El Fuego

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
This is the second time I read El fuego by David Rubín (first one being in Spanish), and I am still amazed at the artwork. The author’s style makes it possible for a meteor to approach Earth little by little and for the reader to follow its trajectory, its trail, every bit of grain and rock.
Alexander’s journey is a terrible one: from hero to a caricature of himself to a lonely man waiting for the end of the world. Some of the other characters’ monologues may feel overwhelming, out of place in a comic book with such an art to admire, but not Alexander’s, never Alexander’s. And even if dreams become nightmares and never truth, and some of the moments may seem confusing, it is impossible to put the book down.

Alexander is a socially committed architect who, due to life’s circumstances, is led to become something he never would have dreamed of. Upon discovering that a gigantic meteorite is on a collision course with Earth, he is hired to design a lunar colony. However, these habitats are far from capable of housing the entire Earth's population, turning the project into one for the elite. When Alexander is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, he decides to abandon everything and return to Earth to spend his last moments with his wife and daughter, unaware that his actions may have doomed them.

"El fuego" is an introspective work about the human condition, following a character deeply regretful in the face of death. It is only when he confronts his own mortality that he begins to realize how selfish he has been and how his decisions have affected those who loved him, whom he, in turn, did not know how to love.

The parallel drawn between a condemned man and a humanity on the brink of extinction allows Alexander’s reflections—of being finished and rejected—to be extended to society’s situation. The protagonist is a man with delusions of grandeur and severe megalomania, forcing us to confront humanity’s own selfishness and arrogance. In this world, we have faced countless threats, and by playing God, we have managed to avoid the consequences of our actions. But there is always something, one last unavoidable thing (a brain tumor for the man; an unstoppable meteor for humanity) that will force us to face the end and evaluate the damage done.

Rubín’s artwork complements the story, portraying a tortured and decaying man who has seen better days, along with a technologically advanced Earth still clinging to its old habits. There are delightful moments where we see Alexander walking through a ravaged Madrid or a ruined Rome, empty settings that will continue to exist, reminding us that the end of humanity doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world.

This is a deeply hard-hitting work filled with intense dialogue that doesn’t shy away from cynicism and accompanied by exceptional artwork.

Set in an indeterminate future where a colossal asteroid is on its way to smash into the earth we follow the story of Alexander Yorba, a renowned architect tasked with developing and completing Plan B.

Plan B is a habitat on the moon that was meant to save humanity if the Icarus rocket fails to destroy the asteroid as planned, both of these plans have a bit more complexity to them than initially stated.

At the start of the novel Alex finds out he has terminal brain cancer and we follow the trail of self-destruction that happens in the last of his few months alive whilst watching this mirror in the deterioration of society as the asteroid gets closer in the last few months of the planet.

A searing indictment on fame and self deceiving behaviour, we watch as all the layers are stripped bare and a person gets submerged in a madness based on their own narcissism.

Richly illustrated with an almost dream-like quality alongside the burst of visceral anger as Alex and society spiral into destruction, with a lot of colour juxtaposition to reveal parallels. The depiction of a decaying and fiery world at the end is so strong, especially in its contrast to Alex’s mental state.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

i can't imagine giving this anything but 5 stars, to be honest. reading this graphic novel felt like i was watching a captivating movie - like if you combined don't look up with mute - and i did not want to put it down. it was 3am and i just did not want to put it down.

the story itself may feel refurbished and exploited, especially in the last few years albeit for a good reason, but the way it's delivered to the reader was, i thought, exceptional. i wanted to stare at every panel for hours on end, i don't know, something about it just really clicked for me. it makes great use of dialogue, where it runs on and on sometimes only to shock the reader with stillness, with color and gradient being the dialogue instead, and it's - ugh. it just really spoke to me.

if i had to recommend an adult graphic novel to somebody, it would probably be this one.

Terrifying and heartbreaking in equal turns. Also, some of the most beautifully colored panels I have ever seen. Who knew the apocalypse could be so wonderful to look at?