Jolan has become a robust kid who is interested in everything. The strange signs he draws without knowing their meaning thoroughly intrigue his parents. During one escapade, he makes friends with a boy his age. The child seems to be lost and is terrified of adults. Along with being deaf and mute, he cannot answer questions raised by his mysterious presence.
Surprised by a storm, Thorgal has been taken in by an old couple. Without boat or money, he can’t return to his village. Perhaps an archery competition will allow him to buy a new boat. Of all the competitors, the beautiful Kriss de Valnor is without any doubt the most formidable...
This two-volume book includes "The Archers" & “Alinoe”
This volume introduces Kriss of Valnor, a character that will play a large role in later adventures. She's a very interesting character to read and is a good foil for Thorgal's straight-as-an-arrow character.
Next Thorgal in line. The first story Alinoe is kind of creepy, my first Thorgal story I would label as horror (-ish). And that's surprising and fresh. The appearance of Alinoe is unsettling. It is supernatural, evil but you don't know the real origin of it and it made me "shiver". The second story is great, archers' contest is a great theme and best of it is there are few nice characters and Thorgal is not forced to be the main character, the greatest star. There is a moral point in comparison with humble Thorgal and boastful young archer. But there is no forcing the moral message, it is nice and subtle and still with benefit of the doubt. I still wait when Thorgal become repetitive, boring and bland, but so far so (really) good.
I think Thorgal works because the fantasy elements are pretty low fantasy, stuff you could imagine seeing in a low or medium budget film, for the most part. The ditch leading into the house, for example, that was such a great touch. It's clearly a very plausible, passive defence that makes you all the more forgiving of the twist. And everything is grounded here in beautiful fall colours which gives it a sort of realism. The story introduces Kriss of Valnor and Treefoot.
The other story in this volume is about Thorgal's wife and son, left at home on an island while he's off at the archery tournament. The cosmic horror element is fine but it didn't really pull me in.
This volume contains two Thorgal stories - "Alinoë" and "The Archers".
"Alinoë" takes place a few years following the events of Beyond the Shadows, where we now find Thorgal living a quiet life with his wife Aaricia and son Jolan on a secluded island. This tale features very little of Thorgal himself as he takes to the sea for a supply run. Though the family lives a peaceful life, it's clear that the absence of others weighs on Jolan who is desperate for some friends. During Thorgal's absence, Jolan grows more restless and begins to wander the island more. He befriends a strange green-haired boy named Alinoë, but things begin to get progressively creepier from here. This is the closest Thorgal has gotten to a horror story, and it was executed so well. Adding to the chilling atmosphere is the fantastic artwork by Grzegorz Rosinski who capably handles the distressed facial expressions to make this story work as well as it does.
The second story is "The Archers", which has Thorgal blown of course during a supply run and finding himself caught up in a archery contest hosted by a local lord. Here is Thorgal's first encounter with the dangerous and deceitful Kriss of Valnor, and the complex web of intrigue that follows her is intricately laid out by Van Hamme's fantastic plotting. And as impressive as Rosinski's artwork was in the previous story, it hits another level here. The opening sequence is fantastic as we observe a night-time heist on a shrine. The scene features imposing shadows and dark lighting, but the action is completely comprehensible. Better yet is a sequence involving a dimly lit battle ignited only by the fiery arrows zipping through the night sky. It's impressive and striking artwork, quite unlike anything I've seen before.
EN Another double album of Thorgal featuring two captivating stories:
Alinoë This adventure shifts the spotlight away from Thorgal, focusing instead on Aaricia and their son, Jolan. I must say, this is likely my favourite Thorgal story to date. The unexpected incorporation of horror elements added a thrilling twist, making it an especially enjoyable read.
The Archers Here, Thorgal embarks on a solo adventure, forging new friendships along the way. A straightforward yet engaging tale that reveals a fresh side of his character.
Overall, this volume stands out as my favourite Thorgal read so far.
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PT Mais um álbum duplo de Thorgal com duas histórias cativantes:
Alinoë Nesta aventura, Thorgal está ausente durante a maior parte do tempo, deixando Aaricia e o filho Jolan no papel principal. Tenho de dizer que esta é, provavelmente, a minha história favorita de Thorgal até agora. A inclusão inesperada de elementos de terror trouxe um toque emocionante, tornando-a uma leitura especialmente prazerosa.
Os Arqueiros Aqui, Thorgal embarca numa aventura a solo, fazendo novos amigos ao longo do caminho. Uma história simples, mas envolvente, que revela um lado diferente da sua personagem.
No geral, este volume destaca-se como a minha leitura favorita de Thorgal até ao momento.
Two stories that take place after Thorgal sails off in his little boat and loses it. Left behind on the island, his wife and child have to deal with a supernatural green-haired boy, while Thorgal enters an archery contest to win money for a new boat. Very good, apart from the shocking way Thorgal treats new character Kriss de Valnor.
In a Robin Hoody twist, Thorgal and a group of friends and uneasy allies enter an insane archery competition. This happens only in comics as it is completely fantastical.
Det här var en av de första fantasy serierna jag läste som blandade in science fiction i allt det magiska. Det var en ögonöppnande upplevelse som gjort det här en mycket minnesvärd serie! Har den åldrats? Absolut, men jag kan inte låta bli att älska den trots detta.