to buy are a lot of fun. I'd like to see more by Boulet.

I know I'm prejudiced because this is my sense of humor, but I absolutely loved this. It's a comic, but it felt like a collection of "day in the life" stories, and I identified with almost everything. I laughed out loud several times, and felt a little second-hand embarrassment when I identified too much. I think my favorite story was about how much trouble Boulet had getting train tickets -- I had similar problems in France, and I swear they did it to me on purpose. I'm definitely going to go back and read this again, and I'm sure I will find more to enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

I absolutely love this one. The comics are great with a dry sense of humour. I couldn't recommend it to my students because there are a few swear words in it. I think it is a great comic book for adults though.

Boulet's Notes by the online cartoon blogger Boulet is the illustrated log of the early years of the blog and it is a real pleasure to read

Boulet has a very dedfinitive style, but Boulet's Notes demonstrates the skill, versatility and variation in Boulet's illustrations, all of which are a visual delight with a cracking wry wit

The book chronicles events experienced and imagined and all are incredibly immersive. Funny, creative, inspired, I really enjoyed Boulet's Notes and it's a keeper for my art book collection

Thank you to Netgalley, Oni Press and Boulet for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

#BouletsNotes #NetGalley