You are a rebel, the boys said

 

Hard to find Edition.

El libro de Denisse (The book of Denisse) by Eko

I had the wrong idea about the book, somehow, I thought it had a narrative, maybe because of the title? In reality, the book is a collection of comic strips, published independently, with a selection of texts accompanying the strips. Anyway, I had to separate my expectations from what the book really was, that´s on me. But the selected texts were disappointing, I hoped it gave the strips some narrative or expanded their frame, but they were more illustrative... of illustrations.

Random mumbling.

Eko has a defined style and he is comfortable in his playground, regarding technique and thematical exploration. I recon the boldness of the strips, especially in an uptight society and the artist is completely honest in his intent by making Denisse, not a character in form, but a vehicle for his lust and fantasies. He explores the borders of carnality, violence, sex, motherhood, irreverence and the core (for me, that is) which is transformation, the merging of all these.

As much as I liked the graphic style of the strips, you can find geniality and playfulness, they didn’t speak to me. I can see the sex, evidently, and recognize the Marquis de Sade legacy and find them more socially inquisiting, but never seductive, which I kind of expected by the enthusiast introduction by José Luis Cuevas.

It was fascinating and at the same time… boring, the very elaborate machinations of male libido, which I personally found a pinch masturbatory, by the complete vagueness of the female presence. Denisse is a balloon, filled by lustful thoughts, an empty puppet in a play: men playing with themselves.

And then...

I wasn’t engaged, but I can understand that other people would. It is an honest and bold work, a shame that Eko has found so much censorship.