Plan of Occupancy

An awardwinning cartoonist adapts the well-regarded French novella by Jean Echenoz in this taut and moving study on grief.

A Parisian woman dies in a fire leaving her husband and son behind, bereft.

The fire has destroyed all traces of her. The only reminder the men have is a multi-storey mural, a perfume ad, featuring the woman as a young model. In his grief, the son silently walks by the mural every day. The father is loud and passionate in his grief and this drives them apart.

As time goes by, they watch as a building is built on the vacant lot next door slowly obscuring her image. The men venture to move into the building taking up residence in an apartment directly at face level to the advertisement. And so begins their plan to take down the wall separating them from their beloved.

The original French novella is famous for its direct prose and even more so for its brevity. While published as a book, it spanned only 12 pages. Master cartoonist Guy Delisle (Pyongyang, Muybridge) seizes the opportunity to pair his spare elegant cartooning with the prose equivalent—the effect of which is powerful and emotionally devastating.

Translated by Mark Polizzotti

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs