Translated by Montana Kane
208 pages
Published 2018 (English translation 2022)
Read May 7
Rating: 4 out of 5
Another bit of dinosaur fiction I learned about thanks to the Prehistoric Pulp blog. This one is a graphic novel, originally written in French. It’s got a post-apocalyptic cowboy named Jarri, who herds chasmosaurs when he isn’t being horny on dating apps. It’s got water pipelines and deserts littered with steampunk wreckage from past rebellions. The rich live in sky-cities which suck the world dry. There’s also a computer god called the Great Network.
The back cover blurb calls it “Dinotopia meets Mad Max,” which, sure. But also, it is the purest distillation of 1970s science-fantasy I’ve seen from a contemporary author. And there’s more than a trace of Studio Ghibli’s Nausicaä and Castle in the Sky in its world.
Perriot’s art, together with Florence Breton’s superlative color work, elevates Negalyod’s dour tale of dystopia and vengeance. Clever feats of dinosaur wrangling and breathtaking full-page spreads make almost every panel something to savor. And while Perriot’s story doesn’t quite nail its big twist regarding the Great Network and its purpose, it’s a fun ride to get there.
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