Namibia, episode 5

Namibia #5

by Rodolphe, Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira (Leo), Bertrand Marchal

Unter der sengenden Sonne Südwestafrikas geschehen seltsame Dinge. Ein landwirtschaftliches Projekt wird von riesigen Raupen befallen. Und zur Begutachtung der Schäden steht mitten im Maisfeld – Hermann Göring, die ehemalige -Größe? Das erscheint nun wirklich unglaublich, denn schließlich schreiben wir das Jahr 1949. Und das heißt, Göring gilt seit drei Jahren als tot. Kein Wunder, d sich der britische Geheimdienst einschaltet und Kathy Austin entsendet, um in Namibia nach dem Rechten zu sehen. Zwei Jahre zuvor hat die junge, attraktive Agentin immerhin die mysteriösen Vorfälle am Kilimandscharo aufgeklärt (s. den ersten Zyklus Kenya ). Was sie nun an Ort und Stelle entdeckt – Rieseninsekten, ein ganzes Dorf, das von einer seltsamen Seuche befallen zu sein scheint –, stellt jedoch auch sie erst einmal vor ein komplettes Rätsel. Und d der örtliche Repräsentant des MI6 sich als verbitterter Chauvinist und verbohrter Rist erweist, macht ihre Ermittlungen nicht leichter. Das Centaurus -Team Leo ( Antares , Aldebaran ) und Co-Szenarist Rodolphe (u. a. Trent , Der Fall E. P. Jacobs ) haben diesmal eine Mystery-Story geschrieben, die wie ein kolonialer Agententhriller à la Graham Greene beginnt, von Bertrand Marchal entsprechend klisch illustriert, um dann langsam, aber unaufhaltsam in Richtung Akte X einzuschwenken. Und so ist es nicht nur das Wüstenklima, d sämtliche Beteiligte mehr und mehr ins Schwitzen bringt. Gediegene Spannung garantiert.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Adventure, France

Hardcover

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

Rodolphe is the pen name for Rodolphe Daniel Jacquette. His works are primarily written in French.

Reviews

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Приличен завършек на историята, доволен съм - светът ни е спасен, поне за сега. :)

[Diz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending of this series was a sad disappointment. Actually, one of the villains summed it up quite well when he said, "A ridiculous waste of time! All that business with cults, destroyed crops and mutated insects--it was all utter nonsense!!" He forgot to mention that the subplot about duplicate humans was also a waste of time. All of these things were what made the story interesting. Everything is dropped and left unexplained in favor of a straight military assault. Boring.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

English (UK) Cinebook castrated-cover edition

As if my 'willing suspension of disbelief' wasn't already maxed out, the 'resolution' that Rodolphe chose to make it "make sense" pushed me into 'unwilling'. Sure, with Leo stories anything is possible, but I need a bit more believability when the world that we actually live in -with its plausibility constrictions- is the setting.

Marchand does an excellent job rendering such a wide range of people, places and things!

[Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overal a good series, but just like the previous series the author quickly ads a finish to it. What was the purpose of the giant insects, the body doubles....?
And I hate happy endings in stories like these.

[Simon Chadwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the 1950s just over the horizon, Kathy Austin and Vladimir are stealing into the heart of the Namibian base that they understand to be the home of extraterrestrial invaders of Earth, all made possible by a second race of beings keen on assisting the natives of our planet. Slipping in and out of observation by the base’s operators, they manage to sneak a look at the stockpile of weapons hidden within its depths, and get some understanding as to the general intent of the alien villains. Meanwhile in Switzerland, the leaders of the world powers gather to discuss the implications of the threat and offer a response, one which will throw Kathy into even greater danger.

As the final volume, this book has got a lot of work to do, tying up plot points, offering explanations and drawing a satisfactory conclusion. It does this through rather a lot of exposition as it barrels towards the end, but indeed it delivers what it promises. On the first reading I wasn’t completely sold on the ending, but having had another look, and a bit of reflection, the story culminates in a manner that perfectly sits with the sci-fi expectations of the era it’s set in, and considering the rationale given by the friendlier ETs for their subsequent actions, it’s a rather neat and tidy finish.

If I was honest, when I was reading the preceding series Kenya I never believed this tale would end up where it did, and there was a suggestion in Kenya of a very different direction indeed. Given the choice I’d have opted for more of the former, but I don’t wish to deride Namibia – it’s just a different animal with interesting science fiction concepts coupled with an intriguing place and time. I’m just grateful that there are creators and publishers out there willing to share these stories with us.

[Alessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimo volume della serie. Una gran bella avventura, di quelle che ti riconciliano con le belle storie, di quelle di cui si sente la necessità. Il tema non é originale, a dire il vero, ma é trattato bene e sufficientemente appassionante. Una gran storia per gli amanti i della BD e della linea chiara. Non rimarrete delusi.

[Paulo Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Namibia story is quite good and very interesting. As an Sci-Fin I would say that deserves your time on reading it!

[The Laughing Man · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was bland and less interesting compared to the Aldebaran series, but still a good read.

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picking up the action right where it left off in Episode 4 , this last album in Rodolphe, Leo and Marchal's Namibia sees Kathy Austin and her colleague Vladimir Irmanius continuing their mission for the MI5 in order to stop the very real prospect of an alien invasion.

All in all, the album wraps up this second series set in this particular storyworld, which Rodolphe and Leo created in their five album suite, Kenya . I understand that there is a third series in French, Amazonie, and if it ever makes it into English translation (or Swedish), I will likely check it out.