I did not realize how bleak this book would be. I do not do well with bleak books, no matter how talented the artist or writer. Sidrou and Francis Porcel are very talented, but this book is not for everyone.

A story about a group of French soldiers on the front during World War I. There's not a lot of plot or structure to it. The fantastical elements seemed like an afterthought and didn't have much to do with the overall story. I found the end very confusing.

A interesting take on World War One some people may find some of the illustrations offensive .

A gritty war graphic novel. Love the artwork and the coloring.

Oh MAN, I am totally 100% not equipped to read or watch ANYTHING about war.
This stabbed me right in the heart, especially the ending! WHOOOOOO!

Basically, you have a company of French soldiers in the trenches of World War 1 who have jokingly named their company "The Folies Bergere" and plan to visit that famed Parisian den of iniquity as soon as they are done with the war. We start with 3 in the company heading to the firing squad for various offenses. One of them though, does not die, even after being fired upon TWICE by the firing squad AND being nailed in the head at close range by an officer.

The rest of the story is the account of a chaplain who comes in to investigate and see if this is a true miracle as well as the back stories of some of what he soldiers have left back home (with a cameo appearance by Monet!). It is so gut-wrenching in parts, and the explanation for why the soldier didn't die is just.... UGH! I am not crying I am not crying!!!!

I know this sounds daft, but - even with the help of a cameo from Monet at work - and even with the appearance of a man who can survive a military execution by firing squad on more than one occasion - this is the standard, stark and gritty, coarse and mature, WWI story. I know it shouldn't be, but it is - and the fact it remains so despite the incredibly unusual and unexpected must go down as a flaw.

The men of 17th Company are held down in the trenches of WWI by the Germans. They are aware that they serve mainly as cannon fodder for the higher ups but have tried to maintain a sense of humour. In an act both of defiance and irony, they have named their trench the Folies Bergere after the famous Parisian musical cabaret club. Life in the trenches is mainly misery, and death broken occasionally by boredom. As the war proceeds with no discernible movement either forward or back, the men are, not surprisingly, descending into hopelessness and even madness. Several men are condemned to death by firing squad including one who attacked his superior officer after being refused a long anticipated leave. But somehow, although riddled with bullet holes, he survives the Firing Squad not once but twice. And then a little girl mysteriously appears on the battlefield…

The graphic novel, Folies Bergere, was beautifully written by Zidrou and exquisitely drawn and coloured by Francis Porcel depicting in grim detail the horrors of war. There is little action and no real heroes. The story about life in the trenches is interspersed with scenes of life before and, interestingly, with a storyline about Monet and his possible inability to draw frogs for his famous lily pads. Both this and the interesting use of colours help to make the contrast between life for those who fought and those who remained behind even more stark. There is one heck of a twist at the end that I will say no more about except that it served as a metaphor to make the story even more gut- and heart-wrenching.

Given its subject matter, Folies Bergere is definitely not meant for a younger audience. It is a beautiful but bleak portrait of war that many might find upsetting. I should say for the sake of honesty that, as a military mom, it may, for me, have produced a more visceral reaction, but it is one of the best books, certainly graphic novels, I have read in a very long time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

'The Folies Bergère' by Zidrou with art by Francis Porcel takes place in the trenches of World War I. That should tell you all you need to know about the irony of the title.

A group of soldiers name their regiment after Les Folies Bergère. They plan on going there after the war and it stands in stark contrast to the horrors of the war around them. As soldiers mutiny and are executed, one man seems to be unkillable. His bullet wounds bleed like stigmata. The other soldiers just want to see an end to the madness, even overlooking the weird miracle that is happening around them.

The art is fabulous with slashing lines. The choice of muted browns for coloring works when color is suddenly added for blood or paint. I liked the addition of Monet and his lilypads, but I'm still not sure what that all meant. I'm glad I got a chance to read this interesting take on the bleakness of war.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.