Christian Debarre's Joe Bar Team comic book came out in 1990 while I was living in Bordeaux. It didn't seem too far off the anti-social and inreverent - but exciting and comic reality, of the café racing scene of Place Victoire and it's environs. The four characters first appeared in strip form in the French bike mag Moto Journal. The Asterix'esque book gained a cult following, but the rights were handed over to another artist for subsequent issues. Now translated into several different languages, this is another must-have for the book shelf of every motard / biker / caff racer.
I didn't realize until Captain Simon sent me this photo taken in Stoke (pre-crash) just what an influence 'Jean Raoul Ducable' (the character based on French Kawasaki H2 riding champion, Hubert Rigal), had been to me. BP
UP DATE Thanks to D-B Mick:English version of the first edition available in the States mailorder from Aerostich
Ben, whatta style! Coolest I've seen in months!
ReplyDeleteAny decided date for next SB?
Cheers,
I became aware of Joe Bar embarrassingly recently... can anybody recommend an English language 'best of' or suchlike for a newbie?
ReplyDeleteChris
ReplyDeletepersonally I only like #1, the original 'Bar 2' - it's the artists pseudonym (there was no Bar 1). The main characters ride a Honda CB750, Norton Commando, 900SS Duke, and a Kawa' H2. The later editions have more modern bikes and I don't like the drawing style so much. But I believe Christian Debarre was reinstated for #5.
BP
Ta!
ReplyDeletenot as cool as Ogri tho....
ReplyDeletejust scored a copy from amazon...cheers for the heads up as to the english version..!!
ReplyDeleteThe First ones made me laugh to the Tears and are still the best ones.
ReplyDelete