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Dreams and autobiographical elements feature heavily in the books of David B to such an extent that the dreams are in a way autobiographical of the author's fascinating inner life. Not that the two are separate, dreams and reality merge, two sides, one illuminating or drawing from and feeding off the other, the exchange going both two ways. Dreams are as real as everyday life for David B, presenting an extraordinary, almost alternative life that features recurrent images and figures, one that elevates life closer to great mysteries and secrets, tied in with mythology, power and evil. Babel , published in France in 2004 by Coconino Press/Vertige Graphics is just such a blend of dreams and childhood reflection. As a child living with his family in Orléans, the narrator sees his ancestors, an old couple, who live on the ceiling of their dining room. Also related here is the occurrence of the first epileptic seizure of his brother Jean-Christophe (who would become the main subject of h...

Although there have been translations of some of his work, it seems to me that the English speaking world haven’t really caught on to the genius of David B, one of the greats of the European graphic novel scene. It took 10 years for the artist/writer’s 1996 masterpiece L’Ascension du Haut Mal to be published in English as Epileptic , and since then only a few of his works have been translated and independently published in the UK or USA. Actually, I think the English speaking world have been deprived of the opportunity to read a great number of original talents in the European market, but that’s something that Europe Comics are starting to quickly rectify with their eBook English translations, and finally, we’ve now have another marvellous little gem from David B. Originally published in France in 2001 for Dupuis, Reading the Ruins ( La Lecture des ruines ) is a good choice for an audience unfamiliar with his work or style, even if it isn’t typical of it. In full colour rather than h...