Out in the Open
Jesus Carrasco, by (artist) Javi Rey
Javi Rey
After suffering violence and betrayal at home, a young boy flees into an uncompromising landscape ravaged by drought. Without food or water, exposed to the heat of the sun and the violence of his pursuers, the boy sets out across the Spanish plains. An encounter with an elderly goatherd offers hope of survival. The old man can help him stay ahead of the dangers that lie outside – but he can't fix the internal drama that plays out in the boy's mind. Nightmares are a constant reminder of a traumatic past and an unstable present. Based on the award-winning novel by Jesus Carrasco, Javi Rey's OUT IN THE OPEN is a cinematic graphic novel about escaping abuse and finding humanity in a world torn apart by the violence of men.
Javi Rey was born in Brussels but grew up and lives in Barcelona. After graduating from university, he studied at the prestigious Catalan illustration school Escola Joso. His career began in animation and storyboarding, and he worked for a number of advertising agencies before moving into comics. He is the author of Adelante (written by Frank Giroud) and Un maillot pour l'Algerie. Jesus Carrasco was born in Badajoz, Spain, and now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Out in the Open, his debut novel, was a huge bestseller in Spain, and was published in over 20 countries. It is the winner of many international awards, including the European Union Prize for Literature 2016 and an English PEN award.