Although this is a story of the American south in the early
twentieth century, it was first published in France in 1997. Although it has only 48 pages, Dixie Road
tells a complicated tale of unrest among farm workers, corrupt police, bank
robbing, family intrigue, and traveling photo-journalists. Indeed, the plot is confusing, and it might
take more than one reading to work out what is going on. But that may not make much difference; what
counts is the kinds of lives that the people there lived. Presumably that’s why the comic brings in
the historical figures of James Agee and Walker Evans, who are passing through
town documenting life in rural Alabama. The back of the book quotes Agee from Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.

“It is for the clothing, and for the food, and for the
shelter, by these to sustain their lives, that they work. Into this work and need, their minds, their
spirits, and their strength are so steadily and intensely drawn that during
such time as they are not at work life exists for them scarcely more clearly or
in more appetite than it does for the more simply organized among the animals,
and for the plants.”

The story of this comic does not however bear out this view:
nearly all the characters seem to be involved in double-dealing, crime, or
scheming. The most pleasing part of
this book is not the convoluted and compressed plot or the questionable
historical insight, but the artwork. Indeed, it might be improved by removing the speech bubbles and letting
the reader enjoy the artwork on its own. There’s a vigor to the detail and variety in each frame, and a
psychological complexity in the faces that is not matched by the words they are
given. That’s to say, I’m far more impressed
with Labiano’s art and Alluard’s coloring than Dufaux’s story. The best scenes are the gothic nighttime
depictions of subterfuge and violence, and the complicated interactions between
individuals in images with many people; the art style would better fit a more
fantastic narrative than this tale laden with gritty historical realism. Browsing through the French Amazon books website, though, it seems that it’s Dufaux who is the prolific one, while Labiano has worked on only a few comics. Still, I’m looking forward to the next
installment of this drama.

Links
See the original French version at Amazon.fr

See NBM Publishing page for Dixie Road comics, with previews.

© 2001 Christian Perring. First Serial Rights.

Christian Perring,
Ph.D., is Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College,
Long Island. He is editor of Metapsychology Online Review.
His main research is on philosophical issues in psychiatry.
He is especially interested in exploring how philosophers can
play a greater role in public life. He is available to give talks
on many philosophical or controversial issues in mental health.

Categories: Fiction, ArtAndPhotography