A Lucky Luke Adventure : Billy the Kid (Lucky Luke) (Paperback)

by Goscinny (Author), Erica Jeffrey (Editor), Luke Spear (Translator), Morris (Drawings)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Lucky Luke is a one-hundred-percent real hero of the Old West. He is squarely on the side of the law and dedicates his life to seeing that justice is done. He travels around delivering it wherever he goes, accompanied by his faithful companion, Jolly Jumper. Arriving at Fort Weakling, he changes into a formidable bandit. Why? Does his meeting with Billy the Kid, a living legend of the Old West, influence him? JUV008000; CGN000000

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Cinebook Ltd (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905460112
• ISBN-13: 978-1905460113
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,913 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not Asterix, and not for the age group publishers say it's for, September 9, 2008

By	A. D. Cox (northern PA, USA) - See all my reviews

I was fairly disappointed in this book. I am familiar with Goscinny from studying French for many years in school -- Le Petit Nicholas, and of course, Asterix -- and I like the Asterix comics. Part of what I like about Asterix is the way that these very specific French/European historical figures are brought to life in fun, colorful comics, making it more accessible to everyone, and introducing these folks and this time period to early French learners who might not otherwise be so interested in it. I realize that's not the reason Asterix was penned, but what a great vehicle! Perhaps that's why this French comic of an American cowboy falls so flat for me. Westerns, cowboys, Lucky Luke, or Billy the Kid -- very American concepts, folklore, histories. It just didn't jibe for me.

Also, I bought this book for a kid who likes cowboys ... he's only 5 years old, and his mom was looking for books he might enjoy, that would be appropriate for them to read together. The publisher, and Amazon, recommend this for a 4-8 year old range. As soon as I got it, I realized NO WAY. I will NOT be recommending this to the Mom and her cowboy kid. I wouldn't even recommend this to an 8 year old, I don't think.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another grand gift from France, April 10, 2008

By	Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

At last the English translations of the French Lucky Luke adventures are available in the U.S. Another great gift from France, which also gave us the Statue of Liberty. Lucky Luke: Billy the Kid is the first volume in a European comics series which appeared in oversized full color editions with no advertisements, in the format of a graphic novel. The best known series in that format is Tintin, the Belgium comic which has long been available in the U.S. and a favorite worldwide.

Lucky Luke is a lonesome, enigmatic cowboy who has run-ins with famous and infamous characters, as, in this volume, Billy the Kid. However, that is merely the point d'appui (point of departure) for Goscinny to spin his Lucian yarns, perfectly complemented by Morris' graphic pen. A note in this edition promises twelve Lucky Luke adventures due out in English by August 2008, although in 2004, there were already 63 comic albums available in German.

Hopefully other European comics will not be long in showing up in English editions, such as those by Franquin. One of his best series is a Belgian comic published in French, called Spirou and Fantasio. This comic introduced Marsupilami, which Disney featured in a spin-off from its "Raw Toonage" cartoon series. The only adventure which made it into English, so far as I know, was Z is for Zorglub, published by Fantasy Flight Publishing in 1995. This is a series as engaging as Tintin, which will hopefully make it out in English soon. In 1994, there were 44 adventures of Spirou and Fantasio in French. Franquin also did a series called Gaston, about a teen inventor. There was also a spin-off called Le Petit Spirou, about Spirou as a kid, done in a slapstick, whimsical style.

Numerous English readers have enjoyed the adventures of Tintin, and escapades of Asterix. Now with Lucky Luke becoming available, the time is right for a (welcome) invasion of European comics.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic humor comic series., November 13, 2007

By	A reviewer (Europe) - See all my reviews

It's cause for celebration that Cinebooks are publishing this classic Euro graphic album series for all ages. It's by written by Goscinny, writer of Asterix, one of the all time greats of humorour comics, and it's illustrated in inimitable style by Morris. These books are enormously enjoyable, and they're an essential part of comic book history. And it's great to have Lucky Luke speak in his 'native' language - well, obviously it's a French series, but Lucky Luke is an American cowboy, so.... well, you get my meaning. Also remember to get Goscinny's third classic series "Iznogoud", Cinebooks is starting to publish that one in 2008. It's as funny as "Asterix" and "Lucky Luke", but a lot weirder.