Hara‑Kiri No.132 (Septembre 1972), from the notorious French satirical monthly journal bête et méchant, known for its aggressive humour, shock tactics and biting generational commentary. This issue is one of the magazine’s most striking examples of early‑70s youth‑culture satire.
The cover presents a close‑up photograph of two young people with exaggerated makeup — starburst black eyeliner, wild curls and mischievous expressions. Their faces fill the frame, creating an intense, confrontational composition. One smiles broadly with stained teeth, while the other peers from behind a hand holding sharpened pencils, like improvised claws. A rusty kitchen knife bisects the image, used purely as a visual metaphor.
The headline reads:QUE VEULENT LES JEUNES ?BOUFFER LES VIEUX(“What do young people want? Eat the old.”)
This is classic Hara‑Kiri sarcasm: a deliberately extreme, symbolic joke about generational conflict and cultural rebellion, not meant literally but as a critique of societal fears surrounding youth movements in the early 1970s.
Cover details:
HARA‑KIRI masthead in bright yellow
No.132 – Sept 72 – Mensuel 4,00F – Canada 65¢
Tagline: journal bête et méchant
Stock label: 1507 (visible top right)
Grainy, dramatic photography typical of the era
Collectors value this issue because:
strong representation of 1970s youth‑culture anxiety
bold, close‑up photographic style
rarity of late‑1972 issues
memorable and controversial cover headline
highly displayable due to intense layout and colours
Condition (from the photo):
Some edge wear, especially left side
Light surface wear consistent with age
Good colour retention and sharp text
No major creases or tears visible
Spine appears intact and holding shape
A vivid and highly collectible Hara‑Kiri cover capturing the magazine’s confrontational humour at its peak.
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