BAR2

BAR2 JOE BAR TEAM Volume 1, Vents d'Ouest, 1990 Original plate no. 42, prepublished in Moto Journal in 1989-1990. Signed. India ink and white gouache on paper 31.9 × 39.9 cm (12.56 × 15.71 in.) Another illustration of the terrifying capabilities of nitroglycerimethanol. This time, not at Édouard's expense, but of a police officer who had the misfortune to run out of fuel on a road used by the man with the Honda. And this on the very day the latter is testing an evolution of his super-powerful fuel additive. And here again, the problem of the one-page gag arises. For lack of space, no doubt, we attack directly with: "No, actually, I'm stopping you because I've just run out of petrol", thus saving us a frame showing the policeman making the regulatory gestures to stop a user, and a second frame in which the officer would probably have uttered the age-old: "Pull over and turn off your engine." But it has to be said that this way of doing things, whether deliberate or forced, adds a delightful nervousness to the story. We immediately get to the heart of the matter and, as a result, the story, though very short, gives the impression of being more extensive than it really is. More generally, this panel shows us once again how talented the author is at expressions, attitudes and dialogue. It also demonstrates his great love of detail.