{"id":30754,"date":"2024-10-21T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T08:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=30754"},"modified":"2024-10-20T14:35:33","modified_gmt":"2024-10-20T14:35:33","slug":"ducoboo-volume-4-the-class-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2024\/10\/21\/ducoboo-volume-4-the-class-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Ducoboo volume 4: The Class Struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Godi & Zidrou<\/strong>, coloured by V\u00e9ronique Grobet<\/strong>, translated by Luke Spear<\/strong> (Cinebook)
\nISBN: 978-1-84918-031-3 (Album PB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re currently experiencing Half Term, fear not! Back to school countdown begins now!<\/em><\/p>\n

School stories and strips of every tone about juvenile fools, devils and rebels are a lynchpin of modern western entertainment and an even larger staple of Japanese comics – where the scenario has spawned its own wild and vibrant subgenres. However, would Dennis the Menace<\/strong> (ours and theirs), Komi Can\u2019t Communicate<\/strong>, Winker Watson<\/strong>, Don\u2019t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro<\/strong>, Power Pack<\/strong>, C\u00e9dric<\/strong> or any of the rest be improved or just different if they were created by former teachers rather than ex-kids or current parents?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise the form is evergreen: schooling (and tragically, sometimes, lack of it) takes up a huge amount of children\u2019s attention no matter how impoverished or privileged they are, and their fictions will naturally address their issues and interests. It\u2019s fascinating to see just how much school stories revolve around humour, but always with huge helpings of drama, terror, romance and an occasional dash of action\u2026<\/p>\n

One of the most popular European strips employing those eternal yet basic themes and methodology began in the last fraction of the 20th<\/sup> century, courtesy of scripter Zidrou (Beno\u00eet Drousie) and illustrator Godi. Drousie is Belgian, born in 1962 and for six years a school teacher prior to changing careers in 1990 to write comics like those he probably used to confiscate in class.<\/p>\n

Other mainstream successes in a range of genres include Petit Dagobert<\/em><\/strong>, Scott Zombi<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em> La Ribambelle<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em> Le Montreur d\u2019histoires<\/em><\/strong>, African Trilogy<\/strong>, Shi<\/strong>, L\u00e9onardo<\/strong><\/em>, a superb revival of Ric Hochet<\/em><\/strong> and many more. However, his most celebrated and beloved stories are the Les Beaux \u00c9t\u00e9s<\/em><\/strong> sequence (digitally available in English as Glorious Summers<\/strong>) and 2010\u2019s sublime Lydie<\/strong>,<\/em> both illustrated by Spanish artist Jordi Lafebre. Zidrou began his comics career with what he knew best: stories about and for kids, including Crannibales<\/em>, Tamara<\/em>, Margot et Oscar<\/em><\/strong> Pluche<\/em> and, most significantly, a feature about a (and please forgive the charged term) school dunce: L\u2019El\u00e8ve Ducobu<\/em><\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

Godi is a Belgian National Treasure, born Bernard Godisiabois in Etterbeek in December 1951. After studying Plastic Arts at the Institut Saint-Luc in Brussels he became an assistant to comics legend Eddy Paape in 1970, working on the strip Tommy Banco<\/em> for Le Journal de Tintin<\/em><\/strong> whilst freelancing as an illustrator for numerous comics and magazines. He became a Tintin<\/em><\/strong> regular three years later, primarily limning C. Blareau\u2019s Comte Lombardi<\/em>, but also working on Vicq\u2019s gag strip Red R\u00e9tro<\/em>, with whom he also produced Cap\u2019tain Anblus McManus<\/em> and Le Triangle des Bermudes<\/em> for Le Journal de Spirou<\/em><\/strong> in the early 1980s. He also soloed on Diog\u00e8ne Terrier<\/em> (1981-1983) for Casterman. Godi moved into advertising cartoons and television, cocreating with Nic Broca animated TV series Ovide<\/em><\/strong>. He only returned to comics in 1991, collaborating with newcomer Zidrou on L\u2019El\u00e8ve Ducobu<\/em><\/strong> for Tremplin<\/em><\/strong> magazine. The strip began there in September 1992 before transferring to Le Journal de Mickey<\/em><\/strong>, with collected albums starting in 1997, 27 so far in French, Dutch, Turkish and for Indonesian readers.<\/p>\n

When not immortalising modern school days for future generations, Godi diversified, co-creating (1995 with Zidrou) comedy feature Suivez le Guide<\/em><\/strong> and game page D\u00e9mon du Jeu<\/em><\/strong> with scripter Janssens. That series spawned a live action movie franchise and a dozen pocket books, plus all the usual attendant merchandise paraphernalia. English-speakers\u2019 introduction to the series (5 volumes only thus far) came courtesy of Cinebook with 2006\u2019s initial release King of the Dunces<\/strong> – in actuality the 5th<\/sup> European collection L\u2019\u00e9l\u00e8ve Ducobu – Le roi des cancres<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The indefatigable, unbeatable format comprises short – most often single page – gag strips like you\u2019d see in The Beano<\/strong>, involving a revolving cast; well-established albeit also fairly one-dimensional and easy to get a handle on. Our star is a well-meaning, good natured but terminally lazy young oaf who doesn\u2019t get on with school. He\u2019s sharp, inventive, imaginative, inquisitive, personable and not academical at all. Today he\u2019d be SEP, banished as someone else\u2019s problem, relegated to a \u201cspectrum\u201d or diagnosed with a disorder like ADHD, but back then, and at heart, he\u2019s just not interested: a kid who can always find better – or at least more interesting – things to do\u2026<\/p>\n

Dad is a civil servant and Mum left home when Ducoboo was an infant. It\u2019s not a big deal: Leonie Gratin<\/em> – the girly brainbox from whom he constantly and fanatically copies answers to interminable written tests – only has a mum. Ducoboo and his class colleagues attend Saint Potache School and are mostly taught and tested by ferocious, impatient, mushroom-mad Mr Latouche<\/em>. The petulant pedagogue is something of humourless martinet, and thanks to him, Ducoboo has spent so much time in the corner with a dunce cap on his head that he\u2019s struck up a friendship with the biology skeleton. He (She? They!) answer to Skelly <\/em>– always ready with a crack-brained theory, wrong answer or best of all, a suggestion for fun and frolics\u2026<\/p>\n

Released in 1999, fourth collected album La Lutte des classes<\/em><\/strong> is another eclectic collation of classic clowning about that begins with another new term and Ducoboo doing his utmost to not be there by means of forged notes and silly comic excuses. However once remanded to his seat beside Leonie, his latest scheme unfolds as he seeks to convince her – and all concerned – that the bad boy is still absent and new girl Agatha Booducu<\/em> is ready to be besties with the incumbent brainbox. As little miss Gratin is as smart as everyone thinks, it\u2019s not long before the copying kid is exposed and extraordinary vengeance inflicted…<\/p>\n

Leonie\u2019s next seat sharer is tubby blonde new kid Ernest Finkle<\/em>, but the enlightened lass is resolved to not fall for same trick twice. Poor, poor Ernest…<\/p>\n

Tracing another year in the life of all concerned, the skiver\u2019s antics to get illicit answers include feigning creating a philosophy of cribbing, Q-&-A psy-ops with Latouche, many planning sessions with Skelly, and puzzles that leave the teacher temporarily sectioned, and arrested as a serial killer, as well as a host of purpose-built copying gadgets which include ghost-radio channelling Albert Einstein and Beethoven, nanny-cam hats, wigs and worse. The champion cheat almost meets his match when Leonie gets a second copycat in noxious new boy Marcel Molasses<\/em> and their battle for her intellectual favours assumes epic proportions.<\/p>\n

The brief blessed interlude of Christmas offers little respite and one last Ducoboo \u201canswers-please\u201d assault, before a New Year\u2019s resolution sparks an extended crisis. Fired by integrity, or perhaps playing a really long con game, the bratty boy refuses to copy any more, leaving Leonie isolated and desperate to make him cheat with her again…
\n\"\"
\nHostage-taking, sleight of hand, outright rebellion, time-bending and other small scams abound but never diminish the barrage of tests, questions, times tables demonstrations and lines given. Even magical interference by a misplaced Genie of the Pencil Sharpener who swaps his body with Leonie\u2019s can\u2019t really add to the anarchy and catastrophe of the average school day…<\/p>\n

Somehow, everyone lives to the end of another year and vacation time beckons, but even here poor Latouche cannot escape the effects of his most difficult pupil. Unbeknownst to all the entire cast have decide to vacation at sunny Breeze-on-Sea, where apparently, our copycat kid can\u2019t stop himself doing exactly what little Leonie does…
\n\"\"
\nDespite the accidental and innocent tones of stalking and potential future abuse, these yarns are wry, witty and whimsical: deftly recycling adored perennial childhood themes. Ducuboo<\/strong> is an up-tempo, upbeat addition to the genre every parent or pupil can appreciate and enjoy. If your kids aren\u2019t back from – or to – school quite yet, why not try keeping them occupied with The Class Struggle<\/strong>, and calmly give thanks that there are kids far more demanding than even yours\u2026
\n\u00a9 Les Editions du Lombard (Dargaud- Lombard) 1999 by Godi & Zidrou. English translation \u00a9 2010 Cinebook Ltd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Godi & Zidrou, coloured by V\u00e9ronique Grobet, translated by Luke Spear (Cinebook) ISBN: 978-1-84918-031-3 (Album PB\/Digital edition) If you\u2019re currently experiencing Half Term, fear not! Back to school countdown begins now! School stories and strips of every tone about juvenile fools, devils and rebels are a lynchpin of modern western entertainment and an even … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Ducoboo volume 4: The Class Struggle”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[113,63,66,125,97,111,296,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-comedy","category-european-classics","category-horror-stories","category-humour","category-kids-all-ages","category-satirepolitics","category-school-stories","category-science-fiction"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-802","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30754"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30759,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30754\/revisions\/30759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}