Être libre, dit Combeferre

GALLIMARD JEUNE, 2018

LOVE this one! The colors are so satisfying. I like that Valjean has his back turned to the viewer. Baby Cosette looks slightly demonic - at first glance I thought her eyes were all black and the bucket handle was her tail.

10/10 it's perfect, I just wish they had their canon hair colors

LELIVRESCOLAIRE, 2024

yeah!! there's cosette, a lark, and two candlesticks! with a funky spin!! excellent

10/10 excellent graphic design here

Infinity Spectrum Books, 2025

That is Anne of the Green Gables.

I'll accept it- OR NOT. IT IS AI ANNE

Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

0/10 you used AI and it doesn't even look relevant to the book??? Get real

Despite the title, that is not Fantine.

3/10 false advertising.

Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

The giant "MORT" in the background? damn at least put a spoiler warning on it

2/10 has the 2012 movie not been milked enough

?, 2014

I don't remember a rave in Les Mis.

1/10 confusing

PublishDrive, 2014

why is she in 3D

3/10 she's vibrating

Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

TOO CLOSE

3/10 give me some space Cosette

‎ L'Ecole des Loisirs, 2021

This is flawless. I have no notes.

10/10 for this guy alone

This fist book is extremely interesting, because the Bishop is one of the few characters in the Brick to get a really, really long introduction, with an entire book dedicated exclusively to him - and in Arai's version this amouts to almost 30 pages used only to characterise him, in what is actually the first part of the second chapter in the manga. Proportionally, I think overall this is a very good adaptation mostly because Arai did a nice job at giving events and characters the same importance as in the Brick, with chapters long enough to show the main episodes (with some exceptions) and how the characters react to them.

However, the way Myriel is introduced is very different in both versions : the manga actually opens with Jean Valjean's story, which means the Bishop only appears 90 pages in - and we already know who Valjean is when he arrives in Digne. This also makes for a very abrupt transition from Valjean getting out of prison to Myriel's daily life, and we don't immediately see how he is going to fit in the story - which also works since it is a very Hugo-like way to pause a character's story to introduce a new character. Moreover, it means there is a going back in time, with this chapter beginning in 1804 with Myriel's arrival in Digne (according to the manga's timeline).

Unlike in the novel, the manga doesn't offer any mention of Myriel's story, his past or how he got appointed as a Bishop : we only get to witness his arrival in Digne with his sister through the eyes of Magloire. This allows Arai to get around the difficulty of having no narrative voice and reveal the way some aspects of Myriel's behaviour may at first seem "out of place", by showing the obvious surprise of Magloire when it comes to his first decisions as bishop.

This first decisions are kept for the most part in the manga : the exchange between the episcopal palace and the hospital, and the way Myriel settles his household expenses - shown, again, through the eyes of Magloire, which emphasises the unusual aspect of the attitude for a Bishop : in the Brick it is said that she "grumbled a little" about the expenses, but here she openly expresses he disagreement by talking about the silverware, the small garden... and in the same page we have the first mention of the candlesticks !! Foreshadowing !!

Interestingly enough, the third action we see on Myriel's part is his going to the synod - where he is immediately met with disdain and anger by the other bishops : when he comes back, he seems shocked by their attitude and display of wealth, which leads him to the decision of always keeping his door open at night, for anyone that might need him. In the Brick, this habit of him was also mentionned (foreshadowing !!), but no particular background story was given to justify it.

The manga also takes some time to really give us an insight into Myriel's daily life, the way he behaves and thinks : he appears mostly as a dreamer, who spends a lot of time in his garden (which is highlighted in many parts of the Brick) and seems to display a lot of humility and be a rather easy-going man. The manga especially chooses to keep the "My greatness does to reach as far as this shelf / tree" joke, which allows for great characterisation of him as a light-hearted character. However, due to the different medium for telling the story, Myriel also seems to lose some of his depth as a character : in the Brick he is shown as very eloquent and gives a few speeches to express his ideas, and it is mentionned many times that he loves reading, which doesn't appear at all here. Another very really interesting aspect of this character in the novel revolves around his political opinions and the way he defines himself as a royalist : since his opinions aren't mentionned at all in the manga, the episode of his visiting "G" is also taken out completely. The manga actually seems to focus more on his religious role and his generosity, which are what will matter when he encounters Valjean.

Finally, a last insight into the Bishop's life is given to us through the eyes of his own sister, Baptistine, in a letter she writes : this letter also exists in the Brick (chapter IX) but the manga makes it longer and more centered around Myriel's character. Baptistine narrates two other important episodes that took place in his life as a bishop : the first one is about meeting the brigands in the mountains, who willingly give back to Myriel the treasure they had stolen from a cathedral - and Myriel is then shown facing the dilemna of who this treasure should go to. The second episode is the night he spent beside a man condemned to death and the impact his execution the next morning had on him : Myriel is portrayed as someone generous who believes in the goodness of man, and doesn't believe in a violent punishment (this episode is important for both Myriel and Hugo himself, who was openly opposed to the sentence of death).

Baptistine's letter ends with a praise of her brother's generosity, and her highlighting that he believes there is good in everyone and his effort to save all those who can be (which !! foreshadowing !!).

With the last drawing that concludes this sequence of the manga, the Bishop's introduction really appears like a peaceful interlude in the middle of Valjean's story, that has already been defined through anger and violence - the same way it will seem to Valjean that he has found a very peaceful place to stay when he enters Myriel's house.