After having retrieved the son of super-rich caliph of Iksaladam from his kidnapper, the vile Quatuor Mortis, Valerian and Laureline find themselves, quite by accident, on the Shimballil asteroid. This space-California seems to be a magnet for the rich and beautiful. Our space-travelers meet all kinds of characters there, from the much-celebrated psychologist, Dr. Scharz-Metterklume, to film producer Ty Koün, who hires Laureline for a steamy episode of “kinosaga.”
Usually around about the 40 mark, the human male has a habit of leaving his well-worn spouse in search of greener pastures. As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. Florence Cestac dissects this subject of common interest, from the very first symptoms right up to the final outbreak, via the pangs of “bathrobe-sofa” depression. “You’re the love of my life! But with her, it’s something else… she’s a fairy,” declares our hero with the touching honesty of a male en route to adventure. So once our hero’s skipped off into the sunset with his fairy, our heroine begins asking herself a series of counter-productive questions regarding her general attitude and in particular her cellulite. She then 1). Discovers that everyone else knew about it all along 2). Listens to the questionable opinions of her girlfriends 3). Attempts to rekindle old flames dug out of her old phone book and to kindle new ones in her local DIY store. She explains to her kid that Daddy “just took a little jaunt over to Mars,” which the kid in turn interprets as “Daddy flew to Mars with a slut that Mommy doesn’t like.” She manages to raise her spirits with “tiptopform,” drinks a bit, weeps a lot, and buries the dog who decided to die right in the middle of it all – cherry on the cake. Anyway, she “handles it” and she survives. Between giggles and anguish, this will touch anyone who’s ever felt the sting of that wonderful thing we call love. Disarmingly frank, with endearingly crude humor and a perfect understanding of her subject, this is Florence Cestac on top form.
Jean and Germaine are the most affable couple the little village of Colle sur Loup has ever seen. A duke married to a commoner, they have no children, no jobs, and are disastrous cooks! They like to indulge in life’s small pleasures; their books, their garden, and their after-lunch naps. They live for each other, and for their love. Their simple happiness intrigues, fascinates, infuriates and is the envy of all those around them.
Daniel Pennac knew Jean and Germaine well. He spent his time at their house reading, watching, learning, and, of course, trying Germaine’s catastrophic efforts in the kitchen! He’s now taken it upon himself to tell the story of those happy days, and of a love that has always captivated him.
Mancini’s story gets harder and harder to digest, as it spirals towards it’s violent and sordid climax. We see cracks beginning to appear in that seemingly impenetrable calm he maintains in the interrogation room, as he relates his difficult winter, his internment in a psychiatric hospital, his discovery of a collection of paintings that are the perfect representation of human suffering, and a cataclysmic encounter in the forest.
”Polza’s story has many unusual twists, absurdities and horrors to go through before we get any closer to understanding the nature of the Blast, and Larcenet’s pacing and visual depictions of the journey make that a compellingly dark and intriguing story.”The Digital Fix
Three women in their fifties are on a ‘girls-only’ weekend in a holiday house by the sea. It’s raining, the teenage kids are still ensconced in their beds, and it’s just coming up to midday. So the three women crack open a bottle of white, and the conversation begins to flow, as only it can between old friends.
Valerian and Laureline are spending their holidays in the tourist paradise of the cosmos. The place is jam-packed with billionaires, like that four-eyed stuck-up madam who doesn’t stop complaining, or the mega-rich caliph of Iksaladam with his harem and his obnoxious heir. Valerian and Laureline are a little bored, but that won’t last. One night, the Quatuor Mortis (trafficking, contraband, assassinations etc) rocks up with an explosive schniarf and kidnaps the caliph… and Laureline with him!
Having learned of the Black Moon’s diabolical schemes to take over the world with a demon invasion, Wismerhill turns his back on his former master, thwarting his plans by closing the gates of Hell. Now, Wismerhill and his loyal companions know that it is only a matter of time before Haazheel Thorn comes after them. This day could be their last…
While escorting a prisoner, Trent stops in a small town full of commotion: the famous Wild Bill Turkey is passing through on his way to his bride. Bill is a legend among the gunfighters of the Old West. An aging one, yes, but that doesn’t prevent him from coming to the Mountie’s help when a group of men try to free his prisoner. A powerful man is behind that attempt, though, and both Trent and Bill suddenly become targets.
Following an apocalyptic attack at the hands of space vampires in volume two, Gildas and Martina are back for more intergalactic adventures. This time, their spaceship carries them to an outer space museum, built entirely in their honor, which also happens to be the symbol of the all-powerful Celta movement. Just the kind of symbol that the resistance would love to blow to smithereens, as our space heroes are about to find out…
”Cosmonauts of the Future is a fun and surprising book that deserves a look if you want something in the sci-fi arena that’s a little more humorous.”Pipeline Comics
