You will not have a pleasant time with Alfred and Olivier Ka’s WHY I KILLED PETER. It will not provoke a laugh. It will not coax a smile. And it’s not supposed to.
This slim graphic novel is Ka’s autobiographical recollection of his unconventional childhood. His parents were free-love hippie types, but that wasn’t the problem. They can only be faulted for sending him to summer camp, because that’s where, at the age of 10, Ka was molested by Peter, the camp’s burly, bearded bear of an counselor … who’s also a priest and a family friend.
The request Peter makes will anger you. That Ka gave into it, probably old enough to know better, will infuriate you. That he kept going back to the camp — year after year, without further incident — will perplex you. And the last scene, in which the grown Ka finally goes to confront Peter will have you on pins and needles. How it plays out isn’t quite what you’d expect. (For one thing, don’t take the title literally.)
Alfred draws Ka’s story, and strikes just the right mix in conveying Ka’s mixed-up emotions. WHY I KILLED PETER is well-done in nearly all regards, but it’s not something I’d ever want to read again. In that aspect, it must be successful in detailing one man’s decades-long pain. Although not a reflection of its quality, I can’t recommend it as a casual read; I can see it, however, serving as a vehicle of catharsis for anyone who’s suffered through a similar incident. —Rod Lott
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for that review. Doesn’t really sound like my cup of tea, though it is nice seeing graphic novels that aren’t manga branching out into adult topics. May have to pick it up just to support the trend.
A challenging read well-executed may be its best summary. It’s certainly not for everyone.