A new two-part graphic novel beautifully illustrated by Merwan, creator of Fausse Garde and Le Bel Age. Like those books, Merwan employs a lot of panels per page to capture the nuances of story and action. Every panel is rendered in in ink and watercolor.

From the publisher:

We do not choose our family...

Son of Turkish immigrants and a brilliant student, Cengiz is a charismatic leader of the Lyon suburbs. A secular activist inspired by the humanism of Mustapha Kemal, known as "Atatürk", he fights for his neighborhood's young people alongside Viviane, his love. The authorities saw him as a providential man who could alleviate the tensions that have arisen since the recent riots. But when his brother Sayar, an ex-leader of the ultra-violent city escapes from his prison in Turkey, the destiny of Cengiz tilts...

Dedola and Merwan conclude this captivating thriller, which, like The Wire , gives an exhaustive, realistic and nuanced portrait of crowded neighborhoods where criminality, social commitment and political activism sometimes go hand in hand.

Résumé:

On ne choisit pas sa famille...

Fils d'immigré turc, étudiant brillant, Cengiz est un charismatique leader de la banlieue lyonnaise. Militant laïc inspiré par l'humanisme de Mustapha Kemal, dit "Atatürk", il se bat pour les jeunes de son quartier aux côtés de Viviane dont il est amoureux. Les autorités voient en lui l'homme providentiel qui pourrait atténuer les tensions apparues depuis les récentes émeutes. Mais lorsque son frère Sayar, un ex caïd de la cité ultra-violent s'évade de sa prison en Turquie, le destin de Cengiz bascule...

Loulou Dedola et Merwan concluent en beauté ce captivant thriller qui, à la manière d'une série comme The Wire, dresse un portrait exhaustif, réaliste et tout en nuance des quartiers populaires où criminalité, engagement social et activisme politique vont parfois de pair.