Review by Frank Plowright
The Chimera Brigade immediately steps away from the crowd, firstly by being the rarity of a French-produced superhero comic, secondly by the setting being the days before World War II, and thirdly by an infusion of the supernatural.
An initial viewpoint into a gathering of some extremely sinister people hosted by the Nazis is provided by Irène Joilet-Curie, attending in a bulky Soviet-supplied armoured suit. An Alpine town hosts the super powered and others from around the world, invited by master hypnotist Dr. Missbrauch to hear his ideas of a new world order.
Serge Lehman and Fabrice Colin construct a complex political scenario mirroring the state of Europe just prior to World War II, but allowing for superheroes from several nations who’ve existed since chemical or gas exposure during World War I. The endpapers offer more information about the cast and their allegiances, and it’s likely you’ll be referring to them. The more The Chimera Brigade continues, the more The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen seems an influence. There’s the clever use of literary classics as source material, but mixed with the proto-superheroes of American pulp magazines. They also explore the French cultural scene of the era, so include a version of famous fictional thief Fantomas.
Over two chapters artist Gess (Stéphane Girard) has to create two very different environments and a broad selection of people, some of whose larger roles don’t occur in this opening volume. Unlike other artists taking on a large cast, he opts not for big panels, but small ones, enclosing people within their environment. The sample art seems to be a homage to both Fantomas and the Spirit, a character able to walk through walls stylishly presented on a rescue mission. Gess suggests the period subtly through decorations and retro-styled technology more than anything else.
The creators combine to create a suspenseful chronicle of a world, unknowingly to most, standing on the precipice. It intrigues and positively drags us into Book Two.
