De avonturen van Dictator Dirk #5

Created by Bart Vantieghem and Koen De Brabander in the style of Hergé, this fifth volume of De avonturen van Dictator Dirk delivers a cover brimming with absurdist energy: a large, shaggy creature rides atop a vintage open-top automobile barreling through an African savanna, accompanied by a driver and a passenger clutching a crate, while a towering giraffe watches from the background and an armed soldier looks on with suspicion. The playful linework and bold flat colors wear their clear-ligne inspiration proudly, giving the whole scene a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek adventure feel. Published by Bonte in 2023, this is a lively continuation of a Belgian series that clearly delights in poking fun at power while keeping the fun firmly in frame.