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Published in August 2026 by Dargaud, this documentary-style comic book dedicated to *Jaws* was created entirely by Mahi Grand, who wrote the script, drew the illustrations, and applied the colors. The book has 184 pages and takes a humorous look back at a production that has become almost as legendary as the movie itself.
When *Jaws* Almost Didn't Make It to the Big Screen
In 1974, Steven Spielberg was still far from being the cinematic legend we know today. After *Duel* and *The Sugarland Express*, the director set out to adapt Peter Benchley?s novel about a great white shark terrorizing a seaside resort.
On paper, the idea seems relatively simple. Out on the ocean, however, things get complicated. Spielberg chose to shoot on location and had to deal with the challenges posed by the sea. The mechanical sharks posed numerous problems, setbacks piled up, and the production saw both its schedule and budget expand. The project, which was supposed to launch the young filmmaker?s career, then threatened to become a professional disaster.
It is precisely this adventure that *Dante?s Peak* recounts. Rather than offering an academic analysis of the film, Mahi Grand transforms its behind-the-scenes story into a true adventure tale. Anxious producers, technical problems, tensions, and Spielberg?s determination all fuel a story whose outcome is known, yet which retains all its suspense.
A humorous documentary-style comic book
The author does not claim to provide a historically accurate account down to the last detail. He states that he takes certain liberties for the sake of the narrative. The result falls somewhere between a documentary about filmmaking, a graphic novel, and a comedy about the film shoot, with a string of disasters that sometimes give the impression that the shark wasn?t, after all, the main danger in the film.
The subject also benefits from Mahi Grand?s unique experience. Before turning to comics, the author worked as a set designer for the theater and then in film, notably with directors such as Bruno Dumont, Roschdy Zem, and Xavier Giannoli. This familiarity with the world of film sets naturally comes into its own when it comes to depicting a production that?s going off the rails.
Behind the Scenes of a Film That Has Become a Classic
The paradox makes the story irresistible: from the chaotic filming of *Jaws* emerged one of the greatest cinematic phenomena of the 1970s. Released in 1975, *Jaws* would transform Spielberg?s career and leave a lasting mark on popular culture.
More than fifty years after the film?s release, *Jaws: Chronicles of an Apocalyptic Shoot* tells less the story of a man-eating shark than that of a filmmaker refusing to let himself be swallowed up by his own film. A comic book particularly recommended for film buffs, fans of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and, of course, anyone who hasn?t quite looked at the ocean the same way since *Jaws*.
The Teeth of Hell: Chronicles of an Apocalyptic Film Shoot
- Illustration: Mahi Grand
- Screenplay: Mahi Grand
- Based on: Steven Spielberg
- Publisher: DARGAUD
- Publication date: August 21, 2026
- Retail price: 23 euros
