The Yellow “M”

    (Cinebook, 2007)
™ and © Cinebook

Edgar P. Jacobs’ “Blake and Mortimer” began in the 1940s, exceeding even the popularity of the Belgian comics magazine Tintin, from where their first adventures were serialized. Welsh born military officer, Francis Percy Blake was often called in by his superiors in MI5 to handle truly perplexing mysteries. His friend and roommate, Philip Angus Mortimer, science professor and typical British gentleman and scholar, would soon be invited to examine the evidence and the chase would be on. After Jacobs death in 1987, the series continued on, returning to the style of the 1950s and 60s that were the height of its popularity.

In 1956 London, a mysterious criminal is taunting the police by announcing his target in advance before breaking in under their very noses. The only clue remaining after each robbery is the circled letter “M” left in yellow chalk. When the imperial crown itself is stolen from the Tower of London, Blake sends an urgent plea to his friend, Mortimer, to help him investigate the baffling crimes.

This graphic novel is the 1987 English translation from the French 1956 story/serialization.

—Ron Black
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