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Jack Wolfgang #1
Enter the Wolf
With the invention of Super Mega Tofu, civilization has seen the advent of a fragile peace—between animals and humans, between carnivores and herbivores. This miracle food has the peculiar quality of being universally loved. Jack Wolfgang, the world-renowned restaurant critic, travels the world sampling Super Mega Tofu in all of its varieties. It's the perfect cover for his second Jack Wolfgang, CIA special agent. When his friend and mentor is killed, Jack picks up the scent of a conspiracy and tracks it half way around the globe. Can society survive this collision of fine dining and espionage?
74 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
49 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Desberg
580 books37 followersStephen Desberg is a Belgian writer of comics. In 2010, he was the 10th bestselling author of comics in France, with 412,000 copies of all his comics together sold that year.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 15, 2021
In a world filled with anthropomorphic animals in addition to humans, Jack Wolfgang is a world renown food critic by day and a CIA agent by night. I like the world building in this. It extrapolates that animals learned how to become more human after the Town Musicians of Bremen fairy tale. The art is very good.
June 27, 2019
This is a really interesting book with a concept that I've never come across in all my reading years. The story starts off with our main character Jack Wolfgang helping out one of his CIA buddies. Jack works for the CIA but his cover is a legendary food critic that writes for the New York Times. This allows him to travel around relatively undetected to go on CIA missions.
I really liked the story of this graphic novel. It's not one I've really come across and I enjoyed reading something with a new twist on a spy story. The artwork was also really nicely done as well. I would recommend this book to fans of spy stories or mysteries. I think this would be a great addition to any library; it's a very fun read!
Thank you to NetGalley for this free review copy.
I really liked the story of this graphic novel. It's not one I've really come across and I enjoyed reading something with a new twist on a spy story. The artwork was also really nicely done as well. I would recommend this book to fans of spy stories or mysteries. I think this would be a great addition to any library; it's a very fun read!
Thank you to NetGalley for this free review copy.
June 21, 2020
'Jack Wolfgang Volume 1: Enter the Wolf' by Stephen Desberg with art by Henri Recule is a graphic novel about a world where animals have become anthropomorphic and live among humans.
Jack Wolfgang is restaurant critic by day and a CIA special agent the rest of the time. When a friend of his is killed by a polar bear with mob ties, Jack is drawn in to a mystery that may lead to uncovering a conspiracy. But before he does that, there are thrilling chases, cooking competitions, and romance.
I found this a pretty decent story. The world seems pretty well developed and the story reminded me of other spy type stories I've read. I like Henri Recule's art here. The character and building designs are sleek.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Jack Wolfgang is restaurant critic by day and a CIA special agent the rest of the time. When a friend of his is killed by a polar bear with mob ties, Jack is drawn in to a mystery that may lead to uncovering a conspiracy. But before he does that, there are thrilling chases, cooking competitions, and romance.
I found this a pretty decent story. The world seems pretty well developed and the story reminded me of other spy type stories I've read. I like Henri Recule's art here. The character and building designs are sleek.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
December 1, 2019
Love the whole anthropomorphic animals ideea in graphic novels, but this one was very far, on all chapters, art, ideea, story, colours, from the BlackSad series.
June 29, 2019
Good artwork and a fast moving thriller story with Jack Wolfgang as the James Bond like character who solves the crime with a trusted side kick.
The story is interesting and well drawn.
Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley.
The story is interesting and well drawn.
Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley.
May 22, 2022
I really enjoyed the setting and art style, but the plot could have been a bit more polished.
July 9, 2019
CIA special agent Jack Wolfgang lives a double life: restaurant critic as a cover, agent in reality, he travels around the world on special missions. This is the first episode in his story, where his mentor is killed, and Jack embarks on a wild hunt to find what lies behind his friend's death.
This is a quite pleasant, unique, and definitely intriguing story. The illustrations are a perfect match to the backstory, and all fans of spy stories will certainly enjoy it.
This is a quite pleasant, unique, and definitely intriguing story. The illustrations are a perfect match to the backstory, and all fans of spy stories will certainly enjoy it.
July 28, 2022
Jack Wolfgang looks like noir-ish detective/spy story at first glance, but on second is more like unintentional parody of of the genre. It's hard to not to compare it with Blacksad, mostly because of the similar theme and and anthropomorphic animals present in both books. But Jack is loosing by far. Whole book feels like something intended for younger readers.
Writing is hasty, everything happens fast - like cartoons with intentions to keep young audience attracted and actual dialogues are quite juvenile. One thing is that catch phrases are quite cheesy, but another is that very often characters must overstate and overexplain things to compensate with lack of world and story building. Also plot twist and reasoning is quite shallow.
Books has some nice ideas, like CIA agent who is also food critic with world reputation. But characters lack some depth and you won't create any connection to them in those few pages. In noir genre it is one of crucial thing, having some feelings for main protagonist and to be pulled into the story.
Another thing, although book is dealing with violence and death, it is afraid to portrait it, another sign that it is standing somewhere in between. And I don't feel any atmosphere from it, nor fun, nor action, nor some heavy noir feeling...
At the end book is not that bad, and not really painful to read through, but it doesn't bring anything new to the table, or even something small for what should I recommend it to somebody. I'll see how the rest of the series will go... 2.5
Writing is hasty, everything happens fast - like cartoons with intentions to keep young audience attracted and actual dialogues are quite juvenile. One thing is that catch phrases are quite cheesy, but another is that very often characters must overstate and overexplain things to compensate with lack of world and story building. Also plot twist and reasoning is quite shallow.
Books has some nice ideas, like CIA agent who is also food critic with world reputation. But characters lack some depth and you won't create any connection to them in those few pages. In noir genre it is one of crucial thing, having some feelings for main protagonist and to be pulled into the story.
Another thing, although book is dealing with violence and death, it is afraid to portrait it, another sign that it is standing somewhere in between. And I don't feel any atmosphere from it, nor fun, nor action, nor some heavy noir feeling...
At the end book is not that bad, and not really painful to read through, but it doesn't bring anything new to the table, or even something small for what should I recommend it to somebody. I'll see how the rest of the series will go... 2.5
July 5, 2019
Thank you to Europe Comics for making available a digital edition of ‘Jack Wolfgang: 1 Enter the Wolf’ in exchange for an honest review. It was written by Stephen Desberg with art by Henri Reculé. It was translated from the French by Tom Imber in June 2018.
This graphic novel starts with a short history of how animals came from the time of the Middle Ages to become autonomous from humans. Tensions between animals and humans continued until the recent invention of Super Mega Tofu.
Jack Wolfgang is a wolf (naturally) who travels the world as a restaurant critic for the New York Times sampling Super Mega Tofu. Yet he has a secret identity as a C.I.A. animal agent. When his friend and mentor Rocky Dakota, a puma, is killed while on assignment, Jack soon gets caught up in a worldwide conspiracy.
An elegant wolf who is a secret agent was just perfect for me. Plus, he can dance, cook, and is very witty. I think I am a little in love! This was a great deal of fun with striking artwork.
This graphic novel starts with a short history of how animals came from the time of the Middle Ages to become autonomous from humans. Tensions between animals and humans continued until the recent invention of Super Mega Tofu.
Jack Wolfgang is a wolf (naturally) who travels the world as a restaurant critic for the New York Times sampling Super Mega Tofu. Yet he has a secret identity as a C.I.A. animal agent. When his friend and mentor Rocky Dakota, a puma, is killed while on assignment, Jack soon gets caught up in a worldwide conspiracy.
An elegant wolf who is a secret agent was just perfect for me. Plus, he can dance, cook, and is very witty. I think I am a little in love! This was a great deal of fun with striking artwork.
August 24, 2019
Add this one to the did not finish pile for the year.
To be fair, I do tend to generally dislike books where the main characters are anthropomorphic animals, but this one had the added distinction of being an incredibly boring spy "thriller" with a weird and unnecessary bestiality element. Yes, the main character is a humanoid wolf who spends large chunks of the story romancing full human women. It's icky.
Also, he's supposed to be a CIA agent who has a public life as renowned food critic, but everyone TOTALLY knows he's a spy, and he keeps getting CAUGHT and rescued by randos. Not my cup of tea in the slightest
To be fair, I do tend to generally dislike books where the main characters are anthropomorphic animals, but this one had the added distinction of being an incredibly boring spy "thriller" with a weird and unnecessary bestiality element. Yes, the main character is a humanoid wolf who spends large chunks of the story romancing full human women. It's icky.
Also, he's supposed to be a CIA agent who has a public life as renowned food critic, but everyone TOTALLY knows he's a spy, and he keeps getting CAUGHT and rescued by randos. Not my cup of tea in the slightest
June 16, 2019
An entertaining spoof of the noir spy action trope. Great artwork and decent story. It did make me laugh to see adversaries having a tofu cookoff showdown. Will be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
March 4, 2020
I liked it. Good illustration and a good story.
February 18, 2021
Nothing revolutionary, but enjoyable. Kind of a offshoot Blacksad-style world and delivery of international espionage.
February 26, 2021
Unnecessary bestiality stuff happening here. Lack of world building. Plot wasn't particularly engaging. Overall eh. DNF
March 2, 2021
Not terrible, but did not live up to expectations.
March 8, 2021
I enjoy the world but whomever does lettering needs to rethink the font with this art style. Some parts were very hard to read even zoomed in on an ipad.
November 1, 2021
Une BD type James Bond / Tintin assez médiocre où les personnages principaux sont remplacés par des animaux. Un savant mélange entre XIII et Zootopia sans réussir à en tirer rien de bon.
October 21, 2022
Talking animals, espionage and a fast paced plot. Wolfgang reminds me of what a blacksad and Chew story would look like. Fun read.
February 20, 2023
It wasnt my type of book, but overall, an okay read. I wont be continuing the series.
September 27, 2024
It's always interesting to read Belgian comics! This first part of the Jack Wolfgang comics is all about anthropomorphized animals that are trying to fit in with humans and find their place in the society. Of course they wear clothes, but differences make it hard to blend in and especially in the CIA it's tough. Jack Wolfgang works as a food critic (mostly the super tofu stuff) and he's also an agent, who needs to find out about a certain murder and what it has to do with the tofu that's not so herbivore friendly in the end. For me there weren't enough pages to pull off both Jack's professions and how they intertwine with the crimes. Mostly the comic just feels like running from a place to another and we don't get to know the characters enough. Blacksad did this way much better.
The art looks great though, as well as the panel angles. The art works nicely and creates movement in the comic, which is good, since as I said before - there is lots of "running". The pace is too quick, but the art saves a lot, which was a relief. I wish the font had stayed the same and not vary especially in size, since it eats out rhythm. The cover of the comic is surely great and the topic too, since Enter the Wolf isn't as hard boiled as Blacksad - which in this case works for the series. So, an easier crime story!
The art looks great though, as well as the panel angles. The art works nicely and creates movement in the comic, which is good, since as I said before - there is lots of "running". The pace is too quick, but the art saves a lot, which was a relief. I wish the font had stayed the same and not vary especially in size, since it eats out rhythm. The cover of the comic is surely great and the topic too, since Enter the Wolf isn't as hard boiled as Blacksad - which in this case works for the series. So, an easier crime story!
July 1, 2019
Kudos to this book for actually establishing how animals got to speak, walk on two legs – and then spend years quibbling about half of them eating the other half. Apparently it all started with the Town Musicians of Bremen getting a foot in the door of society. Unfortunately, to some readers that will be where the fun invention ends, for this at times is just a plodding thriller, taking in no end of species and no end of globe-trotting in desperate attempts to make itself interesting. I for one was relieved when the final narrative drive kicked in, when we could see what the whole point of the plot was. That point was quite often just an excuse to take the piss out of tofu (an industrial process so many makers forget to do, don't'cha know) – certainly the Bond-styled drama needed a lot of work. A generous two stars.
April 12, 2023
3.5 star rating.
An interesting idea and an all right execution. The pacing was all over the place, definitely too quick most of the time, but that may have been due to page limits. However, it was a quick read to enjoy an adventure. I probably wouldn’t have picked this up if it were not for the Orilium readathon, but now that I’ve started, I think I may continue just to see which direction they go with the series.
An interesting idea and an all right execution. The pacing was all over the place, definitely too quick most of the time, but that may have been due to page limits. However, it was a quick read to enjoy an adventure. I probably wouldn’t have picked this up if it were not for the Orilium readathon, but now that I’ve started, I think I may continue just to see which direction they go with the series.
August 3, 2017
Ce n'est pas un mauvais premier tome, mais il n'innove en rien. Les personnages anthropomorphiques ne se démarquent pas de ceux que l'ont a déjà vu.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews