I requested this book long ago but never sent proper feedback.
I'll be brief, this story is sad, melancholy, and heart-wrenching. I would advise EVERYONE to check it because of its meaningful content. It's the story of a child who doesn't look the other way and gets himself involved, the story of courageous people where one can make a difference. Highly recommended for every and anyone.

I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it blew me away. This may look like an ordinary caged cheetah, but it is much more a beast and it’s definitely not a cheetah. It’s connection to the little boy who is bullied at school is fun. I am a bit sad that I now need the next volume because this ending is in the middle of the story and I have to know what happens next. This would be a great read for middle grade and up, or anyone wanting to study cartooning art.

I feel like this comic could easily be adapted into an ongoing series or even tv show. I adored the sweet story of a boy who went from being abandoned to finding refuge in the outcasted Marsupilami.

I remember Marsupilami on Disney back in the 90s and enjoyed this then, this comic was really well done and a great redo of the cartoon that i remember.

This heartwarming story is set in Belgium in 1955. An exotic animal is shipped to Belgium where it escapes. It is eventually found by a young boy called Francois who takes it home and nurses it back to health. Francois finds refuge in a growing menagerie of animals. He is bullied at school because his father was a German soldier and not married to his mother, and his father returned to Germany after the war abandoning bit Francois and his mother. When his exotic pet bites one of the bullies, Francois’s life is turned upside down when all his animals are impounded by the authorities.

And the reader is left wanting more but having to wait for part two!

This was such an enjoyable and interesting read. It has subtle adult humour in it but is also suitable for teens/approaching teens. This volume is the first in a two part story and I definitely want to read part 2. The artwork is great and the story both heartwarming and gripping. Just like a good graphic novel should be.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

'Marsupilami: The Beast' by Zidrou with art by Frank Pe is a graphic novel about a really strange animal and the small boy who finds it.

The story takes place in 1955 in post-war Belgium. A strange unseen animal with a really long tail terrorizes a cargo ship and ends up stranded. It is found by a small boy who collects animals of all types, including a beer drinking horse. Will this new creature get along with the others or will it make them all a meal?

I am familiar with drawings of the original Marsupilami, but I never read the comics. This is a reboot that seems pretty different than those, but I found the story engaging and the characters were good. The art was kind of a caricature style, but I liked it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it blew me away. This may look like an ordinary caged cheetah, but it is much more a beast and it’s definitely not a cheetah. It’s connection to the little boy who is bullied at school is fun. I am a bit sad that I now need the next volume because this ending is in the middle of the story and I have to know what happens next. This would be a great read for middle grade and up, or anyone wanting to study cartooning art.

Another great graphic novel from Zidrou. A darker take on a childrens cartoon character. I enjoyed it.

The art was magnificent, but it was a little bit hard to read on the phone, as everything was so tiny. I liked the classic approach to the drawing and the art.

I grew up with Franquin's Marsupilami comics, so I was really interested in seeing this.. what is it? A reboot? Doesn't matter, it's pretty great.

At first it feels like it's a gritty reboot, but it's more realistic than gritty. It's the 1950s, and smugglers of exotic animals moor their ship at a town in Belgium. One of the poor animals they inadvertently have shipped there is a Marsupilami, sort of a mix of a monkey and a leopard. But this is not the carefree, funny Marsupilami of Franquin, this is a wild animal, that's clearly been through the wringer, and it's no surprise that he's very wary and aggressive.

In the town lives a little boy, François, who is horribly bullied by classmates, because his father was a German soldier. He has the tendency to bring home all kinds of animals, and so when he finds the wounded, half-dead Marsupilami beside a road, he takes him home.

It's another great story by Zidrou, a writer who can't do anything wrong, it seems. Characters' problems are taking seriously, have weight and aren't easily solvable. I like that the Marsupilami feels like an actual wild animal in this story, not just a goofy sentient cuddly toy.

Frank Pe, who I know from his Ragebol series, does an exemplary job. His art is grimy where it needs to be (a post-war town almost perpetually getting rained upon), and incredibly characterful.

Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not one of the usual infuriating ones created by Europe Comics itself, this feels natural.

It's great, don't miss it. Hooba!

Marsupilami: The Beast
by Zidrou, Frank Pé

This graphic comic has incredible art and a cute story once it gets going. Slow to start trying to give the backdrop but it's needed. Of course like most comics it leaves you hanging so you will get the next book. The story is about a young boy that is always bullied and a creature that survives a horrible zoo and escapes. The animal is nothing the men have ever seen before and money is their driving force.

The little boy lives with his mom. He is always bringing home injured animals to heal and love. The house is filled with misfits. The boy finds this creature near death. From there, things get crazy!

It's an enjoyable story. Worth the read for sure. Kids will certainly like it.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What happened to the cute funny Marsupilami with his wife and babies?!

I was so emotionally shocked by this book, it was so dramatic and sad and by the end, I really wanted to cry. I didn't enjoy it at all even if the art was good. I didn't like the story and how it was made so dark. I still love so much André Franquin's Marsupilami and his crazy adventures that my family made me read and discover when I was a kid. This book really made me sad and so disappointed.

I loved the detailed art, adventure, and suspense in Marsupilami. A fascinating and well done graphic novel.

I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

When I first started reading this I didn't know what to expect. But slowly I came to like it.
This did remind of a comic I used to read when I was a kid and a little upset that it is a part 1, I would have loved to have read right away the 2nd part.

I was drawn to this graphic novel due to the mystery behind the strange beast. It came from the jungle. Not quite cat or monkey or human. It reminds me of The Island of Dr. Moreau. It ends up in the caring arms of a young boy who brings it back to life. It also takes place after WWII and elements of prejudice against people of aryan descent emerges.

I am currently not quite sure if this was actually much darker than expected or if I simply did not notice how dark these stories were when I read/watched them as a child.
At any rate, I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would, although the illustrations are worth a positive mention.

CW: Nudity, animal death (please tell me if you see anything missing)

Having read the comics during my childhood, I was curious to see where this new take on the classic and goofy Marsupilami would go. I was certainly shocked, but not disappointed. Already from the cover, I knew I was in for the ride, yet the first few pages still shocked me with graphic drawings of dead animals. This book takes place in post-WW2 Belgium, and we follow a little boy whose mom had him with a Nazi soldier, both are ostracised and mocked, and the child gets bullied at school. The entire story starts when the little boy brings in an odd looking stray animal into his home, like he usually does, except this one cannot be identified as any known species.

Considering this is a duology, my biggest praise for the plot is that I cannot wait for the second part. The cliffhanger at the end broke my heart and I desperately wanna know what happens next. I really enjoyed the story and its multiple little subplots and mysteries it has going on. It starts off slow as the audience is introduced to the characters and the setting and then quickly picks up.

The characters. I loved them. One of the parts I enjoyed most about this book was the menagerie of strays that the boy has brought home. The name Tripod for the three legged dog made me laugh, and seeing all the interactions the animals had with each other was a sweet break from the otherwise grim narrative. The little boy is shown to be strong and determined, especially when it comes to animals in need of help, and although the mom seems to be reluctant at first, she obliges every time. The dynamics between everyone warmed my heart.

I loved this book, even with the sharp contrast it has to the original comics. The art style is also very different, but very characteristic of an older comic style, matching the tone of the book perfectly, as well as having very detailed and complex illustrations. People who like plot driven and character driven stories will enjoy this as it focuses on both, which can be difficult for graphic novels. I would recommend this to people who like darker tones in their stories with a little sprinkle of wholesomeness as well. :)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
This was darker than I was expecting and took too much time developing the setting and back story before diving into the actual story.

I've always been a major fan of graphic novels and this was definitely one of them. It has a super interesting concept of this wild animal that no one has ever seen before and a young boy who finds it and protects it. I absolutely loved the drawing style of this story. It was caricatures but it felt accurate to all the characters and really helped bring their personality forward. The dialogue was sharp and didn't feel overdone which was awesome. The only small thing I have wrong with it was the abrupt ending. I need more ASAP!

Wow. This was sensational.

The illustrations in this graphic novel have unrivalled heart; the creatures within are just wonderfully captured and I swiftly became invested in each of them. Francois has a habit of bringing animals in need back to his home with his mother, and whilst she may complain a little she ultimately supports him with his unusual menagerie of creatures and critters. The story centres around Francois finding an unusual creature, appearing something of a hybrid between a leopard and a monkey, and trying to understand him.

There was so much to appreciate. The relationship between Francois and his mother, Francois' mother alone was an interesting character (who reminded me a great deal of my own mother in her capacity to flex and bend for her children), the way in which the authors captured Francois and his vulnerabilities (even in the illustrations alone, sometimes), the depiction of the creatures and most of all the relatability. We have all, at some time in our lives, seen a creature we have pitied. And some of us have even had the courage to stand up for those creatures, as Francois does, and bring them home with us (almost certainly much to our parents' disgust). Some of our parents may have even reacted to yet another new animal addition with disdain, but eventually acceptance and love.

I just can't fault it. It is uncommon for me to love a graphic novel; I struggle to form attachments to characters who invariably have such little page time. But this is the exception to that rule. This is a genuine masterpiece, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next instalment.