Cinebook Ltd Newsletter 157 - January 2021

 

Dear Reader,

Welcome to a long-awaited 2021! Shiny and new, here’s a year with plenty of promise and hope, and it had better deliver! As for us, we’re opening the year with a definite martial touch, starting with the return of Buck Danny, who is still chasing Lady X, a deadly virus, and … love way down south beyond the Antarctic circle. The heat is on, but do dress warmly anyway … Next stop: Austria, 1809, and the second part of The Battle. Napoleon’s will drives his soldiers onwards against all odds, but the Austrians are no pushovers, and despite the carnage refuse to give up. All rests on a single, all too fragile bridge – lifeline, or deadly trap? Finally, for a more humorous (though never forgiving) take on the great calamity of war, let’s meet up with our old friends The Bluecoats as the Union’s desperate need for troops sends them on a disastrous recruiting drive. If only civil war was always this funny … January with Cinebook: chaaaaaaaarge!

Buck Danny 12 Formosa & Zumbiehl Operation Vektor Lady X, Buck’s nemesis, has given all three pilots the slip. Unfortunately, she’s also managed to pick up a Russian defector who’s not only shot Natalya, the beautiful scientist buck appears to have fallen for, but also carries with him a sample of an incredibly deadly virus ... Read more

The Battle Gil & Rambaud and Richaud Book 2 The battle has been joined. On this first day, Massena desperately holds onto Aspern, the French cavalry charges again and again, but the Emperor cannot seem to break the Austrians. Louis-Francois, stuck on the wrong side of the only available bridge, impatiently waits for repairs to conclude... Read more

The Bluecoats 14 Lambil & Cauvin The Dirty Five After a series of bloody battles, the 22nd Cavalry is once again depleted. Sent on a recruiting drive, Chesterfield meets only failure – between the reputation of their unit and Blutch’s constant sabotage efforts, finding volunteers is almost impossible. Until fate brings them to a penitentiary... Read more

Authorised Happiness 3

Lonesome 1 the Preacher’s Trail

The Regiment The True Story of the SAS 3

North-American readers, to locate a comic book shop near you that stocks or can order these titles and many more, us this handy Read more

Or, if you're a retailer yourself, please go to: Read more

Gomer Goof 7 Gomer, Duke of Goofington	HSE Human Stock Exchange 1
The Battle Book 1	XIII 24 2,331 Yards

Hexagon Comics: The Partisans 2

 THE PARTISANS 2 by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Mario Guevara; cover by Mario Guevara

7x10 squarebound comic, 

64 pages 

b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-016-2. 

US$12.95.

Order via: jmlofficier@yahoo.com

- THE PARTISANS - NORTH AFRICA - starring Baroud, the Senegalese Guardian, Antales the amazon, Tanka, Imhotep & Wazilla

- THE PARTISANS - PACIFIC THEATER - starring Dan Diamond, Apollo, Red Feather, Corsak, Xiu Kappa & Ricky Rox

1942. North Africa. Under the direction of Erwin Rommel, the Nazis prepare to seize the mysterious city of Heliopolis, once the home of the mythical Egyptian gods and the depository of all their secrets. This will insure Germany’s victory and her domination of the world.
 
But in order to stop him, French General Leclerc has gathered a team of PARTISANS, comprised of Baroud, the Guardian of the Republic of Senegal, the amazon Antales, young Tanka, the legendary Imhotep, and the powerful Wazilla.
 
1945. Pacific Theater. The Americans’ plan to seize Okinawa is compromised by the sudden arrival of a powerful alien, Lord Manduk of Vaur, who teams up with the formidable Japanese scientist known as Madame Y.
 
President Roosevelt asks Dan Diamond of the O.S.S. to assemble another team of PARTISANS. These are Borneo jungle lord Corsak, Tibetan martial artist Xiu Kappa, sun-powered Apollo from the Midwest, the mystic Cheyenne warrior Red Feather, and super-fast Ricky Rox.
 
This book presents two World War II sagas about crucial events that, if allowed to unfold, might well have changed the course of history, without the intervention of the heroic champions known as… THE PARTISANS!

The last time a "new" comics line got me this excited was in the 1980s when Archie Comics brought back their action heroes in Red Circle Comics (NOT the 21st century mess up). 

Good story. Good characterisation. The art looks nice and for "North Africa"  Guevara uses a grey tone style which contrasts with "Pacific Theater"  and its black and white style. A mixture of characters from various nationalities in exotic settings -I can't complain because Black tower has been doing that since the 1980s. I think that these Hexagon books deserve a wider readership.

It was interesting going through stats last night and finding that the usually high views for Cinebook reviews was surpassed by those for the Hexagon books!

These books are good fun and adventure and to most feature 'new' characters so give the books a try and, PLEASE, order from the company itself. Fun comics need all the support they can get.

Cinebook The 9th Art: THE MARSUPILAMI 5 - BABY PRINZ

 

Paperback

Author: Franquin, Yann & Batem
Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: August 2020

ISBN: 9781849185424

£7.99 inc.VAT

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/the-marsupilami-5-baby-prinz-p-4421.html

In Chiquito, capital of Palombia, the old Marsupilami in the municipal zoo feels his end coming, and would like to die free, in the legendary Marsupilami graveyard. Warned by an escaped parrot, our Marsu sets off towards the city, along with Bip and Sarah, the two jungle orphans, to free his elder. 

There’s a problem, though: Chiquito is in the middle of a revolution against its latest dictator, Baby Prinz. And in Palombia, revolution is a national sport!

This is what I am talking about. Colourful. Fun. Silliness. Just what we want right now.

I'm going to have to check the previous books because, although Cinebook has always produced high quality books -this one seems to have gone up a notch or two...but it could be my aging, comic riddled mind.

To say that this book is often a tad surreal might be understating things. The above blurb tells you all you need to know and I never give spoilers. Kids ("of all ages") will love this and it reminded me of being a kid and on a dreary, slightly smoggy St Werburgh's day, puicking up a comic to read -for a while the whole world could go flip-off.

PLEASE always buy from the publisher if you can because EVERY penny helps them keep going.

Hexagon Comics: Morgane and Strangers 5: The Kindom of Shivar (Oh, and STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND!)

 

MORGANE by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Mauro Lirussi; cover by Roberto Castro

7x10 squarebound comic, 

48 pages 

b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-61227-787-5 - 

US$9.95

Order via: jmlofficier@yahoo.com

Young Morgane Gorlyer works for a prestigious French fashion magazine, but she is also the descendent of the original, much maligned, Morgan Le Fey, an enchantress who was King Arthur's sister and heir to the secrets of Vivien, the Lady of the Lake, Queen of Avalon.

With her boyfriend, Faust (the son of Goethe’s character), who was cursed to spend his life as a black cat until Morgane freed him. she is forced to thwart the evil schemes of her jealous childhood friend Alecto and her deadly companion, Lord Raven, and face the awesome might of the dark god Shivar himself…
 
This 44-page occult saga, which transports us from the dark woods of ancient Brittany to the swanky haunts of London’s high society, is brilliantly illustrated by renowned Argentinean artist Mauro Lirussi.

The story from this book carries over into Strangers #5. 

This was a nice and enjoyable romp into the world of Arthurian legend and modern day sorcery...and action.  The story and dialogue are well written but no surprises there. The artwork by Lirussi I loved. I've seen a similar style used in one of the Graphic Classics series a few years back. In black and white it looks incredible and far better than the reproduced image above. I was expecting artwork similar to that on the cover so whaty I discovered inside was a treat.

Lots of betrayal and skullduggery as you might expect when it comes to demonic pacts and sorcery!

nnnn

STRANGERS 5: THE KINGDOM OF SHIVAR 

by Jean-Marc Lofficier; 

art by Manuel Martin Peniche; cover by Manuel Martin Peniche.

7x10 squarebound trade paperback, 

96 p. 

b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-006-3  

US$12.95

Contents:
- Foreword by J.-M. & Randy Lofficier
- Strangers vs Dick Demon by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Manuel Martin Peniche
- The Kingdom of Shivar by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Manuel Martin Peniche

DICK DEMON is a descendant of Gal, the first Lord of theTwilight People, fugitives from another universe...

STORMSHADOW is the powerful shaman of the Twilight People... 

STARCYB is a servant of the Towers, supremely powerful cosmic entities and ancient enemies of the Twilight People... 

MORGANE is a witch, descended from the legendary Morgan Le Fey... 

ZEMBLA is the Lord of the Lions, king of the jungles of Karunda...

RICKY ROX is a young genius who developed a device that creates a field 
that temporarily places him outside of time... 

These characters, all “strangers” to Earth, are brought together by TANKA, a former jungle lord who has been recruited by entities from our planet’s 
farthest future to be their “time agent” and is now empowered to protect our world from extra-terrestrial menaces.

In this fifth volume of Strangers, the quest for the all-powerful Kera Weapon continues...
 
The demonic KRUGE, usurper of the Twilight Throne, seeks to acquire it in order to consolidate its power. Helped by STORMSHADOW and the witch MORGANE, DICK DEMON is the first to find the clues to the location of Kera in the strange and indescribable Mirrorverse...
 
Meanwhile, Kruge uses TANKA and STARCYB for a brutal assault against the forces of Twilight... Then, TANKA and MORGANE must invade the kingdom of Shivar, the merciless Lord of the Abyss...
 
Finally, STARCYB, ZEMBLA and the PATROL OF THE DEPTHS enter the underground world of Kamandur, where the search for Kera brings them into conflict with the Mods and the Gheos, and their champion, the powerful WAZILLA...
 
Guest-starring: the TIME BRIGADE, RICKY ROX and LUCIFER.
 
This incredible journey to the edge of reality in fabulous and demonic universes is superbly drawn by Manuel Martin Peniche. 


Again -story and script very acceptable 😁 and taking in a lot of locations and scenes. Peniche really goes all out on this one 

The story outline tells you all you need to know and, I've written it before but this is like a good old Marvel Bronze age comic full of characters and action and it's enough to keep any comic fan happy.  

Hexagon has shown that someone can publish high quality comics/comic albums and graphic novels in b&w...as I have been saying, writing and doing since the 1980s. The books and characters are like a breath of fresh air.

It's going back a long ways now but if you think the name "Strangers" is familiar that could be because Image Comics published a six issue run. 

Coincidentally that six issue run is available in a trade

STRANGERS 1: STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND

 by Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier & Manuel Garcia, Fernando Blanco, Javier Pina, Eduardo Alpuente & Peru Bros, cover by Manuel Garcia.

7x10 squarebound trade paperback, 

160 p. 

colour
ISBN-13: 978-1-61227-299-3. 

US$34.95 / GBP 22.99

Contents:
- Foreword by J.-M. & Randy Lofficier
- #1. Like an Angel, Feral-Eyed by J.M. Lofficier, Manuel Garcia & Eduardo Alpuente
- #2. In the Shadows of the Night by J.M. Lofficier, Manuel Garcia, Javier Pina & Eduardo Alpuente
- #3. Caresses such as Snakes Give by J.M. Lofficier, Javier Pina & Eduardo Alpuente
- #4. The Livid Daylights by J.M. Lofficier, Fernando Blanco & Eduardo Alpuente
- #5. Icy Till the Evening by J.M. Lofficier, Fernando Blanco & Eduardo Alpuente
- #6. Rule with Fear by J.M. Lofficier, Fernando Blanco & Eduardo Alpuente
- Portfolio by Alfredo Macall

Homicron, a NASA physicist whose body is inhabited by a mysterious alien intelligence from planet Alpha... STARLOCK, the former servant of awesome cosmic entities who has managed to escape from his Martian prison and is hiding on Earth... JAYDEE, a teenage alien metamorph abandoned on Earth as a baby who may well be the deadliest killing machine in the universe... JALEB, the secretive agent of aGalactic Federation of telepaths... FUTURA, a mysterious woman from another dimension...

These characters, all "strangers"to Earth, are brought together by TANKA, a former jungle lord who has been recruited by entities from our planet's farthest future to be their "time agent," and is now empowered to protect our world from extra-terrestrial menaces...

From the deadly Astaroth to the mysterious Necromancer, from the super-powered Hexagon group to the star-crushing villainy of Duke Oxian, in this saga, their first adventure together, the Strangers must learn to unite and fight together to save Earth, while trying to escape the shackles of their own individual destinies...

Six full-length stories written by Jean-Marc Lofficier with art by Eduardo Alpuente, Fernasndo Blanco, Manuel Garcia and Javier Pina.

Source Material: Strangers #1-6

So you can get in at the start of the Strangers adventures and see how the team has developed in THE KINGDOM OF SHIVAR .

You will not be disappointed and me? I need to get Strangers 0-4!!

Cinebook the 9th Art: AUTHORISED HAPPINESS 2

 

 PAPERBACK

Authors: Jean Van Hamme & Griffo

Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 56 colour pages
Publication: September 2020

ISBN: 9781849184489

£8.99 INC.VAT

HTTPS://WWW.CINEBOOK.CO.UK/AUTHORISED-HAPPINESS-2-P-4424.HTML

A single card to access all the details of a man’s life – personal data, medical history, bank details – now that would make everything simpler, wouldn’t it? But what if the card stops working – would the person still exist within society? And in a world where births are regulated, how can children born illegally survive in said society if it doesn’t even recognise they exist and won’t let them have access to anything?

I like Ben Dilworth's take on family planning in The Dark Night Detectives but interesting take on it here. I have to admit that with everything going on at the moment reading three tales of a bleak, grim future was like sitting on a 15 cms nail (point up). There is nothing wrong with the art or stories but I don't thinbk I'm the only one wants more colour and fun at the moment.

Give me a cloud with a silver lining that looks like white gold.

And, yes, I know there are people out there who lap these sort of stories up so for them this will be a nice little treat. 

OMNIMAR - Ресурс (Official Video)

Cinebook the 9th Art:THE ROUTE 66 LIST 4 - OKLAHOMA - TEXAS

 

PAPERBACK

Authors: Eric Stalner
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages

ISBN: 9781849184632£7.99 inc. VAThttps://www.cinebook.co.uk/the-route-66-list-4-oklahoma-texas-p-4428.html

Four years have passed since Rob Poliac fled the house where two FBI agents died and his father Alex was shot by the Clown – and his real boss, Laura Kensington. He now lives under an assumed name with Carl, an old friend of Alex’s. But when his guardian dies, the young man finds himself the owner of the infamous List 66. Little by little, against his better judgement, he begins to investigate the names on it …

Eric Stalner story and artwork continues to unravel the List and Jean-Jacques Chagnaud's colours compliment things well. And, do I need to point out that things do not run smoothly or that The Clown is never far away? If I do then you probably never read volumes 1-3!

Things are building up and ....buy the book and see!  Seriously, the story winds up in volume 5 of this series and that ought to be a bit of a wild ride to say the least.

Hexagon Comics: Gun Gallon

 GUN GALLON 

by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Alfredo Macall; cover by Alfredo Macall.

7x10 squarebound comic, 

48 pages 

b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-61227-981-7 

US$9.95

Order via: jmlofficier@yahoo.com

Gun Gallon was created in 1968 by the legendary Italian artist Lina Buffolente. It was one of Editions Lug’s longest-running series, lasting until 1983.

In the early 2000s Gun Gallon returned as part of the Hexagon group of heroes and, since then, has guest-starred in a recent series of Strangers.

Gun Gallon is a pure fantasy hero in the mold created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The recap episode presented here, drawn by famed Mexican artist Alfredo Macall, was designed to reintroduce the character to a new audience, as well as retell his origins... 

By what miracle did he become the Champion of the world of Orios? What mysterious power drew him to this planet with two suns and three moons? And why? Who was responsible for the cruel deaths of his parents and, later, his wife? What hidden help did he receive along the way? How did he become a member of Hexagon ? Did he really fight alongside the Guardian of the Republic? And who made his companion Milord the Supreme Sorcerer of Orios?

All these answers and more in this book, recounting the legend of Gun Gallon...

Also included here is an 11-page back up featuring DICK SPADE, REVENANT.


It suddenly struck me while reading this that Macall's work looked similar to a UK artist of the 1980s -John P. Welding. This is interesting book and has a definite "old feel" to it which works considering its subject matter. More Sword and Sorcery meets Flash Gordon it is enjoyable and has a lot of nice detailed artwork to carry along Lofficier's story smoothly.

If you want to have a change from Marvel, DC or Image then give this book a go -in fact you would be treating yourself in buying some of the other titles already detailed on CBO.

A note: if ordering contact Lofficier to do so as most of the Hexagon books I have are not listed on Amazon.

Foo Fighters - The Pretender - Cover by @Halocene & @Lauren Babic

I Never Learn

 Doing artwork for the first time in six months.  Tonight my fingers/hands are going to be killing me.

Ain't advanced arthritis fun?

Messrs Stransky, Labbat & Dilworth.....

 Package received.

Thanks!

BEN

 Need your skype address

Cinebook the 9th Art: GOMER GOOF 07 - GOMER, DUKE OF GOOFINGTON

 

Paperback

Authors: Franquin
Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: October 2020

ISBN: 9781849185905£7.99 inc. VAThttps://www.cinebook.co.uk/gomer-goof-07-gomer-duke-of-goofington-p-4427.html

Among the many obstacles to Spirou Magazine’s productivity, two of the most formidable are Gomer’s little protégés: a very playful cat and an evil-tempered black-headed gull. Between the bird’s dive-bombing attacks and the feline’s recurrent bouts of madness, Prunelle and the others don’t have it easy. And yet, none of that compares to the results of Aunt Hortense’s overgrown cactus being brought to the office by a clueless Gomer! 

Be honest; in the current climate we need yto have a few laughs and Boris Johnson gets boring aftera while. Boris Johnson or...Gomer Goof? Go for Gomer!

Anarchic. Funny. Chaotic. illustrated brilliantly and fragmaggots. ....that's what it says. What's "fragmaggots?" Ahhh, you'll need to buy the book to find out won't you. You don't get all the answers on CBO.  There are some panels where you ask yourself "What??!!" but, hey, Gomer's world is weird (try saying that fast if you are Bristolian).

I'd say the book would suit those "Kids of all ages" I keep reading about.  Look at the cover -worth the price of admission!

Hexagon Comics: GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC & PHENIX & SUPER-PATRIOTS

  

by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Alfredo Macall; cover by Alfredo Macall

7x10 squarebound comic,

48 pages b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-61227-994-7  

US$9.95

Order via Amazon or contact jmlofficier@yahoo.com

While on vacation in Australia, the GUARDIAN OF THE REPUBLIC sees a flying saucer invade a secret Australian army base. With the providential help of two stalwarts heroines, the American PHENIX and the Australian SOUTHERN CROSS, he rushes to the rescue, only to discover a new and deadly foe, the fearsome KUDLEY KOALA...
 
The strange creature has enslaved the minds of super-powered champions from four other nations to serve his evil ends... They are YANKEE FIGHTER from the U.S., BIG BAD BEN from the U.K., HAZEL TOFF from Israel and TOVARITCH HAMMER & COMRADE SICKLE from the former USSR, together known as... THE SUPER-PATRIOTS.
 
And behind it all loom the sinister schemes of the ASTRA PROJECT, upon which the future of our hero depends...

 No kidding. Kudley Koala. He's there on the cover -look!  Liked Macall's work from when I saw it a few years back now on Strangers amongst other titles.  "Super hero slug-fest" might about cover this one and, yes, I am still someone who appreciates Macall art. 

"Big Bad Ben" from London? It could hsave been worse! 😂 But it is all fun and I think that most of us need spome fun and escapism these days. You want some super hero action then contact Jean-Marc via the address above and you can order through him directly.

 

 

Cinebook the 9th Art: MERMAID PROJECT 5 - EPISODE 5

 

Authors: Leo & Corine Jamar; illustrated by Fred Simon

Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: September 2020

ISBN: 9781849184250£7.99 inc. VAThttps://www.cinebook.co.uk/mermaid-project-5-episode-5-p-4422.html

Romane and Brahim have reached Algapower’s artificial island, with the help of some cetaceans with a quite extraordinary behaviour. All they need to do now is sneak into the laboratories, locate Romane’s kidnapped niece, and find a way to escape with her before the corporation’s mad scientists transplant a dolphin’s tail onto her. 

Not an easy task, especially as Algapower’s found some ruthless allies. 

But the two agents, too, have some rather unexpected allies – and a revolution is coming...

The series had to end at some point and this seems to be it. Nicely rounding up all the loose ends and giving us a little "romance" at the end 😁

I will be honest and say that volume 1 of this run had me wondering whether it was going to be good or bad. I tend to read new books 3-4 times before deciding and with this one I thought "We'll see". It really was good and if you want to treat yourself por a comic loving friend -it is only 5 volumes!

As with most publishers I always suggest that if you are going to buy order direct from the company so they do get some real money back rather than the few pennies Amazon or other services throw back.

Hey -it has an unlikely pairing and great story and action as well as great art and that is what all comickers deserve.

Hexagon Comics: THE ENCHANTERS #1

by Jean-Marc Lofficier, Gabriel Mayorga & Roberto Castro, cover by Gabriel Mayorga.

B&W

88pp

US comic size

perfect bound

$12.95

If you cannot find the book on Amazon UK then contact Jean-Marc to order at: jmlofficier@yahoo.com

Enter the ENCHANTERS, composed of SIBILLA, heir of Cagliostro, the powerful Lakota shaman OZARK, KELand THE METAL MAN, from the distant world of New Camelot, created by the Goddesses of Love and Hate...

The latter, the evil ARUNA, once banished from our planet by the powers of Birrell, the Druid Supreme, is trying to return, aided by her servant, the sinister magus MEPHIS.

Obeying her commands, the diabolical Magus has summoned and enslaved four members of the HEXAGON GROUP... MOZAM, RÂ, the DARK FLYER and LYS BLACK which are thus, in spite of themselves, forced to confront the powers of the ENCHANTERS...

Faced with the ENCHANTERS, will the four members of HEXAGON find a way to free themselves from the demonic influence of ARUNA, or will they succumb in battle?

Can the ENCHANTERS prevent the return of the goddess ARUNA in this epic tale brilliantly illustrated by Gabriel Mayorga and Roberto Castro?

When Jean-Marc Lofficier asked whether I'd like to see some of the new English language editions from his Hexagon comics I hesitated (about 1.3 seconds in fact). You may well think that if these characters have a fifty year old history it will be a nightmare to know who is who or does what. I know something about the characters but even I was wondering whether I might have to start looking things up.

No worries.

The character are introduced and even origins given and it was all done so smoothly that it was enjoyable and never distracted from the story itself. What did it remind me of? The great type of stories that Marvel Comics produced in the Silver and Bronze ages.  Gabriel Mayorga's cover has that kind of vibe to it and his work inside on chapter 1 cannot be faulted. Unlike a lot of current Marvel books I did not have to look at pages or panels twice to see what the hell was going on. The pages are clean and uncluttered. Easy on the eyes and help the story flow.

Roberto Castro's art for chapter 2 is a style change but it works and I love it. If I could afford to pay artists then this ios one of the styles I would go for. Lovely.

The one thing with black and white artwork is that you get to see the details that colour tends to swamp out -DC Showcase The All Star Squadron is an example: I knew the art was good (I have a complete run) but when I saw it in b&w it looked far better. Mayorga and Castro are both wonderful artists.

The story by Lofficier is what you might expect: a great yarn with good characterisation and steadily paced action. I read this book at 01:00 hrs and all morning I was going back over the story in my mind and looking at the art again....seriously, if you want a good read and good art as well as something that seems fresh I recommend this book highly (I don't tend to do this very often).

Hexagon Comics: THE FRONITERMEN / CODENAME: GLORY

 

cover by Manuel Martin Peniche / Gabriel Mayorga.

7x10 squarebound comic, 

48 pages b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-61227-950-3 - 

US$9.95

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frontiersmen-Codename-Glory-Jean-Marc-Lofficier/dp/1612279503/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hexagon+comics%3A+the+frontiersmen+%2F+codename%3A+glory&qid=1611584011&s=books&sr=1-1

Contents:

- THE FRONTIERSMEN by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Manuel Martin Peniche.

- CODENAME: GLORY by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Gabriel Mayorga.

Vampires and Zombies! A double-threat monster feast in these twin tales of terror from the Hexagon library:
 
The Frontiersmen: In the 1860s, the U.S./Mexico border is the theater of strange phenomena, the appearances of monstrous creatures and supernatural threats. To fight them, Stormshadow, the powerful shaman of the Twilight People, gathers around him The Sparrowhawk, Don Juan Ortega y Perez, the legendary hero who fights injustice in war-torn Northern Mexico, and the mysterious Drago, a Texan Avenger trained by an Indian Shaman who is descended from a long line of heroes. In this, their first adventure, the newly-assembled “Frontirezos” must defeat the vampiric hordes of Shadrak, or risk the collapse of time itself….
 
Codename: Glory: Soeurette Lagloire looks like a young and pretty Haitian girl who’s come to New York to become a singer, but few know that she is, in reality, Jaydee’s sister, Salamandrite No.57, a terrifying living weapon created by the legendary Weapon Makers of Zade from another galaxy. Occasionally assigned perilous mission by her CLASH handler, she must now tackle the fearsome Zombie Master who lurks somewhere in the abandoned tunnels of the New York subway...

Manuel Martin Peniche's work kept reminding me of something then it struck me: the old black and white Marvel comic magazines of the 1970s/1980s. Look at that cover image of the Frontiersmen -last time I got this excited about a group of hombres slapping leather (oh, behave!) was when Carlos Pacheco drew Two-Gun Kid and others in Avengers Forever.  Why is it that Marvel cannot produce these types of comics today because this was fun...and that final panel!

Of course, Mayorga on Code Name: Glory works his wonderful style and I have a feeling that Soeurette is going to find her wish of "just being a singer" thwarted in future.

These books have been like a breath of fresh air and though they may not be in comic stores (for various reasons) you can buy them straight from Amazon where ever you are and that's a good way to buy (unless you miss the smell of sweat and musty books in comic stores).

Again, a book I would recommend.

Cinebook the 9th Art: YAKARI 18 - THE WALL OF FIRE

 

PAPERBACK

Authors: Derib & Job
Age: 6 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: October 2020

ISBN: 9781849185912£7.99 inc. VAThttps://www.cinebook.co.uk/yakari-18-the-wall-of-fire-p-4426.html

In the middle of the night, a daring thief from another tribe makes off with the horses of Yakari’s people. Only Little Thunder managed to escape him by fleeing into the forest. While the warriors hurry after their precious mounts, Yakari goes in search of his friend … who is himself trailing the thief! Once the two groups converge near a huge camp, Yakari will have to display extraordinary cleverness to help his folk…

The poor old lynx had his rabbit stolen from him by a wolverine...mind you, wolverine will face off bears so probably lucky old lynx just got bit! If you buy this book you'll see what I'm talking about. If you don't buy this book ythen my words will haunt you....FOREVER!!!

Was that a tad passive-aggressive? No idea. I'm completely off my chump. Is it weird that at my age (I could easily pass for 35) I enjoy reading the Yakari books? Colourful, fun stories with a serious angle and just plain enjoyable. Last few pages -lovely!

Do your kids (or yourself) a favour and buy them some Yakari!