The Initiates

Overview

A winemaker and a comic artist switch occupations in search of the true nature of man's vocation

A graphic novel that explores the nature of one’s vocation, this book offers a look at the daily devotion to craft in two dissimilar professions. Étienne Davodeau is a comic artist—he doesn’t know much about the world of winemaking. Richard Leroy is a winemaker—he’s rarely even read comics. But filled with good will and curiosity, the two men exchange professions, and Étienne goes to work in Richard’s vineyards and cellar, while Richard, in return, leaps into the world of comics. Providing a true-life representation of how both professions work, this insightful book investigates two fascinating fields, exploring each man’s motivations and ultimately revealing that their endeavors and aspirations are not much different.

Reviews

"STARRED REVIEW. The excellent writing, characterizations, and tranquil-yet-stimulating vibe make this a treat to savor slowly, like wine. Davodeau's smoky realism, though black-and-white, manages to suggest the full range of wine-growing climate shifts. Oenophiles will love this and the merely curious will be plenty satisfied." —Library Journal (March 2013)

"I'm just going to come out and say it: The Initiates is one of the best books about wine I've ever read, period. For anyone looking to break out of their personal and professional comfort zone, The Initiates is a well-illustrated inspiration." —www.JamesonFink.com

"Engrossing piece of comics reportage. The sheer amount of foresight and raw faith that goes into making wine as a commercial proposition is a wonder to behold, and Davodeau does his best to capture every step and draw every esoteric piece of equipment that Leroy deploys." —AVClub.com

"This comic book may be one of the best ever written to understand wine, it does the same for comic books. A masterpiece."  —Gourmand Magazine

"Davodeau's lines are clean and economically sparse, but powerful enough to forge the bonds that tie both professions together." —Nancy Powell, Shelf Awareness 

"A compelling, entertaining and educational tale that takes full advantage of the graphic storytelling medium."  —Richard Pachter, Miami Herald

"Etienne Davodeau spent a year teaching a winemaker about graphic novels while the winemaker showed the artist his craft in return. The exploration of what it means to make art, told through different fields with more similarities than suspected, is enlightening and inspiring." —Johanna Draper Carlson, Comics Worth Reading

"Davodeau spent a year teaching a winemaker about graphic novels while the winemaker showed the artist his craft in return. The exploration of what it means to make art, told through different fields with more similarities than suspected, is enlightening and inspiring." —Publishers Weekly

Author Biography

Étienne Davodeau is a French comics author who has won multiple awards and authored numerous critically acclaimed graphic novels.