Authors: Frédéric Zumbiehl and Frédéric Marniquet; illustrated by Jean-Michel Arroyo
Age: 10 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: January 2024
ISBN: 9781800441231
£8.99 incl VAT
October 1961. The Soviet Union is working to create a supersonic bomber capable of launching nuclear weapons. Horrified by the warmongering of his political masters, one of the scientists working on the project decides to defect to the West with the aircraft’s blueprints – but the KGB’s reputation is well-deserved, and his attempt quickly turns into a nightmare. Soon, plans and counter-plans are put in action, and Buck and his friends find themselves thrust in the middle of a deadly game of spies …
This series was originally created by Georges Troisfontaines, Victor Hubinon and, of course, Jean-Michel Charlier and it was those stories that I read in German many, many...uh...a long time ago. I had been expecting simple combat stories but Buck Danny was much more and that has continued into the modern era.
So how have the new team done? Story-wise with the twists and turns as well as well paced action and snappy dialogue spot on. As for the art I like it although I, of course, liked the original and previous volumes the art of Arroyo has its own style and as with all changes it is a bit of a shock to the system. Actually that might be a bit over-the-top. What I mean is that rather like when Steve Dowling was forced to retire from the Garth newspaper strip and one day it was Dowling and next day I opened up the newspaper and...what?? Who's Frank Bellamy? Damn I am making this complicated. It's the sudden change from one artist to another, right?
The military equipment, vehicles, weapons and uniforms -and I am known as a stickler for uniform accuracy- are all well done and, yes, once I sat down again and started reading the book again the art style fitted in well. I became....content😌
Yes, this is a good read and with a cliff-hanger ending with our heroes being hunted down and...well, it was a fun read and luckily no waiting as the next part of the story was also in the box.
Forget my mindless waffling it's been one of those days. This is a fun and action packed read and I know -I do know- there are a heck of a lot of Buck Danny fans out there and hopefully now a lot of English fans!
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