Adapted from the late author Malet's 1942 novel, 120, Rue de la Gare
, this old-fashioned, highly entertaining detective story has real heft. The story takes place during the German occupation of France, in a POW camp where a detective, Nestor Burma, meets a mysterious amnesiac with a specific message. The story moves to Lyon, then Paris, as Burma attempts to understand the connection between the amnesiac and the murder of a colleague. In doing so—as in any good detective story—he gets embroiled in an intricate plot that remains ambiguous until the book's final pages. Along with the fun, suspenseful narrative and snappy dialogue, there's the backdrop of curfews, rationing and other details of life under occupation. Though never addressed directly, WWII adds an ominous and culturally intriguing dimension to the story. Tardi makes gorgeous comics; his loose cartoon line flirts with realism, but never restricts his drawing's fluidity. His characters are set against realistically rendered wartime backgrounds, making the book a remarkable piece of historical documentary. Because Tardi's detail-oriented approach and moody graphics sync so well with the tone and specificity of Malet's writing, the artist is able to bring the story to life while still retaining all of its heart—a rare feat for a comics adaptation. The text translation is excellent, and the book only falters in its presentation. The paper is thin and flimsy, and the publisher adds a vague historical introduction, as well as poorly written biographies of Tardi and Malet. These stumbles are atypical of this otherwise excellent comic, a rare treat for lovers of comics, art and mysteries. (Dec. 2003)
