This idea of taking stock, at only 56 years old, of a career that he hopes will still be long, initially frightened him a little: “Numa Sadoul himself had already offered it to me eight years ago, but I refused because for me, Numa is the final interview book. However, I wanted to avoid a “mausoleum” feel. But having this discussion about my career with Romain, whom I had already met several times and with whom I felt confident, interested me.”
gullThis is a unique case in the history of comics: I can't think of any other authors who have been able to make such a big gap between humor and realism during their career.
The Swiss author inevitably returns to his beginnings when, already, he was groping, here in a humorous register, there more in a realistic approach. Before, therefore, taking the cake with Titeuf“and while everyone told me that it was typically the kind of thing that no longer worked in comics.” “Moi, he continues, I was a huge fan of Conrad and René Hausman. But it was impossible to do both.“
However, he succeeded since after years of jokes Titeuf, and the popularity that goes with it, Zep launched into more adult stories in the early 2010s: A story of men, A strange and beautiful noise, The End and, more recently, What we are. “It was necessary, he says, freeing ourselves from 25 years of humorous comic strips with all the technical modifications that entails, to move towards another way of doing things. I had to unlearn some things, learn otherss.” All this while continuing the publication of albums of Titeuf : “This is a unique case in the history of comics, believes Romain Brethes. I can't think of any other authors who have been able to make such a big difference during their career.“
gullWhen I draw Titeuf, I am him, I am a little boy in an adult body
For Zep, this development was essential even if, as usual, he hardly believed in it: “Fortunately, people believed it for me“, he smiles before explaining his motivations further: “I worked a little at Spirou at one time, and I realized then that when I was bored, I no longer wanted to continue the projects I was working on. I loved drawing Titeuf, but I felt like I was freezing, I needed it to move, not to become a golden prison.”
The difference manifests itself, he says, even in his attitude behind the drawing table; he is more “curled up”, almost tense, when he sketches Titeuf, but more “loose”, straight in his chair, when he works on a realistic album: “When I draw Titeuf, I am him, I am a little boy in an adult body“, he summarizes, as if amused by himself.
This new path also allows him to approach themes that are dear to him differently, such as ecology or… religion. Believer, Zep? “I'm not anymore, but I used to be. So, it’s something that still affects me. I have friends from these years who are pastors or theologians. In any case, these are questions that interest me, especially since a doubt remains: an atheist does not affirm, he just says that he chooses not to believe. A believer, he chooses to believe. And in the end, neither knows who is right. Logically, we are all supposed to ask ourselves these kinds of questions anyway. There are people who only live in the idea that there will be a wonderful sequel somewhere else and that explains why we have to put up with so much disgusting stuff. I don't share this idea: I think it's our life that must be something great.“
“Success does not belong to us”
Obviously, it's easier to put success into perspective… when you have it. But for Zep, the thing is so volatile that there is no point in theorizing on the issue: “If there was a recipe for selling 300,000 albums, there would be queues at all the publishers. I learned very quickly that you shouldn't have that kind of expectation. And when it happens, it's great, that's all. But I don't know any more than anyone else why one project is successful and another is not. It doesn't belong to us, and we shouldn't worry about it because it makes us unhappy. And then, it's a waste of time because it's not part of the job, since it's the editor's job. Uderzo, who had a rather unique outspokenness, said about success that when it hits you, you have to be grateful and shut your mouth. I pretty much agree with that. And so I'm very grateful.“
