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Balbuzer
A fable about freedom, about resistance, about power. And an ode to nature.
In the Sarboucane sea, Balbuzar the pirate reigns supreme. He attacks, plunders, sinks, and ransoms everything that comes within his reach. Savage, cruel, formidable, certainly, Balbuzar is, but also with a certain bonhomie, and a great sense of justice. He is in harmony with the sea, the islands, the wind, the rocks. Around him, birds, always. Men, women, children...they all love him. For he is free as the air.
But now the Empress Pépita XIII is worried about her state of affairs, and Balbuzar’s constant plundering. She sends against him her best officer, the Commodore, at the head of an armada. He represents force, order, law. Arrogant, domineering, relentless. And sure to be the one who will clean the Sarboucane sea.
Balbuzar and the Commodore clash. Two exceptional sailors, two sharp warriors. The fight begins, shattering, tumultuous.
The struggle, however, is unequal, for the Commodore has immense resources, an army behind him and the power of the empire. He’s built a gigantic ship that will surely sweep away the pirates and their black-flag flotilla. Balbuzar’s fate seems certain.
Will the outlaw be crushed by the enormity of the adversary? Cooked in the imperial pot? Or will the cunning pirate find the rift in the monster’s breastplate? Will he defeat his monstrous foe, like David blasting Goliath?
A story that will delight young and old, and artwork that bears repeated viewing to take it all in. Will the cunning pirate Balbuzar be able to find the chink in the monstrous Commodore's armor? Geirard Moncombe's prose deftly balances action, humor, and poetry while Freideiric Pillot's stunning, gorgeously detailed illsutrations help paint this rousing, unforgettable tale. One that you’ll want to come back to again and again... Featuring 32 double page illustrations interspersed with text. If you're an art geek, this book is a MUST!
In the Sarboucane sea, Balbuzar the pirate reigns supreme. He attacks, plunders, sinks, and ransoms everything that comes within his reach. Savage, cruel, formidable, certainly, Balbuzar is, but also with a certain bonhomie, and a great sense of justice. He is in harmony with the sea, the islands, the wind, the rocks. Around him, birds, always. Men, women, children...they all love him. For he is free as the air.
But now the Empress Pépita XIII is worried about her state of affairs, and Balbuzar’s constant plundering. She sends against him her best officer, the Commodore, at the head of an armada. He represents force, order, law. Arrogant, domineering, relentless. And sure to be the one who will clean the Sarboucane sea.
Balbuzar and the Commodore clash. Two exceptional sailors, two sharp warriors. The fight begins, shattering, tumultuous.
The struggle, however, is unequal, for the Commodore has immense resources, an army behind him and the power of the empire. He’s built a gigantic ship that will surely sweep away the pirates and their black-flag flotilla. Balbuzar’s fate seems certain.
Will the outlaw be crushed by the enormity of the adversary? Cooked in the imperial pot? Or will the cunning pirate find the rift in the monster’s breastplate? Will he defeat his monstrous foe, like David blasting Goliath?
A story that will delight young and old, and artwork that bears repeated viewing to take it all in. Will the cunning pirate Balbuzar be able to find the chink in the monstrous Commodore's armor? Geirard Moncombe's prose deftly balances action, humor, and poetry while Freideiric Pillot's stunning, gorgeously detailed illsutrations help paint this rousing, unforgettable tale. One that you’ll want to come back to again and again... Featuring 32 double page illustrations interspersed with text. If you're an art geek, this book is a MUST!
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2020
5 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 20, 2021
Even though this is published by ablaze, it is not a comic. However, it IS a wonderfully illustrated book. It's a story of the pirate Balbuzar and his battles with Vice Admiral Cristobal Ruiz y Torres y Villanueva de Somoza. The writing is for more advanced readers than most illustrated books of this type. The story is nothing special and pretty straight forward. The meticulous and lush off-kilter art though is delightful.
September 6, 2021
This is the illustrated story of Balbuzar the pirate. He is feared as a ruthless brute, pillaging and plundering as he travels the high seas. The reality is that he is an individual who longed for justice and is in unity with the creatures of the oceans and the birds who fly above it.
I was initially drawn to this book due to the gorgeous artwork that adorned the front cover. I was delighted to find that the same vivid and detailed illustrations adorned every single page inside the book. I loved the quirky art style and the colour palette used throughout.
The story itself proved itself just as much of a joy to explore. Balbuzar's life was full of action and adventure, which made the tale featured brim with tension and activity. I will say however that it might feature some phrases too advanced for the young age range it is aimed towards and a number of words might have to be explained to little readers. It was a fun time for this adult, however, who devoured the brief story in one sitting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Gérard Moncomble, and the publisher, Ablaze, for this opportunity.
I was initially drawn to this book due to the gorgeous artwork that adorned the front cover. I was delighted to find that the same vivid and detailed illustrations adorned every single page inside the book. I loved the quirky art style and the colour palette used throughout.
The story itself proved itself just as much of a joy to explore. Balbuzar's life was full of action and adventure, which made the tale featured brim with tension and activity. I will say however that it might feature some phrases too advanced for the young age range it is aimed towards and a number of words might have to be explained to little readers. It was a fun time for this adult, however, who devoured the brief story in one sitting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Gérard Moncomble, and the publisher, Ablaze, for this opportunity.
October 20, 2021
What utterly amazing art illustrating this fable. Just soaring, cartoonish, lush, detailed illustrations! The story was interesting in themes both explicit (who is more dishonest, the sailor who robs you to your face or the courtier who stabs you in the back?) and more hidden (individual freedom versus society, revenge versus ambition, the closing of the frontier). The story takes a bit too romantic a view of the nobility of the pirate (17th and 18th century naval battles were horrifically brutal and bloody, or you can call me Jack Aubrey) and a bit too dim view of society (ask the poor, weak, and powerless how they like anarchic societies). But that said, there is a place to glorify individual choice and rights and call a cautionary note both about the abuses and poor morals that societal rulers can have. And there is always a place for art like this.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2022
You know those books you picked up as a kid for the sole purpose of looking at the beautiful art, and your parents always told you it was too long for a bedtime story.
That perfectly describes this book for me; I found myself staring awestruck at the art while my eyes skimmed over the text. Even in my 3rd or 4th attempt, I struggled to pull myself away from Frédéric Pillot's gorgeous art truly, and eventually, I had to settle that this was going to be the case. And I can't be upset with that.
Because I can't say, I've come across a children's book in a long time that inspired the same level of awe that I remember having the first time I got to look at Jan Brett's The Mitten up close and personal.
And honestly, it's the type of book that I would buy a young one in my life because these were the types of books that I remember spending so much time looking at the pages and then being so proud when I could come back and read it for myself.
That perfectly describes this book for me; I found myself staring awestruck at the art while my eyes skimmed over the text. Even in my 3rd or 4th attempt, I struggled to pull myself away from Frédéric Pillot's gorgeous art truly, and eventually, I had to settle that this was going to be the case. And I can't be upset with that.
Because I can't say, I've come across a children's book in a long time that inspired the same level of awe that I remember having the first time I got to look at Jan Brett's The Mitten up close and personal.
And honestly, it's the type of book that I would buy a young one in my life because these were the types of books that I remember spending so much time looking at the pages and then being so proud when I could come back and read it for myself.
November 27, 2020
Un magnifique album de pirates : des illustrations grandioses et tellement grandes qu’elles nous immergent totalement dans ce duel naval. Le narrateur pirate est un conteur hors pair et raconte avec fougue le récit de cette rencontre entre deux grands hommes que tout sépare. Un voyage en mer qui décoiffe !
En savoir plus sur : https://livraisonslitteraires.wordpre...
En savoir plus sur : https://livraisonslitteraires.wordpre...
September 27, 2021
Well, it's hard to say what Balbuzar is, since it's not a comic and not a picture book either. For adults perhaps? I don't know if kids would like this, since the book is basically one battle. Balbuzar is a pirate, but one for justice and one that appreciates the sea and the animals. He was feared and had to fight vessels and it was war on water. At the same time he is liked for being true to himself and oddly enough thought of a hero in a sense in the 17th century. I for one wanted more than just pirates fighting, since the story is just a sequence in time without a start or an end. We don't get to know the characters that well and mostly the texts are just a high and mighty pirate babble with lots of yaarrrs.
The cover is beautiful and the art is amazing too. The details and the sense of 1990s is great and oddly fitting too. The font isn't the best though and the text is quite small, which is a hindrance. Also, the diary markings at the back don't fit with the style either. The art is surely the best part of the book, but for me the other style and content choices couldn't bring this to three. Sadly so.
The cover is beautiful and the art is amazing too. The details and the sense of 1990s is great and oddly fitting too. The font isn't the best though and the text is quite small, which is a hindrance. Also, the diary markings at the back don't fit with the style either. The art is surely the best part of the book, but for me the other style and content choices couldn't bring this to three. Sadly so.
September 8, 2021
Ablaze Publishing has been doing a great job this year with such titles as Space Pirate Captain Harlock and The Cimmerian. They specialize on localizing both European comics and Japanese manga, which is slightly different than many of the big publishers right now. Now that these big flagship titles are in place, it’s cool to see them branch out with something like Balbuzar by Geìrard Moncomble. On one hand, I’d consider this a graphic novel, on the other it’s designed and presented as a storybook, but I would hesitate to say it’s explicitly a kid’s book by any means. While not bloody or vulgar, the book is somewhat wordy with allusions to non-kid-friendly things such as the slave trade or Poppy smuggling. That said, I’m sure an older kid would enjoy the hell out it.
“In the Sarboucane sea, Balbuzar the pirate reigns supreme. He attacks, plunders, sinks, and ransoms everything that comes within his reach. Savage, cruel, formidable, certainly, Balbuzar is; but also with a certain bonhomie, and a great sense of justice. He is in harmony with the sea, the islands, the wind, the rocks. Around him, birds, always. Men, women, children…they all love him. For he is free as the air. But now the Empress Pepita XIII is worried about her state of affairs, and Balbuzar’s constant plundering. She sends against him her best officer, the Commodore, at the head of an armada. He represents force, order, law. Arrogant, domineering, relentless. And sure to be the one who will clean the Sarboucane sea. Balbuzar and the Commodore clash. Two exceptional sailors, two sharp warriors. The fight begins, shattering, tumultuous.”
The artwork in this book is exquisite, while character designs are vaguely similar to something like The Nightmare Before Christmas, every page is put together like a vibrant Renaissance painting. Half of the time, the story became second fiddle, as I feasted my eyes on the rich colors and crazy backgrounds of the story. I quite enjoyed the increasing absurdity in the story as it moved forward. At one point, The Commodore has to get a new ship commissioned. which ends up being this preposterously large multi-deck galleon that defies every law of physics to simply exists in just about every way. When all seems hopeless, Balbuzar uses his unmeasurable wit to take the ship down in an ingenious way that rivals the destruction of the Death Star as most unlikely take-down ever.
This was a fun book, and especially great if you are into pirate stories in any way. The format of being an “adult picture book” of sorts was interesting, and different than any graphic novel I’ve read in a while. In many ways, it’s basically an illustrated short story, where the author has gone the extra mile to make the illustrations memorable as he possibly can.
“In the Sarboucane sea, Balbuzar the pirate reigns supreme. He attacks, plunders, sinks, and ransoms everything that comes within his reach. Savage, cruel, formidable, certainly, Balbuzar is; but also with a certain bonhomie, and a great sense of justice. He is in harmony with the sea, the islands, the wind, the rocks. Around him, birds, always. Men, women, children…they all love him. For he is free as the air. But now the Empress Pepita XIII is worried about her state of affairs, and Balbuzar’s constant plundering. She sends against him her best officer, the Commodore, at the head of an armada. He represents force, order, law. Arrogant, domineering, relentless. And sure to be the one who will clean the Sarboucane sea. Balbuzar and the Commodore clash. Two exceptional sailors, two sharp warriors. The fight begins, shattering, tumultuous.”
The artwork in this book is exquisite, while character designs are vaguely similar to something like The Nightmare Before Christmas, every page is put together like a vibrant Renaissance painting. Half of the time, the story became second fiddle, as I feasted my eyes on the rich colors and crazy backgrounds of the story. I quite enjoyed the increasing absurdity in the story as it moved forward. At one point, The Commodore has to get a new ship commissioned. which ends up being this preposterously large multi-deck galleon that defies every law of physics to simply exists in just about every way. When all seems hopeless, Balbuzar uses his unmeasurable wit to take the ship down in an ingenious way that rivals the destruction of the Death Star as most unlikely take-down ever.
This was a fun book, and especially great if you are into pirate stories in any way. The format of being an “adult picture book” of sorts was interesting, and different than any graphic novel I’ve read in a while. In many ways, it’s basically an illustrated short story, where the author has gone the extra mile to make the illustrations memorable as he possibly can.
September 4, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Balbuzar by Geìrard Moncomble is a children's picture book about a pirate battle on the high seas and buried treasure. The story revolves around Balbuzar, a pirate who "attacks, plunders, sinks, and ransoms everything that comes within his reach." I have to say that I was misled by this book when I downloaded it. This book is characterized as a graphic novel, which is one of my favorite genres. Instead, this is a straight-out children's picture book through and through. In the 51 pages, each two-page spread contains one picture and then a wall of text on one side.
Overall, Balbuzar is a children's picture book that will appeal to fans of Jake and the Pirates or Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. I tried to rate this book on its merit as a children's picture book. For one thing, the illustrations, although detailed, seem slightly garish and the characters are drawn in a very exaggerated, strange style. I don't think this style of illustration would appeal to many children who like bright colors and cute images. In addition, there is way too much text for a children's picture book. A child or even a parent would probably lose interest. If you're intrigued by the synopsis, or if you're looking for a children's picture book about pirates, you can check out this book when it comes in November!
Balbuzar by Geìrard Moncomble is a children's picture book about a pirate battle on the high seas and buried treasure. The story revolves around Balbuzar, a pirate who "attacks, plunders, sinks, and ransoms everything that comes within his reach." I have to say that I was misled by this book when I downloaded it. This book is characterized as a graphic novel, which is one of my favorite genres. Instead, this is a straight-out children's picture book through and through. In the 51 pages, each two-page spread contains one picture and then a wall of text on one side.
Overall, Balbuzar is a children's picture book that will appeal to fans of Jake and the Pirates or Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. I tried to rate this book on its merit as a children's picture book. For one thing, the illustrations, although detailed, seem slightly garish and the characters are drawn in a very exaggerated, strange style. I don't think this style of illustration would appeal to many children who like bright colors and cute images. In addition, there is way too much text for a children's picture book. A child or even a parent would probably lose interest. If you're intrigued by the synopsis, or if you're looking for a children's picture book about pirates, you can check out this book when it comes in November!
March 31, 2021
Cet album est magnifique ! C'est une histoire de piraterie à la fois mouvementée et drôle. Les personnages sont atypiques et hauts en couleurs. Balbuzar fait preuve d'intelligence pour tenter de vaincre son adversaire. Contrairement au Commodore, il reste humble.
Le vocabulaire est riche. L'écriture est rythmée et poétique. On retrouve tout le champ lexical de la piraterie et de la navigation. Il y a même une dimension politique avec la notion de domination d'une nation sur son territoire maritime. A la fin du livre, on trouve des extraits des carnets de bord des deux capitaines, ce qui apporte des précisions quant à la vision de chacun sur les évènements.
Côté illustrations, c'est un travail d'orfèvre. Elles sont majestueuses sur ces doubles pages. On a la sensation d'entrer dans l'ouvrage. Elles fourmillent de détails. Les couleurs sont splendides. On en prend vraiment plein les yeux !
Vous l'aurez compris, un vrai coup de cœur pour cet album jeunesse ! Il est plutôt destiné à des grands (8ans) de par sa longueur et sa complexité, mais il devrait également faire le bonheur des plus jeunes en livre raconté.
Le vocabulaire est riche. L'écriture est rythmée et poétique. On retrouve tout le champ lexical de la piraterie et de la navigation. Il y a même une dimension politique avec la notion de domination d'une nation sur son territoire maritime. A la fin du livre, on trouve des extraits des carnets de bord des deux capitaines, ce qui apporte des précisions quant à la vision de chacun sur les évènements.
Côté illustrations, c'est un travail d'orfèvre. Elles sont majestueuses sur ces doubles pages. On a la sensation d'entrer dans l'ouvrage. Elles fourmillent de détails. Les couleurs sont splendides. On en prend vraiment plein les yeux !
Vous l'aurez compris, un vrai coup de cœur pour cet album jeunesse ! Il est plutôt destiné à des grands (8ans) de par sa longueur et sa complexité, mais il devrait également faire le bonheur des plus jeunes en livre raconté.
September 4, 2021
A book that I wanted to love after just one look. And that's clearly down to the style – exuberant, flamboyant characters and costumes, hugely dramatic seascapes where the sailing ships seem to loom over us like skyscrapers, and goggly-eyed flying fish and other animals looking on in the most cartoonish fashion. The detail in the pictures is completely absorbing, and they deserve to be in a five star book, even if they don't make a five star book just by themselves.
So it's a pity the story here, of an attempt to get rid of the briny's best (ie worst) pirate, is actually quite dry. It really is a case of water, water everywhere, nor any drop to improve this turgid tale of two sailors going at each other on the main. The pages can often be stuffed full of the text, and for a very young reader absorbed by the colours elsewhere, the story will be a grey mess of too much verbiage. And the weak ending will let everyone down, whatever their age. No, this exists purely to showcase the craft in the visuals, which still make this a three and a half star effort – the writing merited so little of that total as to be almost embarrassing.
So it's a pity the story here, of an attempt to get rid of the briny's best (ie worst) pirate, is actually quite dry. It really is a case of water, water everywhere, nor any drop to improve this turgid tale of two sailors going at each other on the main. The pages can often be stuffed full of the text, and for a very young reader absorbed by the colours elsewhere, the story will be a grey mess of too much verbiage. And the weak ending will let everyone down, whatever their age. No, this exists purely to showcase the craft in the visuals, which still make this a three and a half star effort – the writing merited so little of that total as to be almost embarrassing.
October 8, 2021
Who is Balbuzar? He is a pirate who is ruthless. He attacks, plunders and looks for buried treasure. He also has a sense of justice. Why? He appreciate the seas and animals. Why? When he goes against the Commodore sent by the Empress Pepita XIII, It seems as if Balbuzar will lose to the Commodore. Will Babuzar lose?
The book has colorful illustrations that are detailed and so fantastic, who wants to read? The print appears to be on the small side making the exciting story difficult to read. I loved the illustrations! The illustrations overtook my desire to read. It’s not a true picture book as I somehow thought it was. It’s a good story. The book presentation when open perhaps needs to be change — perhaps larger print? Regardless it’s a book about a pirate and who doesn’t like stories about pirates?
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The book has colorful illustrations that are detailed and so fantastic, who wants to read? The print appears to be on the small side making the exciting story difficult to read. I loved the illustrations! The illustrations overtook my desire to read. It’s not a true picture book as I somehow thought it was. It’s a good story. The book presentation when open perhaps needs to be change — perhaps larger print? Regardless it’s a book about a pirate and who doesn’t like stories about pirates?
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
September 10, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a funny story with such an amazing art, I liked it so much! It is about pirates, mainly about the Great Balbuzar, he is feared on the sea, hated by the crown but loved by his people and the sea creatures. He is a ruthless, old school kind of pirate that nothing could scare him with his ship the Mad Osprey and his fearless men not even that arrogant Commodore de Somoza who was sent by the Empress Nugetta XIII in order to capture Balbuzar. Well, we wiill see if this pirate is an easy prey to catch.
This book was so gorgeous with some beautiful illustrations which you can't take your eyes from them, the story is full of actions, adventures and humor with a poetic touch that made it so mesmerizing to read. It is enjoyable and entertaining, also a good book for any lover of pirates' stories like me.
This was a funny story with such an amazing art, I liked it so much! It is about pirates, mainly about the Great Balbuzar, he is feared on the sea, hated by the crown but loved by his people and the sea creatures. He is a ruthless, old school kind of pirate that nothing could scare him with his ship the Mad Osprey and his fearless men not even that arrogant Commodore de Somoza who was sent by the Empress Nugetta XIII in order to capture Balbuzar. Well, we wiill see if this pirate is an easy prey to catch.
This book was so gorgeous with some beautiful illustrations which you can't take your eyes from them, the story is full of actions, adventures and humor with a poetic touch that made it so mesmerizing to read. It is enjoyable and entertaining, also a good book for any lover of pirates' stories like me.
February 18, 2026
Un bel album auquel je n'ai pas accroché. Je savais en ouvrant Balbuzar que le livre allait parler pirates, et objectivement, c'est très bien fait. La narration déborde d'un vocabulaire "full piraterie" très marqué et de tournures qui relèvent d'une vraie exigence d'écriture. C’est assumé, riche, travaillé, clairement maîtrisé. Et c'est sans doute très immersif, mais chez moi, l'effet a été inverse et m'a tenue à distance.
Les illustrations sont superbes et colorées, avec des doubles pages riches en détails. Les personnages sont expressifs et un peu grandiloquents, ce qui colle parfaitement à l’esprit de l’histoire et au parti pris de l’album.
Bref, un album ambitieux et plein de qualités que je n'ai tout simplement pas réussi à apprécier.
Les illustrations sont superbes et colorées, avec des doubles pages riches en détails. Les personnages sont expressifs et un peu grandiloquents, ce qui colle parfaitement à l’esprit de l’histoire et au parti pris de l’album.
Bref, un album ambitieux et plein de qualités que je n'ai tout simplement pas réussi à apprécier.
January 19, 2024
Frédéric Pillot’s illustrations are so mind-numbingly good that it almost distracts me from reading the story. He’s truly a master of his craft. I will say that the writing may be a long-winded for very young readers, and focuses on one battle the entire time so it gets a little repetitive. It would’ve been interesting to expand the scope of the story and see what else Balbuzar gets up to in his adventures. But it’s a beautiful book and worth looking at for the pirate-obsessed or anyone who wants to look at fantastic art.
January 15, 2021
Quel magnifique récit d'affrontement entre Balbuzar le pirate et le Commodore de sa Majesté. Une écriture époustouflante de finesse avec un vocabulaire bien travaillé, un scénario qui nous tient en haleine tout en nous laissant le loisir de flâner au gré des personnages, le tout superbement illustré jusque dans les moindres détails.
Un duo qui fonctionne déjà très bien au travers de gentilles séries jeunesse, mais là un cap est franchi, un record établi même !
Un duo qui fonctionne déjà très bien au travers de gentilles séries jeunesse, mais là un cap est franchi, un record établi même !
January 29, 2026
"The publisher and NetGalley provided me with a review copy.
Is this a comic? Not really. Is it a beautifully illustrated pirate story? Absolutely.
Honestly, the story itself is pretty plain, pretty simple. The artwork, though, is incredible, and I'd give this a high rating even without any words. Worth the buy, even for just the pictures. "
Is this a comic? Not really. Is it a beautifully illustrated pirate story? Absolutely.
Honestly, the story itself is pretty plain, pretty simple. The artwork, though, is incredible, and I'd give this a high rating even without any words. Worth the buy, even for just the pictures. "
September 6, 2021
ARC Copy...I would firmly put this as "picture book" or "illustrated story" over graphic novel based on the narrative's style and format but hehe the illustrations...it feels like oil paintings from that era stretched/bent to hilarious and abstract proportions!
June 23, 2023
Je voulais prendre le temps de savourer les illustrations de Pillot et je suis content d'avoir pu le faire. Quant à la fable de Moncomble, elle a son charme, mais je ne saurais pas identifier son public cible.
November 12, 2024
Oh boy, contains some of the most beautiful works of art ever to adorn the pages of illustrated books.
Some of these spreads clearly took hundreds of hours to paint. Absolute and criminally under read masterpiece.
Some of these spreads clearly took hundreds of hours to paint. Absolute and criminally under read masterpiece.
January 11, 2025
Amazing illustrations! Great story even (or more so) for older children and adults who enjoy pirates and/or picture books! Lots to think about after it's done. Small text sometimes on the illustrations could be hard for some readers.
December 12, 2020
Une petite merveille.
Want to read
September 15, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 8, 2023
Love this! I'm a comic lover and these illustrations summoned me! Great art, and I enjoyed the story thoroughly. Are the letters at the end real? Dumb question maybe?
March 9, 2024
Les illustrations sont splendides, le récit bien pesé
June 26, 2022
I received an eARC copy from Diamond Book Distributors and Ablaze via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL! This fable is absolutely wonderful and stunning, from the story to the impeccable art. And by no means do I think this book is a children's picture book. The artwork is too intricate and exquisite, and I feasted my eyes on it more than I followed the story; it is complicated to stay focused (100% positive comment, and I want more of it).
Balbuzar, the main character, is the pirate who reigns the Sarboucane sea. He is a true pirate; savage, cruel, always ready to attack and ransom, but with a great sense of justice and unmeasurable wit. His constant plundering became a delicate issue for Empress Pepita XIII, so she sent her best officer, the Commodore, to bring law and order to the Sarboucane sea. And here comes the ultimate fight, enlarged by the spectacular illustrations.
Balbuzar is also a story of the confrontation between the royalty and the piracy, wealth and comfort and constant fight and struggles to survive. It is an ode to freedom, resistance, nature, and hope.
I have no regrets. This book is so fun and different from any other graphic novels I read (and I read many of them). If there is any continuation to this story, count me in; I am ready for the new Balbuzar's adventure!
Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL! This fable is absolutely wonderful and stunning, from the story to the impeccable art. And by no means do I think this book is a children's picture book. The artwork is too intricate and exquisite, and I feasted my eyes on it more than I followed the story; it is complicated to stay focused (100% positive comment, and I want more of it).
Balbuzar, the main character, is the pirate who reigns the Sarboucane sea. He is a true pirate; savage, cruel, always ready to attack and ransom, but with a great sense of justice and unmeasurable wit. His constant plundering became a delicate issue for Empress Pepita XIII, so she sent her best officer, the Commodore, to bring law and order to the Sarboucane sea. And here comes the ultimate fight, enlarged by the spectacular illustrations.
Balbuzar is also a story of the confrontation between the royalty and the piracy, wealth and comfort and constant fight and struggles to survive. It is an ode to freedom, resistance, nature, and hope.
I have no regrets. This book is so fun and different from any other graphic novels I read (and I read many of them). If there is any continuation to this story, count me in; I am ready for the new Balbuzar's adventure!
September 1, 2023
The publisher and NetGalley provided me with a review copy.
Is this a comic? Not really. Is it a beautifully illustrated pirate story? Absolutely.
Honestly, the story itself is pretty plain, pretty simple. The artwork, though, is incredible, and I'd give this a high rating even without any words. Worth the buy, even for just the pictures.
Is this a comic? Not really. Is it a beautifully illustrated pirate story? Absolutely.
Honestly, the story itself is pretty plain, pretty simple. The artwork, though, is incredible, and I'd give this a high rating even without any words. Worth the buy, even for just the pictures.
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