The Future Is… In our review of the graphic novel – Borg

In line with International Women's Day on March 8th, we would like to introduce you to a project recently published by Carlsen Verlag. Editor and translator Liliane Bethan from Berlin has compiled a comedy anthology from a total of 14 German-speaking comedians, and their own take on the world in 100 years. The artists address cutting-edge debates and topics such as climate change, our social lives, and digital transformation, and think about the distant future.

“What will the world look like in 100 years? Will we float in cyberspace or transform as disembodied beings, will our children and grandchildren fight each other over dwindling resources or explore alien planets? How will partnerships, romantic relationships and friendships change, as will our relationship to work and mutual exploitation? Will there be equality?” Finally in 100 years?

It's clear right from the cover that the future will be colorful. Many of the participating artists poured themselves into colorful scenarios for their outlook on the coming century, filling the full spectrum of color regardless of the premise they adopted for their short episode.

Participating artists include exciting talents such as Maren Amini (Hamburg), Whitney Burch (Hamburg), Bea Davies (Berlin), Cherie Domingo (Berlin), Katja Fouquet (Berlin), Aisha Franz (Berlin), Melanie Garanen (Berlin), Per Jungling. (Düsseldorf), Kathrin Klingner (Hamburg), Mia Oberlander (Hamburg), Elisabeth “Fongerl” Piech (Saarbrücken), Marijpohl (Hamburg), Maki Shimizu and Malwin Strauss (Berlin).

I would like to choose three short stories that I personally liked best from a male point of view. The opening story, titled “The Best of Both Worlds” by Bea Davies, is about an artificial intelligence that tests humanity and then decides to continue observing and enjoying that warmth.

As another anime-like contribution, I really liked “The Peace I Win” by Marin Amini and finally I would recommend “The Second Future. Everything Will Be Better” by Melanie Jaranen, which thought about current and future environmental pollution.

The short episodes, each consisting of six pages, are divided into four thematic areas: “Technorama, Brave New World?!, Let Life and You and Me.” Limiting six pages also makes it clear that we can only focus on a short excerpt. We, the readers, jump into the action and then experience the essence of each artist's statement in these six pages. It is better to read short episodes at a distance rather than all at once. The hardcover book also offers you a bar marker so you can mark your reading progress. The book is concluded with information about all the participating artists and their desires for the future.

You now have the opportunity… Leipzig Book Fair From March 21 to 24, 2024, to attend a book signing ceremony and a panel discussion about the book in which some of the participating artists will participate.

If you want to get a first impression of the illustrations, you can here Do.

The future is… Published by Carlsen Verlag.

• ISBN: 978-3-551-76018-0
• 128 pages
• color
• Hardcover
• 17.3 x 24.5 cm
• Recommended for ages 12 and up
• 25.00 euros

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