I expected to Love this. Eddie Campbell (the artist on Alan Moore's "From Hell") is a good artist that I like. Many don't, due to his quirkiness. However, when he handles odd or human stories, his particular style usually suits it. It does here.
It's just, I don't know, I can't place why this didn't work for me! I Want to like it, because it's smart, with not only literary references suitable to a semi-historical piece about a Trapeze artist, and it's pretty, often stylish. There are very clever uses of isolating Leotard on his bed as he dreams and ages. The mixed-media of words and art is done well. It has all the elements of a well-thought out pastiche of the circus life.
I think it lacks Heart. That might seem strange. I found it impossible to like anyone, or even dislike them. Which at the end when revelations and old age has progressed the story in bounds, made m feel I had cheated, or skimmed it too fast. I tried again, but nothing sticks, no tugs on any heart-strings, except the tight-rope walker which is only five pages among one hundred and thirty.
I think this was thought out, not made by need. I may be going too far, but I suspect it's a case of Eddie Campbell trying to do the retro-sections of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and make a larger story out of it. There are also many novels (Carter Beats The Devil) and films (Prestige, Illusionist) which cover the same period, with similar content, so this felt a little like jumping on an idea. The lack of heart, of being able either to laugh when you're meant to, or even empathise a little with any characters, I think is perhaps proof of that not enough of the writers were invested, as the art is not at fault.
An almost good graphic novel, a lesson learnt, a pastiche of a pastiche perhaps.