Once he's changed his name, the author finds salvation in artistic creativity and in recounting in graphic novel format the story of his brother's illness.Įpileptic is illustrated in black and white: David B.'s drawings are obsessive, mesmerising and devastating.

follows his transformation from boy into a prematurely middle-aged man bloated because of the medications he takes, with his face cut and scarred from innumerable falls during his epileptic fits.įlashbacks allow the reader to explore the history of the family: Pierre-François' grandparents and their lives during the World Wars are described and it's explained how, to annoy his fascistic grandfather and Hitler-worshipping Jean-Christophe, the author chooses to change his name in the Jewish David. Pierre-François's epileptic brother is portrayed as a victim, but also as a self-pitying violent bully when under medication. At times, epilepsy is a mountain Jean-Christophe and family must climb. Jean-Christophe's disease is illustrated by a monster, a sort of dragon that writhes all over the book, enveloping in his body Jean-Christophe's and his family. His fantasy life turned into an armour Pierre-François thought would keep him sane and protect him from his brother's illness. Pierre-François took refuge in his obsession for drawing epic battles, in chats with three sinister imaginary friends, the Devil, a black cat and Death and in the arms of the ghost of his dead grandfather represented with the head of a long-beaked bird. From then on, the whole life of the family revolved around finding a cure for Jean-Christophe: macrobiotic communes, acupuncturists, therapists, mediums, exorcisms and experimental drugs, Pierre-François' parents tried everything available, but nothing worked. But then something truly dramatic happened: at 11, Jean-Christophe started suffering from epilepsy. His childhood was happy, mostly spent playing with his older brother Jean-Christophe, sister Florence and the kids living in the neighbourhood. David B., one of the founding members of L'Association, a group of French cartoonists who joined their forces as publishers in 1990, is the recipient of numerous comics awards and has been hailed by The Comics Journal as one of Europe's most important and innovative comics artists.ĭavid was born Pierre-François Beauchard in a small town near Orléans, France. Translated by publishing house Fantagraphics co-owner Kim Thompson, Epileptic is David B.'s touching memoir.

Erasing clouds book reviews: david b, jill nelson, philippe vassetįirst serialised in France in six volumes as L'Ascension du Haut-Maul, David B.'s graphic novel is now published for the first time in a single comprehensive volume in English.

Epileptic david beauchard