Cinebook: BEREZINA BOOK 3/3

 

Authors: Frédéric Richaud, based on the novel by Patrick Rambaud; illustrated by Ivan Gil

Age: 15 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 72 colour pages
Publication: January 2023

£10.99 Incl VAT

ISBN: 9781800440906

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/berezina-book-33-p-4504.html

The terrible Russian winter has engulfed the retreat, and the Grande Armée is no more. Mercilessly harassed by the fierce Cossacks, a few thousand men only continue to trudge forward, weak, starving, emaciated, leaving a trail of frozen dead behind. And as Russian regular forces prepare to surround and trap them, the weather suddenly turns warmer, making rivers impassable. To escape, they will have to somehow cross a river whose name would soon become synonymous with tragedy: the Berezina … 

The previous two volumes were reviewed here:

Book 1

https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2022/05/cinebook-ltd-berezina-book-13.html

Book 2

https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2022/12/cinebook-9th-art-berezina-book-2-of-3.html

Most people thinking of the Napoleonic War tend to think of the huge set piece battles such as Waterloo. In fact there were many smaller battles and engagements -"skirmishes" not grand enough to include in the big history books. I think that this series has shown this well.

There are plenty of small set pieces featuring the characters and this is not just a war comic with pretty uniforms. It shows the hard marches and the toll those take as well as the effect on the men and just how low war and starvation can take people -cannibalism. Meanwhile Bonaparte still seems to cling to the mad hope of rallying forces. 

The final page is quite poignant.

If you want to learn more then there is a brief text feature that adds to the work. The series is highly recommended.

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Cinebook: YAKARI 20 - THE CLOUD MAKER

 

Authors: Derib & Job

Age: 6 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: November 2022

£7.99 incl VAT

ISBN: 9781800440746

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/yakari-20-the-cloud-maker-p-4498.html

After a long rainy spell, large stretches of the prairie are flooded, much to the displeasure of most of its inhabitants. Yakari visits his friends to make sure everyone is all right, then falls asleep that night and dreams of clouds mysteriously coming out of the water. The young Sioux’s dreams are not always completely random, though, and the next day he rides out in search of signs. What he will find will soon unite all his friends in a desperate rescue mission …

There are some very nice touches in this book. The threat of rising flood water and the risk to animals as well as humans is something that gives Yakari some bad dreams. As he does his patrol he comes across a newcomer -a whale and then the fun starts -until things turn into a race to save the whale!

This is a fun read for kids but also a valuable lesson in wildlife and the environment and not done with concrete boots. 

Cinebook: LUCKY LUKE 82 - RIN TIN CAN'S ARK

 Authors: Jul; illustrated by Achdé

Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: Dcember 2022

£7.99 Incl VAT

ISBN: 9781800440845

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/lucky-luke-82-rin-tin-cans-ark-p-4502.html

Arriving in Cattle Gulch, Lucky Luke runs into an unexpected scene: an apparent crackpot called Ovid Byrde is about to get lynched. The man’s revolutionary opinions – animal welfare and the sanctity of life – aren’t particularly well-received in this town full of ranchers and cowboys! After Luke intervenes, though, the locals simply ignore Byrde … until he suddenly finds gold, and a pack of unscrupulous bandits take advantage of the poor idealist to establish a vegetarian dictatorship!

There were the two serious takes on Lucky Luke but something seemed off about the volume numbering here....apparently I never saw 79 so that explains why something was niggling my mind! The problem was, after my recent "brain fog" I was positive Lucky Luke was past 100😂

Not complaining as 82 is still a great run.

You know the routine by now -gags, gunplay and lots of visual humour. I like the way that colours are used every so often to great effect -a figure wholly yellow with a red panel background or even orange figure with a white or yellow background. Page 18 has a very dramatic and effective silhouette on white. I notice these things.

Also a nice brief bio of Henry Bergh (1813-1888) the founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,

A serious message but a great deal of fun an d gags -a good one about having to wait 150 years before they dish up vegetarian meals in schools made me laugh. recommended as always.

I'm Still Alive?

 After being very ill for 16 days I am finally getting back to a semblance of normality. Mind you I did tell that to myself 10 days ago and things went bad!  

No, NOT covid either. We'll see how it goes. Well, I will since no one has ever had any interest in the past😝

Kult Creations - HELGA FRANKENSTEIN: BOOK IV HERE BE MONSTERS

  

W: John A. Short

A: Gabrielle Noble

44pp

Full colour

US comic size

£7.00 UK -see link below for offers etc

https://helgafrankenstein.blogspot.com/

The fourth self-contained comic strip book adventure of HELGA FRANKENSTEIN is out now! 

PLUS... The four issue set is also available to buy just incase you need the full story! Also to your right! 

This time in the lost European land of Golgothica... Someone recognises where Helga's face has been stolen from and they aren't happy! This time Helga finds herself up against, witches, trolls and cursed werewolves in a fight for her life... and love! 

For me this series is a comic book version of Tudor Gates' The Karnstein Trilogy for Hammer Horror (The Vampire Lovers, Lust for a Vampire and The Twins of Evil). You never expect a new Helga Frankenstein book -it just turns up to delight you with a new plot twist. 

In this instance, after a rooftop chase and escape, part of Helga is recognised by...uh..that "parts" former father. That leads to the father asking some awkward questions of a witch and once he has the answer things take a turn for the worst for Helga.  Question: if you are made up of various previously un-associated body parts can things really get worse?

 

The answer is, of course: yes. Helga's (or part of her) love interest is involved and, yes, I know how "yucky that can sound but you can blame John Short as well as your own dirty mind. My mind is pure😝

And do not think for one minute that if Helga finds a solution to the current threat that everything will be wonderful.  Remember the father (see, not as bad as when you have to write "the mother" -Americans have totally ruined the innocence of that word for us) well he decides that keeping his hands clean (remember this is set well before social distancing and personal hygiene so it never mattered 😒) is not going to be an option. So I am guessing there may be a fifth Helga Frankenstein in the works?

The story and script are just dandy as you might expect with Short. Also there is a growing cast so that keeps things rolling along smoothly.

The art? Well, any excuse to see more good Noble art in full colour is good enough for me. Design and layout as well as the colour work is excellent. For me if I enjoy it then it is more than acceptable and I know there are a lot of people out there following Noble's artwork and that type of encouragement means a lot to a creator.

Obviously a book I recommend.

As mentioned, this is the fourth book in the series and if you want to buy all four then visit the link above and treat yourself!

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