BD chronicle – This 1972 English literature classic had never been adapted in comics before. The Americans James Sturm and Joe Sutphin took up the challenge with an insolent mastery.
Fyveer is not a rabbit like the others. His visions come true! However, he “saw” the pre -covered pre -covered. Humans certainly prepare a bad blow … But how can we convince the community to leave its peaceful Garenne to take the perilous path of exile? Watership Down Tells the adventures of a heterogeneous group of rabbits confronted with multiple enemies: men, dogs, foxes, raptors … but also other fellows with different social practices. Indeed, in this universe, wild rabbits have developed their own culture, with original myths and a specific vocabulary.
Released in 1972 and sold more than 50 million copies, the original novel by Richard Adams was adapted to the cinema (The crazy getaway, 1978), on television (especially The rabbit hill, Broadcast in 2018 on Netflix), in the theater, on the radio … and even in play in 1976. However, it took to wait until 2024 to (re) discover this classic of English literature in comics, rewarded in the United States of the Eisner Prize for best adaptation and today available in French thanks to the magnificent edition with the copper reflections of Mr. Toussaint Louverture (Me, what I like is the monsters ).
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An American duo in charge
Adams, Sutphin & Sturm / Monsieur Toussaint Louverture
When he learned that the beneficiaries of Richard Adams wanted a comic adaptation to day, the American screenwriter James Sturm jumped at the opportunity. This great lover of the novel did not discover it until late, in the thirties: “Watership Down gave me the same pleasure as the comics that I loved as a child. There were unforgettable characters, each with different powers (speed, strength, leadership, clairvoyance) and forming a team (like the X-Men or the Avengers ) to courageously fight a memorable villain “, He recalls in the afterword of the original edition of the comic strip.
Although he draws himself, James Sturm preferred to collaborate with another artist, his compatriot Joe Sutphin. Experienced in the art of illustration, notably animal, the designer had never published a comic book professionally! “” The idea of making a comic strip, whatever its length, intimidated me, not to mention 375 pages, he confides to Figaro. If we add to this the fact that this text has been appreciated by millions of people for 50 years, the pressure has become even stronger. It took me a while to accept that I just had to trust James and my own visual narration. »
Represent English landscapes and animal emotions
Adams, Sutphin & Sturm / Monsieur Toussaint Louverture
In order to best transcribe the English landscapes of the novel, the authors of comics crossed the Atlantic. “” Our trip to Hampshire was decisive. We could never have made such a book without having set foot there, assure Joe Sutphin. Alongside the brilliant daughters of Richard [Adams]Juliet Johnson and Ros Mahony, and their friend and trading partner KT Forster, we spent several days on an expedition guided by Aldo Galli, himself an illustrator of Watership Down And Intimate Friend of Richard. We have traveled almost all of the fields, streams, wood and hills that Richard describes in his story, capturing every visual detail and listening to countless anecdotes on the life of Richard and the history of his Watership Down. “And the screenwriter to add in the afterword:” We went under the same railway bridge as that crossed by Bigwig and the rabbits of Effrafa on the run. When this scene had to be returned, it looked less like an act of imagination than to documentation of a historical event. »
By spending time with animals, we start to perceive their feelings and moods with their physical appearance
Joe Sutphin
From the start of the project, the beneficiaries wanted the comics to be as faithful as possible to the novel. “” During a first conversation, I suggested locating the book in Vermont, where I live, tells James Sturm at Figaro. This idea has not been very successful! Fortunately, they still wanted to work with me after this absurd proposal … The daughters of Richard Adams accepted some light script cups but wanted to avoid anthropomorphism to transmit the emotions of rabbits. “” My goal was to focus on the expressiveness of the gaze, rather than on the very human expressions to which we are used to, explains Joe Sutphin. By spending time with animals, we start to perceive their feelings and moods with their physical appearance. I leave the state of their fur and their body language express their moods and feelings, and I use their eyes to accentuate these expressions». Certainly one of the greatest qualities of comics, whose wealth summons frescoes of fantasy such as The Lord of the Rings. The glossary and the detailed map provided in annexes testify to this.
A story unfairly known for its violence?
Adams, Sutphin & Sturm / Monsieur Toussaint Louverture
Comic strips do not hesitate to represent the cruelty of nature and men head -on. The macabre visions of Fyveer are cold in the back and some clashes are particularly brutal. “” There are scenes where rabbits shed their blood, and as I had a deep respect for what they were going through, I wanted to treat these moments without falling into sensationalism “Analysis the designer, who wishes to qualify the tenacious reputation of the work, maintained by memes on the Internet:” Watership Down is not an intrinsically violent story. It is extremely wise compared to most current popular fictions. I believe that its violent and dark character remained in memories due to the brevity of the animated film of [Martin] Rosen, who did not have sufficient duration to show beauty and difficulties in equal parts, and who was therefore based more on the tests. The book is full of beauty and wonder that allow the reader to understand precisely why rabbits are ready to endure such tests. Joe Sutphin believes that it is possible to read his comics from 10 years old.
Whether you are a child or an adult, Watership Down fascinates and questions. What is a good leader? What kind of society do we want? What sacrifices are we ready to make to improve our existence? Each rabbit brings its share of answers. “” Hazel makes me think about my own doubts, when I know that I have to assume roles in life and guide others, whether I believe it capable or not, Confess Joe Sutphin. Fyveer also plays a role in this context, I who am a dreamy and atypical person in his aspirations. We cannot always convince everyone that his idea is sensible, even good, but sometimes you have to rely on your instinct, your heart, your faith, your experience, your skills and skills. Bigwig has honorably put aside his ego to support an apparently unworthy leader, Hazel. Watership Down Abstain from characters who, despite their difficulties, their fears and their failures, unite to overcome the darkness of their world, keeping the hope of a better and lasting future. »
Today, fascism is expanding in the United States. We will need many courageous rabbits in the years to come, as well as empathetic leaders like Hazel to guide us.
James Sturm
The story itself resonates with the experience of its author but also with our time. “” This story was born from the experience of Adams, fighting fascism as a soldier during the Second World War, specifies James Sturm. Today, fascism is expanding in the United States. We will need many courageous rabbits in the years to come, as well as empathetic leaders like Hazel to guide us. »
Adams, Sutphin & Sturm / Monsieur Toussaint Louverture
Watership Down, by Richard Adams (original novel), James Sturm (Scenario) and Joe Sutphin (drawing), translated from English by Pierre Clinquart and Hélène Charrier, Mr. Toussaint Louverture, 368 pages, 32.50 euros.