The Maze by Metaphrog reviewed by Fiona Clements

The Maze is available from Metaphrog, 34 Springhill Gardens 1/R, Shawlands, Glasgow, UK, G41 2EY, for �4.75 (includes both issues and postage in UK).

Illo #1: an atmospheric view of the Krissos coastline

Metaphrog is the collective name for a group of French and Scottish creators working out of Glasgow, who sign their letters only with the Metaphrog rubber stamp. The Maze is a 64-page thriller in two parts, published in both French and English editions—I read the English edition. The story is about Xia, an English music journalist who is spending her summer holiday working in a bar on the island of Krissos. She’s had a pleasant holiday romance with Maccus, a local man, but her Russian colleague Olga doesn’t like him, and Maccus definitely doesn’t like Xia talking to the people from the local ghetto, who are under increasing pressure to clear out and make way for luxury tourist developments. Still, you’d expect some tensions as the summer season comes to an end and people prepare to say their goodbyes, and Xia never imagines that there’s anything to be really worried about... until she tries to take the flight home.

Aspects of the underlying plot seem rather far-fetched—and even after several re-readings I’m not sure I really understand the ending—but so much effort has gone into building the mood and planting the clues, and into keeping Xia (and the reader) permanently off-balance, that these aren’t serious weaknesses, and the end result is still an accomplished psychological mystery. The story is told in a low-key way, particularly during the early stages, with no hints in layout or pacing as to which scenes are crucial to the plot—i.e. it’s closer to real life than to Hollywood, and much more rewarding because of that—but this does mean that you have to read it very carefully, or read it several times. With me, it took three readings to realise how tightly it had been constructed.

One thing that struck me—and I don’t know if it’s deliberate—is that it’s never stated which language the people are speaking: whether it’s English or the language of the island. All of the characters, both foreigners and locals, are very articulate in whichever language it is they’re speaking, but many of the conversations read as if the speakers are not really understanding each other. It’s almost as if the speech balloons contain the words that the character would have spoken if she or he had complete command of the language, but other characters react as if hearing something else, less clear. It works very well as a way of depicting that sort of multilingual conversation, and also suits the story and its sense of dislocation.

Illo #2: Some of the intruiging dialogue from The Maze

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  As for the artwork, it’s generally very effective for the story, showing real people in a real landscape. Like the plot, it does have its weaknesses: some of the action sequences are stilted and confused, and the extreme closeups of faces need a change of approach. However, Metaphrog so obviously know what they’re doing that I’m sure I’ll have fewer and fewer quibbles with each successive publication.

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