The title might seem depressing but this second volume of Dunce offers you a hilarious dive into the daily life of a Norwegian humorist. No need to take your passport, just read our column to travel.
Short stories for the world
Almost the Apocalypse is certainly the second volume of the Dunce series but it can very well be read without knowing the beginning. Indeed, the book is a thick anthology of strips, comics in a few boxes from Norwegian newspapers by Jens K. Styve. Through the character of JensK, the author continues to offer us the story of a looser. The volume begins with his attempt at digital weaning. He is so addicted to Facebook that the very idea of unsubscribing is associated with crossing the desert. This cure is far from being a success. JensK becomes cantankerous. Worse, he comes across a new drug: Angry Birds.
Dunce's success is also due to the richness and diversity of the characters. This collective description begins with JensK's family. Indeed, he has a son Gustav with whom he has totally absurd discussions. Wanting to be a gentle figure, he believes he will become a monster after scolding him. Gustav definitely seems the most serene. He is involved in ecology and refuses overconsumption… except at Christmas. But like all Dunce characters, he is full of contradictions. He will not hesitate to monetize his mobile phone for his addicted father. Arrived in the previous volume, the dog Brego is still the most intelligent of the family. And, like Snoopy, Dunce's most successful character. He is contemptuous but cannot suppress his instincts. He swallows anything, which can be very useful during a survival course in the forest. Gifted with speech, his life changes when he falls in love. This new romance does not make him more tolerant of humanity.
Dunce also leaves the family setting by following JensK in his totally crazy start-up. During an observation internship, Gustav is unable to know what the employees are doing. However, his father is involved and even makes a retreat in nature after a client leaves. On his journey, his colleague and friend Børge joins him, but he is even less adapted to the wild world. This volume introduces a new colleague Gjøran. JensK spends an evening at home painting statuettes and discovers his surprising sanitary practices.
Live global laugh local
The Dunce series also confronts reality. The series began on the day Trump came to power while this volume was written during the covid pandemic to which the last third of the book is devoted. This period of crisis stimulated the imagination of the author as he says in the preface.
Dunce also incorporates Scandinavian elements, often the most successful. Norwegian students bring their lunch to each other, which gives the opportunity for a hilarious saga of several strips. How to duel at sunrise during the polar night? Due to this climatic peculiarity, JensK finds the winter depression every winter. This drop in diet comes suddenly but JensK does not let it happen and consults colleagues and then tries alternative medicine. Like many inhabitants of the Far North, the question of settling further south arises. In the meantime, you can enjoy a holiday in Corsica. But, while the son inquires from guide, JensK relies on Asterix.
For this new release, 404 graphics stands out for the quality of its editing work. He even completely changed the format to fit the series. Gone is the model of Franco-Belgian albums, welcome to a massive flexible volume more square. In accordance with the size of the strips, the boxes are highlighted and larger.
If Dunce predicts the apocalypse, we can be sure that the end of the world will pass in a great burst of laughter. This new volume is indeed just as successful as the first. The characters take depth and also touch us by their contradictions so real.
Find the article on volume one of Dunce on this link as well as The France seen by Madame Hibou, another humorous title.
