Die Schlümpfe #21

Volume 21 of Die Schlümpfe arrives in 2011 with the charmingly titled adventure "Niemand schlumpft den Fortschritt auf," brought to life by writers Thierry Culliford, Philippe Delzenne, and Max Murmel alongside artists Ludo Borecki and Pascal Garray. The cover sets a delightfully lazy scene on a sunny green hillside, where two Smurfs recline at ease with their drinks while a pair of curious wooden robot-like figures — one dressed in a formal waiter's outfit, the other rounder and more rustic — attend to them with a serving tray. It's a warm, witty snapshot that hints at a story balancing cozy Smurf village life with some very unexpected new arrivals.