Customer Reviews

Rainbow Orchid

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A blatant throwback (homage, perhaps) to the Tintin/Asterix era - but hot off the presses, and from an English-speaking country, no less.

Garen Ewing's new series, The Adventures of Julius Chancer, is an auspicious start. The brave young Chancer is suddenly entangled in the search for a legendary orchid -a genial (if pompous) British lord has inadvertently gambled his family legacy against a sinister flower collector, and Chancer needs to bail him out. He scampers about the English landscape with an equally fearless actress in tow. The art is extremely reminiscent of the Tintin volumes, as it captures that same charming air of innocence.

If anything, this volume is too short. It also may be a tiny bit juvenile, but that doesn't make it any less fun. A quick read, but an engrossing one. Ewing's next two volumes are keenly awaited.

I bought this based on a review in either the NY Times or New Yorker - either way, the review praised the action, the old-fashioned scenery, the clear line drawing - everything about it was supposed to be wonderful. And to some extent I agree - it's nice to see a comic steeped in the 20s or 30s, without computers or superpowers, and the story was compelling. But the more i read, the more I had to compare it to my Tintin books, and they still rule! Plus, only volume one exists, and leaves you hanging for more, with no sign when the next volume will be published (I checked the website, and there's no hint). That can be pretty frustrating to a young reader, so I'd advise you to wait until the next 2 installments are available, and then buy all three.