Η κατάρα των τριάκοντα αργυρίων (τόμος 2): Η πύλη του Ορφέα

Blake et Mortimer #20

by Jean Van Hamme, Antoine Aubin (illustrator), Βασίλης Πουλάκος (Μετάφραση)

Ο καθηγητής Μόρτιμερ βρίσκεται στην Ελλάδα, βοηθώντας Έλληνες επιστήμονες στις έρευνές τους για την ανεύρεση των περίφημων "τριάκοντα αργυρίων", που έλαβε ως αμοιβή ο Ιούδας ο Ισκαριώτης για να παραδώσει τον Χριστό στους Ρωμαίους. Όμως ένας πάμπλουτος επιχειρηματίας και πρώην αξιωματικός των SS ψάχνει κι αυτός για τα αιματοβαμμένα νομίσματα, που πιστεύει ότι θα τον βοηθήσουν να γίνει κυρίαρχος όλης της γης. Μάλιστα έχει "προσλάβει" στην υπηρεσία του τον σατανικό Όλρικ, τον οποίο ήδη αναζητά ο λοχαγός Μπλέικ. Έτσι ξεκινά ένας αγώνας δρόμου με φόντο την Ελλάδα της δεκαετίας του 1950. Θα καταφέρουν οι φίλοι μας να φτάσουν στον στόχο τους πριν από τον παρανοϊκό επίδοξο παγκόσμιο δικτάτορα;

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Comics, Graphic Novels, France, Mystery, Fiction, Adventure

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Jean Van Hamme, is a Belgian novelist and comic book writer. He has written scripts for a number of Belgian/French comic series, including Histoire sans héros, Thorgal, XIII, Blake and Mortimer, Lady S and Largo Winch.

More on the brilliant, Jean Van Hamme:
http://lambiek.net/artists/v/van-hamm...

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have indeed read most of these comics several times especially the ones by its original writer. This one has a review which I shall update and translate as it was originally written in Dutch,

After e few years and a fresh release of a new Blake and Mortimer comic I remembered that there was one still among my books that had been purchased and yet never been read. As this was a part 2 I had revisit part one first. That was essential a win-win situation as I got read three books instead of one.

In the previous chapter we left with Mortimer being stranded in the water of the Mediterranean Sea far outside of the sea-routes and used waterways. It seemed that his nemesis Olrik finally had his ultimate revenge on his enemy. One would call this a true cliffhanger in television terms, and an excellent one as well.

For a continuation of a comic series without any imput by its original creator I find this series is truly one of those series that gets better with each installment and makes you want a new episode as soon as possible. So there was some guilty feeling on my part for ignoring this series for so long. This comic has strong visuals that the drawings show in this comic really impresses me and easily one of the better offering after the original illustrator passed away.

The one point I found originally somewhat less, not anymore years later, was the idea of the Nazi's who tried to obtain a christian relic and through wanted to restored the world-order in their personal way. We did go there with the Indiana Jones movie series. As it is, it kinda fits in this series that started with an Oriental emperor who wanted to take over the world after the Nazi's and their axis of evil failed to do so. This book concludes an interesting double chapter about the wages of sin.

Once more an interesting and fun adventure that found its roots in our human past and is well used to gives us yet another excellent B&M adventure. It shows that the series has some mileage left and I am glad it does. This adventure is situated in the year 1955.

[Charlotte (charami) · Rating 3 out of 5]

gecombineerde recensie voor deel 1 en deel 2

Nostalgisch en zomers leesplezier met deze twee stripboeken.
Spannend en interessant verhaal met leuke verweving tussen Griekse mythologie en de christelijke bijbel.
Alleen het einde was nogal gehaast en deus-ex-machina, wat dan misschien gezien het onderwerp toepasselijk is, maar toch ontgoocheling nalaat.

[Carlos Filipe Bernardino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cet album a un peu échoué. Voyons les aspects negatifs :
a) La solution de sauvetage de Mortimer a été très forcée.
b) Entre les pages 20 et 41, l’histoire cherche une direction.
c) Une acceleration de l’action jusqu’a la fin de l’album.
d) La partie finale n’est pas très bien ficelée, avec une utilisation de la partie initiale de l’album « L’Énigme de l’Atlantide » et la mort du méchant nazi utilisant une solution équivalente au premier film « Les Aventuriers de l’arche perdue ».
Partie positive :
1) Le dessin d’Antoine Aubin tire parti et respecte le dessin précédent rafraîchissant de René Sterne et Chantal De Spiegeleer du volume 1.
2) Un soin, à la fois du texte et du dessin, dans la représentation de la Grèce et de sa population dans les années 50 du XXe siècle, après une violente guerre civile.

[Johan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tweede en laatste deel van een tweedelige serie. Typisch Blake & Mortimer verhaal in de stijl van Edgar Jacobs met verwijzingen naar de tweede wereldoorlog, gevluchte nazi's, een schatrijke zakenman met hoogheidswaanzin en verwijzingen naar het vroege christendom en bijbelse figuren. En voeg daar ook maar wat Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark) aan toe. Spannend verhaal, net als het eerste deel, maar het einde wordt op een drafje afgewerkt met behulp van een deus ex machina. Ik vond het verhaal erg goed, maar de manier waarop er een einde aan werd gebreid stelde me teleur.

[Jean-François Lisée · Rating 2 out of 5]

Voir ma recension de La Malédiction des trente deniers - 1

[Monsieur Croissant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and fast moving conclusion to this Blake & Mortimer Volume 14 - thank goodness!
Part one started well but ran out of steam, had appalling artwork, terrible colour work and don't get me started on the cover! Disaster turned to success!

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une fin un peu abrupte qui manque légèrement d'originalité, et dont les conflits sont résolus un peu trop facilement, mais tout de même une très bonne histoire.

[David Ferreira Alves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma conclusão à Edgar P. Jacobs. Gostei do enredo e da manutenção da personagens originais.

[Oneirosophos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goosebumps! MUST read!!!

[Metabull · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 sterren voor deel 2. Het verhaal gaat verder en gaat nu volledig voor de Indiana Jones hommage. Het tekenwerk is goed.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik heb deze gelezen om mijn Nederlands te verbeteren. Makkelijk Nederlands voor B2 niveau.

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detta är den andra delen av två i Blake och Mortimer-äventyret De trettio silvermyntens förbannelse och är författat av Jean Van Hamme (som är en av mina favoritförfattare på serien). Eftersom René Sterne som tecknade stora delar av det första albumet – Nicodemus manuskript – avled hastigt under arbetet med det, så att det fick färdigställas av hans fru, Chantal de Spiegeleer, tar nu tecknaren Antoine Aubin över, delvis assisterad av tuscharen Étienne Schréder. Stilmässigt lyckas de två väl med att skapa en visuell kontinuitet, som även känns trogen Edgar P. Jacobs bildmässiga estetik.

Albumet plockar upp handlingen vid den cliffhanger där det föregående albumet lämnade oss, och medan det albumet delade på kapten Blake och professor Mortimer, ser det här albumet till att tidigt återförena vännerna och de olika trådarna i berättelsen flätas allt mer och tydligare samman.

På det hela taget är detta ett riktigt bra tvådelat äventyr och Van Hamme visar sig fortfarande oöverträffad bland författarna som tagit sig an serien efter Jacobs.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 2 of The Curse of the 30 Pieces of Silver continues the Indiana Jones theme established in Part 1, but it's still very much a Blake and Mortimer production. Given that Jacobs's original stories were part of the tail-end of the Pulp tradition that inspired Lucas's movies, Van Hamme can be forgiven (if not thanked) for this homage.

The plot nicely weaves elements of Ancient Greek and early Christian stories into its central mystery, including an undeniable supernatural twist. Oh, and is that Captain Haddock's jumper Olrik is wearing at one point?

I also like the continuing frisson of attraction between Mortimer and Special Agent Jessie Wingo, set up in The Mysterious Encounter and developed in this two-parter. I'd be interested to see if this sub-plot goes anywhere.

That, however, will clearly have to wait some time as, reading the English-language series in order of publication, I now have to hop back to the early 1950s to read the three volumes of Jacobs's original Blake and Mortimer adventure, The Secret of the Swordfish!

[Simon Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not going to say too much about this one as it’s the concluding part and anything I reveal could spoil it if you’ve not read part one. However, suffice to say that Van Hamme pulls off another superb script that feels both contemporary and respectful to the strip’s history. It most certainly does tread similar ground to a certain famous cinematic archaeologist, but does so well within the already established framework os a Blake and Mortimer adventure.

Different artists tackle this half of the tale, but because their aim is to replicate Edgar P Jacobs original style you wouldn’t really know, which in a way is unfortunate, but also an absolute triumph for their skill and precision. A stunning job.

So for a grand mix of 20th century history, biblical mythology, and cast iron adventure, you won’t find much better than this.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a quick resolution to the cliff-leaner, Blake and Mortimer, et al, continue their search for the final resting place of Judas Iscariot, with Olrik and his Nazi pals dogging their trail.

More of the same from Part 1, yet somehow slightly less of the same. A lot of the book feels like padding out the story to get us to the final scenes. Surprisingly, even though we're talking about archaeologists and Nazis racing to find Biblical artifacts, the story is fully its own -- until suddenly it manages to echo the closing scenes of both "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" at the same time.

While still an enjoyable Blake and Mortimer adventure, I can't help but think this tale could have been told in one volume.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Segunda parte de uma aventura que nos leva à procura das 30 moedas que Judas recebeu para trair Jesus e o entregar aos romanos. O arqui-inimigo Olrik, desta vez, junta-se a um antigo criminoso de guerra nazi, que pretende recuperar os denários para dominar o poder maléfico da sua maldição. Claro que a maldição de Olrik é o Professor Mortimer que, juntamente com a capitão Francis Blake, se encarregam de lhe estragar os planos, salvando o dia.

[Nickname · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finale spettacolare anche se poco credibile come fa a esserci un fulmine dentro alla grotta?

[Devero · Rating 4 out of 5]

La seconda parte di questa avventura guarda maggiormente all'azione rispetto alla prima, ma resta ugualmente piacevole per lo sviluppo. Forse un poco troppo omaggio a I Predatori dell'Arca Perduta.

[Michael Wormsbecher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jammer van de stijlbreuk ten opzichte van het eerste deel, maar overall een goed geschreven spannend avontuur.