Salamandre

by I.N.J. Culbard, I.N.J. Culbard (Illustrator)

Overview

Salamandre is a sweeping, evocative graphic novel from award-winning artist and writer I.N.J. Culbard (The Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death, Everything, Brink, The New Deadwardians).

Kaspar Salamandre is a bereaved young artist who is sent to stay with his enigmatic grandfather in a land ruled under an oppressive regime, where there can be only one loved one: The Emperor.

In this land where flowers are contraband, music is illegal, and art is created in hiding, Kaspar discovers a world of art revolutionaries, espionage and the Secret Police.

His search for answers will bring him face to face with the meaning of sacrifice. But, will anything bring him closer to overcoming his loss?

“An incredibly moving, uplifting coming-of-age story from a creator working at the top of his ability. Not to be missed.”—Library Journal

"Culbard's evocative illustrations and subtle, nuanced palette strike a dreamy balance in a coming-of-age adventure story. The result is an irresistible combination of childlike wonder and adult paranoia." —Publishers Weekly

"I.N.J. Culbard deftly tells a story of resilience, of secret joys and complex pains and in doing so, shows us that human beings are much bigger on the inside than you might think.”—Ram V (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Swamp Thing)

"Culbard is a master storyteller. I can't think of a single comic creator so adept at immersing the reader into another world. An adventure worth getting lost in."—Christian Ward (Invisible Kingdom, Blood Stained Teeth)

“Tender and precisely observed, Salamandre is a Ghibli-esque celebration of the healing power of imagination, drawn in a stunning clear-line style that effortlessly blends the magic of childhood and a world just to the left of ours.”—Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls, Catwoman: Lonely City)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506731520
Publisher:	Dark Horse Comics
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.01(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

I.N.J. Culbard is an artist and writer. In 2006, he surpassed thousands of other writers and had his work published in Dark Horse Comics’ New Recruits anthology. He has since appeared in the anthology series Dark Horse Presents, the Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000 AD.

Culbard is an acclaimed animation director with considerable experience in directing commercials, developing projects for television, and producing and directing short films. His collaborator at SelfMadeHero is writer Ian Edginton.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/09/2023

Culbard (the Everything series) turns out a tour de force in this thoughtful look at sacrifice, grief, and renewal. After the disappearance of his heroic adventurer father, young artist Kasper Salamandre sets aside his drawing tools and becomes sullen and withdrawn. Unable to find joy in his artwork, he is haunted by recurring nightmares. To shake him out of his doldrums, Kasper’s mother sends him to visit his enigmatic grandfather, who lives on a seemingly tranquil estate in an oppressive state ruled by the all-powerful Emperor. “The state has eyes and ears everywhere,” his cousin warns as she explains the lack of music, art, and even flowers under the watchful eye of the secret police. But as he settles in, Kasper realizes that there is hidden joy, beauty, art, and, most of all, secrets all around him, and each day presents a new opportunity to learn and to grow. Culbard’s evocative illustrations and subtle, nuanced palette strike a dreamy balance in a coming-of-age adventure story. The result is an irresistible combination of childlike wonder and adult paranoia. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

I.N.J. Culbard deftly tells a story of resilience, of secret joys and complex pains and in doing so, shows us that human beings are much bigger on the inside than you might think.”—Ram V (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Swamp Thing)
 

“Culbard is a master storyteller. I can't think of a single comic creator so adept at immersing the reader into another world. An adventure worth getting lost in.”—Christian Ward (Invisible Kingdom, Blood Stained Teeth)
 

“Tender and precisely observed, Salamandre is a Ghibli-esque celebration of the healing power of imagination, drawn in a stunning clear-line style that effortlessly blends the magic of childhood and a world just to the left of ours.”—Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls, Catwoman: Lonely City)
 
 
“I.N.J. has captured something in this story that resonates on a soul level. Using the heartbreakingly relatable concept of personal loss, I.N.J. guides our emotions through something much, much large…oh, and did I mention it’s bloody beautiful as well?—Emma Vieceli (Life is Strange, Breaks, Olivia Twist)
 
 
“By turns tense and terrifying... Salamandre is also a (gorgeous) deeply personal, possibly autobiographical, almost certainly political book about family, stories and why we make art. I was entranced by the art. Just at the point where books are banned again, we need a book like this.”—Alison Sampson (Sleeping Beauties, Winnebago Graveyard)


“Readers should expect nothing less than top-notch artwork alongside captivating storytelling.”—Screenrant



“A tender and authentic coming-of-age story, that presents the nuances of grief, legacy, and quiet revolution.”—20th Century Geek


“Culbard’s work is immaculate… An evocative picture of a young man learning about both the harsh realities and the hidden joys of the world he lives in… A tale of loss, family and the power of imagination from one of the most talented cartoonists in the business today, Salamandre comes highly, highly recommended.”—Big Comic Page

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2022

Eleven-year-old Kasper Salamandre spends his time creating comic books in which his father is a larger-than-life hero battling monsters. But when his real-life father is killed at sea, Kasper is heartbroken and adrift. Kasper's mother arranges for him to spend a healing summer abroad with his grandfather and cousins in Montparnasse, a country controlled by an oppressive regime that has outlawed any creative expression that doesn't glorify the state. Once Kasper arrives, the plot is largely propelled by his discovery that his family is involved in secret acts of rebellion that would result in their being executed for treason if exposed. Suspenseful scenes abound as the story builds to a gripping climax, but what makes this one special is Culbard's (Brink: Book 4) wrenching portrait of a grieving boy discovering how art bolsters the spirits of its creator and of their audience, especially when all seems lost. VERDICT An incredibly moving, uplifting coming-of-age story from a creator working at the top of his ability. Not to be missed.

Library Journal