Ralph Azham Vol. 2: The Land of the Blue Demons

Ralph Azham #4-6

by Lewis Trondheim

In this sprawling adventure by award-winning cartoonist Lewis Trondheim, filled with heavily-guarded castles, apocalyptic red skies, flying beasts, and deep mythos, our protagonist Ralph Azham discovers he has a long-lost sister, Captain Rose Azham. She had a vision that the two siblings will fight to the death sometime in the future. To interrupt the family reunion, a King possessed by the wicked sorcerer Malick declares a vendetta against Ralph, after Ralph’s uncanny power to conjure spirits. Now, guided (and sometimes dragged) by spirits, Ralph and his loyal page Yassou must flee the puppet king’s forces through treacherous mountain passes to hazardous high seas… Nowhere is safe for Ralph and his scrappy entourage. But how long can he run for? And what of the rumors Ralph has been spotted in cities causing more chaos and destruction? The fate of the world, or the end of the world, might depend on Ralph’s next step.

Genres: Fantasy, Comics

152 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

The phenomenal Lewis Trondheim is never where you next expect him. As an artist and writer, Trondheim has earned an international following as one of the most inventive, versatile, and prolific graphic authors. From autobiography to adventure, from bestselling fantasy and children's books to visual essays, Trondheim's unique, seminal imagination consistently dazzles. His work has won numerous awards, including the Angoulême prize for best series with McConey and he also co-created the titanic fantasy epic Dungeon with Joann Sfar.

He is one of the founding members of the alternative publishing house L'Association, a proving ground for many of the greatest talents in European comics working today. He is also the editorial director of a new imprint called Shampooing, dedicated to comics for all ages.

Lewis lives in the South of France with his wife, Brigitte Findakly, and two children.

Reviews

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

After some trepidation from reading the first volume, I'm mostly all in on reading this series. Trondheim is definitely doing more complicated storytelling here than in Dungeon, and I appreciate the shifting loyalties and surprise reveals. I do wish, however, that the explication of all the relics was clearer; I get lost in all the names, powers, and interactions. (There are also a few pages in my copy where the reproduction loses some sharpness.) But overall, Ralph and Yassou are great characters to follow.