I will admit that this was a bit of a struggle to get through, however I am pretty sure this is down to it just not being my thing, rather than anything else, though some of the dated language and attitudes took some getting used to. It's a reprint of an old publication though and so there is going to be the risk that it hasn't aged well. Regardless of this, I enjoyed the artwork and can appreciate the vast skill that goes into creating something like this.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Fantagraphics Books for an advance copy of the first in a series of reissues from a European comic master, whose adventure stories captivated fans for years, and are sure to capture new fans today.

The odd thing about comics books is that Americans are always amazed to see that many to the things that are considered cutting edge, other creators have been doing all over the world. And most of the time better. While the big companies were dealing with comic codes, and brightly colored superheroes, the rest of the world was reading comics that dealt in intrigue, war, even a little bit of European racism. Stories about World War that was set in places that Americans probably didn't know about, dealing with people trying their best to survive in a world gone mad. Or the start of a world going mad. Attilio Micheluzzi was an Italian comic creator who traveled quite a bit around the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, places that he used in his stories, which ranged in genres from spy, war, and science fiction. The first to be reissued is The Farewell Song of Marcel Labrume, which takes place during World War II, and features a man who thought he was done with the world, and finding a reason to go on.

The story is told in two parts. Marcel Labrume is a journalist who has given up on his home country after France's capitulation to Germany. Living in Beirut, Marcel gambles, chases women, and does odd jobs for anyone cops, gun dealers, anyone who can pay. Beirut is a French colony, currently run by the Vichy government, with German Nazis poking observing everything. The Nazis are in fact looking for a fugitive that has gone to ground in the city, one that cause quite a bit of grief to the Third Reich. Into this mix comes an American aviatrix, Carol Gibson, who has money, and as an American is a neutral in the war. Marcel's advance is shot down, and he becomes entranced with Carol, and soon is caught in her scheme to get the fugitive out of the city. In Beirut everyone is for sale though, and loyalty can fluctuate with the money the next person is offering, something Marcel soon finds out.

There is a second story, but most of that will give away the first so I won't go into it. The second tale is quite good, as is the first. This is a European comic, and one written when hating the government and authority was expected. There are a lot of bad things happening to good people, here, and those who should care more, really don't. Also this are of their time. There is a lot of racism and cracks, mostly about other Europeans which was different. Women though are not treated well, and there is a nickname for a character that probably wouldn't fly today. On the other hand these are brutal stories of espionage, the cost of war, and what that cost makes good men do. There are bad guys, and guys who are wearing bad guys uniforms, but caught in situations they can't control. Marcel is a strong, strong anti-hero. Most of what he does is to keep himself alive, darn the consequences. The art is really good. The characters are all portrayed well, the backgrounds really set the place, and time, and the cars, planes, subs all look amazing.

Fans of serial adventure stories like Corto Maltese or Steve Canyon, even Modesty Blaise will enjoy this. The stories are dark, European and full of history and great writing. Just be warned they are of their time the 1970's and one will have a great time.

Classic noir through and through. A pleasing mix of Alex Toth, Casablanca, Milton Caniff and Hugo Pratt.