Chapter 6 - Graphic Novel Revolution(s)

Summary

In the early pages of Michel Houellebecq’s Les Particules élémentaires (1998) / Atomised (2001), the theme of the novel’s denouement – the artificial propagation of life – is presented to the reader, albeit unknowingly, through the leading character’s love for comics; Michel is fascinated by the free gift that comes with Pif magazine, a poudre de vie, whereby the powder in question can be mixed with water so as eventually to create living crustaceans. Michel, ironically, finds them so disgusting that he throws them into the river, but the same issue of Pif provides him with the backstory to a key character, Rahan, the prehistoric warrior. Rahan is given a necklace decorated with three claws, each representing an attribute. It is by these attributes – loyauté, courage and bonté / loyalty, courage and kindness – that Rahan tries to lead his life, the implication being that the same will be true of Michel.