'After Midnight', a story for those who sleep and for those who dream while awake

After Midnight is a comic that intrigues and fascinates from its beautiful and aristocratic cover with a modernist feel. An elegantly crafted graphic novel that will appeal to a wide audience thanks to a story full of magic and with some touches of poetry. Written and drawn by Gaëlle Geniller, After Midnight (La Cúpula, translated by Marina Borrás Ferrá) captivates the reader thanks to its effective combination of mystery, fantasy and tenderness.

The drawing has obvious art deco echoes and its personal aesthetic is reinforced by an intelligent and striking use of colours. In addition, this is an album that also stands out for the sumptuous design of the characters' costumes and for a careful recreation of the setting: furniture, door mouldings, rooms with large windows. Even the structure of some pages or the frames of some vignettes are influenced by these very original forms.

Gaëlle Geniller became known in Spain with her previous graphic novel, entitled Rosa and also published by La Cúpula. There, the French author portrayed the nightlife of a family cabaret called El Jardín, with its atmosphere full of music and seduction.

Now he returns with the story of Guerlain, a painting restorer, and his little son, an adorable creature called Nisse. They have come to live in the mansion where Guerlain spent his childhood with his three sisters. The surprising thing is that he now has no memory of those years that, however, proved decisive in his life. It seems that he is protecting himself from something.

Melancholic and autumnal This is a comic with an aesthetic typical of current animated films.

Guerlain suffers from insomnia and his nights are difficult to get through. When the clock strikes midnight he opens his eyes and, unable to sleep, wanders around the big house. The setting of the mansion then becomes another character in this comic. Some noises are heard that are difficult to interpret and some figures are seen, fleetingly, that are like shadows. The surprises do not end here: we will see three crows that do not want to go out into the garden and prefer to flutter around the house, some flowers capable of transmitting messages and in the gallery of paintings the eyes of the portraits shine in the middle of the night.

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The author knows how to handle a tale of intrigue with a supernatural touch. However, Geniller never crosses the line into the dark, and what in other hands could lean towards the dark side of the story, here remains in an interesting balance (more fascinating than disturbing, never dark). Because this is a bright comic despite its supernatural background. Bright without a doubt because of its warm colours and friendly drawing. A comic that tells a beautiful story about a young father who tries to protect his son from events that are difficult to explain. A protection like the one that, years ago, his sisters had given him when he was just a child.

A melancholic story with autumnal tones. Very pleasant to read and capable of interesting not only adult readers but also young people and teenagers who will undoubtedly connect with a comic with the aesthetics of a modern animated film. This is not surprising since its author studied animation and has been working on creating backgrounds and sets. After Midnight uses this knowledge and transfers it, with talent, to the world of comics.