Paul Joins the Scouts
In Montreal in 1970, Paul is on the cusp of adolescence, but his feet are still firmly in childhood—he is focused on his friends, the latest issue of Spirou comics, and joining the scouts. In his periphery are more adult matters, such as his mother’s frustration with her in-laws and the growing threat from radical separatist group the Quebec Liberation Front (FLQ). Rabagliati’s latest, after The Song of Roland (2012), manages to capture both the innocence of adolescence and the tumultuous and terrifying political climate of Montreal in the late ’60s. Notably, it’s the smallness of the events that matter so much to Paul set against the backdrop of domestic terrorism during the October Crisis that makes Rabagliati’s work so touching and relatable. His European-style cartooning is clean and deceptively loose, but it remains deeply expressive without one line wasted. Paul’s coming-of-age story, along with the lovingly rendered scout-camp scenes, are sure to have wide appeal among adults and teen readers. --Tina Coleman