Chaland Anthology

(Humanoids, 2004-2005)

In the tradition of Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon or Will Eisner’s The Spirit comes a thrilling and worthy homage to these better-known strips. But Freddy Lombard isn’t exactly a cultural icon in America, primarily because the European series’ last installment was published 15 years ago, and Chaland died suddenly two years later.

But Humanoids Publishing has put together an impressive two-volume set that repackages all of Chaland’s Freddy Lombard graphic novels, so American fans can finally get a look at this lesser-known but superb talent, albeit posthumously. Chaland managed to capture the same kind of comics thrills as Caniff and Eisner, complete with the comparatively good-natured attitudes of the day. There’s no nudity, for instance: an element that many American audiences expect to find in even some of the more tame European graphic novels.

Also reflective of the time’s attitude, though, are some pretty blatant racial stereotypes, stuff that would have been considered offensive even in the early ’80s, when Chaland conceived the character. But Chaland unapologetically forged ahead, staying true to the flavor of the era he tried to emulate, free by virtue of time and place of any movement that would have pressured him to do otherwise.

The two volumes together are a bit pricey, but devotees of the mid-20th century action and adventure genre will probably find this to be worth it.

— Jim Johnson

Jump to issue:

#1

Cover: $17.95

W: Yves Chaland, Yann Lepennetier · A: Yves Chaland

ca. 2004

No copies available
#1 Hardcover

Hardcover Edition

Cover: $24.95

W: Yves Chaland, Yann Lepennetier · A: Yves Chaland

No copies available
#2

Cover: $14.95

W: Yves Chaland, Yann Lepennetier · A: Yves Chaland

1 copy for $12.00
#2 Hardcover

Hardcover Edition

Cover: $14.95

W: Yves Chaland, Yann Lepennetier · A: Yves Chaland

2 copies from $14.95