behind the Stade Rochelais caricatures, the comic strip artist Olivier Jolivet

CIt is in his work studio in La Rochelle that Olivier Jolivet continues to imagine his boards, after fifteen years in the world of comics. The Rochelais is also releasing the second volume of his comic book “Les Ailes du temps” at the end of January 2025 (16.50 euros from Zéphyr Éditions). A realistic comic book in which we follow the adventures of two plane pilots who find themselves propelled by chance during the First World War. On this occasion, the designer of “Team Rafale” or “Boston Police” agreed to answer offbeat questions from “Sud Ouest”.

You are quite well known for your aviation comics. For what work are you little recognized?

For my drawings on Stade Rochelais! As a Rochelais, I am a big supporter. On the occasion of the Champions Cup semi-final in Bordeaux which I attended – like almost everyone I know – I decided to caricature La Rochelle emptied of its supporters. And since we won and I'm quite superstitious, I continued to draw for the Stadium! Vincent Merlining even asked that I give him a copy for his office! I must have made around sixty since then, which are published on social networks. I'm also starting to make them for basketball, but people don't necessarily know that I'm the designer!

What don't you like to draw?

Feet! Because it's super complicated to do, depending on the person's position, the angle will not be the same at all. Same for heeled shoes… So when I can, my characters have their feet in the grass! Women's faces are also difficult to draw because the expression lines can be confused with wrinkles and make the character ten years older…

Is that a good situation, designer?

The world of comics isn't doing very well then… But it's a real passion job. On the other hand, you have to be ready to work hard. It takes me about a year to draw a volume of comics, working six days a week, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., without major holidays. So it’s a super steady pace. Plus, as we are paid by the page, I feel guilty whenever I don't work! And then I am an eternal perfectionist, never satisfied with what he produces, who spends hours and hours going back over the work already done…

Since comics are doing poorly, why not try manga? Business plan level…

It's true that mangas are doing so well that the Asian market requisitions almost all the paper (and drives up prices)! But for my part, my passion and my culture is comics! And I think that to be a good designer, you have to be a big consumer originally, which is not my case for manga! I wouldn't have enough specific references, my drawing style would be too different…

Were you that student who drew pictures on the corners of your notebooks in class?

Totally! Besides, one of my former history-geography teachers contacted me again a few months ago to tell me that she remembered me and my drawings in class! I was lucky, the teachers often liked my drawings, even when I caricatured them!

Are book signings fun or super boring?

I don't chase and I don't do much, so I find it nice when I do! Especially if there are people there, it's fun to get people's feedback and to see that it's often the same people who come, there are regulars! One year at the Angoulême Festival, I didn't have many people and it's true that it's quite sad. Especially since when I travel to another city for a festival or something else, I easily lose two or three days of work… It has to be worth it.

And the reviews? Do you click or ignore?

In a very pragmatic way, I feel obliged to scrutinize the criticism of my comics. Already because it can influence sales. But also because some are very constructive. If I ever make a historical error in a volume, I absolutely must avoid reproducing it in the next one. But it's true that sometimes it's a little excessive. I remember that for “The Rail Brigade”, there were extremely harsh criticisms from railway workers for such subtle details… I found it very hard!