Mezzo (artist)

Pascal Mesenburg, pen name Mezzo, is a French cartoonist born in Drancy, France in 1960.

Biography
Very early, he is appealed by the 1960-1970 rock sleeves and the American underground scene (Robert Crumb, Rick Griffin, Robert Williams, etc.) that bring an "electric" counterpoint to his Franco-Belgian (Hergé, Ever Meulen) and older American influences (George Herriman, Chester Gould, Will Eisner).

In 1978, he is admitted to the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and École nationale supérieure des arts appliqués et des métiers d'art of Paris, where he passes through, preferring to devote himself to music. At the same time, he publishes his illustrations in various fanzines (Le Crapaud baveux, Flag, Ogoun !...), graphzine (Sortez la chienne...) and Parisian magazines (Rock en Stock, Best, Zoulou (Actuel), L'Écho des savanes, Playboy, Métal Aventure...) and participates in some advertising campaigns (Pall Mall, greeting card for Dupuy Saatchi, Renault...).

In 1988, he meets Michel Pirus, with whom he devoted himself mainly to comics without abandoning graphic design and illustration. With his realistic, dark and precise stroke, between ligne claire and density of black, he is easily associated with the contemporary American line.

King of the Flies (Le Roi des mouches - 2005 for vol. 1) was noticed by critics. It has been translated in Spain (La Cúpula), the Netherlands (Sherpa) and the United States (Fantagraphics Books). On this series he works with Michel Pirus in the script and the colorist Ruby.

In 2014 is published Love in Vain, which recounts the life of bluesman Robert Johnson, with Jean-Michel Dupont in the script.

Awards
2008 : Prix de la BD du Point, with Michel Pirus, for King of the Flies, vol 2 : The Origin of the World.