Sasmira, La fausse note by Laurent Vicomte, Claude Pelet and Patricia Faucon

First of all, this comic is in French, and, to my knowledge there's only a portuguese and spanish edition.

Fourteen very long years after Sasmira, L'Appel, the second volume was finally released a couple of months ago. I cannot even express how excited I was when I saw the book for the first time. For a few minutes, I held it in my hands admiring the cover, like I just couldn't believe it was true !

The story continues in the beginning of the 20th century, where Bertille and Stan are still trying to adapt to this new era. Both are desperate to find out how they found themselves in another time. Prudence, the house owner who seems to accept the couple's time travel quite easily, tries to help them the best she can.

The beautiful and mysterious Sasmira has Stan completely under her spell. This really annoys Bertille, who jealous of her boyfriend's admiration, always find herself in some funny (and sometimes dangerous) situations.
The author's really captured the character of Sasmira: beautiful, attractive, but intimidating and cold. You are drawn to her and repelled at the same time.

We learn more about Prudence's life and her odd relationship with Sasmira (finally !). There are quite a few surprises and not at all predictable. This is certainly one of the strong aspects of this series, you never know what to expect.

Other new characters join the story and while everything seems to get more complex and captivating, it also develops rather slowly. Or maybe after so many years, I want to know more about that Sasmira who seems to manipulate everyone around her.



Image credit BD Actu

To see more drawings, you can visit BD Gest'



The collaboration between Vicomte and Petel gives us some incredibly gorgeous drawings and a real care for detail. It's impossible not to enjoy this volume, especially if you are already a fan of the Sasmira, l'Appel. In the other hand, while I did enjoy La fausse note, I have to say that the long wait and the slow paced story were sometimes very frustrating. Now, I only hope the third volume will not be published in 15 years...

Grade: 4/5

I'll leave you with the trailer:

SASMIRA T2 / Bande-annonce par GLENATBD

Hugo and Iris: Hugo's Wedding (Book 1 – Spring 1830) by Yslaire

This is the first volume of the family saga, La Guerre des Sambre. We follow the adventures of this family through time (or should I say back back in time!) since the 19th century until the Prehistory.

The trilogy about Hugo and Iris were drawn by the talented Bastide and Mezil who follow the story and scenario by Yslaire.

1857. A young redhead boy with an injured eye cannot sleep at night after having a nightmare. Comforted by his aunt Sarah, the boy fells asleep. The next day in an office at his house, he finds a book called “La Guerre des Yeux” (The War of the Eyes) and looks carefully at a portrait of a redhead men who looks very much like him.

We go back to 1830 with the marriage of Hugo Sambre and Blanche Dessang. It's a marriage of convenience and the young couple isn't really pleased about each other's fate, especially the groom. Quickly, Hugo leaves his family home and travels to Belgium to a business trip with his father-in-law.

During a visit to a copper mine, Hugo and a friend, Vicaire, make a macabre discovery: an ancient graveyard. Among the bones of women and children, a skull with red precious stones as eyes who completely fascinates Hugo. While exploring the tunnel, they make another incredible find, a cave with prehistorical paintings. The young man cannot think about anything else, and when he returns home he remains completely obsessed with those red eyes.

The relationship with his father already tumultuous, becomes even more complicated after Hugo's refusal to sell the mine and he is asked to leave the family house as soon as possible. He leaves for Paris where his friend Vicaire drags him to the theater to see the fascinating Iris, an actress with red eyes...

This first volume is thoroughly captivating and I couldn't stop reading it until the last page. The story is well written and there's enough intrigue and drama to please any historical fiction lover who enjoys a good family saga.

The drawings are breathtaking! Each one of them is a treat and you can easily feel all the work behind them. They are also one of the main reasons why the story works so well. The richness of the colors and details take you back through time skilfully, but without distracting you from the story. Everything is every well balanced.

You can also follow the Sambre family three in the back of each volume (also beautifully done), which really helps if you continue to read the series.
The series:

La Guerre des Sambre livre I (1830-1847) - Hugo & Iris

1. Le mariage d'Hugo
2. La passion selon Iris
3. La Lune qui regarde

La Guerre des Sambre livre II (1760) - Werner & Charlotte

1. L'Éternité de Saintange
2. La Messe rouge (to be released)
3. Votre enfant, comtesse.., (to be released)

La Guerre des Sambre livre III (-40 000 av JC) - Aam & Yev

1. La Genèse (to be released)
2. Au commencement (to be released)
3. Ecce homo oculis (to be released)

This series is linked to another historical series focused in Hugo and Iris descendants, called Sambre and published before this one.

Unfortunately, these series were only translated in German and never in English. It's really a shame since this is, for me, a must read for anyone who enjoys historical comics.



Grade: 4.5/5

Elinor Jones: Le bal d'hiver (The Winter Ball) by Algesiras and Aurore

A few weeks ago I was looking for new historical comics in my local bookstore when I noticed the lovely cover of Elinor Jones by Algesiras and Aurore. I confess that I had a shallow moment there and picked up the book without even reading the blurb or anything else and returned straight home.

Set during the Victorian era in England, Elinor Jones is the story of a young girl who is hired as a seamstress to the famous fashion house – Tiffany. It was Elinor's wildest dream to be part of such a prestigious team who created the most beautiful gowns in all England.

The company is ruled by Mrs Tiffany who is often traveling around the world looking for the most extraordinary fabrics. Meanwhile, it's her young daughter Bianca, considered a prodigy, who designs and leads the creation team. After several days working for the family, Elinor notices some strange things happening around her... Also, Mrs Tiffany oldest son, the mysterious Abel, seems to keep some secrets that he tries to hide at all costs.

Elinor knows she has to work hard to keep her place. Will she be strong enough to follow her dreams?

The story is funny and the characters are easy to like, even if very predictable. After some pages, we end up learning more about the lives and the work of Tiffany's intriguing seamstresses. Fashion is the main theme here!

Everything made me think about the animated series I used to watch as a child: Candy, Candy or even The Rose of Versailles. Maybe it's why I picked it up without caring about the rest. Everything is very girly and feminine, but not without humor.

The graphics are attractive but again, girly is the keyword here. Don't even expect any historical accuracy in these clothes or surroundings, this is just for fun and it's clear the authors really enjoyed creating this particular atmosphere. These are the dresses we all dreamed of when we were little girls.

I was not looking for something quite like this but I don't mind a big lump of sugar in my reads times to times. If you don't mind either, this is a book for you.

Grade: 3.5/5

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec by Jacques Tardi

I’m a big fan of comics of any kind, but if there’s some history trow in, I’m always happy. This series by Jacques Tardi was, for me, a great way to get to know the city of Paris. The stories are always filled with mystery, suspense, history (obviously!) and many eccentric characters.

Adéle Blanc-Sec is an independent young woman who leads her life as she wishes, not being afraid of social conveniences. She’s a freelancer writer who enjoys a good mystery and finds herself involved often in some incredible stories involving paranormal, murders, science,… Most stories are set before the WWI and after avoiding the war conflict.

The first volume of this series is Adèle et la Bête (Adèle and the Beast). A Pterodactyl escapes from a museum and everyone who sees him dies immediately afterward… Our heroine decides to solve the mystery and collect at the same time the government’s reward for the capture of the animal. But everything is not what it seems and Adèle loses someone close to her in this adventure.

Adèle Blanc-Sec is a very cynical heroine who never hesitates to give her opinion or simply do what she thinks needs to be done. This first volume introduce us several characters who are simply too delicious to miss. Jacques Tardi has a real talent to bring them alive and make them so real that you simply cannot help but wish you were also part of these adventures. Normally, everything related to dinosaurs puts me off but the story is fast paced and very well written. The author’s drawings are just perfect for these stories, I could never imagine them otherwise.

Grade: 5/5

To know more about Adèle Blanc-Sec: http://www.coolfrenchcomics.com/adeleblancsec.htm

Sasmira: L'Appel by Vicomte

Until more or less 10 years ago, I wasn't a comics fan. One day at my local library I decided to pick up some less known titles during one of those “I have to try new things” kind of phase. The book was called Sasmira, a mysterious time travel who caught me right away under its spell.

The story starts in modern Paris. While walking in the street, Stan, a known musician, hears someone calling his name. He sees then a very old woman who gives him an strange ancient ring and asks him to return to her. Moments later she dies in his arms. Trying to know her identity, he finds in her pocket an old photograph dating from the beginning of the 20th century. To his astonishment, he feels powerfully attracted to one of the women portrayed. His curiosity awaken, he tries to find out more about the house he sees in the picture and asks for the help of his girlfriend, Bertille.

After some inquires, Stan finally finds the location of the house and sneaks out trying to get there alone. Furious with him, Bertille immediately follows. Arriving to the house, they find a secret cave and suddenly they feel irresistibly drawn to each other and have sex. When they awake, they are suddenly in another era...

This is, until today, one of my favorite historical comics. Not only the drawings are beautiful, but the story is compelling mixing mystery, adventure, history and even romance very well. The characters are endearing, especially the young woman, Bertille. She is sharp, intelligent and very outspoken. In the other hand we have the quiet and secretive Stanislas. We feel they have a recent relationship and when Stan disappears for weeks without any explanation, disturbed by his encounter with the old woman, Bertille immediately imagines he was having an affair. She is exasperated by his behavior but her attraction for him is too strong. Even if she helps Stan in any way she can, she never forgets to tell him what she thinks of him, now and then, in a very humorous way.

The beautiful drawings, the precision and detail of the costumes and surroundings, especially at the mansion, are one of the strong points of this book. It's really a wonderful work! I confess that it was one of the reasons why I was attracted to the book in the first place and I was happy to see the story matched the drawings perfectly. The underwear, the jewels are perfectly captured. The among of research done is obvious in each single page.

(image Coinbd.com)

This first volume called: “The Calling” (L'Appel), shows us the beginning of an unpredictable story that I really cannot wait to continue reading. Until today only the first book was publish but the second is announced to be release very soon. I've been waiting for the sequel for more than 10 years, so I can only say that I'm excited!

Mysteries: The Law and The Lady by Wagner & Seiter (French book)

1875, England. Valeria Brinton, a young and beautiful woman, just married the charming Eustace Woodville. It was love at first sight. The spouses are very attached to each other and everything seems perfect about this newlywed couple. Suddenly, the young woman discovers some deep hidden secrets who become a constant reminder how little she knows her husband.

Their marriage was not approved by her husband’s family who refused to attend to their wedding and even Valeria’s uncles were not happy about this situation.

During the first days of their honeymoon, she accidentally meets her mother-in-law and finds out her husband uses a false name. Why is he hiding his true identity?! Troubled by so many mysteries, the young woman decides to take the matters on her own hands and find out the truth. But everything is much more complex than she ever imagined…

This is the 1st volume of the French historical comic series, Mysteries: Seule contre la loi (The Law and The Lady) freely adapted from Wilkie Collins‘ book with the same name. The author even shows up during the story as an old friend of the heroine.

When I picked it up at the library, I just wanted a comic who would be quick to read and interesting enough to hold my attention. I previously read The Woman in White and Moonstone by Collins and really enjoyed both. This was another opportunity to get to know the author a little better and I’ll definately read The Law and The Lady in a near future.

If completely in love for Eustace, Valeria knows she cannot rest until she finds out the reasons of so many mysteries. She’s brave and independent and doesn’t scare off easily.

Her husband, in the other hand, never really tries to explain the reasons of his lies. He just abandons his wife to her fate thinking he is doing a huge sacrifice leaving her alone. I do understand Eustace has reasons to think no one will believe him but he gives up easily, especially with someone he loves so much (or he says so).

The drawing style can be sometimes a bit too schematic concerning the characters’ faces but Wagner manages very well to show all the emotions with every stroke. A special note about the Victorian clothes, hairdos or even the architecture details which were a real pleasure to admire.

I noticed my library had the 2nd volume so I’ll bring it home as soon as possible. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Grade: 4/5