The world of Fabien Toulmé

Last year, Fabien Toulmé received the franceinfo prize for current affairs and reportage comics for the third volume of his imposing Hakim’s Odyssey, the journey of a Syrian who fled the war to finally find refuge, after several years of wandering, in France. This time, it was the designer himself who took to the road.

Fabien Toulmé went to Lebanon. Initially, it was to participate in a festival. When he arrives, the youth of Beirut is in full revolt. Toulmé will tell what he sees, meet the figures of Thawra, as this beginning of the revolution is called. We remember the image of Nidal, a young journalism graduate who also does clown shows. It is easily noticed when she takes the megaphone in the demonstrations.

Fabien Toulmé continues his portraits of a struggling world in Brazil where he lived for a long time. He returns there to follow the mobilization of the Porto do Capim community. This time again, it is in the company of a woman, Rossana, that he discovers the struggle waged by the inhabitants of a favela to keep their houses on the banks of the river.

Finally, here he is in Benin in the footsteps of Chanceline, an inexhaustible voice for women’s rights. From school to school and from class to class, Chanceline tries to curb teenage pregnancies and convince young girls that they have a major role to play in the future of the country.

“On the one hand, chance encounters led me to women. On the other hand, there is a sociological explanation: it is rather women who seize on issues related to the household, children and health.”

Fabien Toulme

at franceinfo

Fabien Toulmé erases prejudices by getting closer to others in a friendly way, sharing their meals and their daily life, their cities, their landscapes, for a while.

The reflections of the world in struggle by Fabien Toulmé is published by Delcourt editions.

Every fortnight, Jean-Christophe Ogier hosts here the “Info manga” column by Lætitia de Germon from the editorial staff of franceinfo.fr. To guide you through the many publications, Lætitia gives you her selection and her favorites.

Sacrificed Pilot, Chronicles of a Kamikazeby Shoji Kokami and Naoki Azuma Delcourt/Tonkam

Discover the true story of Sasaki Yuuji, a kamikaze pilot during World War II, who was sent on nine suicide missions and returned alive each time. This manga is an adaptation of Shoji Kokami’s novel. The author interviewed Sasaki during his lifetime (the pilot died in February 2016 at the age of 92) to create his book. The manga was part of the jury selection at the 23rd Japan Media Arts Festival.

The sixth child in a family of seven, Sasaki spends his time on the roof of his house watching the planes go by. It’s a real passion. While the boys are trained to become good soldiers, Sasaki only dreams of one thing: to steal.

In 1940, at the age of 17, he entered the pilot training center in the Sendai region, which was controlled by the army. His abilities were quickly noticed and he became a special attack pilot in the 4th Air Corps. The mission he was given when he was 21 was to throw himself with his camera on the enemy. He becomes a Tokkôhei, better known in the West as a suicide bomber.

The story is gripping, informative, and well-paced. There is almost no room for frills. Each event has its meaning and advances the story. The images are dynamic, realistic and stick perfectly to the atmosphere. Real photos of the squadron of suicide pilots accompany the story.