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Rating: 
Summary: Why I love comics
Review: This anthology and its companion (vol. 2) are a real treat for any comics fan, but especially for those who revel in the greater intellectual and artistic maturity of the European tradition over the almost terminally adolescent American tradition, dominated as it still is by musclebound stuporheroes.Chaland was a product of his tradition. "Was," because his life was cut short by a fatal car accident in the early '90s. The influence of Herge (the creator of Tintin) pervades Chaland's work, whether it be his main character's obvious resemblence to Tintin or the format of the storytelling--self-contained adventures featuring mysteries to be solved, exotic locations, and a good dose of humor. This is no accident; like Herge, Chaland was Belgian. But Chaland is anything but a pale imitator. His debt to his tradition is something he is well aware of and acknowledges, but joyfully and by choice; he is by no means weighed down or limited by this. Chaland's stories are not for children. They are not particularly violent or sexual, but they tend to be more abstract with distinctly adult themes, and the 3 somewhat gritty main characters are apparently destitute and unemployed. That said, the highly stylized artwork is beautiful to look at and masterful in its composition, point of view, and pacing. The storytelling is also very satisfying and surprisingly free-ranging in subject matter and approach. This first volume contains three stories, the second volume two more and some rare sketches and first drafts. As far as I know, this is all the work Chaland produced in this series, the "Freddy Lombard" series. Having read the two anthologies, I can only lament his untimely passing and state with unequivocal longing that I wish he had written more.
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