THE FASCINATING MADAME TUSSAUD
ISBN: 9781905460366 PAPERBACK
Authors: Follet & Duchâteau
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm
Number of pages: 104 colour pages
Publication: December 2007
£9.99
Firstly,we’ll get rid of the question of print quality. Simply,”Cinebook” stands for top quality in packaging and printing. Quality is something you do not even have to let into your mind. I think that,in the UK,most kids would be familiar with the story of Madame Tussaud from the annual feature on the BBC TV show Blue Peter. However,writer Paul Duchateau has woven a wonderful story around Marie Crosshols’ early life during the French Revolution and how Marie Crossholz became Madame Tussaud,right the way through to the end of her life.
And as for Rene Follet….well,Follet has produced over a hundred pages of superb art. From 1793 and the Place de la Revolution,Paris,and its bloody guillotine to how the heads of executed ‘celebrities’ were preserved so that wax exhibits could be made,through action and adventure right up to Tussaud’s death in 1850 -all drawn with great skill. And,as no other credit is given,and since the colouring seems to be an integral part of the artwork,Follet appears to even excell at this! And all of this for the incredible price of £9.99!! Whether for yourself,your children,local school or public library,this is a bargain book and educational to boot. I’ve actually read through this a few times since it arrived…
..oh my god…THERE WERE NO SUPER HEROES!!!!
Blake & Mortimer:THE MYSTERY OF THE GREAT PYRAMID pt.1
ISBN: 9781905460373 PAPERBACK
Author: Edgar P. Jacobs
Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm Number of pages: 56 colour pages
Publication: November 2007
£6.99
Professor Philip Mortimer has decided to spend his holidays in Cairo with his trusty servant, Nasir. There he plans to meet his old friend, Professor Ahmed Rassim Bey, who offers him the fantastic opportunity of satisfying his passion for Egyptology. Professor Bey has invited him to take part in deciphering his latest discoveries—in this case, some papyrus coming from mummies of the Ptolemaic age. Mortimer and Bey soon realize that one of the fragments deals with the “Chamber of Horus,” a fabled crypt that could contain priceless treasures…
Edgar P. Jacobs dynamic double-act returns….or do they?I kept wondering where Blake was -he appeared,finally,on page 44 and is then…shot ‘dead’ on page 47!! Of course,I’d forgotten that this was Part I. Full of the usual mystery,action and exotic locations and characters we have come to expect and even after all these years this is a good read and a great way to introduce younger readers to comics.
Papyrus - The Rameses Revenge
ISBN: 9781905460359 PAPERBACK
Author: De Gieter
Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: November 2007
£5.99
A young peasant in ancient Egypt, Papyrus is a mischievous boy, crafty and courageous. Protected by a magic sword, he saves the princess Theti-Cheri, whose protector and confidant he becomes. He will be extremely busy protecting his friend from the plots woven by the priests of Amon or by cheating princes trying to make her disappear… On the way to Abou-Simbel, Theti-Cheri and Papyrus will have to face two bands of plunderers who want to seize a treasure that is guarded by the four colossi of the temple of Ramses.
De Gieter’s series,set in Ancient Egypt,opens spectacularly with a gigantic sea creature…or does it? The art style is well done,a nice cartoony style. The locations and action are great -I loved the part where the stone giants come to life and wander off! Never be put off by the fact that the Age group given is 8 years and up -it’s a general rating. You’ll not find bone-crushing,gut-spilling action,no four letter words just good clean fun and that’s what comics should be about.
The Three Elders of Aran
ISBN: 9781905460311 PAPERBACK
Authors: Rosinski & Van Hamme
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm
Number of pages: 96 colour pages
Publication: September 2007
£9.99
In these new adventures, Aaricia is crowned Queen, and Thorgal will have to face many difficult tests to track down his beauty. Then they spend some happy days together in the countryside… Their first child is announced. But, alas, everything is turned upside down into horror by the jealousy of Shaniah, a teenager turned away by Thorgal. Prisoner on board the Black Galley, Thorgal becomes a plaything in the hands of Veronar, a degenerate tyrant…
This two-volume book includes “The Black Galley”.
I have to admit to being very annoyed at Cinebook. Yes,annoyed. The thing is that I cannot find anything wrong with their books or the subject matter. I cannot even complain about the cover price -£9.99 for a double album!
This book also contains The Black Galley which includes a great fight between Thorgal and a leopard on a galley-type ship…and in the sea!
The Three Elders Of Aran is interesting in that there is a blonde,knight-like character named Sigurd -a tribute perhaps to Hans Rudi Wascher’s Sigurd?
There is everything you normally expect from Rosinski and Van Hamme. From all of the characters ,scenery,buildings and fights this is the European comic at its best.
You can check out your local book store,comic shop or even buy online at Cinebook website. The url is:
http://www.cinebook.co.uk/index.asp
Buy quality -Buy Cinebook!
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