Die Schlümpfe #40

The cover of this 2022 Splitter Verlag album draws you straight into a warm, firelit cave where a group of small human children — stone-age youngsters clutching tools — are gathered alongside several Smurfs, including Papa Smurf and Smurfette, peering in from the cave's entrance. It's a charming, adventure-tinged scene that perfectly sets up the promise of "Die Schlümpfe und die verlorenen Kinder" — the Smurfs crossing paths with some very unexpected little companions. Written by Alain Jost, Thierry Culliford, and Max Murmel, with artwork by Miguel Díaz Vizoso and colors by Nine Culliford, this fortieth volume looks like a heartwarming journey into uncharted territory for the beloved blue villagers.