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Blake et Mortimer #23
O Bastão de Licurgo
Dans Le Bâton de Plutarque, 23ᵉ récit des Aventures de Blake et Mortimer, Yves Sente et André Juillard imaginent la toute première collaboration des deux héros. Le récit se déroule avant Le Secret de l'Espadon, nous sommes alors au printemps 1944… Le capitaine Blake vient de réussir, aux commandes d'un prototype du Golden Rocket, à déjouer une attaque suicide contre le Parlement anglais. Un exploit qui lui vaut d'être recruté par le MI‑6. Sa mission ? Faire gagner aux Alliés la Deuxième Guerre mondiale et les préparer pour... la troisième ! Dans une base secrète du MI‑6, Blake découvre que son partenaire n'est autre que Mortimer, son ami d'enfance. Plongés au cœur d'une vaste affaire d'espionnage et de guerre technologique entre grandes puissances, les deux hommes vont côtoyer un étrange et fort peu sympathique spécialiste des langues slaves, un certain colonel Olrik...
Un tome 23 qui offre une préquelle aux Aventures de Blake et Mortimer créées par Jacobs, grand classique de la B.D. d'aventure et d'espionnage franco-belge.
Un tome 23 qui offre une préquelle aux Aventures de Blake et Mortimer créées par Jacobs, grand classique de la B.D. d'aventure et d'espionnage franco-belge.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2014
1 person is currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Yves Sente
98 books28 followersYves Sente was born in Brussels in 1964. When he was little, he read La Marque Jaune, Jacobs' masterpiece, over and over again. Little did he know at that age that The Adventures of Blake and Mortimer would determine his destiny...!
In 1998, while he was working for Le Lombard, he worked with the cartoonist André Juillard on the script of La machination Voronov, a new episode of the Blake and Mortimer, a Cold War story acclaimed by critics and the public. Yves Sente then went on to write Les Sarcophages du 6e continent, where he reveals the young life of Professor Mortimer. He confirmed his writing talents with La Vengeance du Comte Skarbek (Dargaud; The Revenge of Count Skarbek, Europe Comics) and then Thorgal (Le Lombard; Cinebook/Europe Comics in English), taking over for Jean Van Hamme alongside Rosinski.
In 1998, while he was working for Le Lombard, he worked with the cartoonist André Juillard on the script of La machination Voronov, a new episode of the Blake and Mortimer, a Cold War story acclaimed by critics and the public. Yves Sente then went on to write Les Sarcophages du 6e continent, where he reveals the young life of Professor Mortimer. He confirmed his writing talents with La Vengeance du Comte Skarbek (Dargaud; The Revenge of Count Skarbek, Europe Comics) and then Thorgal (Le Lombard; Cinebook/Europe Comics in English), taking over for Jean Van Hamme alongside Rosinski.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 20, 2019
The Staff of Plutarch is the title of the book which is a reference towards a classic way of of encoding and decoding secret messages.
This book is the prequel to the Swordfish books in which Edgar P. Jacobs introduced his heroes Blake and Mortimer and the war against a big Asian emperor hellbent on ruling the earth.
In this 64 page comic we find ourselves at the end of the WWII and while the allied forces are fighting the war against a Nazi Germany we find that there is a spot of trouble expected by certain people that has little to do with Nazi & Co.
The book opens with an attack on London by are rather modern German jet plane that can barely be stopped by the RAF, they can only stop the attack with their own answer on the German Jet planes, Piloted by Francis Blake. In the attack a young man dies who was meant for an big future in the intelligence services. A decision is made and Blake is asked to take his place and in that job he once again meets Mortimer, whom he met first in India in a previous installment, who is heavily involved in Britain's secret development of weaponry that is meant as a defense of the realm.
In this book we also firstly encounter Colonel Olrik as an allied codebreaker who is already up to his wicked tricks. And it is he who tries to obtain the secret of the Swordfish and tries to strike against the Allied forces before the second world-war is over.
When the story is over WWII is over and while the politicians want it to be peace, the military knows that a WWIII is just around the corner.
I have loved Jacobs drawings and stories since I first ran into them at my grandmothers house where one of my dads sisters had the complete collection of Blake and Mortimer series. The drawing style does resemble the Tintin comics from Herge [of which I do have the complete collection as well], but for sheer excitement Jacobs is a much better read.
This book does invite you to reread the series as it is a pure prequel of the first of Jacobs series, and I most probably will reread his books in the next weeks. Perhaps for the English this series is less known but if you like Tintin this series is a blast, a must read.
I would easily prefer reading the Blake & Mortimer adventures sooner than any superhero comic. They are that entertaining and good. The biggest thing is that they seem to be very popular even in the continuation books so we seem to get new ones for many years to come, which is a blessing.
Well worth your time, probably more if you are of the male sex.
This book is the prequel to the Swordfish books in which Edgar P. Jacobs introduced his heroes Blake and Mortimer and the war against a big Asian emperor hellbent on ruling the earth.
In this 64 page comic we find ourselves at the end of the WWII and while the allied forces are fighting the war against a Nazi Germany we find that there is a spot of trouble expected by certain people that has little to do with Nazi & Co.
The book opens with an attack on London by are rather modern German jet plane that can barely be stopped by the RAF, they can only stop the attack with their own answer on the German Jet planes, Piloted by Francis Blake. In the attack a young man dies who was meant for an big future in the intelligence services. A decision is made and Blake is asked to take his place and in that job he once again meets Mortimer, whom he met first in India in a previous installment, who is heavily involved in Britain's secret development of weaponry that is meant as a defense of the realm.
In this book we also firstly encounter Colonel Olrik as an allied codebreaker who is already up to his wicked tricks. And it is he who tries to obtain the secret of the Swordfish and tries to strike against the Allied forces before the second world-war is over.
When the story is over WWII is over and while the politicians want it to be peace, the military knows that a WWIII is just around the corner.
I have loved Jacobs drawings and stories since I first ran into them at my grandmothers house where one of my dads sisters had the complete collection of Blake and Mortimer series. The drawing style does resemble the Tintin comics from Herge [of which I do have the complete collection as well], but for sheer excitement Jacobs is a much better read.
This book does invite you to reread the series as it is a pure prequel of the first of Jacobs series, and I most probably will reread his books in the next weeks. Perhaps for the English this series is less known but if you like Tintin this series is a blast, a must read.
I would easily prefer reading the Blake & Mortimer adventures sooner than any superhero comic. They are that entertaining and good. The biggest thing is that they seem to be very popular even in the continuation books so we seem to get new ones for many years to come, which is a blessing.
Well worth your time, probably more if you are of the male sex.
September 18, 2021
England, 1944. As the Allies prepare for the end of the Second World War, a Third World War is already on the horizon.
Professor Philip Angus Mortimer and Squadron Leader Francis Percy Blake meet their eternal nemesis, Colonel Olrik, for the very first time.
This prequel, released in 2014, leads directly to "The Secret of the Swordfish", the first Blake and Mortimer story by Edgar P. Jacobs, that was first released in 1946.
Τhe story ties (artistically too) with the original tale, and is more "down to earth" than Jabob's later experiments. It also takes advantage of the past history of the title characters from the "Sarcophagi" books. Taken into context, "Plutarch's Staff" is one of the most ambitious Blake and Mortimer books.
Professor Philip Angus Mortimer and Squadron Leader Francis Percy Blake meet their eternal nemesis, Colonel Olrik, for the very first time.
This prequel, released in 2014, leads directly to "The Secret of the Swordfish", the first Blake and Mortimer story by Edgar P. Jacobs, that was first released in 1946.
Τhe story ties (artistically too) with the original tale, and is more "down to earth" than Jabob's later experiments. It also takes advantage of the past history of the title characters from the "Sarcophagi" books. Taken into context, "Plutarch's Staff" is one of the most ambitious Blake and Mortimer books.
February 6, 2019
One of the modern additions to the Adventures of Blake and Mortimer, this one is an early story in the internal chronology, taking place towards the end of WWII and setting up the original series openers, the Swordfish trilogy. Much daring-do for Blake, with Mortimer taking an important, but subsidiary, part.
Nice touches include the advent of Olrik, and a bit of his back story, unreliable as that information might be, and how Blake comes to reside at 99a Park Lane with Mrs Benson; a missed opportunity was no Alan Turing cameo during the Bletchley scenes. An enjoyable episode in the series.
Nice touches include the advent of Olrik, and a bit of his back story, unreliable as that information might be, and how Blake comes to reside at 99a Park Lane with Mrs Benson; a missed opportunity was no Alan Turing cameo during the Bletchley scenes. An enjoyable episode in the series.
June 3, 2024
Blake: Narwal to Monkey!
December 28, 2015
J'ai trouvé ce tome un peu décevant. Censée être la première aventure du duo Blake et Mortimer, l'intrigue manque de suspense, de fantastique et même le Colonel Olrik n'est pas dans sa plus grande forme machiavélique. Le dessin quant à lui n'est pas non plus à la hauteur. Je me suis faite une raison et je sais bien que je ne retrouverai plus jamais le niveau de détail d'Edgar P. Jacobs, mais les traits des protagonistes manquent vraiment de finesse, même à l'échelle des nouveaux tomes parus précédemment. Reste le contexte de Bletchley Park, certes très à la mode en ce moment, et une bonne histoire d'espionnage, genre que j'apprécie particulièrement. Et surtout, ce tome donne envie de relire Le secret de l'Espadon, donc ce n'est déjà pas si mal.
June 28, 2018
Une excellente introduction au « Le secret de l'Espadon », ça fait plaisir de mettre enfin un peu d'histoire sur les débuts de Blake et Mortimer tout en réussissant à placer aussi bien Olrik que la taupe du MI6, bravo.
May 17, 2020
Quand le 23e album devient le premier de la série. Excellent...
March 6, 2015
It works excellent if regarded as a prologue to 'The Secret of the Swordfish'.
September 23, 2023
Come tutto è iniziato, cioè il prequel della lunga, splendida, magnifica saga di Blake & Mortimer. Quest'avventura, infatti, è quella in cui, ufficialmente, il dinamico duo si incontra prima de "il Segreto dell'Espadon" e ne costituisce, appunto, l'immediato prequel. Cosa dire se non che contiene tutto quello che ci si aspetta da un'avventura che non ha niente da invidiare a quelle scritte direttamente da Edgar P. Jacobs? Segreti, tradimenti, missioni degne di 007... ed anche la prima volta di Olrik, l'arcinemico del duo più famoso del fumetto d'avventura... perché, dopotutto, questa storia è un prequel in tutto e per tutto, appunto.
March 10, 2025
Je découvre cette série à travers cet album, choisi comme un coup de cœur et j'ai été agréablement surpris par le fait que ce soit un préquelle. Scénario solide, dessins caractéristiques, intrigue bien ficelée et personnages insoupçonnables, les ingrédients d'un bon récit d'espionnage sont t réunis!
May 21, 2018
This is an excellent prelude to the trilogy of The Secret of the Swordfish - The new author and illustrator have done a very good job of taking us back in time to set the theme for Jacobs' original story. Brilliant.
August 14, 2019
Luchtgevechten, spionage, contra-spionage, moord, sabotage en geheime missies, er zit vaart in deze Blake en Mortimer. Spanned verhaal en goed uitgewerkt. Blake en Mortimer krijgen hier voor het eerst te maken met Olrik. Dit verhaal gaat vooraf aan het verhaal van de Zwaardvissen.
April 11, 2020
This is a prequel story to "the Swordfish" story that takes place during WW2. As such it's filled with plenty of "Rule Brittania" moments but also cool duels between superweapons. It lacks suspense however as we know who won the wars by now and nothing can possibly change.
May 24, 2018
‘Daar gaan we, old chap! In één ruk naar het begin van de missie.’
September 5, 2020
De tekeningen waren vertrouwd en goed. Het verhaal was ok, maar sprak me minder aan.
May 7, 2022
Boa história como prequela à trilogia "O Segredo do Espadão"
June 11, 2023
Een uitstekende toevoeging aan het Jacobsuniversum. Het betreft een prequel op de Zwaardvis trilogie en leest ook als een Jacobs verhaal maar dan met beter tekenwerk van Juilliard.
August 15, 2023
Une préquelle compétent au Secret de l'Espadon.
March 17, 2025
By Jove, why?
March 19, 2017
Mais uma grande aventura do Mortimer e Blake. Este serve de prequela ao primeiro número: "O Segredo do Espadão".
July 3, 2016
This is quite a good prequel to E.P. Jacobs' first Blake and Mortimer adventures, and in a way, redeems the non-stop action of the three-parter that originally kicked off the series by providing some good background and better establishing the characters and their situations.
Plutarch's Staff is set during WWII, just prior to the landing at Normandy. It depicts the first meeting of Blake and Mortimer as adults (they'd previously met in India when both were students), and introduces them both to Col. Olrik, who of course becomes their arch enemy.
It's quite a well-paced adventure, opening with some aerial dogfighting over London, a bit of Bletchley Park codebreaking, a plan to distract the Nazis from the impending Normandy invasion, a mission to Gibraltar, and some double-agents and double-double agents. And it leads directly into The Secret of the Swordfish . It's a prequel that works so well in setting up the series that it feels like it was always meant to be a part of the saga.
The WWII setting also worked so well that it makes me wish for another Blake and Mortimer during that time period. Yet with this being a prequel to the series, and the prior book a sequel to The Yellow M , I'm ready to get back to the normal Blake and Mortimer timeline. (If such a thing exists.)
Plutarch's Staff is set during WWII, just prior to the landing at Normandy. It depicts the first meeting of Blake and Mortimer as adults (they'd previously met in India when both were students), and introduces them both to Col. Olrik, who of course becomes their arch enemy.
It's quite a well-paced adventure, opening with some aerial dogfighting over London, a bit of Bletchley Park codebreaking, a plan to distract the Nazis from the impending Normandy invasion, a mission to Gibraltar, and some double-agents and double-double agents. And it leads directly into The Secret of the Swordfish . It's a prequel that works so well in setting up the series that it feels like it was always meant to be a part of the saga.
The WWII setting also worked so well that it makes me wish for another Blake and Mortimer during that time period. Yet with this being a prequel to the series, and the prior book a sequel to The Yellow M , I'm ready to get back to the normal Blake and Mortimer timeline. (If such a thing exists.)
January 17, 2016
Ho deciso di seguire questa pubblicazione perché in passato lessi altro di Blake et Mortimer, la coppia creata da Jacobs. Questa storia è un preambolo alle loro avventure, avviene durante la WWII e per quanto ben disegnata e con una trama precisa, l'ho trovata un poco farraginosa. Si tratta dell'ultima storia uscita in Francia, prodotta da uno dei due team che stanno portando avanti le avventure dei due, con quale successo non saprei dire.
Per ora posso solo dire che il senso dell'operazione di far proseguire ad altri autori opere così... personali, questo è il termine, non mi è chiaro.
Per chiunque non conoscesse Blake e Mortimer, questa è l'occasione buona per iniziare, non fatevela sfuggire: dopo questa arrivano le storie di Jacobs.
Per ora posso solo dire che il senso dell'operazione di far proseguire ad altri autori opere così... personali, questo è il termine, non mi è chiaro.
Per chiunque non conoscesse Blake e Mortimer, questa è l'occasione buona per iniziare, non fatevela sfuggire: dopo questa arrivano le storie di Jacobs.
December 15, 2015
An ingenious old school adventure with an aerial battle in London, an underground science base and a jaunt to the rock of Gibraltar, all set against the runup to D Day. This is actually the first time Blake and Mortimer meet as grown ups, and it's a doozy of an adventure! Just so old school and good! Code-breaking, ingenious gadgets and a yellow peril. OK, not so thrilled about that phrase, but hey!
September 6, 2015
Cet épisode censé relater la première aventure entre les deux héros (Blake et Mortimer) est dans la tradition des textes et des couleurs de E.P. Jacobs. Les premiers jalons semblent y être déjà posé : le méchant Olrik et la technologie.
Manque le rebondissement et l'halètement des histoires qui suivent.
Manque le rebondissement et l'halètement des histoires qui suivent.
January 21, 2016
Não é Jacobs nem nunca seria, mas não é nada mau. A história é a prequela de todos os outros livros, apresenta personagens principais e tem algumas explicações (desnecessárias diga-se).
Mas dá logo imensa vontade de reler O Segredo do Espadão, tem essa virtude.
Mas dá logo imensa vontade de reler O Segredo do Espadão, tem essa virtude.
January 21, 2015
Argumento de Yves Sente à altura; o traço de André Juillard não faz esquecer o de Jacobs.
May 17, 2015
"Precuela" del Secreto del Espadón.
June 24, 2015
Gewoonweg fantastisch, met dit boek wordt Edgar P. Jacobs eer aan gedaan
January 14, 2016
Dialoghi un bel po' lunghi ma gran belle atmosfere per un fumetto (uscito nel 2014) dal sapore retrò. Proprio bello, son curioso di leggere gli altri volumi.
February 17, 2016
Brilliant prequel to my favorite Blake and Mortimer.
It is a comeback of Edgar P. Jacobs.
It is a comeback of Edgar P. Jacobs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews