Review by Frank Plowright

Lewis Trondheim’s work was first introduced to English comics via Fantagraphics, who eventually published two albums of his constantly witty and entertaining Lapinot series, retitling it McConey for English audiences. They obviously didn’t sell in the USA despite being prime comedy drama, but they’ve continued in France ever since, allowing for Trondheim letting him lie dormant for years at a time without ever completely deserting the character and his mates. The good news for anyone who enjoyed those books is Les Herbes Folles (Wild Grass) may have a French title, but as a wordless graphic novel non-French speakers can fully enjoy it.

Using an A6 size hardcover package, every panel occupies a full page, and Trondheim draws them without borders. It begins with McConey walking along the street, first observing the accumulation of rubbish, and then noticing how plants are nonetheless growing through. As his walk continues, plant life becomes ever greater until he’s in a deserted world where the trappings of humanity are overgrown.

More so than any other creator, Trondheim is the master of the shaggy dog story. The impression given is that he places his protagonist in a situation without any real idea of a solution, then plays things out as paths occur to him. It’s a recipe for self-indulgence, but what makes Trondheim’s work stand out is his entirely being able to avoid that. A structure and plot always emerges, yet it’s never predictable.

McConey explores the new world, returning to what was his flat to discover a decaying and dangerous building in which even the plant life is rotting. As ever for McConey, there are funny scenes, such as McConey holding up his phone expecting a signal, and his interactions with the inhabitants he eventually discovers. A further discovery is places where he can see into the ‘real’ world, and his disruptive buddy Richard becomes part of the adventure.

Although wordless comics naturally quicken the reading experience, there’s plenty to discover over 366 creative small pages in which mad fantasy mixes with reality. Almost two dozen of Trondheim’s excellent McConey stories remain unavailable in English. Isn’t it about time a publisher took another punt on them?