Ayak + Por #2

The second adventure of Ayak and Por arrives with "De eenzame sultan," a Dutch-language all-ages album from Strip2000 that immediately signals an exotic, Arabian Nights-flavored tale. The cover, illustrated by Wilbert van der Steen, sets up a tense confrontation between a towering blue-skinned figure wielding a flame and a cluster of upward-pointing swords, while two young protagonists and a small animal companion look on with wide-eyed wariness against a vivid yellow background. Van der Steen's clean, expressive linework and bold colors give the whole scene a playful energy that makes this 2015 album a welcoming read for younger audiences and curious grown-ups alike.