The Voronov Plot is the second Blake and Mortimer book I've read after The Gondwana Shrine. This one is earlier in the chronology of the series and revolves around a Soviet rocket launch that goes bad, with the rocket falling back to Earth after hitting some meteorites and becoming contaminated with strange bacteria. Kind of a sketchy plot, not so much the alien bacteria bit but the way the rocket just happens to become contaminated, but I guess I need to overlook that and move on. I'm still early in my exploration of this series but I've read that this episode is more of a straight up espionage tale and has less science fiction elements than most of these do.
It definitely has all the espionage chops- I mean we have a story set in a kind of alternate 1950's I guess? With Cold War tensions and all the things we're familiar with- and this one brings the car chases, spies and double agents, betrayals and all that stuff. I liked it though- the art is a clear style that is the hallmark of French and Belgian comics- at least the ones I've tried. It's a very cinematic way of storytelling and may seem a little throwback by American standards but I for one like it and enjoy being able to see what's happening!
So many comics these days have stylized art and abstract styles that frankly just muddy the picture. Not so here. And the story is pretty taut as well, with Blake and Mortimer doing their stoic best to avert disaster as a renegade KGB madman uses the space bacteria to develop a nasty bioweapon. The method of delivery is fairly insidious as well, and this story kept me turning pages. I found myself caring for some of the secondary characters caught in the crossfire as well, especially agent Wardynska who is wounded while escaping a meet gone wrong. She showed up in The Gondwana Shrine so I knew she'd make it, but I was still worried!
So all in all this was a good one. Not as strong for me as The Gondwana Shrine but still a good pick. These books are very similar in appearance and tone to the Tintin books, with less slapstick humor and somewhat more serious, science fiction- influenced plotlines, but they're a great read and lovely to look at.
"but I for one like it and enjoy being able to see what's happening! "
ReplyDeleteBrother, now isn't that the truth! Sometimes I think artists today feel the need to be "artistic" instead of actually drawing what is going on. Their JOB is to show the story, not make us scratch our heads trying to figure out what is going on.
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Greg you can't know how I am HAPPY that you like Blake and Mortimer and Tintin! They are my culture! Hergé and Edgar P. Jacob (the original) are Belgian ;-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great one. I just looked the series up on Hoopla and saw that they have a couple editions, so I'll definitely be checking those out. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting, like equal parts science fiction/spy thriller.
ReplyDeleteAn espionage tale sounds fun. Glad to hear this one had clear artwork and a good story. Maybe not perfect, but it sounds like it had a little bit of everything!
ReplyDeleteI love the art style. 👍✨
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