The Blue Dragon is a comic book adapted from the famous eponymous play by Robert Lepage and Marie Michaud.

The Blue Dragon is a graphic novel adaptation of the the play by Robert Lepage and Marie Michaud.

This project was both a springboard and a challenge for Fred who 2 full years to creating it, from 2009 to 2011. The result is an impressive visual document. It's a chance meeting between two artists, where Lepage's ethereal texts and sets are perfectly embodied in Fred's self-described moody illustrations. moody.

 

With the play centred on dialogue between the three main characters, Fred chose the graphic novel over the traditional comic book approach to tell this story. This medium allowed him to set a more ethereal tone to his illustrations and transmit emotion, while keeping the integral text of the play. Whether they're depicting rain, snow, foliage or even neon lights, the Dragon's various illustrations hum with activity and add much needed depth to a set of characters that were intended to appear on the stage, not on paper. Fred managed to leave his personal touch on this project by having his realistic drawings flirt with broad calligraphy brush strokes. It's with that skillful approach that he was able present an ever-changing China, one that he has yet to visit. flirtation with the bold lines of calligraphy, skillful mastery of two plastic universes that never cease to suggest a metamorphosing China that Fred has never visited yet.

 

It's through elaborate research work and rigorous storyboarding that Fred was able to achieve this project. Sketches, architectural and historical research as well as an initiation to calligraphy were all part of his learning process. His vision, distinctive style and even a part of himself mark the pages of this story, one that he made his own and enriched with a unique visual poetry. Fred brought Lepage's text to life and created a production method that guides his work to this day.  

Pierre Lamontagne, a Quebecker exiled in China, runs an art gallery in Shanghai where he joins Claire Forest, a Montreal publicist visiting China to conclude an adoption process.

She who, in another life, went to see Pierre at the École des Beaux-Arts, takes a very western look at the existence he leads. After the reunion and the confrontations, this common past allows them to open an unexpected door on the future. Occurs Xiao Ling, a Chinese artist who exhibits his work at Pierre's gallery.

 

The young woman, close to the latter returns Claire to distant hopes unfulfilled. The meeting of these three characters will cause definitive changes in everyone.

Pierre Lamontagne, a Quebecker exiled in China, runs an art gallery in Shanghai where he joins Claire Forest, a Montreal publicist visiting China to conclude an adoption process.

She who, in another life, went to see Pierre at the École des Beaux-Arts, takes a very western look at the existence he leads. After the reunion and the confrontations, this common past allows them to open an unexpected door on the future. Occurs Xiao Ling, a Chinese artist who exhibits his work at Pierre's gallery.

 

The young woman, close to the latter returns Claire to distant hopes unfulfilled. The meeting of these three characters will cause definitive changes in everyone.

The Blue Dragon has won several recognition awards, including the Bédais Causa / Réal Fillion 2012 prize, awarded by the Festival de la bande dessinée francophone de Québec in the best first album category. "  

Fred does not speak much about it, but The blue Dragon had a lot of success. In 2012 , it won the Bédéis Causa/Réal Fillion award, handed out by the Festival de la bande dessinée francopohone de Québec in the best first album category. Quebec French Comics Festival in the category of best first album.

 

It was celebrated by the public and critics alike across Canada, as shown by the numerous reprints of the graphic novel in both official languages.

 

 

The Blue Dragon was also nominated for the Joe Shuster Award in the best artist and best cover artist categories as well as for the Bédélys Monde prize that rewards the best French language comic book published in Quebec.

« ...natural...fluid, vivid illustrations.. »

Sarah Greene, Quill & Quire

 

 

 

« ...stunning...innovative...more art than graphic novel...The Blue Dragon may be the stroke of genius to win over the reluctant adult who still sees the graphic novel as strictly for kids...this little gem may soon become a collector's item. »

Heather Leighton, Rover Arts

 

 

 

« Packed with raw emotionality and beautifully rendered artwork that captures the culture and landscape perfectly, The Blue Dragon transfers from the stage to the graphic-novel page very well. It's a marvelously done book. »     original. A strong trait. "    

John Hogan, Graphic Novel Reporter

« ...natural...fluid, vivid illustrations.. »

Sarah Greene, Quill & Quire

 

 

 

« ...stunning...innovative...more art than graphic novel...The Blue Dragon may be the stroke of genius to win over the reluctant adult who still sees the graphic novel as strictly for kids...this little gem may soon become a collector's item. »

Heather Leighton, Rover Arts

 

 

 

« Packed with raw emotionality and beautifully rendered artwork that captures the culture and landscape perfectly, The Blue Dragon transfers from the stage to the graphic-novel page very well. It's a marvelously done book. »     original. A strong trait. "    

John Hogan, Graphic Novel Reporter

Book editions

Première

 

Release: 13 April 2011

Publisher: Alto

French language

Number of pages: 176

Dimensions : 30.7 x 23.1 x 2 cm

Cover: Rigid

ISBN: 978-2923550-75-6

 

Second

 

Release: 13 April 2011

Publisher: Alto

French language

Number of pages: 176

Dimensions : 30.7 x 23.1 x 2 cm

Cover: Rigid

ISBN: 978-2923550-75-6

 

Third

 

Release: 15 October 2012

Publisher: Alto

French language

Number of pages: 184

Dimensions : 30.2 x 22.4 x 1.5 cm

Supple cover

ISBN: 978-2896941049

 

PHOTO CREDITS

Anthony Jourdain, Catherine Côté, Fred Jourdain, Martin Poulin, Martin Côté

Share this article

 

Ó The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the consent of the author

Book editions

Première

 

Release: 13 April 2011

Publisher: Alto

French language

Number of pages: 176

Dimensions : 30.7 x 23.1 x 2 cm

Cover: Rigid

ISBN: 978-2923550-75-6

 

Second

 

Release: 13 April 2011

Publisher: Alto

French language

Number of pages: 176

Dimensions : 30.7 x 23.1 x 2 cm

Cover: Rigid

ISBN: 978-2923550-75-6

 

Third

 

Release: 15 October 2012

Publisher: Alto

French language

Number of pages: 184

Dimensions : 30.2 x 22.4 x 1.5 cm

Supple cover

ISBN: 978-2896941049

 

PHOTO CREDITS

Anthony Jourdain, Catherine Côté, Fred Jourdain, Martin Poulin, Martin Côté

Share this article

 

Ó The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the consent of the author