Trumpets of Death by Simon Bournel-Bosson. Translated by Edward Gauvin. Graphic Universe, 2025. 9798765644324. 230pp.
One night, Antoine’s father drops him off at his grandparents’ place in the country. He’s never liked it there; it’s full of his grandfather’s spooky hunting trophies. His grandma tries to connect with him, but his grandfather is distant when he’s not being a jerk.
When his grandma is running errands, she tells Antoine to go mushroom picking with his grandfather. They become separated. And Antoine finds a truly magic mushroom that transforms him into a young, white stag. He’s hunted by scouts and others, and eventually by his grandfather, too.
The book feels a bit more surreal than the plot suggests due to Bournel-Bosson’s coloring, which is striking. I’m not sure what most young people will make of the book, but it’s a quick, enjoyable read that’s more literary than most graphic novels marketed to them.
