In the year 2072, the world is different: the last refuge for remaining humanity is a high-rise tower in the former city of Brussels, which is operated by artificial intelligence. The director is deadly, because thirty years ago a pathogen emerged that nearly wiped out humanity. This dark dystopia was used in the graphic novel “The Tower” by the team of artists Jan Koonen, Omar Ladgham and Mr. Fab. What could be better than looking at the tower of the future in this tower of the present? We've taken a look at the first volume of the work and revealed why it's worth your look, too.
Humanity's last hope is not rusted
© Splitter Verlag / Éditions Glénat Written by Jan Kunen, Omar Ladgham and Mr. Fab
The French graphic novel has been available to read in German from Splitter Verlag since last November. As we mentioned at the beginning, there are three people who are the leaders of this project. Here Jan Konin and Omar Ladgham are the ones planning the plot, while Mr. Fab brings the story to life with his drawings.
Thirty years after the biological disaster, the remaining people live in a high-tech tower that they are not allowed to leave because the risk of infection in the fresh air is too great. While animals and plants have no problems with the bacteria and only transmit it, it kills people quickly and is considered highly contagious. In all the chaos out there, there is Newton, an artificial intelligence trying to help people live beautiful lives, but more importantly, controllable lives. The plot focuses on the various central characters and their problems. Their stories are told over and over again in turns.
What makes the plot of The Tower so fascinating is the fact that the people are all trapped but trying to live a certain normal life. What is insidious is that the tower has magnificent window facades, allowing people to look out and see again and again what they no longer have. Some people know life before the disaster well, while others are part of a new generation that only knows this new, beleaguered life. Although the number of people is rather small, different groups emerge that are not always well-disposed towards each other. Some levels are even completely isolated from the rest of society, which also reveals a lot about human nature. As the story progresses, you get a glimpse of the outside thanks to the expedition team, who hunt animals in protective suits, but you also see how people live and act inside the tower. It soon becomes clear that the tower is acting like a pressure cooker and is starting to rust…
Humanity's desire to find a way out of the tower, which in effect ensures their protection, lends a thoughtful depth to the action, which is repeatedly addressed and emphasized in the course of the plot. Is it a good life if you live according to the dictates of artificial intelligence? This question represents, as well as a deep longing for what was lost a long time ago. Various characters deal with this question and their feelings differently, making perfect material for a dramatic story.
Mr. Fab's drawing style is unforgiving and shines especially when things get ugly. Nature, slowly reclaiming the streets of Brussels, appears impressively painted and forms a direct contrast to the modern or partly human content depicted in the isolated paintings. Numerous details adorn the scenes, while the highlight are the various faces, which are particularly captivating with their believable expressions. The few speech bubbles that were used are somewhat noticeable. In fact, this graphic novel tells most of the story through large images. Here you can ask yourself whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage: Due to the sparse text, the reading time is very short, which I didn't like very much.
Splitter Verlag has given this graphic novel an oversized hardcover that leaves a high-quality impression. The German translation feels authentic and does not shy away from colloquial or unadorned language. The printing also features rich colors and suitable paper thickness. Fans of science fiction and action with a touch of thoughtful depth will certainly enjoy reading this book.
If you want to get a first impression with great illustrations, you can here View different pages of the graphic novel online.
- Hardcover, color
- ISBN: 978-3-96792-397-1
- 23.1 x 32.2 cm, 64 pages
- 16.00 euros
Order Tower 1 now from Bücher.de
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Order Tower 1 now on Amazon.de
Our e-magazine ntower is a member of the affiliate networks Amazon PartnerNet, AWIN, Webgains, Rakuten Advertising, Media Markt E-Business GmbH and Saturn online GmbH. When you order through one of our affiliate links, we receive a variable commission from the relevant store operator. There are no additional costs for end customers.
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