Namibia, episode 4

Namibia #4

by Rodolphe, Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira (Leo), Bertrand Marchal (Contributor)

Kathy Austin has already survived two assassination attempts saved both time by intervention from her mysterious friends from outer space. Her superior, Sir Charles, finds it difficult to believe her as to the origin of such providential allies, but another incident, followed by a more official meeting, eventually convince him. Informed of the terrible stakes that hide behind the recent events, he sends Kathy back to Namibia with a new partner, on a mission she seems unlikely to survive..."

Genres: Comics, Bande Dessinée, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Adventure, France, Comic Book

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Rodolphe is the pen name for Rodolphe Daniel Jacquette. His works are primarily written in French.

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was aliens all along! (It's not a spoiler, there is UFO on the cover of the book.) This volume sets up a big conflict to come in the next volume. Even though all of the threads in the story don't seem to be connecting yet, I'm really interested to see how this turns out.

[Simon Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange encounters, unexplained sightings, and a curious subterranean base all appear to be connected, but Kathy Austin is struggling to connect them, and put them in context in the world of the 1940s’. Sir Charles, her superior and perhaps her strongest ally and champion, doubts her conclusions and yet he has extraordinary evidence of flying saucers that Kathy cannot credibly connect with her own experiences. Their discussion, on a private flight on-board a Lancaster bomber above Namibia, is interrupted by just the sort of phenomena they are debating, and it’s only Kathy’s cool head and quick wits that gets them to the ground safely. It’s here, in the middle of nowhere, that they learn just what the scale of the Earth’s predicament is.

Back in Lüderitz Sir Charles sets Kathy on her way to meeting her new partner, but by now the stakes have been raised and she’s clearly in danger. Finding herself on her own, and cornered, help comes from an unsuspecting quarter and sets her on a path of what could be a final confrontation.

Being the penultimate book, there’s a lot of setting up for the final play, plus an enormous reveal as to the size of the threat. Lacking any grand beasties, or anyone crumbling to dust for that matter, the story makes up for that loss by upping the science-fiction ante in other ways. Kathy’s character continues to be one of resourcefulness and consideration, making her both likeable and believable in her actions. Her stunt aboard the plane is executed brilliantly, toying with the readers’ experiences of Bond but playing out as a much more matter-of-fact, needs-must scenario. And Marchal’s art once again utterly complements that of Leo’s and draws you in fully to the period.

A great series, and the conclusion can’t come soon enough.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

English Cinebook Edition = 2016

For my tastes, Leo and company stuff is a touch too "modern sci-fi" -without that vintage feeling of Valerian & Laureline- but it's still good reading and his best storytelling quality is their choice of realistic yet superb women as the main characters.

[Alessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una bella avventura, che si avvicina alla fine, con la sorpresa dell’ingresso di un personaggio... di peso 😉

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this follow-up series to Rodolphe and Leo's Kenya saga (in five albums, which I read in 2016) back in February and March of 2019, but as my local library had not yet obtained all five albums of it, I kind of got stuck after Episode 3 , even though I enjoyed the series and though that Marchal competently filled Leo's shoes at the drawing board and matched the established aesthetics of the series really well. And then I discovered during the autumn this year, that the two final albums were not available at the library.

As always, when there is a gap in my reading of a series like this, it takes a little bit of re-orientation as the action starts up, but I have to say that it felt easy enough to fall back into Rodolphe and Leo's late 1940s Africa, and their slightly supernatural spy story. Following the events in Episode 3, the supernatural parts are increasing by the more pronounced presence of alien life. And the full threat at hand is starting to become fully visible.

[Florenceg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toujours de très belle qualité (dessins et scénario)